Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-08-22

among them soldiers of both armies.
When their verdict had been rendered
and the sentence pronounced fixing the
day of execution on the 3lst day OF
July, last, there was sense OF relief
throughout the county. The murder
the cruel aud brutal murder OF Annie
Butler, hao been preceded by an attempt
TO commit a most fearful outrage,
which, beyond doubt, it was the pur-
pose of the criminal to conceal forever,
in the silence of the victims grave.
Fathers, husbands and brothers trembled
at the danger, which menaced every
household. The retirement Of the
country and the peace and quiet Of re-
mote farm-bouses suggested nothing
but alarm. The terrible example of the
laws punishment was recognized to be
necessary to deter others, evil hearted
and lawless in their debased natures,
from the perpetration of similar crimes;
and the people of Berkeley were content
to await the solemn execution of the
sentence Of death by the appointed Off
GERS of the law. Unfortunately, the
interposition of the Court OF Appeals
was sought and that tribunal interfered
to arrest the execution of the criminal.
1t is, We believe, not known what
error was found; but it was the occasion
of deep feeling throughout the whole
county, when it was ascertained that
the Court of Appeals had postponed
the consideration of the case to another
term, because the impression became
wide spread among all classes of citi-
Gems that the ultimate result must be
the escape Of a guilty man from the
punishment he so clearly deserved.
Men reasoned that the long delays of
the law would make conviction
impossible, because the witnesses
whose evidence had demonstrated the
prisoners guilt, would in all human
probability be far beyond the reach of
legal process by the time the case was
again given to jury; and that this de-
lay, almost equivalent to an immunity
FROM the dangers of conviction, would
give license and audacity to others who
could only be deferred from criminal
conduct by an apprehension of severe
and inevitable punishment These feel
ings were so frequently indicated in
conversation by many of the gravest
and most respectable people, that it is
not difficult to perceive how much influ-
ence they had exerted upon the forma-
ton OF the purpose which has been so
thoroughly accomplished.
So far as the circumstances attending
the execution of Toliver are known,
they seem not to have been marked by
violence or excitement. The whole
order Of proceeding were arranged be.
torehand; and controlled by a calm and
stern determination very different from
the excited and unreasoning impulses OF
an irresistible mob. 1t is certainly true,
as stated in several accounts We have
seen in distant newspapers, that the act
meets with the appreciation of a MAORI
ty of the people Of the county. There
are those who would have deprecated
most strongly the infection of punish
ment by the hands of the people upon
Toliver, or any other criminal previous
to trial and conviction, and yet find no
difficulty in approving the execution OF
pronounced sentence Of death. q,
But whatever may be the popular
Judgment, now or hereafter, it is mani
fest that this event will be long remem-
bered in Berkeley, aud that many
criminal purpose will shrink from its
execution as the stern and terrible ex-
ample of last Thursday night is recalled
in future.-Murtinsburg Statesman.