The Portland daily press., 1869-11-10
Execution of j Josiah L.. Pike nj CoucorJ

Josiah L. Pike, who murdered Thomas
Brown and wife, two aged persons, at Bamp-
ton Falls in May, 1868, was hanged yesterday
In the Jail yard in Concord. A large number
OF people from the neghboring towns came
toto the city under the impression the specta-
Gle to be public one, in which they were mis-
taken There were only about thirty persons
present. None of the relatives of the con-
demned man made application for admission.
but son of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, his victims,
was present and witnessed the scene from the
beginning to the end. There was great deal
OF excitement in Concord all the morning, but
everything was quiet around the prison, a
small group of curious loungers being the only
persons around the outside of the enclosure.
Pike passed the last night of his mortal ex
istence in wonderfully calm and placid man
uer. Between and 9 o'clock last evening
Rev. Sullivan Holman of Montpelier. VT. an
ex Chaplain OF the prisoc, who was in Office
when Pike was committed, and who gained the
strong respect and affection of the criminal en-
tered the apartment of the unfortunate MAJ
in the hospital and remained with him the
greater poi ton OF The night. No other visitors
were admitted. During the night the fify-
first Psalm was read and Mr.. Holman offered
vent prayer. the prisoner audibly respond
ing.
me remainder of the time to half ma ST one
when Mr.. HolmOn retired for a short rest. was
spent in religious conversation and in prtpar-
ing some statements to be made public after
the execution. Soon afterward the prisoner
Tell asleep and rested quietly and soundly an
I'll tour o'clock. He then arose and swept nm
his cell and arranged its articles of furniture
~ an orderly manner. He then took the Bible
and read several chapters, two of them audibly.
TO the chaplain. At seven O'clock he TOOK a
lsht breakfast, and said that be enioVed it
de then took his pipe and smoked with ali the
eamoess OF person under ordinary circum-
tances. After breakfast he was again Joined
~ Mr. Holman and also by Rev. Hosea Quinn
~, chaplain of the prison.
The select choir which has visited Pike and
sung to him every day for the last week, made
heir farewell visit in the morning. A psalm
vas read by Mr.. Holman, and then the bymu
vas sung, beginning, There is fountain filled
with blood. The closing iavorite piece OF the
prisoner was then sung. 1t was his reaues,
hat 1t ,ould be sung TO him toward the last
moments before he walked to the scaffoId The
irst stanzas of it was:
"My latest sun is sinking fast,
My race is nearlj ruu ..
Pike was slightly nervous and tremuIous in
marching to the scaffOld, but on arriving there
ne seemed calm and composed. His farewell
address was written out and read from the
platform as follows:
Gentlemen: don't shrink from nv f,ta. 7
do not dread to die, because 1 know how worth
less my life is, and have hope in Christ for
a better hereafter; but wish to leave a warn
ing in my last words to those who are inclined
to lntemperance. 1t has destroyed my life and
perilled my soul, and entreat those who daal
n intoxicating drinks to stop that dreadful
work; and Oh! implore their victims to stop
before II is too late. As hope to be forgiven
tie sips of misspent life, 1 forgive all inius-
tee and severity toward myself, and willingly
commit my soul, wicked and unworthy as I
have been, to the disposal of crucified Sa-
viour. 10 my especial friends who have been
so constant and kind, who have given me SYM
Datby, advice and encouragement during my
stay in this prison, can only return the
heartfelt thanks of dying man. can feel
my feelings, but commencing them to God for
His blessing, and imploring mercy for myself,
give all my last farewell.
JOSIAH L. PIKE
The condemned man Joined in the closing
devotional exercises with an air of apparept
indifference. He kDelt with the clereymen
when prayer was offered, and uDOn arising re-
manned dumb and stolid until the fatal spring
was touched. He fell distance of eight feet
and died without a struggle.
The following is Pixies letter to one of the
sons of his murdered victims:
CONCORD. N. H., Nov. 4, 1869.
Mr.. Charles Broom:
Sir am seated tonight in my lonely cell
not lonely, for I believe the spirit of God is
with me, and has prompted me to beg the for
giveness of those have SO deeply wronged by
deprlving them of their loving parents, and
most sincerely do ask you and all to forgive
me; and ask you will you have mercy on me
and let me know.
ask only one word. Give it, then, if you
hope for mercy in the day when Won shall be
called to pass away. 1 do not intend to write
anything about my crime. 1 am willing TO go
as the law directs, but, sir. 1 have been
wronged; but have no i'll feeling to any.
am willing to leave all in the hands of a Just
God knowing He will not err. Hope you
will stop and think before you refuse to forgive
dying man. Farewell.
(SIgned) JL PIKE.
No answer was made to the above letter.