The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-02-06
EXECUTION OF DUNBAR

r. lsy u LIZ before IL clock al
the jail Ia tit. city. Reuben A. Dunbar'
lhe convicted and confessed murderer
IL two young and inrnceni children,
pad VIII h;s life. the just ard ine1ora-
Tie penalty Of the law.
The approach 10 tie jail presented
t.a re appearance, being guarded on
either side by the Albany !'urgrsses
Corps amt the Rcpuhlican Artillery.
In companies having been detailed by
tic Adjutar'. General A crowd OF
several hundred j,er.ons were OUTSIDE OF
Ito guard, bu, no di.p.i'ion Vas ,v'nc-
Il to violate the order betting the oc'
ci.,ion.
The RON selected for the execution
wss in ,',c upper story on the west SID
and running the length Of the building
tie spo, immediately in front 81 the en-
trance. a drop gallows had been con
.,ruc,.d. II, Ling but the end of'hc rope
.u.pen,lrd ,h;oug' hole 10 the ceiling
bong ,i.ible the weight attached to
the other en- wa. abou, 800 pounds.
There we're present in the room near
~ one hundred persons, all Of whom
seemed impressed With the solemni'y
vi tie moment.
The nigh; prcccjin. hi. execution
-a, sycbi by Dunbar calmly and even
,.,cr,nlly; he retired n, J !. slept quiz
city and ,oundly, awoke n. the clock
ga. striking five, remarking that Z" it
~ould be the las, time it would strike
hat ',unr for him."
The journal says:
Before company wac admitted to hi
cell, some one sent him copy Of his
Confession, with all the pictures Of his
eyccm.ion. which considerably excited
aud disturbed hi. mind. At length he
became more calm, and began to pre-
pare ii. mind for the final scene.
AT "a little after min. O'Clock, The Cler-
gyman who has attended him, accom-
panied by several Of the city Clergy.
Visited his cell. At 10 "a o'clock he
prepared anl dressed himself for exc
"l,ion. As soon rs he was ready, the
Rev Mr. Rawson read to him the 5ls,
Psalm. and all present united, while the
Rev Mr.. Howard led in devotion. Hi,
prayer was most earnest, and singularly
appr, PIRATE to the circumstances Of the
prisoner. The prisoner wept much du-
rag its delivery. At twenty minutes
before eleven, word was brought to him
from the Sheriff, that the Execution
would take place at eleven O'clock
This seemed to affect his mind some.
what; bu, his firmness continued to sus
tain him. When asked of he did moi
find it more difficult TO meet the fna
scene than he supposed" he made ar
eiort TO calm his agiiated feelings, ant
answered in the negative.
A, little after | o'clock he express
ed II wish to engage in prayer on hi
own behalf Which lac did. His praye
Was simple in language, expressed hi
entire submission to the sentence of tn,
law; asked that "if he had inadverl
emily kept back any thing from his spir
itual adviser, that it nigh, then be mad
known to him--,hat lie might then rt
veal it; prayed for his wiie-aud tina
lis own great sint,Iness might me,
with forgiveness, and declared that Il
freely forgavc all men.
AT half past eleven, the prisoner. al
ter being rinioned was conducted fro'
bis room, accompanied by officer Nc
Culloch and his faithful friend and pa.
,or.,he Rev. DR.. Beechcr; he was dress
I'd in a plain suit of deep black; an
having assembled the stairs with n fri
step, entered the room and took the SEES
placed for him, Immediately under til
rop" lie appeared deeply dejec'e
md fully sensible Of his position, a
though he gave, save 10y his dejecte
countenauce. no evidence OF cxtrem
emotion. On taking his seat, the Deatl
Warrant was read in a firm voice, /
District attorney Colvin. which W;
heard by the prisoner with the san
wonderful! selfpossession which he Ia
evivced from his first appearance. !
the conclusion, on being asked if he d.
sired to say anything to those preSen
he rose and spoke in steady and di
tine, voice. nearly as follows:
Ny Dying Fricnds-I feel that m
situation is an awful one. feel Iii
committed great crime, and that N
sentence is just. But hope that N
sins are forgiven through the atoneme'
Of Christ--that my feet stand upon Il
Rock Of Ages.
My Friends--I desire to say fe
words before leave this world. L.
me exhort you TO beware how yt
yield to temptation; AMI remember
look to Him who has promised to civ
his grace and assist those that are temp
ed. hope ,ha, when We have all don
with tils world that we shall meet in
better.
0 Cod into thy hands commit II
Spirit!
lie then knelt and an eloquent NJ
sii-cling prayer was offered TO Il
Throne Of Grace by the Rev. DIR. Beec
or, which seemed 10 affect the prison
more than any other Of the dread solcr
mites. This being concluded, he sho'
hands with his pastor, several of b
friends. aud the officers, whispering
few last words 10 the former, when q
black cap was drawn over bis face, al
the rope adjusted. During the emit
proceedings, he evinced perfect n
aui.scence in his fate. an utter a.,sen