Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-25
From The HaverhiH IN. H. Republican.
SENTENCE OF COMINGS.

Court what he had TO say Dhy sentence of
death should not be pronounced upon him,
Comngs arose and replied to the Court as fol-
lows:
May IL please The Honorable Court:
am asked if have anything to say why
sentence of death should not be passed on me.
have but little, and the less, being persuaded
that whatsoever might say would not, could
not, stay the arm of the law But standing as
| do on the very verge of my grave--about TO
be launched by an ignominious death into the
eternal world, and TO appear in the presence of
my judge, and your Judge, and the judge of
ALL, who have aught TO do with my trial, the
Witness the jury, the counsel, the Court and
the numerous spectators who are gathered a.
round, in view OF the death which is before me
and in the presence Of my eternal Judge
my earthly judge, and all those who are pres
ent make mn last appeal am INNOCENT
Of the murder nj my wife, know no more OF
it than you all kno,c.
knew nothing of my wife's intentions of
going to Mr. Abbott's, as was stated in testimo-
ny, the morning on which she was found dead.
The evening before her death, being very
much fatigued, having worked late on that day,
as appeared in the testimony, laid myself up
on the bed Immediately after had finished the
usual work about the house, without undress-
ing. | soon went to sleep, and did not awake
until my wife came to the bed and shook me
and said, Come; it is time to go TO bed.'
rose up, and Lucinda Burbank was standing,
if recollect right, near the north entry door
As soon as got up to undress me, Lucinda
Burbank went into the butery, and went TO
bed with my wife. Lucinda returned and Ell
Their blew out the light, or carried il out with
her, know not which.
When Lucinda left the room, myself and wife
and babe were in bed Whether there was
any conversation between US after we went to
bed | do not remember. always slept on the
front side of the bid, as lay when Lucinda
left the room, and where was when awoke
next morning. was tired and went immedi-
atey TO sleep.
am not surprised that did not awake when
my vile arose and did the fatal deed. She was
in the habit frequently of getting up many
times in the night for the babe, and sometimes
] awOke and sometimes did not, and knew
nothing of it until she would tell me in the
morning and Iaughingly chide me, for not pay
ing more attention to the babe.
When | awoke in the morning | was lying
on the front side Of the bed; | turned little,
and nv elbow touched the babe. spoke to
my wife, and said Alkaline; hearing no answer
spoke again. raising myself so as to look over
the babe, not knowing what it meant, ms she
was usually awake before was in the morning,
and always woke very early. Hearing no an
swer, aud finding she was not in bed, threw
my feet off the bed, intending TO get up, think
ing she had gone out Of the room-but in look
ing about, saw her head at the foot of the
bed. | sprang instantly up and ran round TO
the foot Of the bed, and discovered her hanging
to the bed post by handkerchief.
My feelings at the time will not attempt to
describe-my thoughts as observed to some
one at the time, flew like lightning. | neither
felt nor acted probably as other men, under
other circumstances might have acted. | felt
that in her agony and distress she had destroy
ed herself, and felt too that il was on account
of the circumstances between myself and Sarah
Ann Abbott, those stories Too true, were a.
broad. and feared that suspicion would be at
tached 10 me, of having hung her-but one /
moment | stood thunderstruck at the scene.
felt guilty, and for my own safety ran imme-
diatey 10 Mr.. Hoskns' room, and found him
sitting before the FIRE. | said to him. Uncle,
do come here,' or something like that, and
turned and went back TO the room as soon as
could, and Uncle Hoskins followed me. do
not remember whether told him what had
happened or not, but presume | did, as he so
testifes. put my arms around her, and rails
ed her up, and felt il there were any signs of
life, but she was cold. | was shocked and fell
partly on the floor As raised her up, | ask
ed Mr. Hoskins to take off or unloose the hand
kerchef which he did By running his hand be-
tween the handkerchief and neck. He was
very much agitated, as well as mysell,-we
then laid her on the bed, and both examined TO
see if there were any signs of life, but she was
cold and dead. Lucinda Burbank soon after
came down stairs into the room.
The circumstance OF the lost night cap--the
pinched wick, the camphor, the large and small
pin, and whatever else was in testimony, | of
course do not, and cannot know more about, or
account for better than any other individual.
There is one circumstance which appeared in
the evidence that wish before die, to allude
to, and put right, and will do il here--for this
circumstance do kno,c about
Sarah Ann Abbott testified That some time
previous to the death of my wife, in the spring
before, about sugarng time, had short con-
versalion with her-that seemed confused
language incoherent, said that should like TO
ask her question, if was sure she would
think as did-that said something about be-
ing sick, and wanted medicine, and asked her
if she understood me- These are her words
as | took them down at the trial.
Now take her own words, can any one be-
lieve that intended from this 20 ask her to aid
me in the poisoning of my wfe-to murder
her--or could she have so understood, unless
we had previous conversation together about
taking her life, which she does not say' But
she goes on and says, she told me she did not
understand me-that we talked some longer
that said Alkaline was coming down to eat su-
gar the next day-that should bring her
down myself--that then said if it could be |
done without violence, would it be any worse
than others have done, or as some have done,
or as we intend to do-that she could not get
the words precise, but that it was one Of these
three expressions. Now | need not, and il |
might be improper to state here the subject OF
the conversation.
Suffice it to say that she understood me-
and at that time would not consent. She says
further, that she put her hand out, and shook