Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-12-17
L., COLT.

To The Editors Of the n. Y Commercial Aduer-
iiser.
GExrLEMES-Having been one of the witness.
exsmnrd before the coroners inquest in the case
Of Johr g. Colt, have frequently been appealed
to- and by some of the most respectable of our fel.
low citizens, to inform them, if there was any doubt
as to his death and as rumors are in circulation
throughout The county as well as The city, ss to
has sctusl demise, feet myself called upon to fur,
nish such facts as came within my own knowledge,
which, trust, wifi he quite sufficient to Danish all
doubt upon the subject. In the first place will
state that pcrsons.ly knew che I'D Jojn e. Colt,
and visited him in his cell in the city prison. upon
three several occasions, ant conversed with him.
alone, for half an hour at a time, both before aud
after he was sentenced
In one Of these conversations, he told me that
he never would be hanged from which inferred
that sooner than submit to the gnoniny Of the GAL
lows, he intended, il possible, TO dire by his own
hand. Being invited by the Sheriff to be presen,
at the execuuon,I visited the prison early on the
morning of the ,sth when learned that the
hour had been postponed until 4 o'cl,ck, p. NJ.
Having professional engagements, left the prison
and returned at half past one, I was then in
duced ty circumstances to remain within the hall
of the prison, where my position afforded me the
opportunity Of seeing every person who might Ell.
ther GO in or cane oet Of the cell where Colt was
confined,
AZ half past two O'clock i, being in,imlted 10
the sheriff tna the prisoner might possibly dissp>
poin, him, he directed the deputy sheriff to enter
his cell and see II all was rieh.-Thc order was
Immediately oteyed, and on returning he reported
that he saw nothing to awaken the least suspicion.
The prisoner was walking up and down his cell,
and perfectly calm and collected. The door
was not again opened unit, about ten minutes be.
fore o'clock, when the Rev. DR.. Anthon entered,
followed by the Sheriff! Observing the reverend
gentleman to return almost Immediately from the
cell, apparently quite overcome. Immediately
conjec'ured that an important event had takea
place. ran mp the stairs and entered the cell,
when behelh .,ohn G. Cot, previously known to
me, UPen his bed lying at fuR length upon his
back
He wss dressed as he had been during the day,
in his dressing gown, panaloons, &c, hut was
perfectly frlcss. He had DESTROYED himself with
a dagger which hc had himscfthrus, into his heart.
HIS hesd was inclined 10 the left side, with the
mouth open; his countenance WAS natural bu,
very paid the ieft arm touched the bed at the ell,
bow, with the hand reposng on the body. The
night arm lay on the bed, with the hand resting on
the body slte above the right hip; his legs were
extended. So perfectly easy his attitude and
so calm his expression Of coun,enance, that at the
first glance might readily imagine he had for
gotten the awful f,te awaiting him aud had fallen
into a sweet sleep; hut the stain OF blood upon the
hands, and the nlIe Of the fatal dagger ojeciing
from his breast, too pIaay told hat il wss the
sleep of death.
After feeling for the pulse at the wrist and find
ING none, took hold of the haalle of the insrru-
ment, which had entered the hreas between the
fourth aud IF ribs, snd found that il was fastened
to firm substance which could be nothiug but the
heart reif Sid not disturb it, the juy was
so soon TO be convened to make such examination
as the case required. That the act had been one Of
calm delitera,ion may I've inferred from the fact that
he had, with some sharp instrument, removed
! circular portion, about two inches in diameter OF
his waisroat and under garments, leaving the
breast immedsel beneath perfectly exposed. Not
more than table spoonful OF blood had escaped
| ternsIy, as the dagger occupied the entire wound,
having penetrated to the widest part of the blade
which was between four and FIVE inches in length
both hands were marked with several spots of blood
sPunkled upon them, as ffrom the first jet ofs
! small artery (Irdpatiy the nercostal)-,he small
est spots quite dry, the larger dry at the
margin only the hands and body were warm,
but no, warm as in life.
| Tskng into cons deration the circumstances of
the reduced warmth of the body, of the dried
OF the handle of the instrument vibrating in con.
sequence Of the spring being broken, | arrived a,
the following conclusions First, that the deed
NUT have been CO nmitted at three o'clock, or i'm
medatly after. Secondly, that the instrument
was ,hrus, in or pushed by both hands, and not by
stab. | anu sustained in The belief that both
hands were used by the fac, that spots of blood
Were discoyerabe upon the dress in the direction
in which the hands were found besides, the vi
brl,ng handle Of the instrument would require both
hands to steady it and direct il according tie the in.
tenton OF the individual. As no other facts could
he observed, ali farther investigat was deferred
by the coroner, who, causing al to retire, locked
| the body I'd in the cell until a Jury could be con-