Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1866-01-27
Execution Of Mrs. Grinder.

| pIyTsBuRG, Jan. lO--Nrs Martha
| Grinder WAS haog at fifteen minutes past
one clock, to-day in the southern jail
yard of the court house and was Witnessed
| by about one hundred persons. The only
person present who seemed to be not IN
the least affected was the murderess her
self. at one o'clock Sheriff Stewart pro.
ceedcd to the cell of the doomed woman
aud on entering, Mrs. Grinder remarked
-"Are you coming for mo?" The sher-
if replied, Yes, Mrs GRINDER She
calmly arose and said, "My Saviour is
coming for ne. The Sheriff then pin.
ioned her arms and the funeral procession
moved slowly down stairs.
Mrs. Grinder was dressed in a brown
alpaca dress trimmed around the neck
and down the front With white lace, light
~ made kid slippers and white stockings,
She took a seat provided for her on the
scaHold and remained enirel y unmoyed
while q prayer was being offered in her
behalf. Her features wore q pleasant
smile from the time she left her cell unit
the fatal white cap was drawn over her
face, Not muscle quivercd not an oZ
preston of the eountenance escaped her
that could by any possibility be construed
into either remoroe or fear OF death men.
tai agitation or any kindred emotion,
There was nothing like forced determin,
alton to appear calm and composed !; it
was evidently natural aud entirely unaif
ected while words were being spoken to
her by the sheriff her spiritual adviser a0d
others on the sca6'old even while the
moose was being adjusted she bestowed Oh
each n remarkably graceful inclination of
tue head coupled with q sweet smile.
In answer 20 the question whether she
desired to say anything or have anyt hing
said for her she replied in a mild aud
checrfal tone her face still beaming witt
smiles that she wished nothing more but
before the cap was drawn down over her
face she galnced pleasantly around at the
spectators and then cast her expressive
blue eyes upwards.
The fatal moment arrived and still the
cuiprit stood like a statute. The staging
was cleared when Sheriff Stewart touch-
ed with his foot the spring which conirall-
ed the upright or support oil the drop, and
the next instant Mrs. Grinder was susp9n-
ded in the air struggling couyulslycly with
death. Owing 10 the whether the Moose
did not work as smoothly as it otherwise
would have done, and the neck WAS not
broken by the fall. She struggled violent
ly for several minutes and At ouC time her
right hand caught hold OF the platform
where it fitted to the drop in spasmodic
efforts to relieve herself.
Not long before the execution Mrs.
Grinder made the following confession
which was given to the members Of
the press immediately GIter she was hung,
PlrT5BUHG, Jan l8, l6GG.--ln view oi
ny departure in few hours from earth
want TO say that | acknowledge my
guilt in the case Of Mrs. Oaru!hers, and
also in the case Of Miss Buchanan, but I
innocent Of all other charges made
ganst NE in the papers for poisoning
people, But bad as have been, / feel
that God for Ghrists sake, has forgiven
me and through his mercy / hoe 70 GHd
an entrance ,pto aeayeu die without
any hard feelings % aor onc i'y.,N.ng all
as / hope to be forgiven
Mr.. Stewart has been v1rr kind TO me
doing all in his powof to make mo com-
iOrable, and pray ihat be may be a-s's-
ted in his duty aud be rewarded for his
kindness Mr.. White has also been very
kind aud treated me with respect always,
May God be good to him, Ii had been
faithful to my church duties it would have
been different with me now. Bat | am
thankful that God is SO good to return
to me now that do try to come back to
him,
Her
(Signed) Martha X Grinder
mark.
Witnesses, A, c. Holmes, II. Sins2.