New-York tribune., 1867-03-23
The SCAFF0LD
HANGING OF HIRAM COON

HANGING OF HIRAM COON,
y rHLEaBAPs TuBUSS.
TROY, March 2}.-Hiram Coon was executed at
tho County Jail in this city to-day for the
murder Of Mr.. Henry Lakcr, in Petersburg
Rensselaer, County, on the 18th day OF October
last. The murder one of tho most unprovoAed
and Coldblooded that ever took place IN TINS
county. Coon, with Mr and Mrs. Iaker, had
the day Of the murder. been to Che vii
lage Of Petersburg and drunk somewhat freely ofbuor
Returning home Mrs L. and Coon engaged in a coutro
versy during which Mrs Iaker charged him with being
a state prison bird" THIS was IN Lakers mousse ana
while the family at their evening meal Coon arose
from the table left the house and went TO the wood
shed. where he seized an AK, and returning niaaG q
skull with the weapon and inflcting wounds
week after the assault Coon fled to Vermont but
arrested and confined the Troy JAIL and on the I'd OF
Hogeboom, of murder in the first degree He was sen
tenced to DO executed the 22d of March An earnest
effort was made by prominent cltizens 70 inuuCe
Executive interference, but the Governor was
unwlnguess TO interfere with the OF justice The
Governors decsOn made known 70 tho prisoner ht
city 10 secure hs individual interest in spiritual and re-
hgous matters For some time the prisoner while not
tested disposition to earnestly aud sincerely
he had made a statement, exOncrating himself
and charging the crime upon the husband OF Che mur,
in the city papers, but subsequently, view OF the
approach of death he declined to give the document to
night he rested as well as usual and this morning early
betoOk himself to devotional exercises The Rev McssrA
Day and Stover of the Methodist Church were with him
and earnestly labOred for his conversion AT few minutes
past IL he expressed desire TO be hung Sheriff Cornell
accordingly entered his cell. and tho prisoner con
Quoted 70 the hall where the galOws had been erected
attended by the clergy and few friends. He walked
steadily aud firmly quiet smile fitted across his fea
lures and sudden glance was cast upward at the hold
instrument Of death he reached the scaOd ana stood
beneath the rope AS he left the cell he requested Dep
uy Sheriff Akin In firm voice, to give him some medi-
cine but whispering IN his ear, Coon asked
for drop OF Bourbon calm his nerves The request
denied. and he walked forth to death. firmly and
smingly without the aid OF any stimulants whatever.
On the scaffold the Rev Mr. Day offered up fcrvcnt
prayer; Sheriff Cornell asked the culprit II he had any
thing 70 say previous to execution. AT first he intimate
that he had but upon cOnyersng with his spiritual
visers he declined to make any statement or confession
The black cap drawn his face. Sheriff Cornell
touched the fatal spring at 2 the body OF Hiram Coon
was dangling in midair. There were few eonrulSivr
twitches OF the and legs hut beyond this no ev
dence OF pain perceptibe In 1Omlnutes ir Burton,
Health Officer and Dr. summons jail Physician pro
nounced the murderer dead His body was allowed %
hang several minutes longer. when II taken down,
COfned and, obedience 10 COOn's request borne 10
Petersburg the OF the murder, and deposited IN
the grave Coon old man-5i years ofaEc, md
died with wonderful soics. His character was bad ana
those who knew him best mourn his loss the least