Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-07-23
EXECUTION OF POTTER.

EXECUTION OF POTTER.
On Monday last, Andrew p. Potter suffer-
ed the awful penalty of the law, for the muir
der of Lucius P. Osborn, in February 1886.
The New Haven Palladium of Tuesday
gives the following particulars:
Soon after one O'Clock the prison door was
opened and the Rev. Mr.. Bacon, Rev. Mr..
Cleveland, Rev. Mr.. hrerwin, Rev. Mr..
| Day, and Rev. Edward South:ne,In (,he
la tier colored clergyman Of Baptist de-
nomination in this city, with Two or three
other persons, approached the door of the
prisoners celi-sorne of the cle1gynen en-
I tering in. s.-.u- ,.,.y- CO.
The young man SIT upon his bed, his lac
locks were combed smoothly backwards over
the top of his head, 6 nd he looked very calm.
and less anxious than those standing hv
him. The Rev. Mr.. Bacon addressed him
in words of kindness and consolation. poiut-
ing the prisoner to the pardon of the peni-
tent thief on the cross, and assuring him.
that the blood of the divine atonement
was Sufhclent for the cleansing of The sins
of the whole world.
| 10 an the questions rut to him bv Mr..
Bacon, Mr.. Cleveland, Mr.. Merwin' and
otners' ne answered promptly and with up-
moving confidence as TO his hopes of Sal.
vanon: lie had meek and Quiet loolr
but without exhibiting any approach ~
weakness or RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I MT. Bacon then kneeled down with the
prisoner in prayer, and in broken accents
poured forth heart melting petition tn
the throne Of grace, for mercy on the soul
OF the condemned, and for the Consultations
OF the Holy Spirit to the wounded beart.
OF the parents and other friends of ,he
criminal. ~ VIC
being near two O'Clock, the Sheriff an.
preached the cell, and with the aid of m.
o.ner person he put the white robe or eovv,
upon the prisoner, who very CALMLY assisted
In arranging 1t, and smooth back his hair
IL oioer 10 wear the white cotton can. A
whl'e belt was secured about him, and Ia
k,ne the Sherif's arm, he walked along the
Platiorm, shaking hands with two or three
prisoners as he passed their cells.
lie went into the Jail Office, passed ;n,o
the yard, and ascended the scaffold stairs
with firm step, ana when he trod uDon hi.
gown, ne stopped With much delibera,ion ~
pun II from beneath his font. Hav;no
reached Inc platform with thc Sheriff. Den,
u'y oherin Carr, Rev. Mr.. Cleveland ,nA
one Ut Two others, they fell back leaving
MN neatly In front Of the scaffold. 70
looked about with firm gaze. now sx;nr
MS eye upon one and another, when he smoke
ELLow MEN:-The tryi ng circum.,.nce
ior wn'ch You are assembled is one Of fbe
deepest solemnity. You are assembled ~ "a.
ness very solemn scene. ~ WIZ
You are all familiar with the circum..,,.o.
wren brought me to this end. You ali kno,,
'nat me nrst step in my downward career W..
nHI" ss"ta that wretched place beside the
. .n,. i'" !. "hen commenced visiting thcs,
could not get away from them. felt II nv
: noty 20 warn the young men against these nI.'
ces oe'ore left the world. There are 90 ma.
ny .e"ptallons to the Young in this CITY. that
'ney are III very great danger. Al every corn.
: er1nere IS place to lea the Young astray.
is strange that the affection which baa
zee" oIought upon me has not had tendency 20
ann'hl.ate these places. There -, been
some effort to sicp them. Their. has h.., ,,sn
prosecutions One of the ne, sons was ssntsncs sJ
70 the jail, here, for six months. The otheronc
ne was tried and what did they do with him -
'mey sent MIN home, TO continue tina, house,
S lucy oid was to make him pay fine uf fiffv
COLLARS is that all the value of a ycunv man =,
rs straHge--(a pause,) It's astonishing. thai
| 'uS I'idceS should beCOntiDued
] nave out few minutes more TO warn fbs
'o.usI mad mot been in that house, should
not De mere n"w-but should have been in INV e..
theirs house over yonder mountain n ,h;ni, or
that iather-that POOR father there ne showed
considerable emotion) he is very much d;s,ress.
doy my al11iction, and when he visited me a
lew Gays ago-he was not in his right mind-he
pronounced wo upon the CITY y fear he will 90
down to h's grave in sorrow "a pause--ofi.
GERS tanning hm)
It's my last request that Won will annihilate
these places. Is there NOT holy men enough in
the cityto do it. Shall these places he k.,,t
up within the sound o. the gosne,3 Ths
Young men are exposed to ruin from them 49,
Their desires and passions are so strong that
temptations lead them easily away "a pause
NOW appeal once more to the young. You
al KNOW now was brought up. had the
best OF instruction from my father-a Christ.
ian father-but it has all come to this.
=. NOW want to say word about my savior:
MY 'mpen'tent friends. Twond not swap sit.
nations with yours-(a pause)-no would moi.
fIhcpe You will one and all make vcur nesc. ,
with God. ere it be too late. This putting
on OF your duty will make yen more and more
hardened And now in few moments I
shall meet my God. The blood of Jesus Chri,t
10 sufficient for my sins, and for all of yours.
! entreat you one and al! to attend to this
Important subject.
Here the prisoner closed and was sent.
ed, when the Rev. Mr.. Clevela nd poured
ou. nus hesrtin fervent prayer ofsuppli-
ca'ion. AFTER which the prisoner was
requested TO rise. He declined having
me ca drawn over his face. ut this time,
prefer ing to see the arrangement of The
rope &c: His elbows were t" d behind
n'm, the moose adjusted. and f;nallv Tho
cap was drawn over his face. when he
took the band of the sheriff and other Off.
GERS, and he was left alone. o' '"''
! The Sheriff hen approached the scat.
, ~hich placed hi. hand upon the lever
something in low tone, when the nr;s-
oner in loud voice, and apparently LOOK
ing upward cried out" Dear saviour -.
10 1ov 10y Ia. hands commit my sp;rit." The
!, ., ,Ss was ra'sed-the drop fell and With
denly--and all was over! ~ suo-
The poor fellow eviden,lv .usF.,.a