The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01
BY THE ROPE ROUTE.

Richard Wash Walking the City of
Golden Streets-NOw the Associate
OF all the Sainted Dead-IIe De.
lights in the COmpaniOnship of
Preachers and Pure WOmen-The
Special FavOrite of Our Blessed
Lord and Master.
The holy choir In the celestial city that
sings eternal praises to our blessed Lord and
Master has just received shining recruit
from Abbevile.
In compliance with the authority and the
requirements OF the great State ot South Car
olina and in obedience to the mandate OF the
highest courts OF the country Sheriff Nance
delivered to the recently glory-crowned saint
his certificate OF transport TO the better
world.
Standing on the platform from whence
Richard Wash was TO take his departure, and
from which he could almost hear the eternal
and immortal symphonies of the saints in
glory, our departed friend announced his rec
onciiation with his offended Lord, and gave
us the important information that he had
gained pardon for all the sins that were piled
up about MIN and In the rubbish of which his
pure white soul had been SO nearly concealed
from the very eye of the Almighty himself
Though the sins of this recently crowned
saint were as scarlet, they are now as white
as snow; though they were red like crimson
they are now wool.
And thus IT is. that the soul Of another red
handed murderer has gone from this wicked
world OF laws and penalties 10 the scenes Of
light and glory in our home beyond the stars.
Standing upon the platform from which
other murderers had gone TO glory, Richard
Wash, satisfied with the purity and sanctifi-
cation Of his own pure white soul, asked the
Lord God Almighty to bless the friends who
were allowed to linger little while longer on
earth. After giving his parting benediction
and commencing the souls OF the spectators
to the favor of the Almighty, at about l0:4O
o'clock on the morning Of Friday. March A.
d. 1896. the door suddenly turned on It's
hinges, and the body descended for dista nee
of about six feet, while his pure white soul
imm ediately appropriated the angelic wings
that had been prepared and left at the
Jail for him. On the swftest pipions 1t took
its flight TO the Great White Throne, and he
will no doubt speak good word in behalf Of
the sin-laden soul that he SO treacherously
and SO cowardly, and SO needlessly, sent 70
perdtion.
1t will be remembe bered that on the night of
October -, 1895, Narcissa Bagwell was MUIR
dered near Hodges. Her body, after life was
extinct, was placed in a barn filled with fod
der. and match was applied. The murderer
since his conviction, said that he thought the
body would be entirely consumed, $50 that
there would be no hereafter about It," But
the body was not entirely consumed and the
vigilant eye of retributive Justice discovered
the perpetrator Of the foul deed. Richard
Wash was arrested, tried, convicted. and
hanged, and this accounts for his premature
appearance at the gates Of the heavenly city.
He leaves the comforting assurance that all
Is we'll with him, and In his wicked life and
triumphant death we are furnished another
evidence of the ease With which the vilest
best and purest mortals have much for which
to be forgiven and cannot reach the scenes OF
eternal glory, except by the grace Of the AL
mighty.