The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-22
EXECUTION OF MRS. GRINDER.

This woman, who confesses to the
commission of two murders by poison,
for which no adequate motive could be
assigned. was hung at Pittsburg on yes.
terday. We find the following Incl
dents in the special report of the Phil.
adelphia Inquirer:
Mrs. Grinder stated that she was
born i'm 1888, and was left entirely alone
at quite an early age, and being under
no restraints whatever, became indif-
ferent as to her moral welfare. At the
age Of fourteen she was married. The
ma who then became her husband
died, and left her with two children.
She subsequently married her present
husband, George Grinder. She has
often suffered extreme poverty, and her
life has been rather q severe one. She
seems very anxious on account Of Mr..
Grinder, who she fears will suffer on
account of her crimes.
On Wednesday she was allowed to see
her husband for the last time. When
she met him on this occasion the thought
of being at last forced to bid him a long
farewell seemed to fash across her mind,
and as she related to him the painful
intelligence she completely broke down,
and for some time could not be restored.
Her whole nervous system gave way.
She sObbed as though her heart would
break. She continued to be hysterical
for a considerable time, and so affected
her husband that he, too, gave way TO
his feelings, and the unhappy pair min
gled their tears together. Warden White,
who Ia present at the time, relates the
facts as trying to the feelings of any
human being. He saw the presence of
the husband was likely to render his
prisoner more helpless and feeble than
ever, and he accordingly ended the inter
view AZ soon as possible. When Mr..
Grinder left the jail, he went out like
one utterly broken in spirit and uncon.
solable.
This was the last and only emotion
she exhibited from the day of her arrest
to the moment of her death.
Her conduct on the scafiold is thus
described:
She took a seat provided for her Oh
the scaffold, and remained entirely un.
moved while a prayer was being offered
in her behalf. Her features wore 8
pleasant smile from the time she left hel
cell until the fatal white cap was draw I
over her face. Not q muscle quivered
not an expression of the c%ountenanc,
escaped her that could by any posi-
bility be construed into either remors,
or fear of death, mental agitation or an
kindred emotion. .af
There was nothing like a forced de
termination to appear calm and com
posed;it was evidently natural and EN-
tirely unaffected, while words wer,
being spoken to her by the Sheriff, he
spiritual advertiser and others on tn
scaffold. even while the moose was bein,
adjusted, she bestowed on each a re
markably graceful inclination of tn
head, coupled with a sweet smile.
In answer 10 the question whethe
she desired to say anything, or hav
anything said for her, she replied in
mild and cheerful tone. her face sti
beaming with smiles, that she wishe
nothing more, but before the cap wa
drawn over. her face she glance,
pleasantly around at the spectators, an
then cast her expressive blue eye
upwards.
She struggled violently when the droI
fell, and pulsation was ~discoverable 2
minutes afterwards. In half an hou
she was pronounced dead. The following
is her confession .rl
PITTsBURa, Jan. IS, 1s65.-In view Q
my departure, in a few hours, fron
earth, / want to say that l acknowledge
my guilt in the case of Mrs. Caruther.
} and also in the case of Miss Buchanan
+ but l am innocent of all other charge
made against me in the papers. Il
. poisoning people. But, bad as / hay
bean, l feel that God, for Christ's SAX,
has forgiven me, and through his mere
/ hope to find an entrance into heayel
1 die without any hard feelings to an