The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-24

in preparing for death. AS he was
preparing to leave the court room
Smith said, directing his remarks to-
ward the judges: "You may hang
the body. but you can't hang the soul;
you will be judged yourselves some
day." OfCol. VeIch he said: 1.-THE
devil will get that States Attorney,
sure and certain"
Harden; the murdered man; was
about 50 years old and native of
Garrett county, though he resided in
West Virginia awhile. He served in
the Confederate army. Smith had
been on good terms with Harden and
his family. The two are believed to
have had difficulties previous to the
shooting, which was apparently cold
bloOded and brutal.
1t will be remembered that OctO-
Der 4, Smith escaped from Jail, but
being wounded in the scuffie with
jailor Cropp and surrounded by the
military, he surrendered himself.
NEARING THE END.
Smith atea hearty supper on Thurs
day evening. After supper he was
visited in his cell by his spiritual adj
wiser, Rev. Benz. Ison, of the Metho-
dist church at Oakland, who remain
ed with him several hours. Smith
talked freely on all subjects except
the crime, and when he referred to
that it was in the strain of an inno-
cent man suffering for the act of an
other. He said he was feeling well
and realized that 1t was his last night
on earth. He said he trusted in the
Lord and that he expected to go to
heaven. Rev. Ison had apparently
labored with good effect, as he had
considerably softened the condemned
man, and procured his attention to
religious conversation. A consider
able portion of the evening and night
was passed by Smith in the singing
of hymns. While Rev. Ison and an
other gentleman sang the air of some
of them Smith furnished a good bass.
Among his fdvorites were "Beulah
Land" Home Oyer There Brock
of Ages" He also joined in prayer.
He has several times referred to his
old mother who is dead and who was
a Christian.
THE CONFESSION.
Smith passed a good night and ate
hearty breakfast the morning of his
execution and then called for his
spiritual adviser, Rev. Ison, who
went in and remained with him most
of the morning. Early in the morn
ing the doomed man was inclined to
be illtempered and even fierce, but
through the patient, kind and earnest
efforts Of Rev. Ison, who had consid-
able influence over him, he was great
ly softened, and did what he all along
up to Friday steadfastly refused to
do-made confession to Rev. Ison.
1t was reduced to writing by the
latter and is as follows:
was born in Harrisonhurg, Vir.
ginia, and belonged to a Mr.. Gam
brill, who sold me and the family. to
Mr.. Alexander in Lexington, Vir-
ginia. When | left home in Lexing,
ton | went on the railroad above
Harrisonburg. / left there and went
to Washington with McCabe, the con-
tractor. worked with him in Union
town, ID. G. Then | went on the
Baltimore water works with Mr..
McCabe. / left there and went to
Washington. On my way home from
Washington l was robbed of my
money at Alexandria and then re-
tt1rned to Washington, where l was
employed in lighting lamps. In 1875
| went on the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal !; steered on that four or five
seasons. Left there in fall of 1881 and
came on Piedmont and E!kins road
in spring of 1882. l fired the shots
that killed Harden. I fired one
through the window and one in the
house. was about half tight drunk
when l left Elkins. Between the first
time l was at Harden's, about half
past seven, and the shooting, I went
down to Mr.. Kennedy's. After shoot
ing | went to my shanty. The reason
l did not give myself up to the men
who came after me that night was 1
was afraid they would lynch me. One
said: "Hold this rope, while l go
and break down the door" When l
left l started for Winchester, where
L had some friends. l had nothing
against Harden, but was in liquor. and
had heen encouraged to do it. [ had
good Baptist mother and other
pious relatives. I am sorry did not
take mothers advice and stay at
home. l have made my peace with
God and have nothing against any!
body. 1 hope to meet my mother
and friends in heaven, L am thank
full to my spiritual.adviser, Mr.. Ison,
and to the sheriff, Mr.. Jamison, for
their kindness to me.
THE CLOSING SCENES.
The first signs of the approaching
execution were about 8 A. NJ, when
Company B, Second Battalion, AZ