Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-12-03
From the New York Evening Post Of the 9Th inst
SUICIDE OF COLT.


dinghy, the sheriff Monmouth B. Hart, ESQ yes
ierday, al al early hour, repaired to the prison,
the necessary preparations having been previous
ly made for the consumation Of The awful sen.
,ence Of the law. He visited him IN he cell
and, 10 appearance, Colt seemed 10 have regainen
a possession Of mind that he previously had main
tanned throughout the trial, sc, but which, with
in the las, few DAYS, had deserted him.
He was visited by several persons during the
foren noon and about IL o'clock tno time having
been definitely fixed for his execuiion) his broth
err, accompanied by Caroline Henshaw, his mise
went TO his cell and. II, his urgent request,
the Rev. DR.. Anthem united the Ill lated and
wre ched man wl,h that female in the holy bonds
of ma,rmonv; Messrs. John Howard PAYNE, Da.
vid Graham, Justice Merritt the Sheriff. Robert
Emme It, and ms brother, Samuel Colt, being pres
ent 10 witness the ceremony.
Soon after THIS his brother and Caroline ilt n
shaw left the prison; and he then made Il request
10 be left alone as he had considerable writing 10
do previous to The time Of his execution, and
which he had himself requested nigh, be defer.
red TO the latest moment that The law would al
low.
The Sheriff complied: and he was lett alone
from about two o'clock. with the exception OF one
or two persons visiting h:m IN his ce'i 10 bio MIN
adieu.
At about fifteen minutes before O'Clock, Chat
hour having been appointed for the execution.)
the Sheriff proceeded. IN company with Dr. An
thon and some Other CitiZens, 10 aPprtZe hin mat
the time for his execution had arrived; when, on
The door being opened, he was discovered It'ng on
the bed a corpse having added The CRIME OF SUI
eide to that of murder, by taking his own lie
with bow leknife, tho blade Of which was about
SIX inches long, aud which had perforated his
heart.
The interior of the prison was crowded. some
three or four hundred persons beng present, and
anxiously awaiting his being brought out OF his
,loe offt ha la"
On the fact being communicated that he had
DESTROYED himself, tho excitement was intense.
and i, was scarcely possible TO convince the vast
asscmblage outside Of the prison tina, such was
the fact.
AT this moment, an alarm Of fire given /;
and il was discovered that the wooden tower. re-
Gently erected over the ves,lbule of the prison,
on FIRE.
THE inquest.
The Coroner Immediately apprized the Mayor
of the fact, and issued his warrants for the ap>
pearance of DR.. Author, Samuel Colt, and the
female Henshaw; and al 7 O'Clock convened a
jury of twenty two persons.
The panel having been sworn, the Coroner
proceeded to tho examination INTO the death OF the
Ill -fated man-ihe inquest being held III the SEES
sion cour, room; The Mavor and Alderman Smith
supporting him on the right. and Aldermen Gro
i,us and Stewart the ef,. The room was
crowded
The inrors were desired to leave the court
room and view the body. This having been
DONE and the jurors having returned from his cell,
the theatre OF the suicidal act Tue examination
was proceeded with.
Monmo,h B. Hart (the sheriff) was the first
witness called. Had warrant for the execution
Of John c.. Colt, TO be executed this day saw hun
a number Of times during this day his execution
was fixed FOR o'clock, on the going down OF the
sun-which time was fixed at the request OF the
L h1t fhQ I'm
liked for his execution, in his ceI-that is, about
:, o'clock; he was alone; DAVID Graham, Ir, Dud-
lev Selden, Samuel Colt, Robert Emmett, Car
oline Henshaw, Mr.. Vultee, "a deputy sheriff
and others had visited hum during the day, most
Of W HON were invited at his particular request;
the Rev. DIR. Anihon also visited him, and sew
eral officers belonging to the prison, during the
day. abou, FIVE minutes efore O'Clock, p. TT, |
wen, to his cell to edmi, the Rev. Dr. Anthem;
Mr. Anthem attempted TO GO 10, and Immediately
returned: then went INTO the cell. and saw Colt
living on the COT with a knife sticking IN his left
side apparently dead; the whole blade OF the
knife was ,hrus, into his ody, retired and gave
the BODY in charge Of the coroner; had not exam
med his cell; had him in charge since his sentence
bu, understood tina, the keeper Of the prison,
Col Jones' had done 60; had no knowledge who
could have given the knife; visited him at o.
clock, from impression that he might destroy
himself
John W. Westerve!t, the under sheriff. sworn.
Did not visit Colts cell this morning. hnt cav
him al the door, shaking hands with persons The
las, time saw him was between two and halt
pas, two o'clock saw the body little before four
O'Clock, living on the bed. with knife sticking
in his body. apparently dead: did not know who
gave Colt the knife.
Frederick L. vul,ee, ono Of the deputy sher-
ifTs, sworn-Had charge Of Col, from three o.
clock on Tuesday morning; resumed hIs watch
ev erv SIX hours; was relieved by Abm. H. Green,
another deputy sheriff; saw Colt two or three
times during each watch. sometimes conversed
with him: rever saw any dangerous instrument
in his cell: with the exception Of the knife and
fork he ate with; never any INSTRUMENT IN
his cell similar TO the one found sticking IN his
BODY this afternoon; could not tell no" he OBJ
ln.,a 80 loci h