The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-20
Execution or David stOddard for the Murds !
or his WIFE.

From the Rock Islara Advertiser, July 1871
Ever since last eveIiny Gro sds had been Iuriog
railroad, BY steamboat IN wagons and carriages On
horseba and afoot, until ~ to ii O'Clock day,
sht the str eta in the ylcinl of the Coura House
and jail especially were tolersbiy jammei With
psspe " aii sorts. shapes and sizes, xnxioasly
awaiting the hour Of execution OF the mudereT,
Stodeald.
Az IL O'Clock 4. H., the Rock Island Gua-ds 10
peased: uader command o. Major Wilson, in the
Court House square, where they wsre soon j,inea
by the Dsyeupost military. After performing We
rions msrtia evolutiors, they were marched - the
jail, and the criminal brought out and axd ia en-
mnibus, containing tha sheriff and his aepu,y, and
the ministers o. the various churches In the city.
Of sX cution.
UNn striving a. the gallo ~, which was erected
in gentle ravlDe near rne Camden road, ootside
II. limits Of the city, We found present c-o~d OF
fnly ten the uaand teople gs.bered upon the rising
prouno In the immediate vicinity, and Gro vdtne
down to the very foot Of the gallcws, in dense and
sssyirg d ass, 10 that ths military with difficulty
finally succeeded in clearing circle around ths
tctnOld.
The criminal, dressed In light suit Of s7unAr
clothing with his arms pinoned, vas AssA:sd or Of
mi Gorton and Deputy Sh4ne Besrdsley, ss, &C
compaDRd by Rev. MI. Wilson, OF the First Pes.
oyterian church; Rev. Mr.: Morse presiding elder;
Eoscopsl church in this city, and one or Two other
ministers, and alec q brother Of the p.lsonsr, wao
hsd come from Peoria in order t, be with him in
his ,sst monertP.
Hesven in his behalf, by Rsv. Mr.. Wiison, Rev. W..
More, by request If toe prisoner, procse ied TO
spssk 70 the multitude FOR him IS foiiows:--
He began BY sayinS tnst fou,teen years sgo
ta1s s. members OF the CHURCH. and lived .og starr
happily and In peace with f. emscives, God sud tue
world. But be had oeen Charged ny tae ertm Gal
particularly to state tn.r The OF tia broskug
al nia poaC UA int hay - rlu
little by little, until his hon, oecsma n gux cell
and be himself Q dem u Of evil psssions vnj n hs
tour il impossible 70 control. Under su,h cream
stsf ces IL Was TIA. his family became bsok n up
asd were wanderers and ontcas with himself uoon
.be face OF the EARTH He said, further tina. he al
been requested BY the prisoner to state thai ne had
10 particular onfessol to make in regard 20 the
crime Of killing bis wife, a. that t,me leaving the
question Of bis gnsli TO BE- settled by the pubic
shat tse court, the Jury, the snerf and his oc.rs
ware blsmtkes, and that be RAD not 8 so:d n
accusation to briog against any of them. Wne 10
jail be bad been IS vel cared for by the alor as if
be Dan been brother; and he could accu ss no one
Ct III treAtmeut towards bm.
Tie reverend gentleman coac uded with an elo-
20 quit the dreadful business and TO young men
especially to avoid the tcmpter whose LOOK was
Ik ssaDt but whore sting Was death.
After he had taken his scat, Ssoddard was ~
listed ID rise. He proclaimed Ia Q loud and en-
phAiic voice thst VIA. Mr.. Morse had st4.ed was
Due-thM he owed eli bis crimes and misfo tunes
to The curse d interpesance-taat he forgive every
one and was ready I, delta; hc feared ). the
terrible d.ath before him much a. the eyes OF che
people now I'D upon hin. he wans1 yong
men against the beginning Ct crime, which wAs q
uss OF tie Intoxicating glass, II they would svo.d
the misefsbe life be had Led fos the past i've ,rs
AID perhaps It's dreadful end. Rsmenbsrr sail
Re. "iemeuber my dying ~ords, and fee, fee tbs
HIS emotiors overpowerirg him, be was assisted
to q sest. A minis.er then sroie and msds most
feeling slinsion - the melancholy circumstance OF
the oecssion. He called ATTENTION particalAvis 10
the heart bro ken weeping brother Of the criminal.
who was on the scafold 9Th him, 10 such mauuer
- leave scarcely dry owe in the vast assembly.
The br Their WAS then psrmi ted TO approach for toe
pn,rcre Q. takir ieave.of bin for tue les: time
He sunk up his knees beside him, weepIng bit.
tsrIy, Stoddaxd himself Iemai6ing compar Ativelv
upnovsd. AFTER he had taken leave, which occu
pied ssvsra, minutes, Stcddard sgain arose and said
hat nM time upon earth vas now snort-tnas be
wss Addressing the world ROW for the last me.
he then confessed to the crime Of killing his vie
sdd,rg, III did the deed but many wrong stories
have oesn told about it. I did II in moment If
psesiop; wsa often 10 tempted before that c)uli
to die #ae fGdt9a
Another prayer wss tbsn cEsred by R,v. W.
Tsther, CONNIE nding che FOUL OF the criminal (, t,s
mercy Of heaven. Af:sr this, as general lsAv,-
taxing o. oil present on the scsf)ld, ard kissing
lis weeping 6sotber, the prissuer St. pped on ,ns
d,cp. The fatal poose was ID iosed around 81.
neck and the cap drawn over hs fAss by tue sheriff
sts,sted by his deouty. He then commenced
s'rsng tue wo'ds I'm g1,rg b. me" vhi,, be
repeated tsice, and the drop tel ~ pre- .is.ly tao
mir utes after sne oclocs. Hs Struggle ID bu, tt,e.
Al In sey.r niDu .es had ceased 20 i've.
Lrer hsnG;, tysnfy minutes hisb,dy "a.
taten down ED conveyed :, III graveyard and
crtlsd beside is vie, Accoid.-r I, fis regu,s;.