New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-18
FyFCITIOE OF A MURDERER-HORRIBLE
SCENE

On Monday morning, March 81, William Bousfeld,
CONVICTED az tie March session Of the Central Criminal
Court, Of the murder OF bis wie ana thFee caH1eH'
Wa executed in front of the jail Of Newgate.
On Saturday, the Goth. the prisoner ma Re most
desperate attempt at slfdesfucton II appears that
in tie afternoon the prisoner was VISITED 81 TWO OF as
conceived under the circumstances but tie prisoner
exhibited good deal Of indifference and very niue
uassed az the interview After his sisters had LETT him.
Rousfeo was seated upon the edge OF ms bed, Wncl
close "a the place the officer being quite near nm
vie be suddenly started from hs seat ana threw nt
head foremost upon the CRATE: The Cihcer Immediately
rushed upon him erd dragged INN from his pefIous
ton and with assistance bis clothes which were on ire
were pu leo g. and he thus escaped from receiving
material injury. The prisoner had good deal OF hsI
under his chin and this had ignted, and the mouth
end lower parts of the face were severely burned.
Nh Gibson the surgeon Of the jail was at once SEM
for and he found that all that could be done was 10
annly cooling lotions 20 the face TO relieve the pam
and these we're continued almost constantly during t1e
remaining u riod Of the wretched mans existence IL
arrenred that from this time the prisoner refused 10
take any sustenance; and the only nutnmeut NJ r.,
ceved from Saturday afternoon TO the time apPoin,eI
for his execution was small quantity OF INK, thal
was almost forcibly administered 20 him with spoon
AS early a. O'Clock on Monday morning Mr.. Saern
Rose ACCOMPANIED by bis brother aud deputy MI -
A. Rose, in attendance; ana M Sheflii heAneui
and Mr. UndeT.Sherif Stone shortly atttrward aulVel
nj the Jail The Rev. MIR. Davies had been with ne
wreched nan from earlier hour, but al h eneaV'
ors TO induce him 20 receive the cancellations OF re
most totally PROSTATE condition, and M Nea'h5i-
head the newl yapponted Governor OF Newgaie; di
rected that some wine should be given to him. Nneh
the authorities whose painful duty was 10 supeiIu
tend he execution were admitted to the where
the wretched man confined, he was found sitting
on a sort cf couch that formed his bed, with MS
head buried in his breast, and apparently utterly
unconscious Of what was passing around MN
Colcra the executiOner, at proceeded TO pnion
tbe culu and when this had been completed the prs
oner vomited for a considerable time, and the whole OF
his physical powers appeared to have eit NM tnele
can be no doubt, however, from what subsequently 0c
Cured that good deal of this was assumed, II the
hone possibly that OF the usual precautions woud
be neglected, and that be might thus ne enaDe1 10
carry ont the plan he had evidently contemplated o:
creating scene on the sclffold. Fortunately, how
ever Notwithstanding the apparently prostra'ed con-
diion of the prisoner, he was sccurey pnloneo ana
his subsequent desperate proceedings on Inc &C mo-
onv had the effect Of increasing his own suiienngs
When the ceremony of pini0ning had been CON-
pleted the prisoner let hi- head drop on his breast
ard he appeared to have already felt the pang OF
death Eight o'clock the fatal hour for the EXECUTION
having arrived the prisoner raised by four men,
and in that manner conveyed to the 'anoid. As ne
appeared totally unable to stand, it was considered
tie best course TO be adopted place him III chair
under IT, beam and he sustained in that position
by one Of the assistants while Cacra hxeo me rope IN
in its nroper position The Rev. Mr.. Davies accom-
panied tie wreched man, but from his apparent stlie
Il emed useless to perform the usual Off ces OF rehg
ioD When the signal was given, the CHAIR III whlch
the wretehed still seated OF coure gave way
| with the OTCp anu consequently tH' ioii N''
| nearly 70 great as it is under ordinary circum-
stances; and at this dreadful moment THE prisoner
ATTEMPTED 10 carry out the desperate struggle for lie
which be had evidently contemplate /: Inc SOUND
of the falling drop had scarcely passed away wen
there WIS shrek from the crowd of Hell up again.
and to the horror of every one, was founl mat me
rri.oner by a powe rial muscular effort, had drawn
himself mn completely 70 the level of the drop, and
that both his feet resting upon the edge OF It, and
he was vanly endeavOrug to raise his hands to the
rore One OF the officers immediately rushed upon the
tcaffod and pushed the wretched mans feet from their
lolc but in an instant, by violent effort, he threw
bns, to Il other side, and again succeeded In getting
both his feet ON the edge of tie drop. Calcraf who
had left the scaffold imagining that all over,
called back, and he seized hold OF the wreched Grim
| inal and it was with considerable difficulty that
| he could force lin from the scsfod, and he was
again suspended The short relief the wretched man
had obtained from the pressure OF the rope by those
desperate proceedings had probably enabled him 10
Iospire: and to the astOnishment and horror OF the
suectetors he q third time succeeded IL placing his
feet upon the PLATFORM and again his hands vainly At
tempted 70 reach the fatal rope. Clcra ana two or
three other men then again forced the wTeched man
feet from their hold and his legs were held down until
the final struggle was over. While this fearful scene
was being enacted the bells of tie different ntghbcr
lng churches were ringing merriy upon the announce
ment of peace, Offering sad contrast to the melan'
| cboly proceedings.
and placed in shell and in the evening buried
in the iei pursuant to the terms of the sentence.
The crowd assembled upon the occasion appeared to
| be much smaller than usual
SADLEIR NOT DEAD.
m urtpfl rfI in