The Van Buren press., 1871-02-14
The Warning Voice and Last Hours OF a
Murderer,

1
years of age, was hung for murder at
Windsor, Vermont, on the goth inst II
will be recolected that Welcome called
at the House Of an old man Of seventy,
named Perry Russell, on pretense OF
business, and beat him to death with a
barn door hinge, His object was rob-
berry. Two days later he was arrested,
and making full confession to a fellow
prisoner, was convicted, and sentenced
to death, The night before his sxecu-
ton, he prepared the following letter:
Ny DEAN You've FRIENDS With re-
spect Henry Welcome takes this as a
gift from God that should give you
some incidents Of my life, hoping they
will instruct you. Allow me to thank all
fol the kindness you have manifested to-
ward me, an unhappy prisoner; and it is
out of respect to yeu that think 1t my
duty to write this sketch. have six sis
ters and four brothers, and am the only
bad sinner among them. always at.
tended Sabbath school, and my father
and mother are members Of Methodist
Church at Hncsburg. When ! was six
teen years Of age left my happy home
and went to visit sister in Stowe When
| returned / was bound to leave home,
but my parents wished me to stay at home
and 90 to school. | would not mind
them, but vert to Boston. gota good
situation but fell in with bad company,
going to billiard hall and learning alss
the use of liquor. which used to excess
When In liquor was persuaded to try
my hand at scven-up. At first Irefused.
but being unchecked by home influence,
exposed to all the desires Of my corrupt
heart, gambled aud plunged into oil
sorts Of wickedness The story OF my
transgressions and sins would I'LL q large
volume. Finally, after one of my times,
went to Hinesburg, The first OF October,
1868. But, my friends, IL l had listened
to my mothers pleading voice, what a
happy young man | should have been
this day, and oh, my friends, how many
heart-renling, earnest prayers has my
kind mother offered to the Throne Of
Grace and Mercy for me. She never up.
braided me, but strove to reclaim me BY
kindness, urging me to abstain from the
sins was committing daily. This was
Thursday. My mother gave me this adj
vice, and went from her arms with q
1ay 1. Of G the hsn same Sn week Wy pss HnTaS into
crime, so great that it will leave q stain
upon the land forever, and, when com
mitted, broke the heart Of my mother
and hung mil!stones to the hearts OF all
my friends, and robbed them Of all JOY
and comfort on earth. And only think,
/, Henry Welcome, at the age OF nine
teen years, placed in this horrible stua-
ton, to morrow must suffer the sentence
of death. think, my friends, this is
hard lot for young man, to be sent into
the presence of his Maker on the gal.
lows but am to give my life for the
life | have taken. Pardon me, my friends,
for saying 80 much to you. My heart
is full, and my words are for you awarn-
ing that you may never come to my sad
end. But tears will avail nothing for me
now. May the blood Of Christ wash
away my crime this is my last and only
hope. HkNRr WELCOME.
On tho scaffeld, the Sheriff read his
death warrant, and, in accordance with
custom, asked the prisoner II he had any
thing he wished to say. We quote the
Herdifs report;
"Yes, SIR said Welcome. My
friends" turning to the uptarned faces
of forty or fifty persons at the ioot Of
the seafrold and proceeding with voice
chokcd with emotion, "my heart is too
tull. Words cannot express my feelings
on this occasion. hope that my pres
ence here will be warning to all young
men to keep out Of bad company and to
be true to their homes. What brought
me here was disobsdience to my father
and mother. But hope God will have
mercy upon my soul. have found peace
with Him and know that lie will grant
me such in heaven. Shun temptation.
| can't say much more. My heart is
over full. Good BY" 4l
The condemned was then placed upon
the drop with his face turned to the west,
and amidst convulsvc sobs his arms and
legs were pinioned securely together. lie
wept bitterly when the awful words we're
pronounced Nst .t
"Henry Welcome, the time is now
come when the extreme penalty OF the
law is to be executed upon you. You
have but a moment to make your peace
with God"
The condemned man started, paused a
second, and then bowed his head in
prayer. tl
"Oh. Cod" he said, "as present
myself before Thee as a little child hum
bly, standing before his father, to thank
Thee for the overnowing of Thy good
ness to me, Thou knowest that my eyes
have been opened at the approach of
death, and Thou knowest also that have
fixed my heart upon Thine image. Oh,
gracious God, when my soul shall appear
before Thee. and for the 6rst time bow
in acknowledgement Of Thy Loving kind
ness, oh, for my poor, broken hearted
mothers sake. let my name be written
in the Book of Life. Oh, merciful Jesus,
have pity on me. For Chrst's sake,
Amcn.'
The prayer was heartfelt, simple and
earnest, and made deep impression on
the minds Of the spectators. The rope,
half.inch strand. the one used in the
execution of Thomas Cavanagh, in 1854 (,
80 Tnb,, W,.A L., Qco .uI r TI:.o a.,