New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-20
EXECUTION or DAvID STODDARD.



Ever since last evening crowds had been pouring
into our city from all points OF the compass-by rail-
rOGd hy steamboat, IN wagons and carriages, on
hone back and Gfoot-uniil IL o'clock to-day, whom
the streets in the vicinity of the Court House aud jail
esf ecially were tolera ,y damned with people of al
sorts shapes and sizes, aDxously awaiting the hourW
execution of n murderer Stoddhrd.
III o'clock A. NJ. The Rock Island Guards se
reared, under command of MAJOR ilson IN me Oour-
House square, where hey were soon joined by the
Davenport military. After performing various mar,
tinl goutons they were marched 10 the lall and the
criminal brought out and placed In an omnibus co.,
tanning the Sheriff and his deputy and the mnistenO
tie various churches in the city, which vein lie wa
euarted by them to the place OF execution
Upon arriving at the gallows which was erected q
n gentle raviI near the Camden Road, outside Tie
limits of the city, we found present crowd Of iu1l
600 people gathered upon the rising ground IN TIE
i'm mediate vicinity, and crowcng down to the yey
foot of the gullOWs IN dense and swaying mas, 50
that the military with diff 'uy finally succeeded 10
clearing a eli Gle around the scaifold.
TIE criminal dressed IN light suit OF Summer
clothing with his pinioned, was assisted out q
the omnibus ard up the steps of the scafold by SheG
Cor on and Deputy Sheriff Beardsey, also accompe
MED by the Rev. Mr. Wilson of the First PresoytersO
Church, the Rev. Mr. Morse, Presiding Elder, aud TIE
Rev. W. Tosker minister of the NJ. +. Church 10 !es
cv, and one or two other ministers, and also brosh
OF tie prisoner who hai come from Peoria 10 order q
be with bin in lis last moments.
AZ or most eloquent and Ouchng appeal 10 Heaye1
in lis behalf by The Rev. Mr. Wilson, the Rev. NJ
None by request Of the prisoner prOceeceI TO spck
10 tie multitude for him az foil )ws;
He hes al by saying that fourteen years ago Sl0t
Ga q and his wife both protested Christians, ani
members of the 81 urch, and lived together h1ePnl
and ~ peace with themselves, God and the world
But he had been charged by the criminal particularly
10 state that the cause of the breaking ct this peace
was lnten perance. He began 10 drink by little and
little until his home became raging he'll aud he him
self demon of evil passions which he found imp0s
sibe 10 control DLdorsuch crcums tances il was th
his family be- anne broken up and were wanderersand
ouicssis with himself upon The face of the earth. lie
said further that lac had bcenrequesed by the prisoner
state hat he had no particular confessions 10 make
u regGrd 10 he crime OF killing his wife, az that tine
eGviug the question of his guilt to be settled by
Iublic-that The Court the Jury, and the Sheriff and
his officers, were bameless and that he had not
word OF accusation to bring against any of then.
While in jail he had been well cared for by tie
aor as il be had been n brother; and he could ~
cure no one of iIltreatment toward him. The Rev
gentleman concluded with an eloquent cShOrtatioaR
the dealers in the traffic 10 quit the dea ifai b1-
ness ard 10 young especially 10 avoid the temper
whose look pleasant but whose sting was deatn.
After he hal taken hs seat SOddard was assisted 70
rise. He proclaimed, IN loud and emphatic voice
that what Mr. Morse had stated was 'Iue-.ha be
owed al his crimes 81 misfortunes TO the Of IN
tompefance-that be fOrgave every ono aud ready
TO Oethat he feared nos tie terrible death before hn
50 much the eyes Of the people Row fixed upon I'm
He warned young men against the beginning of crDe
avoid the miserable life he had led for the past iyg
Yeas and perhaps lis dreadful end. "Reaember,7
soid he, rememt ermy dying words-and FLEE, FIJI
THE WRATH 70 CONE
He emotions oyerpowering him he was assisted TO
seat. minister then arose and made most feeling
allusion TO the melancholy crcums'a nce OF the oees
sion. He called attention particularly 20 the heart
broken, weeping brother Of the cimidal who wa %
the scaflod with him in such manner as % leaV'
scarcely dry eye in the vast assembly. The broha
then permitted TO approach for the purpose Of nI
in leave Of him for the last time.
Ht sank upon bis KEGS beside him, weeping ns
terly, St0ddHrd him elf remaining comparatively ur
moved. After he had taken leave which occ1pN
several minutes, StOddCp again arose and SAID ma
BIS tine upon earth vas now shOrt-that he was a.
dre ssng lac world nO~ for the last time lie ne:
confessed 70 the crime of killing his wife adding,
did the deed but many wrong stories have been tof
about IT, ] did il in a moment OF passion. WI
" ofte so tempted before that / could scarcely AeT
"my hands OFF her. / am now ready de %
Another prayer was then offered by the Rev. w
Tasker commenting the soul Of the criminal 70 "
mercy of Heaven. Afier this, "a a general leaw
taking Of Ell prcspnt Oh the scafiold, and kissing
Wcepng brother, tie prisoner stepped on the GG
The fatal moose was adjusted around his neck, andy
cap drawn over bis face by the Sheriff. assisted BY
deputy. He then commenced sInIag the woH
d" / N going home, which be repeated twice, and "
drop fell 81 precisely ten minutes after o'clock y,
shueg led but little and in seven minutes had cesS'
10 live.
AZ or hanging twenty minutes bis holy ~
taken down and conveyed TO the graveyard AZ
buried beside biz wife, according TO his re iesi.
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