Indiana Palladium, Volume 2, Number 28, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 22 July 1826 — Page 2

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J. O. BEAUCHAMr. In the Frankfurt Argus, of the 2thinst. a detailed statement is green of the tragical death of this unfortunate man and, wife. 77c' narrative appears to he written by .Mr. Kendall, the editor; to whom Bcauchamp, directly after his sentence, wrote a letter, urging Um to intercede in his behalf, by the publication of such matter as irould be calculated to awaken the sympathies of the people,' and enlist them in his favor: observing, that he had been persecuted and sentenced to die without justice or law, (alluding to what appears to be a fact, that there is no statute laze punishing for murder;) and suggesting the propriety of sending him to Greece,

or some foreign country, in exile, 'Aiere them. whcn he heard a his life might be. of some use. Mr. Kendall ;jCCp sjg,9 and Beauchanip called him. read 'the letter, but paid no further cdtentionAic. went down and found Beauchamp to it at that time. Beauchamp havin-failM)Z on his bad:, apparently in great

,.-'. , . :,t nr r 1 11 ,u ica in this project, with Jlr. Kendall, the cdi-K tint' r tor oj Ue Jrgus, who is an mtimale friend of the governor, next addressed a letter to his Excellence, dated June 5, praying a respite till after the election : urging that he was preparing evidence, to be laid before the public before that time, more fully to explain his case. To this the governor made no reply. On the 5th inst. an application 7cas again made for a respite of 30 days; but no reply zcas made. Beauchamp, after this time, having given up all hopes of a respite or pardon, seems to have lost his accustomed firmness attempting self destruction. His wife zvas permitted, to visit him at this time, through whose agency' the means of death were provided. She contrived to bring concealed into the priiGi a quantity of laudanum ; of which they, on the night cf 5ih inst. took an onucc between them: it, however, being an over portion, only operated as an emetic. 77iis having failed, the knife rvas resorted to, as de tailed in what follows : At an early hour the drums vcrc heard beating, the report of a musket was occasionally heard, and men in uniform were seen mingling among the citizens. As the day advanced, people came pouring in from the country in every direction filling up the streets, while an increased multitude was observed surrounding the gallows which was erected on the hill at the junction of the Lexington and Versailles roads. About half past eleven o'clock, a general movement was observed among the crowds in the streets, towards the jail, the drums beat to arms, and a rumor spread that Beauchamp and his wife had both stabbed themselves. About (he hour of ten o'clock, Beauchamp had drawn the table up to the bed and written over one side of a half sheet cf paper, which he folded up and placed under his head. It was there found after lie was taken out, and delivered to his father. It stated, that as the laudanum had failed to produce the desired e licet, himself and wifo had come to the determination of killing themselves by stabbing, and throw thern- . selves-on the mercy of their God. About this time, the jailor, who was in frequently that morning, again entered, and sat down beside the red. Mrs. Beauchamp, extended her hand toward him as if desirous to shake hands. He pave her his, and she said, "mv dear friend, you have been kind to me," gave him a close grasp, shook his hand strongly several times, and then turned over. This she did in a manner which indicated to the jailor, that she did not wish her husband to perceive what he now supposed was intended as a last farewell to him. The jailor went out and no person was left with them but Mr. EJrington, the guard. The dungeon was almost dark. The little light of day which usually penetrated into it, was .-hut out

ubuany penetrated into it, was , hut out taken out into the prison yard. The by a blanket hung against the grates. AjsherhT, Mr. Walker, approached to put leeble candle gave the only light which the rope around his neck. 4Not yet,'

sliown in tins (earful abode. The onlv entrance was through a trap door above, in which stood a ladder. Mrs. Beauchamp commenced talking with the guard on the subject of suicide. She asked him whether he thought any person would be forgiven for the commission of that crime. He told bethought not; that it was one of those crimes which did not leave time for repentance and could not be forgiven. He begged her to dismiss all such thou idits. and told her she had long enough been a grief to tier mother without bringing down her gray hair with sorrow to the grave. Beauchamp and his wife "frequently converged in a whisper. At length she. requested Mr. Edriagton to step out for a minute, alleging that she wished to . get up. He ascended the ladder and hut the trap door partly down, but ykept in a -position where he could see no movement, and he was in the act oil T-e turning, when Mrs. Beauchamp said, i vD mt come yet.' 'O yes, come down, -aid Beauchamp He then said his wife was too weak to get up, and expressed

wish that she should leave the jail, and

the guard urged the same thing. She said, she would not leave her husband until he was taken out lor execution. She again spoke of suicide, and declared that she would not survive her husband. About half past eleven, the guard observed them whispering together for some time. At length, lieauchamp said aloud, "My dear, you are not strong enough to get up." "Yes! I am," said she, throwing her arms up. She requested her husband to give her more of the loddy; he told her she would drink too much, but she said she would not. He then gave it to her and she d rank. She then requested the guard to step out immediately, pretending great urgency. He again went up the ladder, turned the trap door partlv down, and was clonninrr 5ifr ' rrtiHnn wllPTP bp a arm, anu in muu uiu taiucM uinjci. , . 1 ,i iIrs Beauchamp was lying partly on i.erort wim ,pr iead upon her husband's breast, and her right arm thrown over him. Not suspecting that any thing very serious had happened, he sat down retting his head upon the table, until Beauchamp had finished his prayer. The miserable man continued for sometime ejaculating, 4iO thou God of Justice, have mercy upon us; O thou God of Justice have mercy upon us,r and the guard thinks that two or three time, he cried, "O thou God of mercy, have mercy upon us.' As soon as he had closed his prayer, he seemed to be entirely composed, and observed to the guard, "tell my father, that my wife and myself are going strait to Heaven we are dvin g.'7 1 he guard replied, mo, I reckon not." Bcauchamp said, "yes, it is so we have killed ourselves." The guard sprang up, suspecting they had again taken poison, but as he stepped around the bed, saw something in Mrs. Beaucharnp's right hand. Jie raised her arm and found it to be a knife. It was a common case knife sharpened at the point and bloody about halfway up. He asked where they got that knife? Both answered, that they had long kept it concealed for that occasion. On discovering the bloodv knife, the guard iooked upon the bed and discovered that Mrs. Beauchamp had a stab a little to the right of the centre of the abdomen, which had been laid bare for that purpose. She did not sigh, nor groan, nor show any symptom of pain. He asked Bcauchamp, whether he was stabbed too. He replied yes, and raised up his shirt which had been drawn out of his drawers and rolled up on his body to leave it bare, but had fallen back over the wound. He was stabbed about the centre of the body just below the pit of the stomach; but his wound was not so wide as that of his wife's. He said he had taken the knife and struck first, and that his wife had parryed his arm, wrested the knife from him and plunged it in herself. He said, he feared his wound was not mortal, and begged the guard to get some laudanum for him. As soon as he discovered they were stabbed, the guard called for assistance, and the jailor with others, immediately came in. Beauchamn begged that they would take his wife out and attempt to save her. Without any opposition from her, she was immediately removed into one of the rooms of the jailor's house. lo the enquiries ot those who surround ed her, she replied "I struck the fatal blow myself, and am dying for my dear husband." She now suffered great pain and was evidently in the agonies of death.. Her screams reached the ears cf Beauchamp in his dungeon, and he asked, "is that my dear wife? Do bring me word, what she says." H The physicians Roberts. Majors and YY ilkinson had examined her wound and pronounced it mortal, especially in her present debilitated state. It was now determined to take him to the gallows as soon as possible. Tfe was -j said he. The shei ill' told him it was his duty, and he acquiesced. They were carrying him through the passage of the jailor's house, when he begged to see his wife. The physicians told him, she was not badly hurt and would soon get over it; and some objection was made to stopping. He said, it was cruel, and they carried him in and laid him on the bed beside her. He placed his hand on her face and said, "My dear,doyou know that this is the hand of your husband?" She returned no answer. He felt of her pulse and said, "physicians, you have deceived me she is dying." To the ladies who surrounded the bed, he said, "from you, ladies, I demand a tear of sympathy." He laid conversing with prefect composure, occasionally pntting one hand on his wife's face and feeling her pulse with the other, until he had felt the last throb. "Farewell," said he, '-child of sorrow Farewell child of misfortune and pcrscraiion You are now secure from the tongue of slander For you I have lived; for you I die." He then kissed her twice and said, 'lam now ready to go.' It was now half past twelve o'clock.

The military were drawn up along Lewis street and the alley in continuation which passes by the jailors house, surrounded by an immense crowd, all of whom were listening with intense interest, to every rumor from the dying pair. As Beauchamp was too week to sit on his coflin in a cart, a covered dearborn had been provided for his conveyance to the gallows. He was now brought cut in a blanket and laid in it. At his particular request, Mr. Mcintosh took a seat by his side. Some of the ministers of the

"osnel had taken their leave of him, to whom he expressed the same commence in the forgiveness of his sins and the hope of a happy immortality as in the morning. Just as they were ready to start he said in a severe tone, fcl want to see Darbv. He was asked what he wanted of Darby. He said I want to acquit him.' Darby nnn nindp his ; n ioa rnnro heh!e the ,.'wa 11 j uerl I i iKi II 1, illiu lJy. 1 1 J 1 nan M ', r 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 , . held out his hand to him; but Dai by de clincd taking it. "Mr. Darby, said Beauchamp, fcI feel as if 1 wanted to acquit you to your face before I die. You arc certainly innocent of any participation in the murder of Col. Sharp; but you were guilty of base purjuryon my trial. I do not believe you would take a bribe; but certain it is, you were guilty ot a vile perjury and I cannot conceive your motive'' "Beauchamp," said Darby, 'you have endeavored to do me nil the injury you could. I was prepared to prove the" falsehood of your charge that I participated in the murder of Col. Sharp, but this charge I cannot disprove, bocause no person was present at our conversation it is the last injury you could dome." "Mr. Darby,' said Beauchanip, 'you never saw me at Duncan's well nor any other person, I persume, who told you he married iliss Cook, nor did you ever see me any where until you saw jme a prisoner at Jackson's in Frankort.71 Darby was beginning to repl, hoping that he would retract this new charge before he reached the gallows, when

Beauchamp waved his hand to him, indi-He replied, "Dr. Sharp hasdonemegreat eating that he wanted to hear no morejinjury and his life is in danger; but I

and said, 'drive on.' I he drums beat and the military and crowd moved up Clinton street, to Ann street, aloiig Ann street to Montgomery street at Weisigers tavern and up Montgomery stieet. As they moved on, the jailor asked Beauchamp how, now that he had ac-

quitted Darby, he found Sharp's house?)jailor fixed his shroud upon him, and

Said he, fcJ found it myself without anv assistance.' The jailor asked him how he got the information of which he had

often spoken, that Col. Sharp was en-'liim. and bid him farewell. He shook deavoring to prove that his wife had hadjthc jailor's hand cordially , and in many

a black child? He gave the jailor an inquisitive look and said, "I got it in the

anonymous letter I received from Frank-idurit g his confinement, fort." The jailor asked him if it was re- He was now lifted out of the Dearally true that he had received such a let- horn in a blanket and set up, supported ter. He said that it was, and, said he, by those around him, on his coffin in the "I have since seen the man w ho gave me cart. He asked for water, and requestthe information and conversed with him. ed that while the messenger was gone He informed me that Sharp had told him for it, the muic w ould play Bonaparte's with his own mouth, that the child charg-! Retreat from Moscow. On his repeated ed to him by my wife, was a colored jrequcst, it was done. He then drank child; and that he had then slapped hiniisomc water, and in a linn voice requeston the shoulder and told him that lie ed that they would tell him when they

would die for that story." The jailor observed, he should like to know that man's name. Beauchamp smiled and said, 'O no; you have been kind to me and I would gratify any reasonable request of yours; but that man has been the friend of my family, and his name I will never disclose. 1 have hinted at it in what I have written, but not so that it will be understood? "This music' said he, "is delightful. I never moved more happily in my life." Observing many ladies looking out at the windows, he requested the side curtains of the dearborn to be raised so that he could see them, and raising up a little, he continued to wave his hand to them in token of respect, until the procession got out of town. In going up the hill, the jailor got out of the Dearborn. Beauchamp, observing Col. Lilliard, one of the venire that tried him, near the carriage, called to to him. The Col. came up and Beauchamp, smiling, olfered him his hand. "You rendered a righteous verdict,' said he, "but it was on perjured evidence." He again repeated, that Darin's evidence was wholly untrue, and without the false evidence in the case he thought there was not enough to convict him. Col. Lilliard asked him whetfier Mrs. Sharp's evidence was correct? "In the main," said he "but she recollected badly. I had no cloak on and there was no person with me in the lot." Col. Lilliard asked him whether he had not drawn the knife from Col. Sharp until he fell, as had been reported ? He said, "he had and struck Col. Sharp over the eye with his left hand as he was muttering his name. Did you not see a bruise over one of his eyes," said he ? The Colonel answered in the negative. He then turned and asked some other person the same question, and was again answered in the negative. Col. Lilliard asked him, who persuaded him to kill Col. Sharp. He hesitated sometime, and then said, "my wife persuaded me to kill him." Having got up the hill, the jailor resumed his seat in the Dearborn, and asked Bcauchamp, how they got the laudanum and the knife, and where they had

concealed them. Beauchamp saul, he

had kept a knife which was sent in with his food some months ago and concealed it; that when his wife came, she had brought a file and the laudanum in her bosom and had kept them there knowing that no search would be there made for them: that they had determined to use the file first; if he failed to es cape, then the laudanum, and in the last resort, the knife. W ith this view, he had filed away the back of the knife, bro't it to a point ami made it as sharp as he could. He again described the manner in which the slabs wcie given: said, he first took the knife and saving to his wife 4! my dear, now 1 die,' struck the blow; but his wife caught his arm, wrested the knife from him and stabbed herself. He said, his wife was a sort of Deist and had no compunctions about it: but was seized with a kind of terror

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i it. u. i . i , j' v -- " - . j

self. ktt ?eemcd: said he. 'to be the will!aIllt s: ai'.u.ag.iui .m:.- . r.,

of God, that I should die under the gallows .'5 n f..tli' coi, hu ivnnml !u, w ! hnx.-nci.lf.tlfMririu.r.ll!- T! ,. IlllJI (IIIM Ul' ui'.vvjii.l ninni ft j v

blood penetrated through his clolhing,ai,!3t another; uui uneuoi.c but not in any considerable cuiantitv, " competitors assails tue private rcputa-

r hcv now came in sight of the galows. Said he to the iailor, "did vou have a gallows erected on purpose for me?" 1 he jailor answered "e did" "I thought,' said lie 'you were going to hang me on a limb." The jailor told him he had kept him so long that he had more regard for him and had prepared him a gallows. "It looks iike a food strong one," said he. They had now reached the gallows, where stood a cart with his coifn on it. He seemed wholly unmoved. The IU verend VA Smith. S.M. Noel.J. T Mills ni.ilnJlii.rnrf.r.rhprcsnrrnni.Hf.ill.im 'quiring the state of his mind. To all of their questions, he answered that he was sur e of going to Heaven that his sins were forgiven on Thursday morning. He was asked, if he forgae everv bodv. nope iney w in noi kiii n;m. sic was asked, whether he would commit the same crime again under similar circumstances? He zvnssiint. In every interval of the conversation lie would sav, with some impatience, "I want to be executed 1 want to go to my wife." The taking Ins hand, told him lie had accor ding to his request and that of Ids father, ; perfoi n ed the last act he could do for words expressed his gratitude for thi kindness which had been ihewn him were rcadv, and said lie would rise up. He was told all was ready; with asis tance, he rose up: the cart started: and he wa3 launched into eternity. He exibitcd symptoms of life for some minutes; but his struggles were feeble. After hanging fifteen minutes, the body was taken down and delivered to his father. In a few hours, the aiilietcd old gentleman with his scarcely less afflict-' ed brother, started with the two bodies for Bloomlield in Nelson countv. where Beaurhnmo h:nl ipunptfwt in hi. Km -,wl There, in accordance also with their w -1.-.. v. IV tlll U Ui request, a coffin also was prepared bi enoogii 10 iioiu mem uom, ami tnev were placed in it with his right arm around her neck. In that condition liiev were committed to the earth, until the last dreadful day. I. I.. I ll 1 .1 I.I BARBER. AS recently eaUbhbi.td himself in a small frame luihim;f. on the south side of lliijh street, iminediattly opposite the M;,i ket honse ; where, from from his long- tiptritnee aiiii rigid'. auention to business, he Isopts to merit a rtspecutle fchare of custom. The Gent k men ot Lawrt-nct burgh iind its vie mity are, there tore, requested to ive him a triu!. Yaj-f'jirni!j Gentlemen are also solicited to call. July ?2, 1826 rr-tf NOTICE. TO UN LIC notice is hereby given to Samuel Jl Moore, son of John Moore, late of the county of Dearborn, deceased; to Jon-hthen Dutling--ton and Jne Hutnopten hi.s wife, daughter oi said deceased; to li'jbert Whit ten ar.d Sarah

Whitten his wife, daughter of said deceased; to ed I was recommending M'Carty ivecia'Willim Mooie son of said deceased; heirs,,, t I . i'm-' , , v 1 j .11 1, 1 '7? vvnen in tact, 1 was not; and Jl C artv at law of the said decessed John Moore; mul - ' , , ' ,

to Susannah, khas Susan Moore, widow of the said deceased John Mocre; that 1 have obtained by purchase from John Moore the son, and one f the heirs at hw of the said deceased, the one ntth part of the sou'Ji west quarter of section number two, in township number four, antt range number two west, in the &uid county of Dearborn; and that I shiil nuke application to ihe Judges of 'he Dearborn Circuit Court at ih?ir term to he hutden at Lawrcnctburgh in and for said county ot Dearborn on the first Mor.dsy in October next: to appoint three disinterested free holders, residents of the said county cf Dearborn, not related to either of 1 he parties aforesaid, to divide, partition, and set ofi' to me by metes and boundaries, my said filh part of the quarter section of land aforesaid. WILLIAM I LAKE. July, 1st 182 -3 4--r w

COMMUNICATION.

TO THE EDITORS." Gentlemen You have been good enough, to publish two or more charges nrninst me, I presume, at the instance of O. JI. Smith: I hope, therefore, you will do me the justice to publish my defence to those charges. I am averse to what is called a paper war. I did suppose that Mr. Smith would have been contented with having exhausted the last arrow in his quiver at my private character and circumstances. He lias exerted every power within him to- ruin mv private reputation, and procure to be dragged from me, the little property 1 havcncquiied in thirty yeais labor. This being a matter which concern-

that "ho'ed no one hut him and me, 1 should have vhirir! borne it i silence, had he not bor-

anotr.er shaft from hi- giviecle reputation It' 1 he 10 be anv oite ili;t.g in n.uuie moie mean anu coMcnmiiiiui . 1 1 t ha 11 a m .1 he r. it is, where one ccmpet tor kr ruhiic lavor, brings charges an 1 lion 01 anouiei. 11 i ui?u?iiu. 1 not acquire an office at so great a sacrifice. I never knew a disappointed expectant for office who was not offended at his disappointment. I cannot see how the public are interested in the quarrel between Abner M'Carty and myself: If I had recommended a man, and procured his appointment who was unqualified for the trust, they indeed would have reason to complain of me; hut, I believe, no one will say, General JNoah Ixoblo is unqualified: neither Ki.cch nor Abner can tnl,lk s05 lor ltT a5e m secuiuieh ni the SIMT) of thirty tllOUSanil dollaiS lOl" 1 ' the. faithful performance ol his trust in the oflk'c. If that charge would apply to me lor recommending any one, it would be in the case of Pu'Carty; but I I firmly beiiex e, it is not applicable, even in hi. v . But that Mr. Smith should cotiront to become the Don. Quixote of the jfCaity's, and agree to light their battles right or w rong, argues a weakness and imbecility of mind, which seems to forbid the placing in his hands, any share of the destinies of a great nation: However, lie has thought proper to do so, and I must endeavor to defend myIself against both. It is with extreme reluctance I undertake the task, as it necessarily cornpels me to bring before the public persons, who are not present, and requires me to place them and others in contact with my accusers. However I hope to be excused by them for so doing, w hen I assure them I shall treat them candidlv, and as delicately as the nature of the case will admit of. I am charged by Mr. Smith Co. with dealing ur.candiuly with Abner M'Carty, whereby he lost the appointment of Receiver of Public monies for the Brookville land district. Let us examine wherein I have acted uncandidly towards Abner; and whether he really lost the office bv rnv uncandid dealing. 1 wish to deal fairlv with the Co., and will quote their charge against ine as exhibited by their mouth piece, Mr. Smith. lie savs "that it was no secret in Brookville (where I live) that Mr. Test, for the purpose of removing Gen. Noah Noble, who was understood to be a candidate for Congress, out of his way, and of securing the interest of his friends, and at the same time, inducing the M'Carty s to support his election; did not act in that frank and candid manner, I that ought to characterize the conrepresentative of a free ' duet of a ' pD 5 1)l5t pretended that he had re commended Abner MC.iry specially, (this is underscored) for the appointment of Receiver, when at the same time he had recommcded Noah Noble in much stronger terms than he had Martyv The above is the charge which Mr. Smith acknowledges he had publicly made on me: and that it was true, "was no secret in Brookville' He does not pretend to charge me with writing inconsistent letters of recommendation, Shut only, with acting unca: didly toward M'Cartv. Let us hist see how Mr. Smith's own statement stands, and we will examine the companies' hereafter. He says, 4I pretended, I was recornmcndinir M'Cartv specially.'1 If Mr. Smith be riixht in his inference, I am a bad man indeed, for I am guilty of recommending lo a very import ant oifice, a man w ho was so great a fool, that he did not know a gincrcil from a spsciul rccommenuation. Smith says, I pretendpoor iooi Knew no belter. If really he ne me tHocKneatl winch Smith makes lum, I deserve the severest censure from the public for recommending him. Again, Mr. Smith, asserts "that I pretended to be recommending M'Cartv specially, while at the same time I had j l 11 11 1 t. . . previously recommended General .Noble m stronger terms than 1 had Bi Cartv and to prove his assertion, he introduces M'Carty s and General Noble's letters, whereby, it appears that M'Carty ?s is dated 1st June. IS 25, and Gene al Nobles the 9th of October, 1 825. 1 presume, however, Mr. Smith, as is often I fc'.s vo au error uf. ihe prtry,iioiTjs ,