The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-06 00:00:00

EXECUTION IN NEW YORK.

(Preen the New York Morning Herald of the 9th ult.)
The execution of Patrick Russell, for the murder of
his wife, in June last, took place yesterday in the rear
avenue of the city prison. He was attended at an
early hour, in his cell,
by the Rev. Dr. Curran, and
the Rev. Mr. M'Donough, Catholic clergymen, who
remained with him until the execution. The gallows
used was the same on which Coleman, the negro,
was hung, for the murder of his wife, in Broadway, by
cutting her throat in the street. It consisted merely
of two upright posts, and one transversely placed.
Through the centre of the transverse piece, over a pully
wheel, the rope was passed, and to the opposite end
five fifty-six pound weights were suspended by addi-
tional blocks and tackle. It was placed in the centre
of the yard, and immediately opposite the rear window
of the cell in which Colt is confined, he therefore
having a view of the whole ceremony by raising him-
self to the top of the window, which we understand
he did ! A few minutes previous to the hour fixed for
the execution, the prisoner's coffin was brought in and
placed on the side of the gallows. It was neatly made,
and had been provided by his brother-in-law, Mr. Logue,
The time drawing near, the officers stationed them-
selves in front of the pavement on each side of the ave-
nue, forming a line inclosing the persons present, who
numbered about 150. Everything being in readiness,
and his spiritual advisers having informed the Sheriff
that he was prepared, a procession was formed at the
outer door of the prison, consisting of the Sheriff, Mon-
mouth B. Hart, Esq. ; the Under-Sheriff, John 1. Wes-
tervelt, Esq., iu full black dress, with swords and cha-
peaus, followed by the twelve citizens, selected by law
to witness the execution, the Deputy Sheriffs appointed
for the occasion, and a number of other persons. Pre-
vious to leaving the cell, the short rope, with the noose,
was placed around his neck by the Under-Sheriff, John
I. Westervelt, Esq., and directions given him not to
move his head while under the gallows, as it would
change the position of the rope, and thus cause him to
struggle much before life was extinct. He obeyed these
injunctions explicitly while under the gallows. He was
clad in a white muslin frock coat and pantaloons,
trimmed with black braid, and a white cap, also trimmed
and ornamented with a tassel. At twenty minutes be-
fore eleven he left his cell, and proceeded in procession
round the centre building' to the gallows, the Rev.
Dra. Curran and M`Donough walking on each side of
him, and the Sheriff and Under-Sheriff leading the
procession, followed by a number of citizens, Deputy-
Sheriffs, and police officers. The prisoner evinced no
emotion on perceiving the gallows, but walked slowly
and steadily forward without support until be reached
it, and then knelt by the side of his coffin with the
clergymen. He held a crucifix in his hand, and his
face appeared of a livid hue. On kneeling his whole
frame trembled with emotion. He then joined the Rev.
Dr. Curran in prayer, still holding the crucifix in his
bands with his eyes intently fixed upon it.' Oa the re-
sponse being delivered by Dr. M`Donough, he ape
peared.to repeat it in a low tone, and on concluding he
pronounced audibly the word Amen. This was the
only laud word spoken by the wretched man after leav-
ing his cell. The reverend clergymen then kissed him
on the cheek, and he rose with their aid and took his
stand beneath the rope. At this point he evinced no
particular sensibility or emotion. The Sheriff, aided
by his Deputy, having previously placed the noose
around his neck, then attached the upper end to the
hook leading from the main rope. The Rev Dr. Cur-
ran here stepped forward, and whispered in the prisoner's
ear, 0 merciful God, have mercy on my soul for
Christ's sake," which Russell continued to mutter. At
this moment, twenty-five minutes before eleven, the cap
was drawn, the rope sustaining the weights cut by the
Under-Sheriff, and in an instant the unfortunate man
was suspended between heayset and earth. Not a
movement of the body was perceptible for nearly a mi-
nute, when a slight shudder passed over it that shook
the gallows frame ; this was followed by several convul-
sive efforts, which continued at intervals for upwards
of six minutes, when the vital spark appeared- to be
extinct. Dr. Curran continued reading prayeri until
the last gleam of life appeared to have departed, when he
retired with his associate. Although his hands were par-
tially grasped immediately after he was drawn up, yet from
the fact that the ends of the fingers on each had been
frozen off some years since, the crucifix and handker-
chief that he had held dropped to the ground on the
third convulsive movement. The body remained forty-
eight minutes on the gallows, when it was lowered down
and placed in the coffin, the lid of which was put on
without removing the cap from his face. His remains
were then handed over to his friends for burial in the
pew Catholic ground, corner of Eleventh-street and
Second Avenue, the funeral of which takes place this
morning. He maintained, throughout the whole cere-
niony, the same apparent insensibility that has charac-
terised him from the time of his trial, and although
penitent and satisfied of the justice of his sentence, yet
he died as one feeling no apparent solicitude as for
his fate. His two children, both girls, one aged four-
and-a-half years and the other three, visited him in
his cell on Menden for the first time since his incar-
ceration, and thoegli it has been only since June-last,
he (lid not recognise them as belonging to him. The
eldest one ran nut of the cell, at first atating that she
was afraid of him, " because he looked so wild," but
the youngest remained until he came to his recollection,
when he wept over them with considerable demonstra-
tion of feeling.
An application was made to the Sheriff for the use of
his body to experiment upon by the galvanic battery,
hut owing to the omission of Judge Kent in his sentence
to authorize the delivery of it to the physicians, and the
application of his friends to obtain it for burial, the
Sheriff delivered it to his brother in-law, Mr. Logue,
who took it in charge, and removed it from the prison
yesterday at two o'clock.
Dr. Cornelius B. Archer and Dr. James H. Har
attended as physicians during the execution, by the re-
quest of the Sheriff, and we cannot close this notice
without alluding to the orderly manner in which the
whole ceremony was conducted, both on the part of the
Sheriff as well as the persons assembled. The prisoner's
counsel, Henry M. Western, Esq., was present, and
in alluding to the scene, observed that the Sheriff had so
well performed his duty that the prisoner must have
died in the most easy manner that such a death could
possibly be effected.
It will be remembered that the law compelling the
execution of prisoners within the gaol-yard, makes it
incumbent on the Sheriff to summon two Judges of the
Court of Sessions, two physicians, and twelve citizens,
to witness the execution, and give a certificate that the
penalty of the law was properly put in force at the time
selected.

---------
An occurrence took place in front of the prison,
while the execution was going on, that created consi-
derable sensation. It appears that Mr. H. Sice, a bro-
ther-in-law of Sheriff Hart, made application at the gaol
door for admission, but, the prisoner having left bis cell,
he concluded it was too late to witness the execution,
and immediately stepped out of the prison entrance on
Franklin-street, and was accosted by Mr. T. Day, who
remarked to him that he applied at a late hour. He
answered in the affirmative, end turning round, fell
headlong to the side walk. The force of the fall
caused a profuse flow of blood from his nose, and
upon raising him up. it was found that he had been at-
tacked with a fit of apoplexy. He was immediately
conveyei across Centre-street to the hotel kept by John
Carland, and placed in the back room, where every at-
tention was rendered
.bim by the inmates of the pre-
mises. 'Some fifteen minutes elapsed before a physician
could be obtained, when Drs. Smith, Wood, and Pen-
ne' arrived, who were joined by Drs. Hart and Archer
immediately after the execution had terminated, and
every means was resorted to to restore his life, bet
without effect. lie remained in a state of insensibility
until six o'clock last evening, when death terminated his
agonizing convulsions. Truly may we say—" In the
midst of life we are in death."

LOSS OF LIVES AT GREENocK.—Yesterday
an accident of a ,frightful nature, and, we regret to add,
attended with the loss of lives, happened at the ship-
building yard of Messrs. John Scott and Co., of Green-
ock. A fine vessel, the Brahmin, for the East India
trade, was launched from the stocks in the above yard,
at twenty minutes before three o'clock, in presence of a
large concourse of spectators. The deck was thronged
with boys to the number, it is computed, of 150 to 200,
who, as all went on agreeably, seemed to be in the height
of enjoyment. The vessel glided smoothly down the
slips, when suddenly the ballast shifted, and she fell to
one side, anti sunk gradually till her masts were covered,
and the water was within two feet of the hatch. The
confusion and cries of distress rendered it impossible to
ascertain how many persons had been carried with the
vessel into the stream ; but no time was lost in procur-
ing boats, and other means of saving the sufferers. A
good number were taken out by the boats, and others
hung on by the side of the vessel which was uppermost,
until assistance was procured for them. At five o'clock,
when the train left, the vessel continued in the position
we have described ; but it was still impossible to tell the
extent of the calamity, although the number of lives lost
must be considerable.— Glasgow Courier.
FALMOUTH, JAN. 3.—The West India
steamers Tay and Thames left this harbour this after-
noon with exceedingly large mails, which were increased
in number 75 per cent. beyond the usual ratio. The
former had about thirty passengers, but their names
could not he ascertained. The report is that the Di-
rectors have arranged for the Thames to be the first
home With the return mails, and might be
l oo
the course of two months. Besides them akingd•
fo
up of
ker in
these mails and despatches, the reflill Silasrbo steCaamdeir;
Tagus, received those for Vigo, Oporto, nt
left at noon. The
and Gibraltar, with which she
Oriental steamer sailed yesterday- with 132fpassengers,
and in all about 80 boxes and package o mails and
papers. Her Majesty's brigantine Lynx camels late
non-arrival up of the Montrose in
thence, owing to the non-a
to-night with the Lisbon mail.s of the 19th ult._„despatched
due course. •
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