The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-04-20
Execution of the Murderer Green
at East Cambridge.

Mr.. Rufus r. Wade. the turnkey of the
jail, by request of Green, who had be-
come attached to him, and Enos W. Reed
of East Cambridge occupied the cell with
him during the entire night. Rev. Mr.
Morse of Cambridge was present with
him until about half past nine. The prls-
Oner slept only about half an hour during
the night, and that was from nine until
half past nine During most OF the early
part of the evening he was engaged In
writing letters, and besides these he wrote
the 23d psalm. The letters he wrote
were addressed to ex-governor Andrew,
Wendell Phillips, his wife and another
relative, and consisted chiefly OF thanks to
them for the efforts they had used in his
behalf In the course of the conversation
during the night he said that Thursday
was the happiest day of his life. He said
it made him feel happy to think God had
raised such folks to sympathize with him
in this great difficulty lie never had
any christian parents, he said. Although
they were honest they never taught him
the christian religion. At about one
clock Mr. Reed read to him the 2lst
chapter of Luke, which was listened TO
by Green with interest and attention
He had thought. he said, that he would
like imprisonment for life, but now he had
no desire TO live, for he felt that he was
going to a better and happier world, and
ne believed that God was merciful and
would forgive his erring children. He
thought that if he could live his life over
he would be different man. He sincere
" hoped that the first spirit he would
meet in the other world would be that of
Frank +. Converse, his murdered victim.
He said that he felt certain he would
mount the scatlold with Il firm step, with
strong faith in God, and in the belief that
through Christ sinners are forgiven. He
then prayed most earnestly for God to
give him strength to 90 thaough the trials
of the day Then, after reading 4 few
chapters in the Bible, he sung in clear
and mournful voice the beautiful and
touching ballad of
Mother, dear. am thinking of thee"
AT an early hour in the morning he
convcr>e'l freely concerning his wife and
child, and said that he felt deep anguish
at the stain which had been left upon
them. and he hoped the whole community
would Sympathize with and pity them.
At about hali-pa-t six he ate his last
breakfast, partakin" moderately OF beef
steak. biscuit and coffee. From that
hour until taken from the cell he occupied
most of the time ill prayer
TIE EXECUTION.
1t was about quarter 10 eleven when
Green was brought from his cell to ascend
the steps of the fatal >,'atinld. The scat
fold WAS the same one upon which Web
s!cr. Mctiee and llcr>"y were executed.
and it w;,> erected in one corner OF the
Jail yard. completely obScurcl from the
view OF all who were moi admitted within
TIN enclosure.
! The procession from the cell OF the
murderer to the .r;,lowS WIS led of bv
deputy sheriff Bancroft of Lowell. and
then came in turn hi I'll sheriff kimball.
and the prisoner. the latter supported bv
/ Rev. Mr.. Adams of Lowell. and followed
10y three deputy >hcriti>. and Mr.. Adams
and Mr. Wade. the officers OF the ilil.
! Green WIS dressed in gray pants and
vest and a black coat. ana wore 4 blick
cap and light pair OF slippers. lie walk
ed with Il firm step up the avenue from the
cell to the scatitld. with his ewes firmly
fixed upon the ground. and not appearing
10 notice any one save the CLERGYMAN at
| his side. His hands We're firmly bound
with Il leather strap. and subsequently, hi>
Ices and feet were bound together III the
same manner. After ;l>ccn! linz the seat
fold Green was placed upon the elevated
trap through winch he was TO fall. and
Rev Mr.. Adams. his spiritual adviser.
sad that he had been requested by the
condemned man Ia say that the crime for
/ which he was about to suffer was not the
consequence of prcmcditatcd malice
against Converse. and that he had no i'll
will against him or any MIN. and further.
that he died in perfect reconciliation with
all men, and he trusted. with God The
clergyman then read passages from scrip
i ture. Green the meantime standing upon
the drop. with his eyes intcntly fixed up
on the ground.
AT the conclusion of the scriptnral
readings Rev. Mr. Adams offered Il fer
vent prayer for the soul of the man about
TO die, saying that rs sinful us he may
have been, as great as was the enormity
OF his crime, and as deeply as he may have
tranSgres>ed, God WIS still his judgc, and
he hoped from him to receive mercy.
During the prayer, as in the reading of
the scriptures, Green remained firm. and
with his eyes still fixed upon the ground
AT the conclusion OF the prayer sheriff
kimball stepped forward and read the
warrant for the execution.
! While the warrant was being read the
deputies upon the scatiold ad justed the
rope upon the neck of the unfortunate
man, and when the reading was finished
/ the sheriff Sald that in obedience to the
instructions contained in the warrant, he
should proceed to execute the sentence of
death, He then put his foot upon the IA
tai spring, the trap fell with hevay crash,
and the body of Edward W. Green was
suspended in the air.
lie fell about five feet, and the rope