The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-30


hopes OF escape. letter was sent to the Sheriff,
enclosin0 $1,000 and promising $1,000 more mere
ly to refuse to hang him. This was kept By the
Sheriff and never publicly revealed till ten days after
Colts suicide On the effect of this letter and bride
Colt depended till ,ohin ttoo hours Of has death for
at that time he renewed his appeals the sheriff
TO hang him. promising him new house, &c. if he
would only lei the hour pass by So strong was the
reliance of his friends up to that moment that he
would moi die that day, that they procured no cof-
mn, made no preparations for his burial giving
| reason that they did not think it would have TO
come to that
| All Tuesday, "Wednesday and Thursday, he had
been allowed unrestricted intercourse with his
| friends, and some one of them, doubtless in that
period, gave him the dagger with which he destroy
ed himself, and the laudanum, scissors and penknife
that were found in his cell after death. He had
these, he had the $500, he had the confidence of
| the Clergyman that he would not commit suicide,
and might be safely left alone tor any length of time
he had the promise of the sheriff that he should
be executed till the last moment-ihe setting of
| the sun-when any accident like the firing of the
prison, the opening of the gates to admit fire en-.
gines, GALL which did occcur) might prevent the exc
cuticn. Thus he doubly and ,rebly armed
life.
Such was the state of affairs on the morning of
the eventiul day which he died, Friday the 18th
OF November, day long to be remembered in the
annals of this city.
TIE DAY OF CoLT's DEATH This was a clear
bright, cold day, that seldom occurs here at this
season of the year. Throughout the city there was
but one topic of conversation-the execution of
Colt. 1t was in the mouth of all as soon as tbs
awoke; old and young rich and poor, male and fe-
male. "What hour will he be hung % was asked
by every one; but no one knew the hour until they
had entered the prison, and been told by the sheriff
The office of this functonary was literally beseiged
by persons applying for admission to Colt hung.
All but favored few were refused This only in
creased the excitement Thousands declared that
day they did not believe he would ever be hung
In many places heartess men were betting heavily
on the subject. AS as it daylight an eager
and curious mob began to collect around the walls
of the prison, determined to be in the neighborhood
of the tragedy, although well aware that they could
see none Of it. Many persons who had the entrfc
of the jail swallowed their breakfasts hastily and
ran down to the scene of action, fearful that they
mightlose the chance of gratifying morbid curio.
sity. One man actually came 300 miles to see the
execution. All business seemed suspended in the
city, and every was in the streets enquiring if
the last scene of the tragedy was over. The mob
increased around the prison walls, and all sorts of
NOISES shouts ordinations and vulgar and ruffian-
like observations that would have disgraced sa.
wage, passed from mouth to mouth With the first
streaks of day, and before the prison doors were
opened, there watchful form and anxious
face awaiting admission in advance of all others
This was the brother of Colt. He was adj
mitted to the prisoners cell, unsearched and alone
The interview painful and affecting; tears stood
IN both their eyes, but for moment. Colt had been
up nearly all night, writing review of the Cover
nors written reasons for refusing respite. He had
eaten nothing, but drank some coffee. His brother
soon left. Colt desired to have barber to shave
linn, and some clean clothes, that he might, as he
said, make respectable appearance when DR.. An
thon called. He very cool and collected dur
ing the time the barber shaving him and al
though the keeper watched to see that he did not
snatch the razor, there was no necessity for it be-
cause Colt still hoped to escape, and if he did not
he had his means of seli-destruction either by
him or about to be brought to him. The barber
wished him "good by for ever, and the tears stood
in his eyes; Colt was calm and unmoved. He made
his toilet. "Now," said he, "tell DR.. Anthem am
ready TO see him -
The Doctor entered his cell they knelt and pray
ed together to God for pardon All this time the
crowd was increasing outside, and the shouts and
noises and rbald ests could be heard by Colt in his
cell. Still he was unnoved and unruffled. DR. An.
thon left his cell so overcome by his feelings that he
could scarcely speak, The Sheriff arrived, entered
his CELL and coolly asked him at what hour he would
like to be hung. "Not till the last moment" said
Calt i r...I
DOWN. The Sheriff bowed, acquiesced, and left
the cell. 1t was now 10 o'clock the mob outside
had increased TO 5000, all noisy, and shouting and
vehement. All sorts of cries uttered by them
Within the walls, in the Jail yard, close to and
around the gallows, were two hundred spectators
and officers, cracking jokes, looking grave, exam
lining the gallows pointing out the several strokes of
the Ratchet, each one of which had sent murder
er into eternity, and wondering show long will it
be before Colt is hung!' "It's very cold here y,
eyes! l wish ] could get drink The police
magistrates were beseiged by applicants for admis-
sion, many of whom they passed in till at last they
had four or five hundred inside the Jail wall Re-
porers, actors, doctors, lawyers, and judges began
to arrive by dozens, to see the execution, and the
group around the gallows at last grew motley in
deed.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock. Within the Jail all
was solemn and silent grave yard. Colts coun-
sci, Emmett and Graham, arrived, and entered his
cell, unsearched. They told him they had come to
bidhim good by for ever He received them cor.
daily and calmly, shook them by the hand, said he
was ready to die, like Christian, and took his
leave oftbem They left his CELL each bathed in tears
Next came one of the most extraordinary scenes
ever witnessed. His brother returned, bringing with
him Caroline henshaw, the girl whom Colt had
seduced, and the mother of his infant to be married
to him in his CELL with John Howard Payne, the
dramatist, for a witness. They entered his cell -
Awful scene Then Colt tcas moved His intended