The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-29
THE HANGING OF HOWLETT AND SAUL,
FOR THE
MURDER OF CHARLES BAXTER.
Incidents in ths City Prison on the Night
Previous TO Their Execution
sCENES in AND AROUND THE PRISON
DURING YESTERDAY
Prayer Of Saul Jader the Galiows, +.


them They appeared TO be in excellent spirts-aughed
and conversed freely About O'Clock Saul and Hewlett
retired to their cells to bed slept soandy
quiety-neher of them awaking or even changing their
position till morning Hewlett awoko about 81 O'Clock
Saul slept hour later On awaking both manifested
degree of composure that astonishing Hewlett
marked that he would put his last clean shirt and
said ne woud like to the gallows" We replied tOh
no you should not wish that He responded, by say
ing he shoud Ike to it" for he had dreamed of It.
and it the oldest looking thing he ever saw" He
returned TO his cell washed himself and called for some
tobacco One of the persons present furnished him with
it, shortly after, be lit segar and then completed his
toilet with great and attention Inquired for the
Sheriffpicked up Bblethen closed his door partially
for the purpose Of repeating his morning prayer. His
confessor who remained outside Of his cell all night and
up to the hour Of O'Clock in the morning then entered
his cell and closed the door, both remaining there
for 4 short time. Saul, ON awakening, did not ap
pear to be in such buoyant spirits as when he re-
tired to rest He nervous; and his first ques
ton was" How late is itS' lie then asked if
!" the Sheriff had arrived, and told he had not
He sat down and sighing heavily said This hard
notT' The response was, 'sYes: but you must look
above and ask the Gver of all good give you strength
to act like and Christian" He said he had
prayed for it. and felt lie should be able go through
with IT, He then left his cell and out on the corridor
to warm himself; shortly returned to his cell washed
and himself after which he returned to the cor
rdo and stated that he too had dreamed of being hung
following it with the remark that it the trucs
dream he had for he to be hung any how"
Hewlett here out of his cell and they shook hands
Hewlett again wished to the gallows and inquired
particularly TO its construction Saul told him he
would it soon enough and on being told its mode Of
construction, said Then shall go up instead of
down. Saul told him if his spirit up did not
matter as 10 the body. Both appeared to rally in the
company of each other and chatted together famiary
and good naturedy Mr. Edmonds entered the prison and
shock hands with ihem and asked how they had passed the
night is both answered "elneveF slept better in my
Hewlett here left for the chapel in the female portion
OF the prison. Mass said. and he joined in the
mony with becoming decorum and apparent sincerity
After Hewlett left, the morning papers handed
saul he looked them with ayidity and remarked
that of the articles good, and objected to
others After perusing the papers he appeared to fall
back into his former gloom and dependency and entered
into his cell Rev Mr. Camp came in and Rev Mr.
Spear also who went the will him. and remained
for long time after which he returned to the hall
and was ipsroduccd TO number OF friends when they
gain wcnt TO their cells and remained with their
spiritual lvers until preparations made for the
execution
men, Nicholas Hewlett and William Saul suffered tie last
penalty of the law for the murder of Charles Baxter
the yard Of tho City Prison. At carly hour in the
morning numbers of citizens of every class assembled
arornd the prison and The hour approached for ad
mtancc an immense excitement wa manifested toobtain
10 witness the execution Tickets for admission
| were at high premium the time advanced, and
card offered from five 10 twonty five dollars for single
| the following of which is COPY
SIR-pursuant to the "Act to abolish public eyeca.
ON passed May 9th 1895 hereby give you notice to
attend the execution of Saul Johnson and Hewlett each
convicted of the murder OF Baxter and sentenced
be hung Friday. January 2Sth 1853. The execution
will take place in the yard Of the City Prison Halls of
Justice, Centre street, at ii O'Clock. JOHN OEsSER
| Sheriff of the City and County Of New York.
| ShcriA's OEce, Jan. "a 1855. Il. 81
Entrance on Leonard street
Up TO eleven O'Clock it was estimated that pwards of
/ five thousand
the houseiops and Windows of eadacent buildings
thionced with people gazing at the Tomb shortly after
and large body Of policemen entered the prison yard
and took up their different positions for the maintenance
of order At this time there between three and four
hundred persons III the prison yard
Soon after Sheriff orser made his appearance with seve
raj Of his deputies sensation aroused by the ap
pearance Of the sheriff At little before twelve O'Clock
the jury selected and the sheriff prepared himself
for his official duty and entered the prison. followed b.
the jury and noted the culprts TO prepare themselves
for execution Among the persons present to witaess
the execution, noticed Mayor Weservelt Recorder
Iilou Alderman Oakley, Alderman Brisley, Alderman
Haley justices Stuart and Bogart Coroners Donnel
Hilton and Wilhelm, with many other city officials.
Tie mechanical arrangements, and all other matters
apperainng TO the due execution of the law, ad
| miably carried out by Sheriff orser.
| THE SCENE INSIDE THE ToJps.
The unfortunate prisoners engaged in prayer with
their respective spiritual advisers from early hour
yesterday morning Saul prayed most erycnty for his
mother brother and friends particularly Hewlett and
| sang tae beautiful hymn--
God moves in n mysterious way.
His wonders to perform:
He plants his footsteps in the
| And rides upon the storm
Hewlett accompanied by the priests. proceeded to
apartment in the prison where high performed
| Hewlett was attended by the Rev. Mr. McQun and
other priest and Saul by the Rev. Mr. Spear, Rev Mr.
| Camp Rev Mr. Evans of st. Georges, Beekman street
and Mr. James Johnson Of the Union Theological Semi
| nary.
At eight O'Clock they partcok Of breakfast OF which
Hewlett eat heartily but Saul scarcely tasted anything
| At Little before eleven o'clock they 10 the
outer corridor TO take leave of their friends They ap
rearcd nervous but exhibited great selfcomman and
shook hands with several OF their friends who had
| bed TO bid them final adicu.
As saul was entering his cell Mr. James johnson put
tie following question to him -" Have you anything fur
ther 10 say than what hes been reported to all the
| worldf
Saul replied IF any body wishes to be convinced that
have not been guilty Of any other murder let him ask
| me when am dying. am now going before my God,
and there wiz be for any future swearing there
Hewlett. brother accompanied him Ito to sSsel when
| johnny, wish TO say word to you, aud they both
entered the cell together shortly afterwards the bro
ther came ont weeping and engaged for consdera
bic period in anxious conversation with the Rev. Mr.
Spear. few moments before IL A NJ, one Of the She
rins deputies entered the cells of both prisoners and ad
iusted the moose pnioned them and placed black cap
/ on their heads.
johnson having requested to bid last adieu to his
crime, conducted by the keeper to the
cells of Saul and Hewlett Hc first entered saurs cell
and as he approached him Saul exclaimed ''oh my God
what I've come to pointing with his finger to the
| ropearound his neck
| johnson shed tears, and took him by the hand and
kissed him, exclaming, "God bless you Saul, must
| now part
| 'sYes,r replied Saul, ''wc must part but do now
johnson, behave yourself good in the State prison and
live in the fear of God and you will get out by and by
johnson then visited Hewlett in the presense of the
Roman Catholic priests Hewlett appeared affected
hat he could scarcely speak and Johnson having kissed
him and shaken bands returned to his cell accompanied
by the keeper
TIE PROCESSION TO THE GALLows
Then formed at few minutes before twelve, in the fol
lowing order sheriff orser dressed in black, with
| chapeau and sword and his first deputy, Mr. Willet
similarly ated The cuprits Saul and Hewlett dressed
in their usual dress with the ropes round their necks
and black caps on their heads Saul was accompanied
by the Rev Mcssrs Evans and Camp, and Hewlett was