Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-11-11

the condemned men, spoke about as fol-
lows:
Hodge Brothers
Dearly beloved: It hath pleased Al
mighty God in His justice to bring you
under the sentence and condemnation of
the law. You are shortly to suffer death in
such manner that others, warned by your
example, may be the more afraid to offend,
and pray God that you both may and have
made such use of your punnishments in
this world that your souls may be saved in
the world to come.
Dearly beloved you both are soon to APP
pear before the Judge of all flesh, who
shall say to yon both, if righteous, "Come
ye blessed" and if not He viii say, go
ye cursed"
My brethren, your sins have brought you
both too near this dreadful sentence. 1t is
your part and duty, my brethren, humbly
| to confess and to repent of your sins, as
upon this depends the salvation of your
souls.
Dear brethren, be not deceived with a
vain and presumptuous expectation
of God favor, nor say within yourself
peace, peace, where three is no peace, for
there is no peace, saith my God, to the
wicked But if we confess our sins, He Is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Dearly beloved, since, therefore, you both
are soon to pass into an endless and un-
changeable state, and your future happiness
| or misery depends, to some extent, upon
the few moments which are left you, L,
| therefore, as minister of God, require you
both strictly to examine yourselves and
your estate, both toward God and toward
man; and let no worldly consideration hin
der you from making true and full coates
sion of your crime, and give all the satisfac-
ton which is in your power to every one
| whom you have wronged or injured; that
your Heavenly Father may forgive you, and
that you both may find mercy at his hand,
for Christ's sake, and not be condemned in
the dreadful day of. judgment.
Rev. B. 81. johnson gave out and led in
the singing of the 616th hymn in the Pres
hyterian song and prayer book, beginning,
''Stoop down my thoughts that used to
rise," &c.
Both the Hodges Joined in the singing
earnestly, Milt. rocking to and fro on his
seat, and their countenances beaming with
apparent satisfaction and contentedness
After the singing, Rev. G. C. Russell
offered the following prayer
| Let us pray: o, Holy Jesus who of
thine infinite goodness didst accept the
conversion of sinner on the cross, open
| Thine eye of mercy upon these doomed
men, who processes to be Thy servants. o,
Lord consider their condition, and accept
| their repentance, for as much as they put
their trust in Thee have mercy upon them.
y Father of mercy, We now recommend to
4 r
may they fix their last longing gaze on
Thee as their only support.
0, when their ears that are soon to be
shut to the discourse of men and shall be
| open to the irrevocable decree which is to
cut them off from the living, aud when
| they shall have lost the use of their senses
when the world shall have vanquished from
their sight, 0, be their strength and portion
| forever, o God, the creator of the world ;
| o, God, the Son, Redeemer of the world ;
o, God, the Holy Ghost, Sanctifer of the
people, have mercy upon us and deliver
their souls from all their offenses and
transgressions. We ask it all through Jesus
Christ. Amen.
sAM TALKS TO THE CROWD.
MIR. Johnson then announced that the
Hodge boys would each address the crowd
Sam first rose upon the seat. but before get
ting up, his counsel in the trial, w F.
Yardley, came up and whispered in mis- ear
He said: 'Tt seemed there was large
congregation assembled together to see the
| death of two poor prisoners, who had been
confined IN the prison house for fifteen long
months. But after all, we had got to die
| and what is more important, have home
up yonder to go to. 1t was sad to him, he
said to think the crowd would all come to
see the death of two poor prisoners. He
wanted to tell all farewell He knew he
would not be lost Jesus was by his side
He could say he had clear conscience and
was in great hopes of going to happy
home. He went on in the s lme strain for
several minutes, expressing satisfaction and
exhorting others to be saved. He said
none but Jesus knows whether this
death is just or not. He still continued for
some time, when Sheriff Gilmore requested
him to sit down. He replied that he could
talk always, thank God, but he cheerfully
acquieseed.
| .a=t hfILT MAKES HIS SPEECH.
Milt then, by permission, mounted upon
the seat, with smiling countenance. He
there to see Milt and Sam Hodges necks
broke. He wanted to give the people
good warning not to take the steps
he had taken in the past, but take the steps
he is now taking. God knows what is just
Let thus be warning to all, not for his
sake, but for Gods sake. 1t was evil pas
slons, he said, that brought him to this, but
Jesus had pardoned his sins and he knew
he had home to go to. He said he was
tempted after he got into the right path.
Even this morning satan was at his
cell door jumping in and he hoped,
| but thanks be to God he
didn't stay long, he loaded and shot him
with the gospel gun. God knows he said,
what came hIm to this hour, ''Constable
Pink Nothern," he said, gave us authority
to arrest Mcfarland, wherever found, and
hold him In custody. but Jesus has got it
all marked down and knows what brought
us here" He said he had not bit of
malice towords any one. He hoped to
meet all in heaven. Mcfarland, poor
fellow, was gone, and he was
sorry. There were some there, he said,
with sed hearts, and some he expected,
with joyful hearts but, thanks to God,
who reigns on high, Jesus knows ALL His
speech was about the same length of Sans,
somewhat disconnected, but rather more in
telhgible. When told to sit down by
Sheriff Gilmore he said, ''Thank you," in o
pleasant tone, and resumed his seat.
NO TIME FOB COLLECTION.
Mr.. johnson announced that il was the
intention to take collection, for the
benefit of the widow of Sam
and father of the two BOYS,
But there was no time now, the hour
being about up. But any who wished to
contribute could do so
Mr.. Russell wished, in behalf of the
Hodge boys, to return thanks and gratitude
to the sheriff and jailor, who had been SO