Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-11-28

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lie then requested his keeper Mr.. Green. 10 let him
be left alone until the last moment This was about
T. NJ. Ills cell closed aud he WAS cli alone III 4
minutes 10 J. when some freud OF the Shcr,, arprchen
ding that he might attempt 10 commit suicide one o' Inc
Deputy Sheriis lillyer, went 10 his cell door, aud re-
quesod io wish him good bye" Colt then walk
ing up and down his cell, but turned round on the doo
opening, smiled ON llillyor shook him by the hand
and kissed HIM. he did several OF these VINO had Just
previously bid him farewell in this life. lilo said Ii
llllyer-"God bless you and may You prosper IN tbs
lie. which Is 10 close me-" From this time 10
three O'clock the excitement around the prison ncIoas
ed tremendously and the feelings Of those IN the prison
were also worked up toa pitch ot great Intensity. Se
vcral eminent surgeons came into the prison little he
fore three and the universal topic of discussion. all
round, among the tl, knots of spectators was, whe''
he had becn furnished with the MEANS and whether he
would commit suicide or mol. M,ny pro?heced that
''hy four O'Clock there would bca dead man without
hanging"
SUICIDE OF ,IonS c. CoLr
| -Four o'cock T. VI.
We had written the whole of the above at to- 7.
VI. this ailernoon. At that time Colt was alive No
one entered his cell I'LL precisely minutes Ia four o
clock NJ which time Shcfs Hart and Wcservcl' dres
sod Ia un. rm with DIR. Anthem. proceeded 10 the cell
On tho kct, er opening tho door Dr. Anthem, who was
first drew back threw up his hands aud eyes 10 heaven.
aud uttered a faint oJa,ra;on turned pale as death, aud
retired AS thought - saiu the keeper. "As thought.
said And going into the cci', there lay Coli on ms
back. stretched al full length lie bed. quite dead,
bu, not cold. A clasp knito. like small DARK knr.
| with broken handle. was sticking III his heart lie
In' stabbed himself about the fifth rib The left side
*. felt lis temples. and they warm. Ills vest
v,s anon the Stood had flowed freely and his hands.
which were MIA, ID his belly. very bloody he
had evidently worked nd infn'"' 'he hh''o ioo"d ana
round in his heart after lac han stabbed s'''' u' ne
made quite a large gash-lls body wa. laid cut quite
straight the bed # laid for funeral by others
lie ,,itl, nd bfa nnrI
losaek and several others went into his cell ana pro
nounced him dead.
The Coroner was ready at hand took charge Of The
body. and locked the cell
Most strange To say, Just al this moment the large
cupoa of the Tombs discovered to be- on fire, and
burned ufously that. If he had not killed himself
IN consequence of the execution being postponed 10 the
last moment, ls very probable. that IN the confusion
| arising from the fire. and the mob breaking into the
| rombs Colt would either have made his escape, he
would not have been hung.
| 1t caught accidentally from stove that was IN
the cupoa, the whole outside work Of which was con
summed.
The conduct oft those concerned needs commentary.
| The public will pass Judgment on them! We have
more say about his visitors hereafter
| Eight O'Clock =. "
Tnr CoaoHrn's Iaqursr,-At the hour of seven
O'Clock Coroner Archer. with jury selected by his dep
uty, Ahner Miken Esq, assembled IN the Court Room
OF The General Sessions IN order 10 investigate the cause
of the death of John {. Colt The Court Room was
crowded Ia excess soon the doors were opened.
and the galleries filled 10 overlooking by the ANXIOUS
spectators.
The jury having been qualified they proceeded to the
City Prison order examine the body Of Coli, and on
their return
MoNMouTn b. HAnr. sheriff Of the county Of New
York. clled and orn and deposed AZ ollows:-l
have warrant for the execution of John {. Colt, who
10 have been executed this day. saw the deceased
TO day several times-hls execution was to have taken
place at o'clock. The going dow Of the sun
ding 10 his rcqucst-I had him hour before the
Time that found hlm he alone in cecil al that time
David Graham, Dudley Selden, Samuel Colt, Robert
Emmett, Carol nc Ilenshaw deputy Sheriff Noltee and
number Of other gentlemen whose names cannot re
collect, were in his cell during the day-a number OF
yscians also IN his cell several nes as also the
officers OF the prison whose names do not know went
to his cell 10 open the door five minutes before o.
clock in the afternoon 10 admit DIR. Anlhonbe attempt
ed 90 into the cell upon seeing the body mued atey
stepped back-Colt was lying on the cot with knife
sticking in his left side put my hands on his face and
surprising that he dead retired, and ordered the
doors to be coscd it afterwards ascerIancd that he
was dead. aud the execution did not take place. have
not the body SINCE the Coroner took charge Of 1t
| and locked the cell door. | have not examined the cell
of Colt since he has been IN my charge that is since the
sentence Col jones' the keeper Of the prison, has in
! formed me that he examined the cell thoroughly.
have no know ledge o any person carrying deadly
pom into his cell. lie allowed to keep his pcnkne
because he said he did not steel pens and left til,
knife that he might il to make pens To write with
the penknle is not the that he killed himself with
saw him the l1sttime when Mr.. lIlyerpared with hin
at about quarter before O'Clock
JOHN }. V. WEsrERvELT, under sheriff. was callet
and sworn.-I saw the deceased at half past two 70
the last time; have the body SINCE and recognize
as the body of John e. Colt | have knowledge o
any person having conveyed the knife to him with which
he committed suicide.
FREDERICK l.. VuLrEE, Deputy Sheriff called am
sworn. have had charge of prisoner since Tucsda
morning last at o'clock, and resumed my watch ever,
alternate SIX hours. was relieved by Abraham II
Green, deputy sheriff. have seen him frequently snc
he has been IN my charge; two three times during N,
watch have conversed with him. have never a
ny dangerous instrument inhis cell, except knife
fork with which he ate. never saw the knife here ex
hbited before o-day, and then it in his body.
have knowledge Of the means by which he procured
this instrument The first person who visited deceased
this morning, was Samuel Colt, whch was at abon
half past six O'clock. Al ABOUT twenty minutes Of &
William Dolson was sent for to shave him. Samue
Colt the next person who called, and brought Miss
Caroline IIensl,aw with him. Then came DR. Anthem
who also entered the cell. John Howard Payne alsC
went in and the Sheriff, Robert Emmett and David Ora
ham, Ir His breakfast brought in at this lime by
was brought basket and the contents taken out in
presenoe-Dudey Seden was also in his cell during my
relief of Mr. Green. His brother, Samuel Colt. was
with him alone this morning At the time that these per
were in the cell, informed that the marriage
ceremony took place between the deceased and Miss
Ienshaw. have no knowledge Of tao manner in which