Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-09-13
INCIDENTS AT THE EXECUTION OF
PROFESSOR WEBSTER.

PROFESSOR WEBSTER.
The criminal dropped between seven and eigh
feet, probably breaking his neck bone entirel,
off. During one or two minutes after he fell
there was very perceptible Struggling of the
shoulders, occasioned by the sudden contraction
of the muscles. His feet were also drawn III
once between two and three inches. With these
exceptions, there was no other observable strug-
CLING. After remaining suspended just half an
hour, Drs. Henry G. Clark and Charles Ii. Sted
man examined the body and inlorming the sheriff
that life was extinct that officer so declared it tc
the witnesses and spectators, and at the same
time thanked the witnesses in the name of the
Commonwealth for attending and aiding the Off
GERS of the law in the painful duty which had JUS,
been performed
A cheap black coffin was then brought out aud
placed under the scaffold and the body lowered
into it. The rope was then Embossed and taken
from his neck and the cover put on the coffin
1t was then removed to an apartment connected
with the JAIL where it will remain till this eve
ming, when, under the charge ola sexton of Cam
bridge, it will be taken to the residence of his ia
mily, and from thence to Mount Auburn, where
it will be deposited in the family tomb.
Hundreds of people stood upon Leverett street
opposite the Jail with the sun pouring down up
on them, gazing at the MASSEY walls Of the Jail
building, not being able to obtain the slightest
glimpse of the execution.
The roofs of the houses on Leverett st. and the
windows were filled with spectators, one of whom
we saw making use of ships spy glass to view
the scene. On Getting ST., and in the little lanes
that run from it to the Jail yard, was also large
and excited crowd, and such was the eagerness
of individuals to witness the scene that they had
no scruples in forcibly entering dwellings in the
vicinity for that purpose. We saw two or three
young men ascend to the roof of a three story
house by the spout, at imminent hazard of life
and limb for this purpose. At another house,
entrance was effected by a number through
cellar door and it was with the greatest difficulty
that the proprietor. aidedby his family, could pre-
vent the mob from taking forcible possession.
Ali the roofs and windows of nearly every
house in the vicinity, that commanded the least
view of the Jail yard were crowded, yet no com
plete view could be had of them, except from the
upper windows of houses in Lowell street. The
doors of these houses were beseiged by trongs
who usedeverv means-both persuasive and for
cible-to obtain admission. Most of the inhab-
tants of the street closed and locked their doors
and windows, on one of which we noticed a pa-
card which read, g Not at home am no friend
of hanging" Policemen guarded many Of the
back doors and rear entrances to these dwellings,.
In one instance lock of dwelling in this
street was picked by some Of the professional
gentry" who were present. bv the aid of file,
knife and wire, and some half dozen effected an
entrance before the act was discovered by the
person left in charge of the house. At another,
a boarding house, a mechanic returned to his
breakfast, being unable by reason OF the crowd
to obtain admitlance at the door, window was
opened for him. but as he got in by that mode he
was closely followed by two Of the crowd, be-
fore the easement could be closed.
One individual. in sheer desperation at the en-
treaties and enquiries with which he was poster
ed, flung open the doors of his house of Cause
way street to the crowd, hundreds of whom pas
sed through it to the roof, where, however, only
partial view of the top of the gaows could be
Obtained. There was quite a number of females
among the spectators, at the windows and upon
the roofs, and their convulsive start announced
to spectators outside the moment when the last
dread act was performed.
The crowds in the streets were composed of
all classes, we'll dressed men and women stand
ing in throhgs, without the slightest possible
chance of Witnessing the scene, old and young
men, clerks, laborers, negroes, and many of the
lower dregs of society. While the carriages and
other vehicles that stood in the vicinity, were ev-
idence that the curiosity of many had brought
them from some distance.
The crowd as a general thing was quiet and
orderly, and no act of violence or disorder was
committed, save that of entering the houses as
mentioned above. Such, however, was the de-
sire to obtain view of the execution that eonsi
derable sums were obtained for an opportunity
an we were witness of an offer of ten dollars by
an individual to an officer if the latter would OBJ
tain him an admission to the scene. The officer
of course would not listen to any such proposal
The crime for which DIR. Webster suffered
was committed on the 23d of November, 1S49
He was arrested on the 30th of November and
had thus been in confinement for nine months
Professor Webster left no special commune
cation tor the public, nor did he retract to the
last any statement made in his confession to Mr..
Putnam. He has, however, lefta number of let
tiers, addressed to various parties and some OF
them may hereafter for publication.
Quite number ofapplications have been made
to see the prisoner during the last two weeks
Clergymen from various parts OF the country
have sought an interview, and he has received
numerous letters of an admonitory or consoling
nature The interviews he has, in most nstan-
ces, declined The letters he has read Indeed
throughout his imprisonment, he has kept up his
interest in outward affairs although his thoughts
have seemed to be mainly devoted to studies and
meditations appropriate to his situation.
The painful task remains to inform the suffer.
er's family that their husband and father is nc
more 1t will be done in the course of the day
by Mrs. VIM HI. Prescott, and will not. we think
take them altogether unaware, as they must
have had painful suspicious latterly that his time
was near at hand.
How to gel a glass Of brandy IN hard tim s.
There is an old man who is SO passionately de
voted to the bottle, that being reduced to poverty
he rushes into private houses, where he think;
the families will be likely to be provided with spi
rits for medical purposes, and pretending that he
has been attacked by the cholera begs for some
brandy. He has been known to have hoaxed il
this manner, six families in one day.
The Ohio stage company has paid the amour
and damages claimed by Frederick Douglass fo
being elected from one of their coaches, after ha
wing paid for first class seat from Columbus te
GAINESVILLE The demand first made was, tina
the money paid by Douglass should be refunded
which the agent Of the company refused, ana
suit was commenced for the money and damages
The company paid both without going to trial.
Hoy long an iron rail lasts.-lt mas been as
certained by careful experiment, that railway
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