The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-01
Ths Last Nours, Confession, and Exec1tion
Or Rusbcn Dusbar, for tho Murder OF
David and stephen ". Lester.

~ noRsE's LINE, OFFICE % WALL STREET.
ALBANY, January 81, 1851.
| HIS LAST HOURS.
Last night Reuben Dunbar the prisoner was guarded
by two persons, who left all night In his cell
During the evening he wrote and left letters di-
| rscted to his wife and brother. He composed him
self TO rest st about the usual hour and slept better
than he did for several nights past. He swoks
this morning at an early hour, and at the usual
time psrtook, with hts accustomed RELISH Of heart
meal Before any company admitted to his CELL
some one seut him COPY Of his csnfession with eli
the pictures OF his execution, which considerably ex
citsd and disturbed his mind He expressed dissatis-
faction at the appearance Of the wood outs which he
sere on and put into tho stove At length he became
more calm and began to prepare his mind the Anal
scene.
At . little after nine o'clock, the clergyman who
has attended him. accompanied BY several Of the city
clergy, visited his cen.
At resqusrters past ten O'Clock he prepared and
dressed himself for sxscution.
Al soon - he was ready the Rev. Mr.. Rswson read
to him the nfty- frst Pslam, and s present united
while the Rev Mr. Howard led In devotion His prayer
was most earnest, snd snguary appropriate for the
circumstances OF the prisoner. The prisoner wept
much during its delivery.
At twenty minutes before eleven O'Clock word was
brought to him nom the sheriff. that the execution
seemed to affect his mind somewhat, but his frmness
continued to sustain him. When asked II he did not
find It more difficult TO meet the final seene than he
supposed, he made effort to calm his agtated feel
ipgs, and answered In the negative.
At little after IL O'Clock he expressed wish to
engage in prayer his own behalf which he did
His prayer was simple In language He suppressed his
entire submission to the Of the law and ask
cd that II he had inadvertently kept back anything
o. kS~
known to him, that he might there reveal It. He
prayed for his wife and that his great sinfulness
might meet with forgiveness He said he freely for
gave all men.
The ofcer to his cell at precisely half past IL
O'Clock His msnacles having previously been knock
ei of, his arms pinioned; and leaning on the
arm Of the Rev Mr. Beecher, supported by Of the
deputies the other at Is minutes before "a he as
cended the stairs into the third story prison
with hrm step. The persons who were allowed to
witness the execution were already assembled
LAST WORDS
After moments delay the sheriff intim ated to Mr.
Beeoher that the prisoner at liberty to speak if
he had aught to say. The fact Was commu nicatsd,
and Dunbar addressed those present substantially as
iollows:-
My dear friends, 1 feel my situation Is an avfal
one; feel that committed great crime and that
my sentence s just; but hope that my sins for
given, through the stonement OF Christ that my feet
stand upon the Rock Ages My fiends desire say
few words before leave this world let exhort you
to beware how you yield to temptation and
10 look TO Him who has promised to give his grace.
and assist those who tempted hope that when
all done with this world, we shsll meet In a
better. oh, God into thy hands l commit my spirit
THx ExEcUTIoS.
The rope was then adjusted about his neck the cap
draw IL hsad And In mir
fudden jerk his body drawn upward to wards the
ceiling. His neck instantly broken, and there
was not the slightest apparent eonyulsion Of his
frame. lie chose to be executed In his clothes,
| and the privilege was granted him by the shsrif
| He q neat, plain black suit, with boots well
polished, hair smoothly combed, shirt collar nicely
adjusted which rendered him in outward appearances
dressed spprop riaely party than he gal
lows The body aimed suspended twenty. ave min
utes when surgeon felt Of his pulse and pronounced
iisred to his bro'herin by whom 1t was convey
ed to the residences OF his friends ZONE miles 10 the
country where his funeral Is TO take place to
THE AUDIENCE.
There not more than three four hundred out
side the jail and perfect order was preserved by The
Burs ess Corps and kep uhlicap ARTILLERY who
duty at the request of the sheriff
MS CONFESSION
There appeared In the streetssthis afternoon pam.
phet bearing the seal copyright which is said to be
full and candid csnfes,ion acknowledging HI, guilt
and the object he had In view in committing the
bloody deed II is attestsd by the sheriff who pre-
IL the true and ouly confession of Dunbar IL
appears the only object he had In view In soumitng
the deed was personal aTgran dz.ment lie had no III
feeling towards the children, hut he thought they
ont ~ existence he would stand chance to get
larger portion of Lester's property. but he pre-.
tends that the murdsr vas on and that
he did take HE wife away the purpose Of giving
him better opportunity Of committing the deet lie
wss In the barn sharpening his sickle and while there
the youngest boy enme 70 get his psrmissios to 60
fishing IL then for the fret tims tnat he copured
up In bis brain plan for killing them After some
eonverson he induced him TO 70 into the woods for
the purpose Of gettir woodcocH; aud wbile he
drawing his attention 70 place where the child va.
induced 70 believe he could find them, he struck him
on the head With the ,wiues tree lie simed we'll I'd
with one Other blow lite vas extinct lie covered the
body With lssves hid the stick under the Log where
was found and returned 10 the house How GET rid
o the other child then the all absorbing thoaeht.
After reflection be concluded 70 sntce tss child oa
Int the woods 70 gather huttrrf uts and while engaged
In this. he asked the hos II hs would Ike
ero-s meet; TO which he replied afhrmatvsly. Ne
told him 20 climb the tree. which he did, Dunbar
foowing him up when st the height OF twenty fee.
IRON the ground. he made the rope fast to limb.
While he was engaged Ia making moose. H. directed
the boy. attention TO finding oat the nest, which he
ssd was In another tree lie then clipped II over his
bead but while he was doing u the boy s.d Don't.
Reubin, dent" when he had secured II tight around
HE neck he kicked hs feet from the Limb vhich hs
we standing and The q 10 must have been Instantly
stranRlsG by the sll. he did not after yard.
when h. forced the -hid "a ths limb, his cap fell 20
/ the srouus which Dunbar took and PLACED on the
/ limb just shove his head No one was The farm
but BIS mother ~ ths time Who, tappesrs, became
slssmed about he children ON the return ~ be.ter
end Dunbar's wife, much alarm prevailed about
the sbsencs of the children, aud general search
vas commenced and the boys we're found just az
be had lett them. lie fully exontTates his mo.
tber IRON any participation IN the crime, an3 saws
thst on the Day when he committed the murders she
vss sick ard must have hsen wing dowu when he
committed the deed WITH regard the pail efwsterhe
iscts the a stated the trial, but hs
denies endeavoring 10 draw on the attention o persons
engaged In tho - arch from the place where the ch
| dren we're hid. fls became fully conscious of
the enofmity Of Tie crime he had committed. I'LL the
u lie a. nlfNWN Nn. H. hrt