The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-23
WEBSTER
The SPY
An Account Of His Arrest and
. ,.... Execution at Camp Lee.
CONFEDERATE BOOKS
Mention of Some Noteworthy Ones
Published in the South During the
War Capture Of cusler's
Uniform Goat. &c.
(For The Times-Dispatch.)

IAIsNHH.I (EOr Inc IlNleS-blSpulCll'J
is not often that man enjoys the
distinction Of being hanged twice, II
indeed It can be said that he enjoys.
either the distinction or the hanging. AZ
any rate, the victim, whose experience
5..double DEATH" as he himself Expressed
It. -
The winter and spring Of 90 was an
eyentful period in the history OF the
Southern Confederacy. Richmond was
overrun with thieves. spies and adVen-
turers. Many of her most prominent
citizens were under surveillance. and some
of them had been arrested FOR dislo!aitS,
among the number Mr.. Franklin Stearhs,l
a, wealthy retired merchant, and Hon.,
John Minor Bolts, ex-member Of Con-
Il gress whose eloquent voice had pee1i
heard on every stump prior to the war IN
opposition to the secession OF virginia
They were soon released however, moths
Ing being proved against them except
intense loyalty to the Union
Spies were passing to and fro between
Richmond and Washington with alarm
Ing frequency. and maps of the fortifca-
tons around Richmond and the Apr oaches
there to were appearing IN NE Not' II
naners often enough to arouse the Con-
Y Tolerate authorities, as well as to. CON
vince them that traitor was IN favor
4 al the War Department. IN fact' mo
Government had Just begun to reallze
that things had not adjusted themselves
4 from peace basis to one OF war; ana
more vigilance was necessary
Timothy Webster. an Engllshman. VINO
had undertaken the doubly dangerous
business of being spy for both the Con
fedcrate and the Federal Governments,
and who was not even animated pS pm
triotisrn, was arrested in Richmond about
In cIv g
K money there was in 1t. and kind OF ret
rbution overlook him, for when he was
caught, convicted, and sentenced to death,
he was hanged twice-once for the Con-
federates and once for the Federals, as 1t
were. The "o,hcr side would have hung
him if he had been known to have been
in the service of the Confederates. Be
ing a heavy-built man, the rome. which
was of cotton-hemp ropes being scarce
in the Confederacy-broke the first time,
and he went to the ground In heaP'
but more stunned than hurt. He was
quickly restored. and mounted the steps
leading up to the gallows Qeaning on the
shoulders 1.-two stout mcn) the second
time, the rope was tied. and, after pro
terly, "Ths Is hard; isn't It? suffer
double DEATH Being asked II he
had anything further to say. he an
swered; con. you are going to choke
me this time, Be quick about It: be
quick about It," These were his last
words. In a moment the trap was
sprung, and webster's career as a
double" spy ended.
Webster's undoing came about in a
singular manner. It 10 said he enjoyed the
confidence OF former Secretary Of War,
and had been employed by the Corfed-
crate government as spy and tas n
bearer of information to friends or the
Confederacy in the North as we'll as to
procure uuin1ne and other medicines for
the sick Confederate soldiers then dyins
!, very rapidly In the hospitals for wan!
4, of them, and 1t came to light In his trial
by court-martial that he was also In tho
employ of the Federal government 10
obtain such information as would be use
full to tho commandant of the Union
forces trying to get into Richmond,
The Federal army had sustained several
defeats about this time and spies began
TO invade every portion OF the Confed.
eracy. Early III March, 1862, two OF them,
giving their names as Price Lewis tor
Lewis PRICE, and John sculy. two we'll
educated and dashing young fellows.
were captured while attempting to make
their way out of Virginia through the
Eastern Shore counties, and brought to
Richmond, tried by conrt-martial fol
'lurking around the armies and fortfi.
cations In and about the Confedera te
States. and being in the service "f ht
United States" They were cuDis'tni ant
sentenced tobe hanged, tho sceffold erect
cd, and the day set for their execution
With death staring them in the lace
tho two n,olt made d confession the Ga.
preceding the one on which they Wer
10 die. and swore that Timothy Webster
who had been the principal witness
against them, WAS really the arch-sp!
In obtaining and carrying Information 4
the Federal authorities. and that the!
had been acting in concert. On the tcstl
mony Of these Two men and other infor
nation obtained to the same effect Web
attr Ws;a arrested al his boarding htus,
on Fourth Street, between Clay AMI
Leigh. and put upon trial for his life
and Ecully and Lewis, the convicted spIes
were SET free, and used as wltnosse,
against him. along with others. Webster
In turn, was convicted and sentenced Il
death
While awaiting the approval OF In,
court -nartal proceedings and sentence
Webster was sent to Castle Thunder,
military prison for desertcrs, spies, tnt
evil doors generally from all sectons
hut was not there long when he made
desperate attempt 10 regain lns libert
by jumping from one of the upper Win
dows. lie broke one OF his legs when y
struck the ground. and was irlneiiatel
recaptured, While in prison he wls yl',te
by Rev. Dr, Woodbridge. Of the n onu
mental Church, who endeaNored 70 IRE