The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-04-07
Volume l-Number 46
Execution Of Henry Ducolou.

in the Jail of Lucas county Of Henry
Ducoln for the murder of Frederick
Boorman. Ducolon and his victim
lodged in the same boarding house
the latter was known to be possessed
of money-and he was mred to an
unfrcquented place near the city, and
there murdered and robbed. Ducol
on was Immediately suspected and
arrested. lie was convicted at the
November term, and sentenced to be
hung on the Goth of January, but was
respited by the Governor for sixty
three days. The respite expired on
Friday last at noon.
Up to The day Of tic execution the
prisoner has deaied his gull, and his
dcmcanor has been apparently calm,
firm, almost apathetic. The sisters
of Mercy and the Catholic clergy
We, uuromit. inu in their attentions,
and he appeared to attend to their
Iministrations with devotional fervor.
When the hour for execution came,
preceded by the Sheriff and attended
by the clergymen; he walked with a
firm step through the corridor to the
place of execution. t.tU
The scaffold, rude construction,
with a falling trap, was about eight
feet from the floor, and up the ladder
ascending to this, the prisoner step
ped without support. On his way
thither he bowed and shook hands
with, and babe farewell to some Of
the prison officers. All that time not
Il muscle moved to tell Of fear or
anxiety. While the stoutest heart
throbbed. his was alone unmoved.--
Seated on chair, placed under the
rope, he again engaged in prayer with
Rev. Mr. EverarCl; and here he seem
ed to have shut out from his thoughts
altogether the world and it's belong.
ings. Only once his eye glanced
round with some apparent solicitude
to discover some familiar face in the
crowd, but suggestion from the
clergyman ut once brought back his
attention to higher considerations.
After the clergymen had partially re-
tired, the prisoner stood up on the
drop. tt. ... Hlf
The Sheriff proceeded to read tire
official record Of the trial, conviction
and sentence, with the subsequent
steps taken in the matter. viz: motion
for new trial and its refusal---the re-
prieve by the Governor, and the final
warrant for execution. s . tf
Ducolon, during these formalities.
was engaged in prayer, and seemed
not to take any notice of the matter
Of The records.
The Sheriff then said, "Henry Du-
colon, have you anything to say be-
fore Iproceed to execute the sentence
of the Court ? If there be any re-
marks you wish to make! yon can
now do so.
The prisoner, after earnestly look
ing at the Priests and Sheriff. said
I"I have only to say that deserve
the death am going to die, a pause
and that | put my trust in God. l
hope l am going to God"
The Sheriff consulted with the
Clergyman, and again approaching
the prisoner said, "Do you mean to
say that you are guilty of the charge
Of which YOU have been convictedp
The prisoner humbly and firInlyl
"Yes sir"
The confession appeared to give re-
lief to the prisoner himself and all the
officials engaged in the sad duties of
the occasion. r...
The prisoner then knelt in prayer;
he uttered the Lords Prayer, the
Creed and the prayers Of the Church
after the Clergymcn - he shook
hands with and babe farewell to the
Clergymcn severally, and each of the
reverend gentlemen spoke to him
words of hope and consolation.
The process of pinioning was then
proceeded with. White gloves were
drawn on the hands Of culprit, the
rope was adjusted, and just as the cap
was about being put over the face,
he begged to he allowed few min.
utes more. These minutes were de-
voted TO prayer; he broke into sobs
which were most painful TO hear, but
having become somewhat calmed, he
grasped the Sheriff. 5 hand and ex-
claimed:
81 am going to my Blessed Re
deemer--put your trust in Sod and
meet me there" Then turning to the
priests and people, he, with earnest.
ness, uttered--"Oh, pray for me-"
These were his last wOrds-in an.
other moment the body OF Henry Du.
colon, the confessed murderer, was a
senseless clod.
Ducolon was OF French Canadian
extraction, and was aged about 2S,
Wood cutting and fishing, it is sail,
occupied the earlier part of his life,
and but little attention was evident
ly paid to either moral or mental cul-y
ture. His education hardly extended
to capacity 10 read print, and his
notions OF right or wrong were alto
gether ruled by the impulse OF selfish
ness. 1t will serve to raise doubt on,
many theories of physiognomy, thai
the culpnt's appearance in The dock
was one Of the greatest difficulties the
lprosccution had to contend with in
convincing the jury of his guilt; and
yesterday, as he STOOL on the seal,
leoll tI,a,n ,.rau ,.nfn,nnr N "a,