Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-12-10

a limited hope or expectation mat something
might still occur to prevent his execution
The Sheriff promised to comply with this
request of delaying the execution, but a
the same time told him TO Danish Ill hope o.
pardon or reprieve and prepare himself
for that death which was inevitable, as he
should be executed at four o'clock. Coli
then asked to see DIR. Anthem, who enter.
ed his cell and remained pray ing with him
for about quarter of an hour, when Colt
again sent for the Sheriff and told him that
if there were any other persons who wish
ed 10 take leave of him, he would be pleas
ed TO see them. Several persons, nclu-
ding some of the police officers, then went
10 take leave of him, and TO one of the off,
GERS he addressed himselfmore particular
ly, and while shaking his hand said, 81 am
prepared for death and not afraid to die,
farewell" Alter the persons who now vi
81 ed him had retired, it being then two
o'clock, or little after, he requested to be
left alone, until The moment for his execu-
ton had arrived. His cell was according
ly closed and he was left alone, until the
moment for his execution had arrived. His
cell was accordingly closed and he was
left alone for about an hour, when one of
the deputy sheriis tho ght it proper to see
the PASSOVER, lest he might have any inten-
ton of committing suicide. The officer
accordingly spoke TO him from the outside
of the cell door and told him that he wish
ed to bid him farewell, and at The same
moment, opened the door and found Colt
walking in his rell, and as soon as the off.
Ger entered it, Colt took him by the hand,
shook it cordially, and bid him farewell.
1t was now near three o, lock, and short.
ly afterwards party of officers, marching
with their poles to the place of execution,
betokened that the hour for it had nearly ar
rived, and the spectators rushed from all
parts of the prison yard, and took their
stations as near as each person could to
the gallows. The officers arranged lane
between the people for The prisoner and
those who were TO attend him, to walk to
the gallows, and sh 'rtly after, Judge lnglis
Of the Court of Common Pleas, Judge
Lynch of the Court of Sessions, and a
large number of Aldermen arrived and
took their station close to it, Up to this
time, few of the persons who had been ad.
mitted 10 witness the execution, knew what
was the hour actually fixed for it, rumor
having vaguely assigned for it different
hours in the af ernoon, from two o'clock 10
sundown. But the arrival OF the Aide men
and the Two Judges, accompanied by in
frmaiion of an official character, that the
execution would take place al four o'clock,
led those who were present TO positively
expect il at that hour, which was fast ap
preaching And the morbid Impotence
of many OF the spectators was evlnced by
continually taking out their watches, and
asking each other twill hebe hanged at
o'clock" and others expressing belief
that he would never be hanged. While |
expectation was thus on tip toe and every
minute that passed was supposed TO be the
last but one before the convict would make |
his appearance, Mr.. Calendar, one of the
Clerks in the police office, walked in be.
tween the two ranks of spectators and in
formed them in l,ud voice that Colt was
dead, and had died by his own hand. A
tremendous ru h instantly took place from
the gallows 10 the door leading to that part
Of the p.i n in which Colt was confined,
hut before many persons could get in, the |
door was shut and the officers who were
stationed inside and outs de of it refused TO |
admit any one.
The people now ecame violent ex led.
Some oil them cried out, ''it's all humhug,
il he is dead why not let US see him." and
some of them endeavu;ed to iuce in the
door This wever, they could not effect,
and the excitement became still greater
and verged on cxr me violence, when
loud cries of sire, fire in the cupola," drew
the attention Of every one towards il, and
aim ST at the same instant, the wo den Gu
pola on the p ison, Hurst into sheet of
flame. This new and startling incident
drew away the peoples attention for few
minutes from the subject of Colts alleged
death, and by that time several rcspe table
citizens who had seen Coils body, came
out of the prs IN and zorro horated the ac-
count Of his death ard described the man
Der Of it.
1t appeared that few minutes before 4 |
O'Clock, the Sheriff and his deputy, accom-
panied by DR.. Anthem, wen, to Coils cell
for the purpose of leading him to execution
and on opening the door, found him lying
dead On his bed, with dirk knife sticking
in his heart.
THE HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE
ock thoo moi IN yioId thu Ioua