Year: 1865

From the Alton (ll Democrat.


The very pleasant town of Jerseyville, as
well as the surrounding country, was and
has been, deeply stirred by the awful muir
ders that have been committed within her
heretofore quiet borders by outlaws and
rufiians and accordingly her people and her
officers resolved that the guilty should be
punished and the laws vindicated.


Our readers know that Tom Moss, whose
career of crime has kept the country excited
and troubled for months back, was legally
tried and condemned for the shameful mur-
der of Mr. Robert Watson, of the town of
Fidelity. The room in which the execution
took place was the gloomy hall of the court
house, upon which the still more gloomy and
repulsive cells of the prisoners opened.


The officers who had the criminal IN
charge are men who have the confidence and
respect of the great body of the county Of
Jersey. While exhibiting toward the prison
er all the kindness which the circumstances
would admit, they also endeavored to i'm
press him with the fact that their tenderness
TO him in his awful position was not to be
taken by him as an approval of his course,
or an intent to deprive the laws of the land
of their just dues


Moss was full of assumed confidence and
bravado from the time of the sentence until
the fatal moose was brought before his cell
He remarked but few hours before that o.
course he should prefer to be shot tina
death was but momentary pang that III
would show them how Confederate soldier
could die on being told about his coffin, wa'
pleased that it was little better looking thar
was commonly used for criminals. In this
spirit he ordered an excellent breakfast
/ fried chickens, seasonable vegetables, coffee
and other comestibles that go to make W
luxurious living. He enjoyed his meal, and
after it was over Teclined upon his couch
apparently not so much concerned as the
kind-hearted officers who waited upon him
The pastor of the Catholic church attended
him, and gave him all the consolation of oul
holy religion, and remained by him until thC
last moment, comforting, advising and pray
ing for him. The priest finally said he hat
done all for the criminal that could be done
The officers then entered the cell, and herr
commenced the exhibition of his cowardice


Upon the attempt being made to put tn,
rope upon his neck, he strenuously objected
At last, at quarter to twelve O'Clock, h,
was got out of his cell into u gloomy hall
and seated in chair Immediately under
meath the fatal cord. Here commenced al
exceedingly painful scene. Fearful to max
the dreadful plunge into the unknown world
or taking the thought that such death wa
something more than moments pang,
the criminal made all sorts of excuses 70
procrastination. First he wanted Jim, the
Bob, then the Sheriff, then the kind-hearie
landlord, then drink of water, then stirnr
lants. Lashed by his fears and forebodings
he suffered terrible mental anguish and form
ed a shocking spectacle to both spectator
and officers. Finally, by force and persna
sion, his hands and feet were firmly secured
he all the while appealing for delay, or 70
some favor that would cause delay. He OK
claimed that he was fnnocent-he was mlr
dered,; and when the rope was loosely place
around his neck, he feelingly exclaimed
"oh, boys, you are choking me ~ TIL
moose was finally secured, another office
Immediately adjusted the cap over his heat
and that moment the wicked being was viz