The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-27
Execution of Pcers"a for the Murder of his
Wife snd Two Chiidr.
8osroS, July 20, 1850

SosroS, July % 1850.
About one hundred persons witnessed the execution
OF Pssrson, this mornirg.A large crowd collected
abont the jeil Of whom clambe~.d the roof o
the adjoining house and disturbed toe last funera
| exercises by their demoniscal shouts.
Two wel dressed young ladies'. before the prsone,
left his cell entered the JAN yard. sscendsd the gal
lows and inspected with looks OF curiosity the
ntnts OF execution
Several other females admitted to the jail srd
to witness the execution.
While upon the scaGod, Pearson revd his Bible wirs
great apparent devotion and when the cap was drawn
his face be appeared 20 be engaged In prayer He
sscended the steps Of the galows with frmn.ss and
he walked upon the drop last lock at the sun
and the scene around him
He was hung at half pact ten O'Clock and made a
full confession of his guilt. He died almost without
struggle.
The following is the speech nrade by Pearson on the
gallows -
II sheuld like to say few words Re prsparea 10
die, ny frends-seek salvation. This is the hsppi-st
death Of any " only prepared to die hope aud trust
in G cd and that going to he with i'm in H-sven
l recommend you all to the Holy Word of dod and
pray that we may all meet in Heaven"
The following Is his own confession
IT with to unburden my soul and free nv con.
science Of whstsver ought. with all nv heart,
and under the eye Of my Maker who will judge
mo soon ! declare M follows Truly of the death
twin children Sarah and Lydia confess that l
myself alien" TOOK their lives on the morning of the
18th April 1919 bet seen the hours OF two and four
O'Clock This IL the time as nearly IA l can recol-
ltct and these are the principal circumstances On
the 10th April, drank ale 20 excess; l went
TO my brother HeprJ's In Brook8eld street
took an umbrella, Kissed my daughter Melissa
told her Was gsins to Providence. and
then parted went down fremont street and
temple place TO club house and got pack Of cards;
then struck over TO Providence depot AMI left them
went TO Boylstton street and obtsin.d q. shoe aud
knife at shoenaker's, then Obtained a vial of lau.
daDum ut an spothecsry's; then I went TO Merrymau
street ard got q bottle Of gin. j then went TO the
Lowell depot. and left In the cars for Wimiux tou
l think about six O'Clock. When arriving at
Wilmington. I asked when the cars l.n for
Boston In the morning. Some on. an.
md han ded me q Pofhfnd~r the lett for nv
bouse, where my and children w.r. living /
went through the woods xnd stupe8ed with suor
get lost Ii was Kind Provfd-ns~ 10 hold me back
net knowing where wns WHEN got through looked
round for some time. and my barn I saw light
In my bouse. tapped on the Windsw; Martha came
and said " Who's th.rei' Dsnieln ans wereL She
to the and let me in 4 sat down and she
got a cup OF tea and took supper shortly after
she retired; rat up little while by the stove and
then went TO bed with my wife l got up,
~ m a 49, a'a,oS a.. ~ w oet"seu
6r,t tbru,t which think did not wound her Mar.
tina got the knit away from ms know not how. and