St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-01-27
UelcONlo HUll1.


WINDSOR, Vt. Jan. 20, 1871.
The fourth and final scene in the TRACE
Jy which opened with the murder of
Perry Russell Of Ilinesburgh, on Satnr-
day night, Oct ,, 1858, was presented
within the prison walls in this plac. to-
day, in the execution Of Henry Welcome,
the murderer. Mr.. Russell, it viii be
recollectcd, was peaceablc and highly
esteemed citizen of his town, - years
oll-:nd the murderer a Maynard lad
of but little past seventeen years Of age.
The object Of the criminal WAS 10 secure
Il large sum of money, which he believed
Mr.. Russell was keeping in his house at
the time the deed was committed. The
facts of the crime, with all the circum-
stances attending it, the very conclusive
evidence at the trial, the prompt convic-
ton by the jury, and the sentence by
Judge Barrett, i'll Burlington, on Mon
day, January llth, 1870, have alceady
been detailed and are doubtless fresh in
/ the minds OF most of our readers.
When brought to the
gallowS, and asked il he had anything to
say, Welcome spoke with much t;Iltcring
and bitter anguish substantially as fol-
/ lows:
1T is hard for me to speak, but
want TO say Il few words. This scene
which Is now to be witnessed hope
will carry its true moral lesson to all
who witness it. trust that none here
will be led to pursue the unfortunate
course which | have done. would
warn all boys and young men against
: di,obcying their parents, which was the
first step i'll my sad career. Low associ-
ates and drinking followed, each bring
ING 10 bear their banciul influence. 1t
is easier TO resist the first temptation than
any that GENE afterwards. have con-
ies>cd my crime to the world and be
licyc thlt God has merciiulIy forgiven
me. | can say no more"
Wclcnmc tIcn took his position on
the drop and the rope was adjusted about
lis neck and lis limbs tel. Then tax
ing adicu of those On the platform, he
closed his eyes and iEclning his face up
ward he Offered Up one Of the most ago-
Min. prayers which could be made in
| human speech. Tears camc 10 all eyes
and many stout hearts gave way to con-
vU!>!-mS OF grief At the close Of hi,
prayer and without opening his eyes, lie
SAID, Il am ready" The black cap
was ;lcn drawn over his head, and with
the wolL~ from thr cXccuiipnrr, ''lIenry
/ Welcome. may the Lord have mercy on
your soul the prisoner was launched
from time 10 eternity. He fell lbont six
feet ami ii l. thought the cords OF his
neck were broken. There was no >tru"-
| gliug nor ary;iinL to cvincr the suffer-
ing 81 pain. lis ru!s. became feeble
and Intermittent ia two or three, and
ceased t. beat in ten minutes. lis body
was con~i.mc'! /" IL plain coffin and in
tered in the prison yard. The medical
profession ASKED tor the oly, but it WIS
emphathllly refused them 10y the direct
orS. Welcomes family dill not care TO
have the remain, sent home.
Welcome drew up in tie last day or
two IF hi> lie the following
AI,ItLI.~~ To rot NJ Mn:
ny /h.r IoaDy Ir6mis: With re-
>p,ct Horny Wclc,uc takes this aS 4
last -itt from God that l should 1--WE
yuu som, inci.Icn!- Of my life, hoping
they VIII instruct You. Allow me to
thank all for IL Kindness You have
manifested towards me, an unhappy
prisoner; and it i out OF rr-prc, 10 you
that think it my du!y to write this
sketch. lave six sisters and four
brothers, and am the only bad sinner
among them. | always attended Sab
bath school, and my father and mother
are members of Il methodist chur.h AT
li!mc~burgh. When WAS l.; wears of
a@e | left my happy home and went to
wit Il sister in Stove When returned
WAS bound to leave home, bat my pa
rents wished me To stay al home and 20
10 school. would not mini them, but
went I" boston @at Il GOOD situation.
but fell IN with bad company, goiu. to Il
billiard ball, and leaning the US of
llIuor, which used L. excess. Whom in
liquor Wa persuaded to try my hand
al '',cNcm up At iir,t | refused. lut
benz uncnvchri ly home influences and
exposed to all the desires of my corrupt
heart, ganhicd and plunged iaio all
soIt- oi wickcdur>~. The stony of my
tran>-rr--l, IL and >in- would fill Iar"r
volume. Finally. after one OF my Zines.
| went To !iin, >hurgh he l~t If Oc.ol,,r.
1865 bat, my triynI-, il h;,d ii-lcncd
TO my mothers pleading Voice, what a
happy y"unJ man should have been
tbs day. ami oh ny friends. how
many heart rrndinG, earnest prayers has
my kih: mnthcr Offered To- the Throne
OF i'racr ;tud mercy tor mr. So never
upbra!d,d me. but ,lruvr 10 reclaim me
by hin'!ny.,>, urying me TO abstain from
the >.nS | was committing daily. This
Wa Thursday ny mother cave this nd
vice, and | went from hrr arms with "A
kl,s on my lips, plnngim% into all sorts
.! Crltnc ana %in, and on Saturday of
tie sans week | committed the CRIME,
- treat that ii viii leave Il stain upon
the land forever, and whcu committed
broke the heart ui my mother and hung
m!I>tonc- to the hearts of all my friends,
anI robbed thrm of al joy and comfort
on earth. And oaly think, |, Henry
Welcome, at the age OF nineteen wears,
placed III this horrible situation. To
morrow mas; suffer the sentence of
death. | think, my friend, this is a
hard lot, for Il young man to b. sent in
TO thc presence Of his Maker On the GAL
lows, but am to give my life for the
life l have taken. Pardon me, my
friends, for aging 80 muci, to you. My