The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-09-05
EXECUTION OF Dr.. WEBSTER

ssss------.---.
EXECUTION OF DIR. WEBSTER
The extreme sentence of the law
was Ftiday last carried into effect upon
DR. John ". Webster, who Was found
guilty ot the n'arder oi Dr. George
Pa'kman The papers Of that after.
noon contain niany particulars in tela.
tiun To- the execution. some ol which
We r:rt. r.. .l4G... ~ La..u, :
scvir, however interesting, 40 have
imtle taste Tor. DR.. Webster had an
interview with hi. family on Thur s,iay
afternoon, in hi, cell. The time wa,
chiefly occupied IN reading the Scrip
lures. They were ignorant ui the day
set apar, for lis execution. and loft him
with the expectation OF stciug HIM
again. Rev. DIR. Putnam Was with the
prisoner on Thursday. from o'ciock
ulI ,. llc prisoner appeared calm
and composed. Two officers renamed
IN the cell with lin during the night
lie lay down Oh liis bed dbout : -.
clock, and slcp, nniil siX. lie ate u
hearty breakfast in the morning. and
sTohed cigar. a, quarter before
eight, DIR. Putnam and MIR. Andrews,
the lailor. visited the prisoner in h.s
cell. The al airangeincnis for .he eAccu.
ton had all been explained the prc,i.
Gus ovcninc. DIR. Putnam continued
III the cell until the prisoner MAS taken
10 the gal.ows. Mr.. Andrew. came or,
Il few minutes before nine, and shortly
afterwards returned vi l. the S!ciii
and lail officers. who then touk ioInai
aud niicclionaie leave of the prisoner,
lhc following We copy from the
Transcript:
Al quarter past nine the religious
services commenced III the cell. in the
presence OF Sheriff Evele!h. The Jail o..
bccrs, the legal witnesses summoned
for the occasion, and The reporters Vi the
press.
The prisoner kncli before u clair il,
the centre Of the cell; DR.. pntnani
standing in the doorway, and address
ing the throne of grace. The prayer
occupied seven minutes. After II bret
but touching alusion TO the solemn and
melancholy character OF III. orca,lon
iie prayed ier,cniIy tor the prisoner,
commenting him tu the mercy OF an all.
wise and beuiiiceni God. lie expires ,cd
his belief iha, the prisoner WAS prcpur.
ed, So far as sincere coutriiiun for his
offence and prosiration Oi soul in hum
blc suppi'catiors Tor forgiveness, and
reliance upon the Sa,iuur's promises.
could qualify i'm for hi, departure.
Mr.. Putnam then prayed tcr,ently
for the family, that the same grace aud
mercy might sustain them in their great
atlliction, and enable them 10 suppo., il
with csigua,ion and humble hope. lie
prayed that this terrible example might
have IA salutafy effect Oh tie whole
community, in teaching them the dan.
ecr OF nnreslraincj passion, and inspir.
ng humllny and ,cii-disitust.
The officers ot the land, whose duty
1t would be 10 carry the srnlcncc OF Ihe
law into effect, were also remembered
IN lIs prayer; M he asked, that While
they might perform their painful tu,r-
iions with firmncss, il would also be IN
a -pilit Of tenderness and compassion
for their iellow-bei,g, who WAS about 10
pass before higher tribunal, whose
Justice would be sure 10 be tempered
with mercy aud he hoped that some
Of the spirit which would preside il Tia,
higher court might shed lie benign in.
iincncc 10 aid item on this ir.i occa.
sion.
After again fervently commencing
the prisoner to divine mercy. the seryi.
ccs were concluded wilhuui further c,r-
emonie', and the company retired for
III. building.
Jhr Spectators. rs.--Ihc yalIovs va,
by some 100 persons, in
several Sheriff. and deputies
oni @~.o,.i .'l - .aIoe po..Ve !u.ec. -
But few members o! the bar OF of the
medical profession we're present The
windows Of the surrounding houses, with
the exception named, were crowded 10y
persons "f both seke. AID all nge.. Tie
tops OF The ad accent buildlns-, the sheds,
ou-houscs, and every available lo,ht
Of view were occupied. The tear WIN
'iows OF the house, on Lowell .iIeei,
The houses on Le,.rc,i and Wall s,recin
ali had their eager ihioug, of sp.cia-
tors. Prubably they numbered about
II thousand. IheIc Was some singh,
disturbance in ihe crowd at one iIuc,
and the reading OF Iiie death Warrant
MAS interrupted by shouts and the
trownin.s vi those .oliciious 10 sac the
spectacle.
Laa .Sccne of 1H-At - minute
pas, n.mr, Sherin E,1rii.. and la. dep
ulic., Mcs.rs. (obnrn, Fireman. aud
kucs. mounted the steps OF i!.e sc,iiold,
Ia the jail yard, followed Ly tie l''i,ou
.r, SUPPORTED by DR.. Putnam, aad by
,,lor Andrew ai.d Mr. livil.es ,dri..
hey.
i i,e pii.oiief took Lis ,iaDd UPON th.
or drop. agd immrdls'.l.
under she roP. h,ci' deIslsisd iro'D
lie top oi ,he saliu~s frame. lie Ma.
.rcss'-d ia black irock cost, batloO ID
uu 10 front. bi.nk ,iai,;a and slt,,-r, With