Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-03-28

EXECUTION or Coon AT Troy, N. Y
Hiram Coon was executed at the county
jail in Troy, N. Y, March %, for the
murder OF Mrs. Henry Laker, in Peters
burg, Rensselaer, county, on the 10th day
Of October last. The murder was one
Of the most unprovoked and cold-blood-
ed that ever took place in this county.
Coon, with Mr.. and Mrs. Laker, had, on
the day of the murder, been to the vii
lage Of Petersburg, and drank somewhat
freely Of liquor. Returning home, Mrs.
L. and Coon engaged in controversy,
during which Mrs. Laker charged him
with being Estate prison bird" This
was In Laker's house, and while the fam
lily were at their evening meal. Coon
arose from the table, left the house, and
went to the woodshed, where he seized
an axe, and returning, made fierce at
tack upon Mrs. Laker, cleaving her skull
with the weapon and infiictlng wounds
from which she died on the Goth of OC-
tober-one week after the assault. Coon
fed to Vermont, but was arrested and
confined in the Troy Jail, and on the ID
of February last he was convicted be-
fore Justice Henry Hogeboom, of murder
1t the first degree. He was sentenced to
be executed on the 22d of March, An
earnest effort was made by prominent
citizens to induce executive influence,
but the Governor was memorable, and
some days since announced his uuwil-
liDgness to interfere with the course Of
justice. The Governors decision was
made known to the prisoner at once, and
an earnest effort made by Clergymen Of
this city to secure his individual inter
est in spiritual and religious matters.
For some time the prisoner, while not
refusing, still held out against their
kindly solicitations, and it was not until
last evening that he manifested dispo-
sition TO earnestly and sincerely engage
in religious exercises. Previous to this
he had made a statement, exonerating
himself and charging the crime upon
the husband of the murdered woman,
and expressed desire to have it pub
lished in the city papers but subse-
quently, 10 view OF the near approach Of
death, he declined to give the document
to the press, and forbade its publication
SubAASiS. hd5t bC ISSJou do NCll rs
usual, and this morning early betoOk
himself TO devotional exercises. The
Rev. Messrs. Day and Slower OF the
Methodist church a2re with him, and
labOrrd u his conversion. At
a few minutes pa>5 u be expressed de-
sire to be hung. Sheriff Cornell accord.
ingly entered his cell, aud the prisoner
was conducted to the hall where the
gallows had been erected, steadily and
firmly. A quiet smile fitted across his
features, and sudden glance was cast
upward at the horrid instrument OF
death, as he reached the scaRold and
stood beneath the rope. AS he left the
cell he requested Deputy Sheriff Akin, in
q firm voice, to give him some medicine;
but, whispering in his ear, Coon asked
for dropo Bourbon to calm his nerves.
The request was denied, and he walked
forth TO death, srmly and smilingly,
the aid Of any stimulants what
ever. Or the scaffold the Rev. Mr.. Day
offered up 8 fervent prayer; Sheriff Cor
nell asked the calprlt II he had any thing
to say previous to execution. At first
he minated that he had but upon co.,
versing with his spiritual advisers he
declined to make any statement or con-
fessi0G. The black cap was drawn over
his face, Sheriff Cornell touched the fatal
spring, and at l220 the body .. Utram