The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-30
auor. wren FIRST WAS usnercd into his presence


as MS unprcpossessipg appearance, aroused little
ieeiing OF sympathy Tor the poor boy, but after
hr presence; sense OF compassion for the boy that
Vas painful because utterly hopeless forced Itself
cheer Or Sopes Mat 70
not be realized, ana you could not commune with
that spirit that was looking down into the very
DEPTHS OF THE GRAVE
without feeling that you stood upon IT'S awful brink
beside II, and you drew back as from the grave It,
When first shown into Pritchard's presence he
was engaged In writing He looked up as we en-
tered and Immediately ceased. He conyersed freely
upon the fearful doom that awaited him. and, al
though little restless ami nervous at times, he
seemed July prepared to meet his fate. The day
received Prtchard wrote the following letter to the
Governor, confessing the crime. II Is given rer6a-
tim as written by the prisoner:-
TowsENpTowN JAIL, Sent g. 1871.
M Coy opLE s,, BOWIE s your u, honor ar $500,
A % 20 oa Been
rous In deed say in hrs let did give you
II sas
s sa1s ON .nS On s % pan ds
the old Iapp Road, and II was about nine o'clock
%T ssa on 1 We
ss TO as S.u % and
nss IL e W. the % s
ess ss an aDS hsS VI " ;sa e @
pharmer said leas me and you
and take this girl ana We walled On and did not have
notion Of anything Of the KIND and he proposed ana when
.poss GOOD morning and w walked "a i:s and
him on his KNEES and he S0 up "a Of bis knee: and RIM
pharmer caught the girl and threatened her and
ns5 he sna & y s @ %
about the man then she Did about her self manner and
he made the subduc for me But did not through with the
performance or ...
over with ss4 70 ne q.
The gn walked a: :hs was not hurt Blu! scared
ssa a.
as aca h e:
nor rape the girl Bu. attempted T. By him am today
. :. ss I'm nj here .
n am glad az, So not although ~ hs !asy are
for .s Of o Dsss to a,s
is:Ps a.;.s ,s shea?
the Barn Ss Re
d o not z pnoM n
'n'ng 'n'in was ormrrrcp 70 pruANcyn
and now ten the truth and nothing else ana can say
Wherein BENG showed justice sudgs gilmore court
Ssn nGs am any s Play @ ns truth se s:.
vas Ru case don't wish
could my se said he saw But once and
fsfs
my case almost AZ good as be d or as the one that did he
Blind M. % II 81 s IKE %
any wi and
m h sss
S1 s @ p e SSS S him
sn1s wo naes 5
ph'msr told him nothing 10 my case neshsr one Way and
WILLIAM HENRY PRITcHARp.
THE PRISONER.
Prltchard was born near Easton, Talbot county,
Md, on the 26th OF December, 1855 ana is
therefore in his seventeenth year In 1860 his
Shore, and have ever since resided near that city,
Hle father, mother and brother and sister are
living.
OF his passions is young girl about twenty years OF
about medium size and Is rather fne looking. she
dresses neatly, and has clear, honest expression
OF countenanee that impresses one with her limo.
Soon after Prltchard was sentenced to death it be.
came nOlsed about that he was
''sPIRITUAL MHDIUM.n
OF his fingers upon the table make It dance about
fray with the Spirits circumstance o occ usrs
that put an end to his attempts at spiritual mani
one evening about nine O'Clock, when
TERRIFIC SCREAM WAS HEARD
IN ahe cen Occupied o. the coored prisoner The
seized his revolver and ran down stairs. He found
the cells all securely locked and everything secure.
Pritchard was screaming .murdern at the top Of his
voice anu appealing franticaly to God and man Tor
Pritchard told the warden, Mr.. Linzey, that he had
oeen playing with his bench as usual when all at
,nce there was warm breath Of air swept In through
us window and rolled along the floor
LIKE BALL OF FIRE.
He sprang up, but the moment he touched the
eet and to follow him as he jumped about trying to
escape it. Since that time he could not be induced
of aae an{ e ae
night again appear. The Spirituaiists ABOUT here
ook great interest in him for some Time, but Of late
hey have not troubled themselves about him.
For some time after Pritchard was sentenced ne
eemed wholly Indifferent TO his fate. He evidently
meeting his death upon the galows; but Of late he
las been quite attentive TO his spiritual affairs, and
n the direction OF MI. HotI OF the Episcopal
eath. He has been baptized In tue Church, and |
roiesses an entire change OF heart. He said yes
"HE WAS PREPARED TO DE- 49,
Though he regretted to end his life in sucn way.n
atons for Divine mercy aud spent almost ali day
n reading his prayer book and praying II must |
s @ ~ e
lpon which he was to end this life in a few short
,ours His spiritual adviser was with him most Of
ward preparation for
nat awaited him. Toward evening, when Rev. Mr..
Ion left him. his father called ana took his last |
arewell. The scene that ensued during tins inter.
view between parent and child is described by the |
.uard as "a most erecting scene.' lie ate little
upper last night and seemed restless and nervous
liter his father had gone He often called the guard
md desired TO converse with him, and seemed 70
DREAD TO BE ALONE
Is the shades OF night began to thicken this feeling
eemed To manifest Itself more and more, until the
guards were obhgcd 10 refuse 10 converse with him
or fear OF disractng hts mind ron preparation for
lis awful doom. As the night advanced the scene
inside this wretched boys cell is described as ex-
,eedlngiy touching. He would cry and pray and
reg to be forgiven his sins aud would jump from
,ne side OF his cell TO the other, evidently
NEARLY CRAZBD BY THE THOUGHTS
hat crowded themselves upon his brain with
earful rapidity. AT last wearied nature sought
epose, and sleep, that balm that soohes the aching
brain and wipes OUT for time the knowledge OF
wnat awaits US, came 70 his eyes, and about twelve
O'Clock ne sank upon his rude couch and slept his
asst steep before that one long continuous sleep that
Knows no waking. About 1--WE O'Clock TINS morning
ne awoke ann Immediately resumed
his PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
he prayed more ferventy says the guard, this morn
ng, ald seemed less nervous and excited than
before and alter time called the guard and said
o him, 81 am now prepared 10 die. have now
got religion never had IT till last night. nave
Deen Iooling before, but last night 1t Came 10 me.
I'm now