The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-07-16


He travelled to Frankfort az il on
business, lodged at the house of q
relative Of Sharpe, and, disguised as
q negro he lurked about the house
Of his victim TIL he made sure he
was within. HO tbon knocked,
called him TO the door, showed his
face, that no might have tho agony
Of knowing who his murderer was,
and then stabbed HIM to the heart.
The unfortunate man knew his
ASSASSIN, but so sure had been tho
blow that the only words that he
spoke were, Pray, Mr.. BeAuchamp,'
At the same time striving to throw
his arms about his neck; but no one
heard the exclamation, and Beau.
champ had the satisfaction OF Zee
ing that no such evidence as this
coUld be brought against him. lie
fingered neal the house till no was
secn by Mrs. Sharpe, then went
back to his lodgings. After having
resumed his own dress, with n tran
quill and satisfied heart, us he says
himself, no lay down TO sleep.
In the morning the whole town
was IN excitement at the horrid
deed. Beauchamp's host suspected
him, but bis calm demeanor did n
way with all suspicion, and he was
allowed to leave Frankfort without
molestation. rs he drew near hcme
his wife, who had been anxiously a.
waiting his return, saw him mp.
proseb waving a red flag, which
had been the ,ignal agreed upon
between them. She was full OF Joy,
like himself, at the iulillment Of.
her just vengeance, rs they thought
it, and they talked over all tho de-
tails Of the crime with fearful salts
faction.
Beauchamp. was soon arrested rs
no expected to be; but contrary TO
his expectations, he found that all
his plans to destroy evidence had
been fruitless. Circumstances, those
fatal ovos.droppers, boro too sure
witness, and, where o link was
wanting in Tho chain of testimony,
it was easily supplied by exaggerN-
ton or perjury. IIo was convicted
On the 10Th OF May, 1926, and in
spite OF the doubts of many eminent
lawyers, who maintained there was
no existing law TO punish murder,
he was executed on tho 9TH OF July
following. Ho had IN vain tried TO
throw the crime on some other per-
son, and 70 obtain n pardon from
Governor Dcsha, vhu, 10 DO sure
had pardoned his own son, twice
convicted Of murder and robbery.
After his conviction his wife spent
much tIme with him, and IN the
hope OF dying together they both
look poison, which, however, proved
Intellectual. Thoy were then care
fully guarded, but IN spite Of this,
on the morning of his execution,
they contrivcd TO stab themselves.
BcGuchamp was not mOrtally woun-
dcd, but his wife fingered only II
few hours afler hrs execution. AZ
he was carried L the gallows, too
weak to SIT on his coffin in the cart,
according to the bnrharOus custom,
he asked TO be- taken to his wife,
then lying unconscious from her
wound. He lard his hand on her
face and sought in vain to make her
recognize him; thon bidding her.
the tenderest farewell, and bowling
10 the ladies at the windows as he
passed along tho streets, he went on
the scaffold. Some verses by Mrs.
Beauchamp, written just before her
death. support the conception of her
character which one forms from her
wonderful story. They all relate to
her husbands crime and fate and
their style indicates u cultivated
mind and a lofty poetic nature. A
single stanEa in which she speaks
Of her husbands dying with her
may serve as q specimen:
" And welded to his side my form shall lie
Eneircled by his arm, for naught but Fate
Could move my stubborn spirit, FEE to die
with all my soul holds dear, or good or
great"