Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-03-27


The execution Of John Ward. ajias Je
rome Layigne, for the murder of Mrs.
Ephraim Griswold at WIlliston in this county,
on the 2Sth of August 1865, for which he
was tried, and sentenced at the April term
Of Chittenden County Court, 1866, took
place at the State Prison in Windsor, Fri
day afternoon, March Doth The following is
a full account Of the scene
The full statement which the criminal
made in prison before the execution, i in the
hands of the officers and is withheld by them
from publication, doubtless to further the
ends Of justice. 1t Is reported that it fully
implicates other parties in the murder.
The prisoner passed the night preceding
his execution, quietly, spending the evening
up to halfpast eleven O'Clock in conversation
with Rev. Franklin Butler, the chaplain Of
the prison; after which he wrote some let
ters and between two and three o'clock \.
NJ, went to sleep, and slept soundly for two
or three hours.
During the day, a gallows had been erected
at the southeast corner Of the new prison, at
the end of the three tiers Of cells. 1t was
painted black, with "a platform nine feet long
by seven feet wide, standing five and half
feet above the brick pavement Of the prison
ward The beam was seven feet above the
platform, which has two drops, only one, Of
course, being used at this time The trap is
sprung by the foot of the executioncr; and
the rope, passing up through hole in the
beam, is fastened to stout spring above,
which gives an additional jerk To the rope as
the body falls through the drop.
During the forenoon Of Friday, Ward had
further conversation with chaplain Butler.
His general bearing has been that Of con-
tempt for his fate, mixed with chagrin that
the attempt to escape made last fall was de-
tected but at this time his feelings over
came him. He expressed strong desire al
So to see Mrs solomon, a woman who was in
the employ of Sheriff Munsou, at the time he
was confined in the Jail in Burlington; and.
after much hesitation. she was permitted to
see him, but under close watch The inter-
view Is described as painful one.
The hour o. execution was fixed at one
O'Clock, and long before the time the door of
the guarlr'om was beset ]y persons anxious
% witness the execution. Only those having |
passes from the sheriff were admitted. Tie |
coffin which was t, contain the body Of the |
prisoner, was placed between the scafold and |
the other end If the prison, atone side Of the |
walk along which the condemned man was TO
g. At thirteen minutes past one, Ward |
was brought from his cell, which was on the
ground floor. about the middle of the tier Of
cells ON the north side He was accompanied |
by the Chaplain. Rev Mr.. Butler: Mr.. Pol
lard the Superintendent of the prison o.
L. Richmond, constable of Woodstock, and |
Luther Peasc. Deputy sheriff Of Windsor Co,
who guarded him on each side; Mr.. J. F.
Stone, keeper Of the prison, Deputy Sheriff
Stimson. who was the executioncr, in the alb |
sence Of Lorenzo Richmond Sheriff Of the |
County, and several citizens The procession
moved round the north ard southwest angles !
Of the rows Of cells, passing the coffin, and
81 up the steps of the sc;iold.
At the request Of the prisoner, that his
death might be the quicker, two boxes about
six inches high were fastened on the drop,
for him to stand on. The party ywas arranged
as follows, the two deputies on each side,
Mr. Stimson the acting Sheriff and the
Chaplain, in front at his right; Messrs Pol
lard and " b. Flanagan were also on the
platform, and Drs Stiles and Clark Of Wind
sor. and DR.. Palmer Of Ludlow ON the steps
and at the foot of them. Ward was dressed
in a black suit, close shayen, his hair pretty
long. and with more subdued look than he
had during his trial He looked much paler
and thinner than then.
Rev. Mr.. Butler read from the book Of
common prayer, selections from the vista
tions of the sick and Of prisoners, and pray
crs with additional sentences applicable t3
that case, at the request Of the prisoner.
After these religious services were concluded,
Deputy Sheriff Stimson read the death war
rant, and asked the prisoner if he had any
thing to say. He said
Iwish to announce to the public that have
made full statement to Mr.. Butler. Now,
as | am to appear before God, I humbly state
what is true. / neither struck nor injured
the old lady Her blood is not on my hands,
although knew and in fact participated in
the murder If that constitutes murder,
then am a murderer
This was all he had to say. His nerves
seemed perfectly steady, and the handkerchief
he held did not even quiyer; he sighed several
times however His hands were then tied,
his elbows strapped behind him, and his feet
and knees tied together. The moose was then
adjusted about his neck by Constable Rich
mond.
The prisoner then took leave of Mr. But
Ter, Messrs. Flanagan, Pollard, Whittaker-
who had been his especial guard-Mr. Stone
the keeper, the sheriff and deputies. The
cap was drawn over his eyes, and Sheriff Slim
son said, "the time has now arrived when the
extreme penalty Of the law must be executed
upon you, John Ward Giias jerome Lavigne
- God have mercy on your SOUL The next
instant the trap was sprung, and the muir
derer of Mrs. Griswold was launched into eter-
nifty.
He made but single struggle, drawing up
hi. knees. His desire that he might die