art, a colored man, convicted of the murder of Ann Oberholzer. He persisted to the last in denying that he had any intention of killing Mrs. Oberholzer, but freely confessed that he had been the cause of her death, in attempting to commit a rape on her person, and seemed fully satisfied with the justice of his doom.

On the Monday preceding his execution, his coffin was brought into his room, at his own request, and with this memorial of his death before him, in the presence of a number of individuals, and the ministers of the place, the Rev. Dr. Lochman, Sr., administered to him the solemn ordinances of baptism. On Tuesday night, the prisoner was dressed in his shroud and cap, at his own request, and in these habiliments of death he partook, with the clergymen of the place and other pions citizens, of the Sacrament of the Supper.

On Wednesday, he was led to the place of execution, in the centre of State street, a short distance below Second, accompanied by the military, the sheriff, (Gleim,) and the clergy. When he first came out of the prison his mind appeared oppressed, and the tears flowed freely from his eyes; he soon, however, recovered, and walked with firmness to the gallows; there, after two hymns had been sung, a prayer offered up, and two short addresses delivered, he ascended the scaffold, when a prayer was offered up for him, which he followed with a prayer for himself. The 51st Psalm was then sung, and just as the concluding lines of the 6th verse were sung, the trap-door on which he stood fell, and the prisoner was launched into eternity. On this occasion, the prisoner and the audience, which was very numerous, were spared the disgusting sight of a painted and disguised hangman, the sheriff performing this duty himself. This was the last public execution in Harrisburg.

Execution of Courtland Charles Johnson.

Courtland Charles Johnson, a boatman by profession, residing near Middletown, in this county, was arrested and confined in

prison, in the month of August, 1853, charged with the murder of his wife, Priscilla, and her alleged paramour, one Nathaniel P. Colyer.

At the November session, 1853, he was arraigned and tried for the murder of his wife, and the jury returned a verdict of murder in the second degree.

At the April session of 1854, he was arraigned and tried for the murder of Colyer, when the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree. His attorneys made a motion for a new trial, which, however, was overruled by the court, and the unfortunate prisoner received his sentence.

The warrant for his execution was issued on the 8th of June, 1854.

A short time previous to his execution, he confided to the Rev. J. Mackey, one of his spiritual advisers, a confession of his crime, which was subsequently published, and from which we make the following extract, which explains the mode by which the murder was committed.

After stating that the boat upon which he was employed had returned to Portsmouth, in this county, and that he had left the same at dark, to go and see his wife, who resided on the opposite side of the Swatara creek, he was informed, on his way, of her bad conduct, he continues: "But I had often heard such reports before, and was very certain they were too well grounded. Still I don't know that I was much moved by the story I now heard. Passing on I arrived at the board fence which surrounded the shed dwelling where she lived. On approaching the place, I thought I heard some persons conversing in a low tone of voice, and on coming nearer it appeared to me I recognized the voice of Priscilla. Now suspicion at once seized me, and creeping up quietly to the fence, and unobserved, I discovered my wife in the lot, on the ground with some man whom I did not know, and which afterwards proved to be Nathaniel P. Colyer.

"Remaining in this position long enough to satisfy me of their criminal connection, I raised myself up, which they discovered. They immediately rose up and passed hastily round the house into rather a dark and shady spot, for I think, if I mistake not, the moon shone or else the stars very brightly.Discovering the direction they took I passed round the house the opposite way, which I think they did not know, nor do I think they yet knew who I was. Wrought up to the highest pitch of rage and jealousy, and being somewhat under the influence of liquor, for I had been drinking freely all the day, I now laid hold of my revolver. On turning the corner of the house my wife turned suddenly around, hearing my footsteps. We stood face to face, within a few paces of each other. I said, I have caught you now, raised the deadly weapon and discharged its contents, aiming for her breast. She dropped upon her knees and cried out, 'My God, Johnson, you have shot me!' and in a short time sunk over in the agonies of death. Where Colyer was precisely at this time I do not now distinctly recollect, nor the distance he was from me. It is said I fired another shot at some one, which, if I did, (for I was all confused,) it may have been at Colyer, as the evidence shows he received the ball in the spine."

The day appointed for the execution of the prisoner was on the 25th of August, 1854. On the morning of that day he was busily engaged perusing the 14th chapter of St. John, in the New Testament, which was his favorite study.

About twelve o'clock the jury, selected by the Sheriff, the physicians, Drs. Bombaugh, Seiler, Roberts, and Rutherford, with the members of the press and clergy, were admitted into the prison; while the latter proceeded to the cell of the prisoner and engaged in devotional exercises.

At twenty-five minutes before one o'clock the cell was vacated by the clergy and the Sheriff entered with a white shroud, and proceeded to array him therein. The prisoner, led by the

Sheriff, soon appeared in the vestibule of the prison, when a procession was formed, and the entire body marched to the scaffold, which had been erected the day previous, in the yard, at the rear of the building. When the procession reached the scaffold, the prisoner mounted with a firm step, followed by his spiritual advisers, the Rev. Messrs. A. Cookman, of the Methodist Episcopal; Colder and Mackey, of the Bethel; and Holmes, of the United Brethren Church. The Rev. Mr. Mackey, after a few remarks, gave out the hymn of "Jesus the Lord of my soul," which was sung by the congregation. A fervent and impressive prayer was then delivered by the Rev. A. Cookman. After which each of the clergy embraced the prisoner, and descer ded the scaffold. Sheriff Williams then adjusted the cap and rope, and after taking a fervent leave of him, descended, and precisely three minutes before one o'clock P. M., pulled the bolt of the drop which launched the prisoner into eternity. He appeared to die without the least struggle, and his pulse ceased to beat when he had only been suspended four and one-half minutes.

The last sentence spoken by the prisoner was "Lord Jesus, receive my soul-" which hung on his lips when the drop fell. He remained suspended for thirty minutes, when he was pronounced dead by the physicians and cut down by the Sheriff, who had his remains placed in a coffin prepared for interment.

Execution of William Williams.

William Williams, a coal miner by profession, at the November sessions, 1857, of the Dauphin county court, was tried for the murder of Daniel Hendricks, near Lykenstown, in this county, by shooting him with a gun. The warrant for his execution was issued by the Governor on the 1st of March, 1858, and it fixed Friday, the 21st day of May, 1858, for the time of said execution.

A little before twelve o'clock on the morning of said day, the

culprit, accompanied by Sheriff Jacob Eyster, Revs. Marquet, Martz and Bartine; the jury, Deputy Sheriff, and other persons who had been permitted to witness the execution, left the prison, and marched in procession to the scaffold, which was the same as that used for the execution of Johnson, and placed in the same position. Here, the prisoner ascended the scaffold, with the Sheriff, followed by Revs. Bartine and Martz. After a solemn prayer by the former clergyman, an appropriate hymn was sang. His spiritual advisers then took an affectionate leave of him and descended from the scaffold, when the Sheriff proceeded to adjust the rope, and placed the cap over the prisoner's head and face; after which he likewise descended from the gallows, and proceeding to the rear thereof, touched the spring, which caused the drop to fall, and the unfortunate culprit was launched into eternity.

This was the last execution that occurred in our county. A death-warrant, for the execution of an Irishman named Simon Green, had been issued on the 26th of October, 1856; but about one hour previous to the time fixed for his execution, he was respited by the Governor to a fixed day, which was subsequently extended without date; and he still continues an inmate of the county prison.

CONCLUSION.

This concludes our record of the most striking events that have transpired in our borough, from the period of its first settlement, to the present day. Many interesting incidents, however, connected with the early history of the town, will, for want of proper dates, be found in the appendix.