The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-19

Colt then desired to see the Sheriff, who went into
his cell Colt thea told him emphatlcally that he
innocent Of the murder Of Adams. and that he
intended to kill him he also told him that he
still had hopes that something would intervene TO
save him from being hung, and begged him not to
execute the sentence of the law upon him. The
Sheriff told him to Danish all hope OF that kind, Tor
that he must die at o'clock He then requested TO
see the Sheriti's watch, and set his own by il to
minute. He then asked to see DIR. Anthon and
the latter went into his cell, and remained in
prayer with him for about ten minutes. At thu close
of this, Colt again sent for the Sheriff, and said to
him, " If there are any gentlemen 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 pre-
sent with one two exceptions passed up to his cell
door, shook him by the hand, and took their leave
of him. To one gentleman connected with the press
he said, +" I've spoken harshly of some of the
press, but do not blame you at all; it all my
own fault; there were things tina ought to have
been explained, which were LETT unexplained; /
know you have good heart; and forgive you
from my soul, freely; may God bless you and may
you prosper"
He then requested his keeper, Mr.. Greene, to let
him be left alone until the last moment This was
about 2 P. M. His cell was closed and he was left
alone till 20 minutes to 8, when some friends Of the
Sheriff experimenting that he might attempt to CON-
init suicide, one of the Deputy Sherif's, Hillyer,
went to his cell door, and requested to wish him
"good bye" Colt was then walking up and down
his CELL but turned round on the door opening smiled
on HiIlyer, shook him by the hand, and kissed him.
IL 4
bid him farewell in this life. He said to Hillyer
" God bless you, and may you prosper in this life
which is soon to close on me-" From this time to
three O'clock the excitement around the prison in
creased tremendously and the feelings of those in
the prison were also worked up to pitch OF great
intensity Several eminent surgeons came into the
prison little before three, and the universal topic of
discussion, all round, among the little knots of spec
tators, was, whether he had been furnished with the
means, and whether he would commit suicide or
not. Many prophecied that "by four o'clock
there would be dead man without hanging"
SUICIDE OF JOHN C. CoLT
Four O'CLOCK, p. NJ
We had written the whole OF the above at to 3
p. M. this afternoon. At that time Colt was alive
No one entered his cell till precisely minutes TO
welt, dressed in uniform, with Dr. Anthon proceed
ed to the CELL On the keeper opening the
door, Dr. Anthem who was first, drew back, threw
up his hands and eyes to Heaven, and uttering a
faint ejaculation, turned pale death, and retired
"AsI thought" said the keeper. AS thought"
said we. And going into the cell, there lay Colt
on his back, stretched out at full length
on the bed, quite dead, but not cold
clasp knife, like small dirk knife, with broken
handle, was sticking in his heart. He had stabbed
himself about the fifth rib the left side. We felt
his temples, and they were warm. His vest was
open, the blood had flowed freely andhis hands,
which were placed across his belly, were very
bloody; he had evidently worked and turned
the knife round and round in his heart after he had
stabbed himself, until he made quite large CASH.
His body was laid out quite straight the bed as if
laid out for funeral by others. His mouth was
open, and his eyes partly open. DR.. Hosack and
several others went into his cell, and pronounced
him dead.
The Coroner was ready at hand, took charge of
the body, and locked the cell. e.-.te
Most strange to say, just at this moment, the large
cupola of the Tombs was discovered to be on fire
and burned furiously so that, if he had not killed
himself, in consequence of the execution being post
poned to the last moment, it is very probable,
that in the confusion arising from the fire, and the
mob breaking into the Tombs, Colt would either
have made his escape, or he would not have been
hung.
II caught accidentally from a stove that was in
the cupola, the whole outside work Of which was
consumed.
The condact of those concerned needs no COM
mentary. The public will pass judgment on them
We have more to say about his visitors hereafter.
EIGHT O'CLOCK, P. M.
The CoRoNER's INQUEsr.-Atthe hour of seven
o'clock Coroner Archer, with jury selected by his
deputy Abner Milliken, Esq, assembled in the
Court Room of the General Sessions in order to in
vestigate the cause Of the death Of John c. Colt.
The Court Room was crowded to excess as soon as
the doors were opened, and the galleries filled to
OVERLOOKING by the anxious spectators. The Coro-
ner was accompanied by His Honor Mayor Merits,
Aldermen Crolius, Stewart and Smith. Order be-
ing restored, the following gentlemen were sworn
as jurors ALLAN M. Sniffen, Joseph Keeler, VIM.
H. Prall, Fenelon Hasbrouck, David D. Bradford,
Henry McShee, Robert A. Sands, Thomas Belts,
DIR. John Sickels, George PRIME, D. D. Addison,
DIR. ]. w. Duvall, George Fisby, Lester Wilson,
John Burrows, John Ryker. Jr, John Horspoo Jr.,
David Vandervoort, James B. Greenman, Thomas
Dunlap, F. S. Stranahan, Samuel Nichols, Jr.
The jury having been qualified they proceeded to
the City Prison In order to examine the body of
Colt, and on their return
MONMOUTH B. Hart, sheriff of the county OF New
York, was called and sworn and deposed as follows
Il have a warrant for the execution of John c.
Colt who was to have been executed this day. saw
the deceased to-day several times-his execution
was to have taken place at O'Clock, on the going
down of the sun, according TO his request-I had
seen him one hour before the time that found him;
he was alone in the cell at that time-David Gra-
ham, Dudley Selden, Samuel Colt, Robert Emmett
Caroline Henshaw, Deputy Sheriff Vultee, and
number of other gentlemen whose names cannot
recollect were in his cell during the day-a number
OF physicians were also in his cell during the day.
The Rev DIR. Anhon was in his cell several tines