Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-11-25
Nu1R PRR IS
COLT-THEI.AST SCENE

Yesterday CoLr the convicted murderer of Samnel
ADAMS, was sentenced 10 be hung but he chose to
Ke upon himself the Office of executicner, and rush
ed into eternity by staining his soul with crime as
black as that which brought upon him the fate he so
desperately sought TO shun.
preparations for his execution were male ut an ear
y hour IN the morning. messenger had gone to
Albany with an application to tho Chancellor to re-
view his dccis sion and allow writ OF error; by the
morning boat he returned with the following deci-
slvo letter addressed to the Sheriff.
ALuAxv, Nov H. 1872.
Dear Sir Il heard the question upon tho writ of er
for IN Colts case argued at great Length at Ncw-Iork
and came to the deliberate determination that there
was mono of them on which there was anv room In
aouo as you VIII see from my written opinion which
'elt in the hands Of Colts counsel when left New
York, and which is now published in the Argus of
ms morning GU will therefore that it is out of
my power to violate my oath of Office BY allowing a
writ of error in the case even If the application was
now regularly before me on an application up,n no
tcc to the Attorney General Neither would the
allowance o the writ STAY the execution of the
tcnce, rs could not certify that there was probable
cause for staying the proceedings, and the Governor
would not interfere with such certificate.
have never heard any lawyer, except the counsel
Tor the prisoner express any doubt to the legality
olthe conviction before the Court which tried him
Nor have been able 10 find any member of the
Court of Errors who would have voted to reverse the
Judgment on the ground of the organization of the
Court ltlsperfecty natural that the friends of this
unhappy man should endeavor if possible to stay his
execution but their anxiety 10 preserve his life can
not excuse the officers of justice in making the laws
bend TO their wishes although the course which has
been pursued in this case has placed not only those
cflcers but the Governor in the most painful and try
Ing situations. The prisoners counsel had the ,nht
70 apply TO the Chancellor the three Justices Of the
supreme Court, or 10 any Of the eight Crcut JUDGES
for the allowance of writ of error ana if any one
Of those twelve officers had any doubts TO the le-
Faltyo the conviction he would of course have al
lowed the writ. They have tried four or FIVE and
have failed and if they were not satisfied with that
they should have applied To others; but not ask those
who have fully examined the subject, and have no
doubt to violate their duty by acting against their con-
sciences.
lours, with respect,
b. HYDE WALWORTH.
&c. HART, Esq.
Col, was engaged nearly all nigh, in writing reply
10 the letter oil Governor SEWARD, which it is said he
ordered to be left seal i until his child should be old
enough TO understand it. He was under the care of
Deputy Sherlfis VuI!ee and Green, and in the morn
ing shaved and dressed and received brief visit
from his brother, The gaows was erected in the
centre of the area 1t was the same one used at the
execution Of Robinson in New-Jersev and bore upon
1t marks of twelve strokes of that Ratchet which new
Or falls but II sends 10 eternity human soul II con-
sisted simply of two upright posts and one ransever-
sely placed with rope over a pully--one end being
attached TO heavy weight, and the other being form
Cd INTO moose At II o'clock DR. Anthem, in com
pany with Samuel Colt visited his cell. and made nre-
paratlons for his marriage with Miss llenshaw which
was soon after performed in presence ofSamuel Colr
David; Grahan, Robert Emmett, Justice Merritt, the
''H'i Hu J' II. TdyUc. alipr tilCr marriage they
were ett alone for nearly an hour At about half pas,
IL Dudley Selden Went into his cell, and at one Col,
took cup OF coffee with his wife
HIS brother Samuel soon after arrived and entered
MS cell. lie was still engaged in earnest CONVEX
eation with his wife. who was sitting on the foot OF
the bed, convlls-d and in tears. sAt Colts request
John Howard Payne and Lewis Gaylord Clarke then
went INTO ms eel 10 take their leave of him. Colt
appeared exceedingly pleased 10 them shoo' them
cordially by the hand, and con,ersed with apparent
cheertulness with them for five minutes when they
bade.hm farewell both of them in tears Coils broth
er Samuel, and his wife remained in the cell abou,
ten minutes longer when both left. His brother was
deeply affected, aud looked more ahasty even than
Colt himself His wife could scarcely support her
SELF so violent, were her feelings. Shaisood at the
door of the cell for mnuteColt kissed her passion
ately-stralned her TO his bosom, and watched her
recedlng 70, as she passed into the corriior-Uere
she stood and sobbed convulsvey though her heart
away by Colts brother, and his friends followed.
lie then desired to see the sheriff, who went into
bis cell. Colt then told him emphatcalIy that he was
innocent of the murder of Adams and that he never
Intended to XII him; also tod him that he still had
ihopes that something would intervene to save him
from beng hung and begged him not to execute the
sentence of the law upon him. The Sheriff told him
to Danish all hopes Of that kind for he die at four
o'clock. He then requested TO the sheriff watch
aud set his own by it to minute He then asked
to see Dr. Anthem and the latter went into his cell
and remained in prayer with him FOR about ten min
utes. At the close Of this, Colt again sent for the
present who wish TO see me- and take their leave of me
shall be happy to see them"
This was announced by the Sheriff. and all present
with two exceptions passed up to his cell door,
shook him by the hand, and took their leave of him.
To one gentlemen connected with the press he said,
"Tve spoken harshly of some Of the press, but do
not blame vou AT all it was al my own fault there
were things which ought To have been explain 4
] know YOU have a good heart; and l forgive yu
from my sou freely! may God bless you and may
you prosper"
II. 1, 4 1 . I
be left alone until the last moment. This about
ZIP. VI. His cell was closed and he was left alone
ill 20 minutes to 3, when some friend of the Sheriff
npprehcndlng that he nght attempt to commit sucl e.
one ofthe Deputy Sheris, Hyer, went to his cell
door. Colt was then walking up and down his cell
but turned round Oh the door opening, smiled on Hi
lyer, shook hun by the hand, and kissed him, rs he
did several of those who had Just previously bill him
farewell He said to iIillyer-"God bless YOU and
may You prosper in this life which is to close
on me-
AT a few minutes before T. Sheri1s Hart and West
ervet went to his cell to announce to him that his
hour had co'ne-but their summons was not needed.
Dr. Anthem stepped into the door but started back
in horror On looking in at the cell the body of Colt
lay stretched at full length upon his bed his bands
crossed upon his abdomen and covered with blood,
and small Spanish dirk driven to his heart, was
snckng in his holy. His mouth and yes slight
iy open, and the knife had not been moved after its
deadly thrust. He was pronounced dead by physi-
clans in attendance the Coroner took charge of the
body, and the cell was locked.
AT this momenta volume ofsmoke and flame burst
from the large cupola the prison a ircmen 'ous
rush was made by those outside towards the door and
by those within to make their escape The great bel
the City Hall struck the alarm at the precise houl
fixed for the Execution the engines were promptly
on the ground, but as the fire was in the very summit
OF the cupola, the water could be made reach il
and it continued 10 burn downwards for an hour unit
the whole consumed to the roof. The gieates
excitement prevailed without. The multitude refuseC
10 believe in the Story of his DEATH and very gener
almpresslon prevailed that the whole was ruSe t(
secure his escape.
There prevailed very general suspicion that IT,
cupoa was set on fire but there is good ground t
believe it. fire is constantly kept there for the &c
commodation of the person employed 10 keep look
out for fires. He had made very large fire yester
day, and went to the executions Yhe pipe, with
ont doul t. became red hot andthus set the cupola OF
fire.-Iribune.
An inquest was Immediately held upon thu
body, which resulted in establishing the fac
that Colt was his own execuiioner, but gav'
no clue as to how he came by the weapoaD
Indeed the whole current of the testimon,
goes to show that there was an evident inten