Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-01-18


set upon the covered top of a piano
TINT occupied place in the parlor, and
the company present seated themselves
around the room. The sheriff then no
tilted them that he would conduct the
prisoner into the room. All was still
and the drawing of bolts, and the clank-
ing of chains announced the approach
of the doomed man. First entered Re-.
Waters. followed by Craig, Rev. Law
son and the sheriff. As the party enter
ed the parlor, Craig looked smilingly
around and gracefully bowed to the
company, and said, Good evening, gen
tlemen.' He then took seat near the
piano, where the emblems Of the Lords
Supper had been prepared. Rev. Wa
ters then repeated stanza Of the hymn
beginning
"That dOleful night before his DEATH
in which the prisoner and clergy hearth
ly joined in singing; Craig's voice could
be clearly and musically heard, and the
singing was solemnly impressive. AT
its close Rev Nice proceeded to read
from the '.Discipline" the Sacramento
rites. and after the formal blessing pro
ceeded to administer the Sacrament, first
to the clergy and then to the prisoner,
all of the company in the room remain
inc on their knees during the time. Al
ter this formality had been performed
Rev. Leech offered up teryent, feeling,
and impressive prayer, in which the
prisoner manifested the deepest interest
and occasionally gave expression to aud
IDLE responses.
At the conclusion of the prayer all
arose to their feet, and Craig wiped his
eyes with pocket handkerchief and sat
down. The ministers then sang the
hymn commencing
Alas and did my Saviour bleed >
Craig Joined in occasionally, but would
sometimes pause and look around upon
those present. At one time he glanced
around the walls of the room and gave
a long drawn sigh, the first sign of sor-
row manifested. The hymn finished,
Rev. lawson pronounced the benedic
ton. and the services ended. Rev.
Leech then approached theprisoner and
entered into brief conversation, ad-
monishing him to put his trust in God
in the severe ordeal which he must un-
dergo, and asked him, Can YOU trust
in the Saviour 2 To which Craig re
piled quickly, in a cheerful tone, YES
sir" Rev. Nice then came forward and
bid Craig good bye, when his lips trem-
bled and the tears rolled down his
cheeks. aud in a fervently, agitated
voice, said to Mr.. Nice. 'Remember me
in your prayers tonight Mr.. Nice
replied, Il will. The prisoner was
then conducted back to the jail, and as
he was going out the paror door, he
turned around, facing the company pre-
sent, and said, ''Good night, gentlemen.
| wont see you any more, but hope to
meet you in heaven" and making re-
specttul bow, be passed out Of sight.
ON TIE sCAFFoLD.
The gallows had been prepared by
Mr.. Jas. w. Souders, one of our most
skillful master carpenters The plat
form was about seven feet high and
eight wide. The gibbet was eight feet
higher, and consisted of strong upright5
of unplaned lumber, with horizontal
beam crossing their tops holding the IA
tai moose. Amid profound silence Rev.
w. Waters offered the followingprayer:
80 God, most merciful, regard in mer-
cy we pray Thee, this Thy servant, who
is appointed to die. Bless, we pray
thee, his soul, soon to be ushered into
Thy presence. We bless Thee that
Thou hast given him grace to repent,
and turn from all his sins. Now, 0 God
receive his spirit, through Jesus Christ
our Lord Amen
The prisoner was then pinioncd by
the Sheriff. after which Rev. Z. Lawson
read the following paper, prepared by
Rev. w. Waters at the dictation Of the
agitated man, on whose form all eyes
were fastened:
"Before | leave this world I want to
thank the Sheriff, Mr.. Gross, his family,
and the officers of the Jail tor their uni
form kindness to me. Also to the min
listers of the Gospel under whose in
st1uctions have been led to Christ.
thank Rev Holiday, Leech, Nice, Col
onel II. J. Johnson and others for their
efforts to have my sentenced changed
from death to imprisonment | enter
tain no unkind feeling toward any one.
] die at peace with God and all mankind.
Craig then repeated aloud, from mem
DRY, z3d psalm.
Those who had nerve to look on the
suspended malefactor as his spirit plum
ed its wings for an eternal fight, state
after bidding his friends to meet him in
Heaven, he net death with wonderful
heroism. While he spoke the Sheriff
cut the rope, the trap fell, and the pris-
oner's neck was Immediately broken.
In two minutes his form was rigid, and
his soul looked on things eternal. In
fifteen minutes his body was cut down,
and life found to be extinct. The crowd
dispersed, and the vicinity of the Jail
resumed It's usual quiet.
Gen. Early replies to some remarks
made by Gen. Hood in a recent speech,