The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-01

EXECUTION OF ELIzABETH VAN VALKENBURGH
This wretched woman was executed on Saturday,
the 10th instant at the jail of Fulton county in the
sence Of the County Officers Physicians Ministers and
Citizens who had been invited to attend and witness the
been indicted tried and convicted for the murder Of her
husband, and sentenced to be hung the above men,
toned day Although the community were fully salts
ned OF her guilt, yet in as much as she woman
and the dread Of having woman hung caused the most
lively sensation and sympathy her favor throughout
prisoner with several other humane individuals drew
up and circulated petitions thro' the country, which
were presented to the Governor to have her sentence
committed to States Prison for o The Governor mani
tested great sympathy for the prisoner, and an anxiety
Of the Supreme Court Chancellor and Attorney Gspsr
al in counsel and having fully examined the minutes
OF the trial. and he and his counsel not being able to
discover any reasonable doubts of the commission of the
crime, or any motive cause for perpetrating the
act ; and the petitioners not setting forth (as they
sentence should be commuted he felt himself
bound by an imperious sense, and the solemn
with ss IF egsS a ss g ss
personal feeling would mpel him to change the result
this public duty did not override his sympathy The
Court communicated to the deceased on the 18th
inst with his for not interfering which he had
drawn up and transmitted to the sheriff. The Governors
reasons fair reasonable and conclusive. The pri-
had previous to the time the sheriff received the
and maintained herself with much stocal rmness hut,
on learning that there was longer any hope for her,
her fortnde began IN some measure to fa and she be-
gan to feel more sens bly, her awful situation. On
Thursday the 2nd instant two days previous to her
ecution, she made full confession of the crime for which
she to die and acknowledged the Justice of the
tence which shortly TO end her existence in the
presence Of Judge Weston, John W. Cady late District
Attorney, Sheriff Thompson, Rev. James Otterson and
Rev David Eyster In this confession she denied having
poisoned her first husband whom it had been reported
she had Mso murdered. But Friday morning, the
23d instant her end rapidly approached, she added
codici to her first confession, rather made add
tona confession admitting that she had given her first
husband dose Of arsenic which, although he did not
die Immediately, ultimately the Of his DEATH
We are informed by those who witnessed the execution
that the awful. Notwithstanding she had
expressed to others that she had hope of forgiveness
from her Maker, yet, whom brought from her CELL her
face showed most haggard appearance. and the visage
Of despair depicted upon her c0untenance. After
she brought TO the gallows aprayer offered up
by the Rev. MIR. Hitchcock. She then spoke a few
words to those present, and said il there any
drunkards present. that they must take
warning by her fate and then commenced praying to
God to have mercy her SOUL The drop then let
fall and the rope Strengthened upon her neck and just
she raised from her feet she gave shrek and passed
from time to eternity. Thus ended the life Of lewd
and wretched woman who had sent two husbands (per
haps unprepared) into another world Sheriff Thomp
leave of this miserable woman before her execution,
and the sheriff him SELF although a man OF great nerve
showed much feeling and seemed greatly affected yet
notwithstanding he conducted himself with great manly
bearing, did the under sheriff and deputies. God
grant another such hord scene may not have to
be acted, and that another such woman may not be
found Fulton Couufy Democrat. Jan. n,