Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-06-07

Back and finished them. Witness asked
prisoner if he cut Burke's head off, and
he replied yes. He appeared to under
stand the conversation, and was not in
toxicated at the time.
Joel Aldrich swore, that the prisoner
confessed to him, that on the night after
the first beating he gave Burke, he went
to him--Burke asked him for some wa
ter; he replied, "damn you, l will give
you WATER" and that he then cut his
head off. This confession was made the
last Of January, in the Jail.
In this short account of the trial of AM
asa f.. Walmsley, we have only stated
the strong points sworn to, by the Govern
ment witnesses. Many witnesses were
examined for the prisoner, and an attempt
was made to discredit some Of the Gov
ernment witnesses.
During the trial, the prisoner appeared
perfectly composed, and received his SELL
tence without any apparent emotion.
As no account Of the trial has yet been
published, we have deemed it due to the
public, to give the material parts OF the
testimony, on which the verdict Of "guil-
ty," was returned.--To our mind it was
conclusive.
AT the last session ofthe Legislature, a
petition for reprieve was rejected, and
since that time, all hope Of pardon has
% been taken from the unfortunate, but gull
ty criminal.
We have cautiously avoided publish
ing any part Of the testimony, which
could in any degree affect the rights of
others, implicated in the most foul and
horrid murder of John Burke and Han
nah Frank.
The prisoner was taken from the Jail at
placed in hackney coach, accompanied
by the Sheriff, Col. Henry B. Mumford,
and the Rev. DR.. Crocker, and the Rev.
Mr.. Pattison, and was conveyed to the
place of execution, about two miles from
the centre Of this city, at the junction of
the Providence and Pawtuxet Turnpike
and the old road. He was attred with q
white muslin gown spotted with black,
white stockings and black slippers.
AT the place Of execution the warrant
for his execution was read by the Sheriff,
and an appropriate prayer offered to the
Throne of Mercy by the Rev. Mr.. Pat
tison. The prisoner expressed to the
Sheriff desire to address the spectators,
but his strength appeared to fail him.
After every preparation had been COM
pleted, he was informed by the Sheriff
that the time had arrived when the exc
cWion of the law was to take place, and
desired him to give the fatal signal by
dropping handkerchief. This he did
in few seconds, and the Sheriff, at a |
quarter before O'clock, cut the cord
and in moment he was suspended in the
air, victim to the violated laws of mis-
country. He died with scarce strug-
gle; and after hanging forty minutes his
body was taken down and delivered to
his friends. From the commencement Of
the preparation for his execution, and for
weeks before, he was perfectly sensible
that his execution was inevitable. His
coaduct, to the last moment, was marked
with great firmness and resignation.
Such were the perfect and complete
arrangements made by the Sheriff that
no accident happened during the pcrfor-
nance Of this most unpleasant and disa-
greeable duty. Every part was conduct
cd with the utmost propriety; & although
no military escort or guard was called to
preserve order, yet in an immense crowd
Of all ages, sexes and conditions, compos-
ing near 10000 persons, there was no
noise or disturbance, and during the mo-
ments Of the execution a general silence
pcrvaded the spectators, who seemed
impressed with the solemnity ofthe occa-
sion.