Newtown Township.

of the murdered man, by handbills and advertisements in the newspapers of Philadelphia, Chester, Lancaster, and other counties, published the following notice "Stop the murderer l Whereas, John Craig, of Charlestown township, Chester County, Pa., did on the 19th of July, 1817, wilfully and maliciously shoot Edward Hunter, Esquire, of Newtown, Delaware County. This is to give notice that the sum of $300 will be paid by the subscribers for apprehending and bringing to justice the said John Craig. He is a blacksmith by trade, about, five feet ten inches high, stoopshouldered, stout build, a little knock-kneed, very much sun burnt, freckled, thick lips, sandy complexion, large whiskers; had on when he left home light nankeen pantaloons, snuff-colored cloth.coat, green oil cloth on his hat and shoes, but it is most likely he has changed his dress, as he took a bundle with him." The authorities through the country were on the alert to arrest the suspected man, and at one time it was reported that he bad been apprehended at Jenkintown, while a person answering his description accurately was detained at Danbury, Conn., under suspicion, and Daniel Thompson and Mr. Maxwell, of this county, in the latter part of August, went there in consequence of the information received, only to learn that, while the general description was correct, it was not the man they sought. However, in the early part of September, Craig was arrested in Easton, he having been identified by a person engaged with him chopping wood, from the description given in the advertisement, and on Monday, Sept. 13, 1817, he was lodged in the prison at Philadelphia, when, after being identified, he was delivered to the custody of the sheriff of Delaware County, who removed him to the jail at Chester. I have beard it frequently said that Judge Bird Wilson resigned from the bench because of his unwillingness to preside at the trial of Craig for murder, a statement that will not bear examination, inasmuch as on March 14, 7817, four months before the murder of Hunter, Bishop White had admitted Bird Wilson to holy orders. On Monday, Oct. 20, 1817; the grand jury indicted John H. Craig for the murder of Edward Hunter. On Tuesday following he was arraigned and pleaded " not guilty." Judge Ross asked him if he had counsel, when the prisoner replied "that he was not able to pay lawyers," and the court thereupon assigned Samuel Edwards and Benjamin Tilghman, Esquires, to conduct his defense, while the commonwealth was represented by Deputy Attorney-General Henry G. Freeman, Robert Frazer, and Isaac Darlington, Esquires. On Friday morning the counsel for the prosecution called the case for trial, when the prisoner made an affidavit setting forth that at least six witnesses material in his defense were absent. A discussion between the lawyers followed, and it is traditionally stated that the appeal of Mr. Tilghman for a continuance of the case was the most animated and eloquent address that that lawyer and gifted advocate ever delivered in the old court-house in Chester. The trial was finally postponed to the next term. The demeanor of the prisoner as he sat at the bar made an unfavorable impression on the audience, for it was noticed that he appeared quite unconcerned, sometimes smiling, while at other times he drummed audibly with his fingers on the railing in front of him. The case was not finally tried until the April term, 1818. The hearing began Tuesday, April 14th ; the commonwealth examined forty-seven witnesses, and so admirably had the testimony been sifted that the prosecution succeeded in tracing Craig from the moment he took the gun in his hands until his final apprehension at Easton. The defense, notwithstanding the evidence was overwhelmingly conclusive as to the prisoner's guilt, was admirably conducted, and it was surprising to the audience that so much could be urged as was advanced by his counsel in his defense. The jury retired about sunset on Saturday afternoon, April 18, 1818, and at 10 o'clock returned a verdict of "guilty." The apartment was densely crowded, and for fifteen minutes, while Judge Ross wrote his address to and sentence of the prisoner, the silence was so profound that the scratching of the quill-pen his honor was using could be heard in every part of the room. Governor Findlay signed the death warrant promptly on May 4th, and on May 9, 1818, Sheriff Robert Fairlamb read the document to the prisoner in his cell in the old jail at Chester. A gentleman present on that occasion has left it on record that Craig listened attentively, his countenance undergoing no change, made no remark; "nor did a tear drop from his eyes" when the officer announced to him that he would be executed in exactly four weeks from that day. Saturday, the 6th day of June, 1818, precisely at eleven o'clock in the morning, John H. Craig was taken from his cell, and when he reached the corner of the present Fourth and Market Streets, he was halted until a guard was formed. The cart containing the coin was in front, driven by the hangman. The prisoner followed immediately thereafter, dressed as usual, excepting it was noticed that he wore a white cap under his hat, but so placed as not to conceal his face, while his arms were pinioned to his body, but not so tightly as to prevent him raising his hands to his head. Four clergymen attended him, two on either side supporting him as he walked, for he proceeded on foot to the place of execution. Next behind him followed four or five females, relations of the prisoner. Then came a number of constables who surrounded the accused, and the line of march was taken up finally, the sheriff on horseback, supported by a mounted guard composed of many of the leading citizens of the county. Before the procession moved Craig stood for several minutes gazing at the unusual spectacle with an unaltered countenance and unflinching eye. It was about mid-day when the column halted under the gallows on Caldwell's meadow, near Munday's Run, close to the post-road, near a clump of trees which then stood there-near