Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-04-20
Execution of Green.

out that during his Imprisonment he made
several attempts to procure the means
with which to commit suicide. On the
last night Of his life he slept but hall
hour, from till % o'clock n the evening
previous. He was very resigned to his
fate, and spent large portion Of his last
day in prayer. Alter reading a while in
the Bible he sung in clear and mourniul
voice the beautiful and touching ballad OF
Mother, dear, 1 am thinking of thee"
AT an early hour in the morning he con-
versed 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 sym
pathize with and pity them. In his con-
versation during abe rest of the morning
he expressed firm belief that his sins
would be forgiven, and that he would re-
alize happy and glorious future. The
only sleep which he had during the night
was the half hour alluded TO above. He
said that he had no desire TO sleep, and
that he was perfectly resigned TO his fate.
AT about half past six he ate his last break
fast, par;aking moderately of beef steak, bis
cult and Coffee From that hour until ta-
ken from the cell he occupied most of the
time in prayer. -s#.
1t was about a quarter to eleven when
Green was brought from his cell to ascerd
the steps of the fatal seaffold The seat
fold was the same one upon which Web
ster, MCGEE and Hersey were executed,
and it Mas erected in one corner of the
Jail yard, completely obscured from the
view of all VINO were not admitted within
the enclosure,
The procession from the cell of the MUIR
derer to the gallows was led off by Depu.
ty Sheriff Bancroft of Lowell, and then
came in turn High Sheriff Kimball, and
the prisoner, the latter supported by Rev.
Mr.. Adams Of Lowell, and followed by
three Deputy Sherffs, and Mr.. Adams
and Mr. Wade, the officers of the Jail.
Green was dressed in gray pants and
vest and black coat, and wore black
cap and light pair OF slippers. He walk.
ed with firm step up the avenue from the
cell TO tie scafold, with his eyes firmly
fixed upon the ground, and not appearing
to notice any one save the clergyman a
his side. His hands were firmly bound
with leather strap, and subsequently hi
legs and feet were bound together in tht
same manner After ascending the scat
fold Green was placed upon the elevated
trap through which he was to fall, and
Rev. Mr.. Adams, his spiritual adviser
said that he had been requested by the
condemned man to say that the crime for
which he was about to suffer was not the
consequence premeditated malice against
| Converse, and that he had no i'll will against
him or any man, and further, that he died
in perfect reconciliation with all men, and
he trusted, with God. The clergyman
then read passages from scripture, Green
the meantime standing upon the drop, with
his eyes intently fixed upon the ground.
The warrant for his execution was then
read, during which the deputies upon the
scaifold adjusted the rope upon the neck
of the unfortunate man, and as soon as
the reading was concluded the sheriff an.
nouDeed that in obedience to instructions
he should proceed to execute the sentence
of death, and putting his foot upon the
fatal spring, the trap fell with a heav,
crash and Edward W. Green was sus
pended in the air. ...
He fell about five feet, and the rop,
stretched TO such an extent that his toe
touched the ground, and it was the neces
sary and painful duty Of the Deputies t
draw the body up from the ground an,
hold it thus suspended until life was sx
tinct
While suspended in this manner the ex
ecued man drew his legs up several time!
and moved his arms and fingers at inter
walls for ten or twelve minutes. His nee
was not broken by the fall, and it appear
ed as if he was literally choked 10 dea:l
In justice to Sheriff Kimball it should b
stated that this misfortune was in const
quence of the extraordinary stretching {
the rope, which was a new one, an
which had been as thoroughly teste
and stretched previous TO the execu
ton as it was possible for it TO be-
The knot, which was adjusted so a
to come under the left ear, got twiste
IN the fall in such manner as to come d
rectly upon the back of the neck, and tn
sutferings of the unfortunate man wer
thus apparently more intense. 1t is, how
ever, asserted that Green experienced n
sense Of pain.
After hanging about half an hour h
was examined by Drs. Hooker, Taylo
and Hall, who found a slight beating of III