Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-02-29

EXECUTION OF JOHN TEAyI-- his 60,
FES~ION.

The first execution which has taken
place within the precincts of the new
Jail took place in the eastern yard in
rear Of the jail yesterday morning. The
unfortunate victim was the young man
John Traviss. who. as our readers will
remember was convicted Of the murder
of Mr. John Johnston. a farmer residing
in East Gwillimbury, by shooting him
with a revolver on the 23d of last Nov
cmbcr. a short distance from the muir
dered mans house The motive prompt
ing the commission of the crime appear
ed to he an ill-fceling which the muir
dercd man cntained towards Trayis-
and by his saving something detrimental
to the character Of the latter to a young
girl named Nichols, the daughter of a
farmer residing in the ncighhorhood,
and to whom TrayisS was paying his
addresses.
The scatfold, which had been pre-
pared in the city. was taken to the jail
and fixed under the western wall of the
eastern yard in rear of the building.
The platform was about nine feet above
the level of the ground; the drop was
about four feet six inches square. and
was held in its place ny spring bolt
which was worked bya lever Beneath
the scaffold a hole had been eXcayatcd
some five feet in depth. in order that
there might be sufficient fall for the
body. The scatfold was 0Sccnded ny a
stcp-laddcr from the yard.
The Young man was visited in his cell,
which was on the second floor Of the
eastern wing. by his two sisters. Miss
Nichols and four Of his male relations
Wednesday morning at ten o'clock.
They remained in PRAYER and conycrSa-
ton with him until eleven o'clock nj
night. when they took their farewell. the
separation of the prisoner and his friends
being of the most distressing and heart
rcndnr description Mr.. Wilkic Of the
Young Mems Christian Association, with
other members, the Rev. James Curtis,
Methodist Episcopal Church. the Rev.
MI Rice. Bible Christian Church, and
the Rev. Mr. Hamer remained in prayer
and communion with the prisoner
throughout the night, and until the hour
of his execution. He Joined fcrvently
in prayer, and appeared to be resigned
to his fate, but COnycrsed very little. He
was greatly affected at intervals, allow
ing his tears to flow freely Shortly
after his friends had gone he retired to
rest and slept until half-past twelve
O'Clock, when he arose and prayed. He
again went to sleep and slumbcrcd until
a quarter past four o'clock, when he left
his bed. After this hour the prisoner
continued in prayer with those present
until his hour had arrived.
THE EXECUTION.
Sheriff Jarvis and Deputy Sheriff
Skinner arrived at the jail about quar-
ter to nine o'clock, and Immediately set
about making preparations for the exc
cutiOn. The Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff,
DR.. Richardson and the eXeCutioner pro
ceeded to the condemned mans cell at
five minutes to nine o'clock, when the
process of pini0ning was gone through
The prisoner was then conducted to the
scaffold in the yard, where about fifty
persons were assembled, including the
officers of the Jail, q detachmentOf police
and the members of the press, with a
few other privileged persons.
The unfortunate man assembled the
scaffold with firm step, and on reach
ing the platform he came forward and
in tremulOus voice made the following
CONFESSION.
let you know, dear friends, before !
die, that | shot him, and | not only shot
him, but | intended to shoot his wife. |
thank God that He kept me from that
1t is an awful thing to shoot any one. !
hope to meet the dear man in heaven
Jesus has now got me by the arms and |
hope to meet mother on the other side
| have just to pass through the narrow
stream, and then | shall be home
Good bye!
He then knelt on the drop and the
sheriff having removed the doomed mans
cap the clergymen and others shook
hands with him and bid him a long fare
well. The hangman then placed the
rope around his neck and put the black
cap on his head, and in another moment
the drop fell and the unhappy young
man was launched into eternity, the Rev.
James Curtis offering up a prayer at
the time. He showed great firmness
throughout, and died without struggle,
the neck having been broken by the fall,
and only one or two convulsiye move
ments of the body were visible. The
executiOner was a man engaged from
the city. He was of rather stout build,
with sandy whiskers, and about five feet
in hight. After hanging an hour the
body was cut down, the usual inquest
being held in the jail before Dr. Wright
and verdict of ''died by hanging" re-
turned. The body was then coffined and
buried in the yard beneath the scaffold.
TRAvIss' LAST STATEMENT AND HISTORY.
We have been furnished by the Rev.
]. ]. Rice with copy of a statement
which was made to him by Traviss on
Tuesday night, when Mr.. Rice remained
with him during the whole night
After having given an outline of his
CTrayissO early life, ETC., he continued