Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-27
EXECETION OF NATHANIEL COR
DON AT THE TOMRS

boN n lOMDS.
Nathaniel Gordon, the slave dealer, suffer
ed the highest penalty of the law at l5 min
utes past - o'clock Friday noon, in the yard
of the city prison. Up to late hour on
Thursday night, no man under sentence of
death bore up with greater hope than Capt.
Gordon, and we may say that almost up to
the hour of execution there seemed to be
glimmering Of hope pictured in his counte-
nance, yet he was doomed to disappointment,
and has suffered the horrible penalty for the
crime he has committed. During Thursday
he was attended by his spiritual advisers, the
Rev. DR.. Corbitt, Rev. DR.. Camp, and Rev.
DR.. Bingham. He would frequently tell
them that he was ready to die, and would
soon after talk as if he expected a commuta-
ton of sentence from the President.
1t is evident that he based his hope upon
the statement of the United States District
Attorney, c. Delafield Smith, whom he char
ges with having promised to procure him
! pardon. Between six and seven o'clock IN
the evening, his wife and mother-in-law, with
his little one, called at the Tombs to take f.
nal farewell of him. The unfortunate woman
bore haggard look, and had evidently eaten
but little for long time, every moment of
her time for the past two weeks having been
devoted to securing the assistance of influen-
tal parties in endesvoring to prevent the ex-
ecution OF her husband. As she entered the
cell, she fell fainting on the floor, and had to
be carried out into the reception room, where
by the assistance of the prison physician, she
soon recovered, when her husband was
brought out to her.
The scene that here took place, their last
moments together, no pen could describe
She would talk for few moments, and then
| be so overcome that she would faint, and il
would be some time before she would recov-
er. When the fatal moment came for her to
leave the massive walls of that dismal prison,
she with one shrek fell headlong at her hus-
bands feet. Gordon raised her in his arms.
imprinted last farewell kiss upon her burn
ing brow, and was then removed from her
sight never to meet again on earth He
fondly embraced his child, and kissed and
kissed it until the keeper was compelled to
remove it; and then, with trembling step.
he returned to his cell in company of his
spiritual advisers. At nine o'clock he enter
ed into prayer with the Rev. Mr.. Camp, and
was then lett alone in charge of the keepers
for the remainder of the night.
Until four o'clock he lay upon his couch,
but did not manifest any desire to sleep. A
bout four o'clock the keeper went to his cell
and found him suffering the most intense
pam he Immediately called assistance. DR..
Hodgman, the prison physician, being at
hand, he soon discovered that Gordon had
taken poison. Drs. Limons and Wood were
also called In and the stomach pump applied,
which, after the lapse OF an hour or so, soon
placed him out Of danger by the removal of
the poison. On examination it was found
that he and taken strychnine, and st one
time ii was feared that the gallows would be
cheated of its victim. When questioned in
regard to how he obtained 1t, he said that 1t
was put into ciga and brought to him by
friend; it was about twenty grains and placed
in the point of cigar; watching bis opportu-
nifty he bit the end OF it off and swallowed it
all, and threw himselfupon bis bed TO de
Hh had not taken the poison over five min
utes when discovered.
AS he walked towards the gallows, he was
the picture of despair With trembling
step he reached the fatal spot, and seemed
hardly able to support himself The rope
was speedily adjusted around his neck, and he
then spoke few words to Rev. Mr.. Camp,
and at 10 minutes past twelve o'clock the ia
tai signal was given, and the unfortunate
mans spirit passed away, it is to be hoped to
a far better world. His neck was not bro
ken, but he died almost without a struggle.
He hung until twenty-five minutes past
twelve. when the physicians pronounced life
extinct. .-.
| AT thirty minutes past twelve he was cut
down and placed in charge of some of his
friends, who will have him privately buried.
Before dying he wrote letter to the two
mates of his vessel, who are confined in the
City Prison, also one to his wife.-N Y. Jour
nal Of Commerce, 21st.