Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-06-08

DEAR CHRONICLE Indulge me in a
rambling letter. At Lebanon the rail-
road in this direction comes to an un-
timely end, and the old fashioned
stage coach takes its place. But the
crowd was too large on last Thursday
to find accommodation, and Col. Price
had to add an additional coach. We
had some rather distinguished passen-
gers, and among them Col. w. b.
Stokes, who, with others of his and
contrary opinions, kept up constant
sallies as to whether they should don
white coats and hats in view of the ac-
tion of recent convention. The
question was not decided.
Smithville was in our route and hav-
ing to spend most of Friday, the Oath.
here we witnessed the execution OF
John Presswood, The crowd gathered
to witness the sad sight was variously
estimated at from five to eight thous-
and. The scaffold was erected on the
public square, and windows, housetops
and shade trees were filled and cover
cd with curious spectators. The sher-
if, Mr. Blackburn, took me with him
to the cell of the prisoner and also on
the wagon to the scaffold. | was sur.
prised to see him look so youthful
He stated his age to be eighteen. He
was of low stature, heavy built and
rather good looking. When the Sher.
if entered the cell he said, "Well
John, we have come for you, to which
he answered with smile, II am ready
to CO." He was perfectly calm and re
mained so to the end, never losing hi
self-possession for moment. Aftei
his shroud was put on he examined it
and said he wanted collar and neck
tie, as he wanted to be put ava,
nice" He then turned to his two fel
low prisoners and said, well, Berry
| am going to leave you. / want yo,
and the other fellow Ga negro) to NEE
in heaven" We got in hewagon an,
the guards cleared a passage for u
through the dense crowd and W
reached the scaffold. The sheriff re
guested that the religious service
might be continued two hours-till on
o'clock-and Mr. Brien, Baptis
minister, was called to the stand t
bear part in them. The prisone
had made profession of religion tw
weeks previously and had, the day be
fore his execution been baptized b
immersion by Mr.. Magncss, who wa
to have been with him in his last hour
but did not make his appearance. Du
ring the exercises on the scaffold, tn
criminal got up in his shroud and mad
. short speech which was full ofwarr
ing to the young, And when we re
tired from him he arose and bade a
farewell. We sang one more shol
song, at the close of which the cap wa
drawn over his face, and he once NOR
said, Farewell to ALL am goin
D home" The sheriff took his positio
with his hatchet by the rope that hcl
up the trap door on which he stoo
and said, John, you have just three
quarters of minute to live" At il
. expiration he raised the axe for til
blow, saying aloud, ''now you go, an
he dropped eighteen feet and hun
dangling in the air. He died hard, s
c hard. The knot which was intende
to como up by his ear slipped aroun
and came up by his chin and his nee
was perhaps not broken at all. Mo-
terribly did he atone for the dar
, double crime he had committed, II
history of which is known to the pul
lie. The burden of his warning
g the young was that they should nev,
disobey their parents, for there, |
!. said, was the origin of his trouble.
Yours truly,
Il w T.