Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-02-13
L HE SEN TIN f l..
Hanging of Joseph w. Davis.

WESTMINSTER, CARROLL COUNTY, Mo-, Feb
rnary 6.-Joseph w. Davis was hanged to-
day for the murder of Abra-sl Lynn on the 9th
of April, 1872. The condemned man went 10
bed about ~ O'Clock last night slept about
one hour, and then got up and read the Bible;
after which he walked in the corridor, COM
planning ola bad taste is his mouth. He asked
for something TO drink, and was furnished
with iqnor, of which he partook, and laid
down again, but did not sleep. About ten
clock this morning Rev. Mr. Crener arrived
and went to Davis cell. AT 1890 five minis
tiers were with him. About three thousand
persons men, women and children, are gath
cred about the Jail. The trees in proximity 10
the Jail yard are covered with men, many OF
whom are intoxicated and giving expression
to ribald jests and obscenity. DR.. Lynn, n
brother of the murdered man, is among the
spectators in the ball of the Jail. Davis refuses
TO see reporters. AT HIS the sacraments of
communion was administered to the doomed
man. At two minutes past ] 2 O'Clock he was
led to the scaffold in the white cap and shroud,
and in few words confessed the murder, and
warned his hearers to beware of his fate
Rev. Mr. Dreamer then offered short prayer.
AT IL minutes past II the trap was sprung,
and Davis fell with heavy thad.
He struggled much, and seemed to be slowly
strangling to death After hanging thirty
minutes his body was cut down and placed in
a coffin.
DIsGRACEFuL SCENES AT THE EXECUTION.
From detailed account in the Baltimore
Gazette of the 9TH inst, of the execution of
Joseph W. Davis, at Westminster Jail, yester-
day, we quote the following:
When the doomed man reached The platform
of the scaFod, he was evidently disconnected
at the sea Of upturned faces gazing at him with
the rudest of stares. He had committed a
speech to memory, but such was his confusion
that his remarks were disconnected and ramb-
ling. saying the same thing over and over
again The remarks were about AS follows:
Ny Dear Friends: AS | have gathered be-
fore large crowd collected Il pause IL In : e
been brought here for the murder OF Abraham
Lynn which confess to have done. warn
you, if you have in this world any i'll feelings
towards anybody pardon them. There is II
large concUurse gathered here have written
Al confession for my dear sister; in it | have
given all the particulars, and will not repeat
them. warn every young man. if tempted
by evil, not 10 submit. | have been brought
here by being brought into relation with Mr.
Lynn [iIere he evidently intended 10 dis
parage some Of Lynn's actions, but Rev. Mr.
Dreamer laid hand on his shoulder warming
ly, and he stopped, after slight pause he
continued ! never intended that would
take his life. All | have to say, my friends,
he warned by my fate. | am very thankful TO
my spiritual advisers, and to the sheriff for
their kind treatment of me. | now bid YOU
all farewell, the last farewell
A interval of silence followed when the
crowd began to act in most disgraceful man
ner. Cries were heard of Good bye Davis >
Goodbye, yoe'' sold fellow, good bye, =
and number Of irrelevant and shocking
epithets we're also heard. Davis appeared calm
and unmoved
Rev. Mr.. Dreamer then made very elo-
quent prayer on behalf of the doomed man,
and after shaking hands with him descended
then placed on his head the white cap and adj
jnsied the rope. Whilst fixing it Davis asked
him 10 fix the cap on tight so il would not fall
off, and babe Tie sheriff goodbye. Davis
then muttercd Il brief prayer, and while the
words were still on his lips the sheriff pulled
the trigger MS he was descending the steps ~
l2:ll, the trap falling with changing noise
and the body with u dali thud. The face in
death looked natural, the features were not
distorted and gave no indications of physical
suffering The behavior by the crowd was
outrageous, lot OF lazy counlrymen bent on
tspree, and apparently reishing the execution,
they fairly heseiged The town. Drunken quar-
reis and hraWls were of frequent occurrence
turning the usual quiet streets of Westnins-
ir- into q perfect bedam II is proper to
stale thar The citizens o{ the town had no hand
in the disgraccful proceedings, and were much
Shocked at such utter disregard of common
decency and propriety.
UANEING or VrM ucroTTED