Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-12-10

~ osheswise cheerless place. At the
3oot STOOD NuitS the deputy sheriff, one
hand % tn sliding bolt Of the coll door,
and the Other holding tho paddock and
KY. On The corridor connected with
bic csll Wis the sheriff, pacing up and |
down on one side, evidently deeply az.
iected with the contemplation Of the
shocking ceremony he was about to per
form. Pacing up and down on tho other
side Of The corridor might be seen small
made man, with highly intellectual
countenance; the natural brilliancy Of
which was. ovcrshadowcd by deep solem
nifty, his hands behind him, and his whole
mental energies evidently absorbed in
profound reflection on the things Of an
other world, this was DR.. Anthem the spir
itual adviser Of the prisoner. Close by
the li,,lo bridge which united the two
corridors, stood two friends Of the prison
er, in conversation on his unto, tunate ca.
rcer-these we're John Howard Payne
and Lewis Gaylord Clarke. In the cor
ridor helow were about thirty persons,
principally those connected in some way
or other with the administration Of jus.
tice; aud on the faces of,he Whole there
was o most extraordinary aspect Of So
lemnity, altogether different from what
has usually been seen ia that building,
even just previous 10 an execution. 1t APP
reared as If terrible event was about 10
happen that they could not avert, and
,hut would plunge them all in profound
regret. At last, about one o'clock, Colts
brother Samuel, again arrived, aud en-
tered his cell; lie was still engaged in
conversation with his wife, who was Sit
ting Oh the foot OF TIC bed, conyulscd with
his tears. At Colts request, John How
ard Payne and Lewis Gaylard Clarke
then went into his cell TO take their leave
Of him. Colt appeared exceedingly pleas
ed to see them; shook them cordially by
the hand, aud converscd w.t., apparent
chcerfulness with them lor five minutes,
when they bid him farewell, both Of them
in tears. Colts brother, Samuel, and his
wife, remained in the cell about Ten min.
u,cs longer, when both left. Ills brother
Was deeply effected, aad looked more
CHASTITY even than colt himself. His wife
could scarcely support herself, SO VIC.
lent were her feelings and accute her SUI.
ierings. She stood ut the door Of the
cell Tor nlinutc-Colt kissed her PAS.
siona,ely-strained her 10 his bosom, and
watched her receding form rs she passed
into the corridor. Here she stood and sob.
bed convulsivc'y as tho her heart would
break, for five minutes. At last she was
led away by Colts brother, and bis friends
followed Colt then desired to see the
Sheriff, who went into his cell. Colt
then told him cmphatically that lie was
innocent Of the murder. OF Adams, and
that lie still had hopes that something
would intervene 10 save him from being
hung, and begged him not to execute tie
sentence Of the law upon him. The
Sheriff told him to Danish oil hopes Of
that kind, lor that he must die at o'cto6k
lie then requested to see the Sheriff )
watch, and Sc, his own by it to u minu.c
He then asked to see DR.. Anthem, aud tho
latter went Into his cell, and remained ia
prayer with him for about ten minutes.
At the close Of this, Col. again sent for
The Sheriff, and said TO him, .'lf there are
any gentlemen present who wish to sec
me, and ,ske their leave Of me, shall BE-
happy to SEQ them"
This was announced by the Sheriff,
and all present with enc or two excep-
tons passed up to his cell door, shook
him BY the hand, and took their leave OF
him. 10 ono gentleman connected with
the press he said, 'l'ye spoken harshly OF
some OF tho press, but do NIT blame you
al all; II was all my own fault; there
were things that ought to have be, II OK
planned; l know you have good heart,
and | forgive you from my soul, freely
may God bless you and may you prosper.'
He then requested his keeper, Mr..
Greene. to let him he left alone until the
last moment. This was about 9 r NJ.
His cell was closed and he was left alone
till 20 minutes 10 3, when some friends
Of the Sheriff experimenting that he might
attempt 10. commit suicide. one OF the
deputy Sheriff Hillyer, went to his
cell door. and requested to wish him good
bvc.' Colt was then walking up and
down his cell, but turned round on The
door opening, smiled on llillycr, shook
him by the hand, and kissed him, as he
did several OF those who had just previ-
ously bid him farewell in this lie. lie
said to Hiliyer-'Cod bless you, and may
you prosper IN this life which is soon to
close ON mc.'-.From this time to three
o'clock, the excitement around the prison
increased tremendously; aud the feel
ings Of those in the prison were also
worked up TO pitch of great intensity.
Several eminent surgeons came into the
prison little bt ioro three, and the uni
versal topic Of discussion all round, among
the little knots ofspectators, was, wheth.
or he had been furnished with the means.
and whether he would comni. suicide or
not. Many prophecied that 'by four o.
clock thcro would be dead man withou:
hanging
SUICIDE OF JOHN c. COLT.
Four O'clock, p. NJ.
We had written. the whole Of the above
Al Ia to 3 p. M. this afternoon. At that
ume Colt was alive. No one entered his
cell till precisely s minutes TO four
o'clock, ut which time Sheriff Hart and
Westeryelt, dressed in uniform, with Dr.