Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-07
EXECUTION OF CAPT. GORDON.

y 1 !.
Capt N Gordsn, the convicted slave deal
er. suffered the extreme penalty of the law at
noon on Friday Feb. 81, at the City Prison in
New York During the preceding night he
attempted to commit suicide by taking strich-
nine, which was conveyed to him in cigars,
but through the untirng exertons Of his ply
sicians, the poison was removed from his
stomach, and he was resusctated. He was a
native Of Portland Maine, and was at the
time Of his execution only twenty-seven years
of age. On his first trial the jury did not
agree, but on his second trial, which lasted
three days, he was convicted. The most un-
firing exertions were made for commutation
of the sentence of the Court, but all proved
ruitless, The President granted reprieve
for two weeks, to give the prisoner time to
prepare for his awful fate, but further than
that he refused to interfere with the due
course of the law.
The history Of this case cannot be better
summed up than in the sentence Of Judge
Shipman, which was as follows:
1t appears from the evidence in this that in the
summer Of 1859 you saied in the shin Erie from Hava-
ma ia the island Of Cuba bound the Of Africa.
You master Of the vessel and had board a
petent crew, and large amount Of provisions Of kind
and quantity appropriate for food for large number Of
persons and such is usually carried out in vessels
which uended for the slave trade. The ship also
had on board large number OF water casks, as well
quantity OF liquor which latter was TO be eft IN Africa,
probably exchanged for the freight which you undertook
20 bring back % Cuba Ia command Of this ship, thus
manned and provided, you proceeded the Congo river
on the West Coast OF Africa and there after landing
OF Al
but the liquor and filling your water casks with fresh
water you dropped your vessel down the river TO point
few miles from its mouth, AMI in few hours, the
afternoon Of the h Of August you took board o9 Of
the inhabitants Of that country, thrust them, deusey
packed and crowded between the decks Of The ship, aud
Immediately set san for Cuba On the morning OF the
Sth in tie Atlantic Ocean, about fifty miles from the
coast, you captured by the United States vessel
MohicAu, ship taken MOnTOya, where all the
fortunate victims OF your crime then living put
shore and you brought in your ship 10 this port
Upon these facts you have been accused brought TO trial
before jury Of countymen, aud found guilty OF
crime f1r viii h the laws of your country adiudge
pirate and naict upon you the punishment Of death.
In the verdict Of the jury IL is my duty 10 say that the
Court fun c1neurred The evidence Of your guilt
fully and complete TO exclude nom the minds of
your trers all doubt You are soon TO be confronted
with the terrible consequences VI your crime and It is
proper that should call TO your mnd the duty Of pre-
pairing for that event which will soon terminate your
mortal existence and usher you into the presence OF the
tA guidance OF the ministers Of religion, and let your
repentance be thorough and humble your crime
great. Do not attempt TO hide its enormty from your
sef think of the cruelty and wickedness Of seizug
ly thousand fellow beings, who never did you harm
and thrustng them between the decks Of small ship
beneath burning tropical to die Of disease SUI
location, be transported 70 distant lands and eonsign
ed, they aud their posery to fate far cruel than
death Think Of the suffering Of the happy beings
whom you crowded the Erie Of their helpless agony
and you took them from their native land, and
especially think OF those who pershed under the weight
o their miserics the passage from the place Of your
capture 20 MOnrOvia Remember that you showed mef-
cy 10 nOne--oarrying of you did only those Of
your sex, but aud helpless children. Do not
hatter yourself that because they belonged 70 different
from yourself that your guilt IA therefore essened
Rather fear hat it is increased In the just aud gener
heart the humble and the weak inspire compassion
aud call for pity and forbearance and you
pass into the presence Of that God Of the black
well the white man. who is Tespeoie Of persons
d. not indulge for moment the thought that lie hears
with indifference the cry Of the humblest OF His children
DO not imagine that because others shared in the guilt of
hsenterprse yours is thereby diminished but remem-
Der the awful Adm0niton Of your Bible, though hand
j1in in hand, the wicked sha not go unpunished Turn
your thoughts towards Him who alone pardon, who
mercy. IL remains only TO pronounce the sentence
which the law aNes to your crime, which is, that you
be taken back to the City Prison, from whence you
brought aud remain there until Friday the seventh day
Of February next and then and there, the place OF
eouun, between the hours Of twelve o'clock al aud
three o'clock in the afternoon that day, you be hangd
By the neck unt you dead and may the Lord have
mercy upon your soul