The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-08-30


ing house to the roof where tolerably good view
could be obtained. Others were about following |
their rash example when the attention OF the police
was directed to them.
In Lowell street a policeman was stationed at |
every house prevent the gates leading to the yards
and over the doors of dwelling houses in some IN
stances, from being forced open or broken down by
the eager crowd. Most of the houses on Lowell st.
between Getting and Causeway, overlook the place
of execution.
The house-tops all about in the vicinity OF the jail
we're literally swarmed with the living mass on one
building counted less than twenty-five females as
early as o'clock, protected from the hot sun by UNI
breas and evidently prepared to satisfy their singular
and censurabie curiosity at every risk The scene pre-.
scented in every direction extraordinary one, and
exhibited depraved taste for the horrible such as we
hardly believed existed in many human hearts.
The Times states that it an incident particu-
larly worthy Of note, that Mr. Wyethe, occupying
dwelling on Leverett street at the west end OF the
Jail, and who is well known to profess to be opposed
to capital punishment, driving very brisk busl-
ness during the morning. by asking and receiving one
dollar per head from applicants to enter his house to
get sight of the execution from window or from the
house top On the roof of the house there were net
much less then one hundred persons standing IN full
view The windows Of houses on the south side OF
Leyere street. overlooking the jaiyard were chiefly
hronged with ladies' fond they Vt entertain
promenaded by the fairer sex, win paIasollette IN
hand shed the sum- and eagerly looking for the ex-
| ecution the judicial murder of human beng.
| The rear windows Of the houses on Lowell street
were many Of them entirely taken out to give free
and well scoped view, and the heads of male and
female proruded thick and numerous. Over the Stat
ings Of the roofs complete sprlakling OF human
| beings.
The Rev. DR. Putnam the spiritual adviser Of the
| AZ a *.
and proceeded to the cell, accompanied by Mr. An
drews, the jailer No other person tor the time De-
| ing was allowed admittance.
| AT O'Clock the witnesses invited by the High
Sheriff. by authority of the statute, began to dock
in together with others who had received invitations
either voluntary or solicited. We learned from the
sheriff. the number present, spectators was abont
| the same number as comprised the guard -one nui-
| dred and twenty-five.
AT ten minutes before o'clock, High Sheriff
Eveleth called the names contained IN the list OF
witnesses lnved-not all Of whom answered to their
names, but sufficient number for the purpose.
Among the names were the following:
f. T. Edwards, Philip Greeley, l. II. Wright,
Isaac Adams, j. Put Bradlee, Robert Cowdin, Peter
T. Homer, VIM Schouler, Henry M. Hooper, Thorn
as Gill, John T. Heard, John Beals, William Barni-
coat, J. T. Croker Joseph Smith, Osman Brewster,
Benz Adams, B. Perley Poore, Newell A. Thomp-
son.
The Sheriff stated to the gentlemen present that
they had assembled by invitation from him as law
full witnesses of the execution of JOHN WHITE
WEBSTER for the crime Of murder, for which he
had been convicted and sentenced He detailed to
them the order in which the proceedings would take
place, and expressed his hope that utmost quiet and
good order be maintained as consistent with the
solemnity of the occasion. He hoped that he should
not hear any loud talking, not voice during the
progress Of proceedings.
The company then, at the Sheriff's request, form
ed in column, two and two, and proceeded to the
culprit's cell, when the Rev. DIR. Putnam would Of
fer up prayer.
He prayed for brother now about to pass from
this life Of sin; to be removed from this world to
other He invoked for him the aid of the Holy Spirit
and prayed that his repentance might be accepted,
and be accounted to him as such in the sight Of the
searcher Of all hearts.
He prayed that the humble hope Of forgiveness
that he has been permitted to entertain, might be
realised in blissfal fruton. He also prayed for