The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-07

the defence now betook themselves with
straws, 10 the Legislature eas reA of the State;
The Joint committee OF the two houses listened
patiently to the Oft-told tale OF Judge Malsoy and
on several OCCASIONS its sessions were prolonged
lar into the night; but, though an eVluent III
preston was made upon several OF the members,
interfering with the prerogatives Oh Two oo,9 III
nate branches OF the state government, an1 tue
petition would probably have outllved Joseph w.
Davis by several Gays but for the aehouenenS
which took place on Wednesday, 10 the astonlsn-
ment OF the public and the no small emDarrass-
ment of those who have all along persisted III the
innocence OF the accused.
On "Wednesday, the 4th INST. Joseph w. Davis, to
the astonishment OF every body, made what he
styled full confession OF his guilt. on Tuesday
evening Sheriff DeyilbiSs OF Carroll county,
ceived a telegram from Annapolis from X g. Nor
ment the states Attorney, stating that the efforts
eessiul The sheriff did not communicate this un-
pleasant ia Ormation TO the condemned man until
preserved a demeanor totally Inconsistent with
guilt. His dash and utter Indifference to
won for MIN many sympathzers, and not lew
that believed his manner to be that OF mis-
chievous schoolooy , who was unnstly charged
nze the magnitude OF the accusation, The events
OF Wednesday morning forever dlspelled any In
gerlng doubts and lett not the falntest web upon
which to rest hope OF his innocence. When APP
prsed by Sherirr Devilbiss that the last hope OF
Official interference had disappeared. he seized
WITH an uncomfortable agony OF tear. The blood
laded from his naturally pallid face, his strong
frame quaked as though struggling with an ague,
and his limbs almost Jailed to support him. In
moment he appeared to realize the full force OF his
terrible SITUATION and from that time ne directed
Ills mind, with his characteristic energy, TO prepa
ration Tor the great change so suddenly brought
near TO him.
He stated to the Sheriff that on the 5th OF April,
1872, while in the mill with Lynn, the latter went
to the sink and remarked, 'JOe did you run that
wheat ups'
.Yes." said Davis
down sa,d WHAT did you tell NE that Cd id
lie lor?'
Raising himself up Lynn struck Davis. Lynn
then bent over the sink again when Davis kicked
impressed with the fact that either he or Lynn had
to due that Lynn was remarkably athletic man
and very passionate, and would certainly XIII HIM
II ne dld not succeed IN disabling him. With thus
intention, as quick as thought he
SEIZED AN ADZE AND STRUCK HIN
rapidly five or six heavy blows over the head, the
blood from the wounds squirting out over the shirt
OF Davis. Lynn el, making an almost nartlcuate
exclamation, and DAVIS threw his body into the
SINK which was scarcely large enough to admit it,
saying, Take that, you son OF b-hW Davis did
not say what ms feelings were when ne discovered
regard TO his own feelings and some OF the minutl9
OF the tragedy have led many in this locality to ac-
After he had disposed OF Lynn ne went to his room
IN the mill and taking OF his shirt. washed from
himself, and, re.enterlng the mil, took the adze
which he had used IN his murderous
ali marks of she recent en S%
and replaced it in its accustomed position. He
tncQ discovered tnat from some cause the wheat
was not moving IN the elevator. Going down on
the 1rst moor he found that the obstruction
the pocketbook of Lynn, which had probably fallen
from his clothes on the wheat when he was thrown
into the SINK or bin. up to this time no idea OF
robbery had entered his mind and the motive
which che State urged during his trial had never
occurred to him. He picked up the pOcketbOOk,
and upon examination found $3.50 and some cents
in good money and $500 in counterfeit currency.
and there ne retained 1t during the Whole
with him, hid it III the water closet and finally
gave 1t to Judge Malsby as retaining 1ee-not,
however, as Davis says, with the knowledge Of
the Judge as to where the money was obtained.
Davis then saddled his horse placing the bloody
book. and started Tor Union Bridge. When he
reached Sans Creek-a small stream which he
shirt, pocketbook, papers and counterfeit money
into ribbons and scattered the fragments over the
bed OF the stream. Such was the confession OF
Davis to the Sheriff Of Carroll county.
THE CULPRIT'S LAST HOURS.
AS the time approached for his execution the
trepidation OF Davis increased; his appetite
entirely forsook him and it was with difficulty that
he could force morsel down his throat. fester-
day his spiritual advisers, Revs. Cramer and
Julian Ingle, were constantly with him. in fact,
they did not leave him until last night. At that
time two turkeys. Powder and Mathies, entered
his cell and sat up with him until this morning.
He was very restless and repeatedly said he did |
not fear to die. At twelve O'Clock he dozeo OF,
apparently muttering in his sleep and giving EVIL
dence that his mind was still at work
the 81 iae
one OF the watchers to the other ne sad, mo,
sir am not asleep" Davis arose at three O'clock,
st. John, the twenty-third chapter Of st. Matthew
ana chapter from the Epistle to the Philippians
He then wrote two or three pages OF foolscap, to
complete kind OF diary upon which he had been
engaged. At tour O'Clock he asked the warden to
allow him to walk out on the corridor and there
exercise for hall an hour. He reclined on his bed
for a short time and complained OF bad taste in
his mouth. Powder advised him to take some
liquor and he swallowed probably mouthiul !
OF whiskey. During the night he wrote out
what he intended to say on the gallows,
but subsequently destroyed the manuscript. Early
this morning the various roads leading into West
minister swarmed with people moving towards the
scene o. the M was p pretty geenSe aoy
twelve O'Clock but all the public houses OF the city
were filed to repeton before nine O'CLOCK IN the
morning. Soon the throng began to
MOVE TOWARDS THE JAIL
massive stone structure on the east side Of the
execution all avenues commanding view OF the
gallows had been occupied. gentleman, an
envoy Of DAVIS father, wa. was clGseted drn WITH
but he declined TO state the object Of his
visit. At nine O'Clock the spiritual advisers OF the
condemned man resumed their duties He was
again attended by Rev. X. N. Cramer, Of the Ger
man Reformed Church; Rev. Julian Inge, OF the
odist persuasion. At fifteen minutes past eleven
O'Clock the holy communion was partaken OF by
Mr. ,n being tne h ram nad beee
greatly augmented and snow began to fall. AS
soon as Davis had concluded his devotions he was
developed in a white shroud by Sheriff Devillblss.
A PROCESSION TO THE GALLONS.
At twelve O'Clock the procession moved from the
Sherif's room, with Constables Gorsuch and
Slemm in front, the doomed man next and the
ministers OF the Gospel, sheriff, deputies and rep
resentatives OF the press
Following in this order the procession moved
down the stairs Of the basement ana out IN the
Jail yard DAVIS was evidently very weak, looking
more like dead than a living man, and quietly
assembled the sca1Old (which was very high rest
ing upon the arms OF the Revs. Cramer aud
Richardson. The gallows was cumbrOus AFFAIR,
with about twice much lumber in 1t as was
necessary and somewhat complicated. About 100
persons were crowded into the small area known
as the jail yard, and perceptible murmur arose
from the thousands on the outside OF the en-
closure as they for the first time caught glimpse
OF the miserable young man.
DAVIS BOWED TO THE AUDIENCE
on the outside and In distinct voice delivered a
piece OF the usual gallows 0ratory. He addressed
the multitude as his dear iriends," stated that
his confession had been printed and was being
sold for the benefit OF his sister, and he did not
propose to reterate 1t on the scafIold. The pam
phet was at the moment being hawked in the