Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-11-25
THE DEATH OF COLT.


suicide, and the fire at the jail We have
abridged the account, which we find in the
Plebeian, as relating all the particulars in
plain manner:
"Notbing could exceed the excitement
among the populace, in expectation of the
execution of John G. Colt. Early in the
morning all avenues to the prison were
blocked up by persons eager to obtain in
gress. Even positions which could not pos
sibly command view of the yard were oc.
cupied and along Centre-street, Franklin.
/ Leonard, and Elm, the crowd was dense
I The universal theme was the execution Of
the criminal, and signs of ungoyernabe i'm.
patience were manifested to learn the result.
! The Sheriff had decided, in answer to the
urgent request of the prisoner, to stay the
execution until four o'clock. Quite num-
Der of citizens, say over two hundred and
/ fifty, were admitted by orders from the Sher-
/ if to witness the last scene. The informa.
ton of the peremptory refusal of the Chan
cclIor 10 grant writ Of error arrived in the
morning
1t was rumored that attempt had been
made TO bride the three deputy keepers. TO
/
Miss Henshaw, but the same was communi-
Gated to the deputy sheriff, aud every pre-
caution taken TO prevent his escape Colt
passed the last night of his life calmly, and
slept little, being principally engaged in wri-
ting, He was visited during the day preced-
ing, by Miss Henshaw and intended OH that
day to have been married, but in conse-
quence of the interposition of friends, it did
not then take place. The preparations for
the execution were made early in the morn
( ing. The gallows was erected Immediately
under the window of Colt, and his ear must
have been annoyed by the hammerng neces-
sary to the erection of the instrument of
death. Colts brother was at the door of the
prison on its opening in the morning, and
remained in his cell. This brought us to
about ten o'clock, when the excitement was
most intense, and expectation was INDUCED
that the prisoner would be speedily exc
cuted.
At about twelve o'clock, David Graham
and Robert Emmett, Esq'rs, the prisoners
Counsel, visited him, and with Colts BROTH
err, the Rev. DR.. Anthem, Justice Merritt, the
Sheriff and others, Witnessed the ceremony
of marriage between the prisoner and Miss
IIenshaw. The latter looked pale and hag-
gard and deeply affected. Ii must have
been sad and solemn ceremony, the young
mother, bride and widow within few
short hours. After the ceremony, which
was performed by DIR. Anthem, he remained
short time in the cell, and then left the hus-
band and wife for an hour, to take the last
sad parting. At about one o'clock, Colt re-
quested some hot coffee, which was furnish
ed him. At that hour he had desired to
take leave Of the deputy keepers. The day
was bitterly cold, and the scene in the prison
yard solemn and exciting in the extreme
Several inquisitve individuals were around
the gallows, examining its construction and
testing the strength Of the rope. Numbers
Of our most respected citizens were passing
to and fro, and several friends of Colt OBJ
tanned ingress to the prison for the purpose,
if possible of seeing him for the last time
OF this number, was Lewis Gaylord Clark,
Of the Knickerbocker, whose parting with
the prisoner was deeply affecting About
half-past one o'clock, the brother Of the I'M
fortunate man took his leave of him in COM
pany with Caroline Henshaw. His appear
ance was sad in the extreme. and he exhib-
tied the spectacle of man broken down
with bitterness. The young wife was in
paroxysm of grief Again and again Colt
took leave Of her, and for nearly FIVE minutes
she was convulsed in tears. The Sheriff
subsequently, by the request of the prisoner,
entered his cell. To him Colt repeated his
assurance that he murdered Adams in self
defence, begged him not to execute the aw-
ful sentence of the law, and still cherished
the hope of something interposiDg to pre-
vent his execution. He was given to under
stand that hope was fed, and that at four o.
clock his fate must be sealed. He was anx-
ious about the time, and set his watch by the
Sheriif's He requested to be executed in
his own dress, and finally, TO see Dr. An
thon. For about ten minutes they were en-
gagged in prayer, when Colt testified his wish
TO take leave of all his friends.
This leave taking over, he requested OF
the deputy to be left alone till the last mo-
meni. His cell door was closed and he
was left alone. This was about two o'clock
No sound was heard from his cell, and it
was not until about twenty minutes to four
that the Deputy Sheriff, Hillyer, knocked at
his cell, and stated that he wished to bid
him good bye. Colt was walking up and
down his cell lie babe Hillyer farewell
and was once more left
Round the spot where Colt was to suffer,
large cQncourse had assembled, g. a dense
line was formed from the wall of the prison
to the apparatus of death. The Aldermen
OF the city were for the most part present.
Judges lnglis and Lynch, and two or three
of the police justices were also present.
AT length four o'clock arrived, and Off
Ger Walker came to the platform over which
the galows was erected, and announced