Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-24
TIE GALLONS.

|
TIE GALLONS.
| Tbs execution of William Foster took place
in New York, on Friday. The crime for
which Foster was hung was committed near
ly two and half years ago. 1t was the muir
dering of Avery S. Putnam with car-hook.
The most strenuous efforts were made to save
Foster from the gallows by influential and
wealthy friends, but all to no purpose.
On the same day was hung in Boston James
McElhaney, for the murder of his wife at the
Boston Highlands in August 1871.
These two cases have excited a great deal
of interest on account of the effort made to
clear the criminals from punishment or have
their sentences committed. All that their
friends could do was done for them. In the
case of Foster no stone was left unturned
that money could move. The parting be-
tween the doomed man and his friends ON the
day before his execution was intensely affec-
, ting A reporter says:
His visitors during the day were those
members of his own family who possessed
sufficient strength of nerve to call on him
e Rising early, the sound of the workmens'
il. hammers erecting the scaflold grated on his
ears, and the sheriff engaged in watching him
= subsequently said that at every thud of the
l. hammer the doomed man trembled like a child.
r His wife, ever faithful, ever trusttul, ever
comforting, was the first to call on him.
IL Passing through the prison-yard she caught
ly sight of the gallows-tree, and growing fain,
staggered toward the inclosed door of the Jail
Her brother, who was close behind her, sup
III ported her into the prison. Fosters cell
of door was open, and Mrs. Foster sat down in
be side the cell with him, her brother sitting op
posite. Through the open door the deputy
u sheriffs on guard kept strict watch, and scru
to tinted every action of the prisoner.
a Cn the entrance of his wife into the CORR
dor, Foster raised his head for moment, ant
~ then relapsed into his former condition of ap
to parent apathy. Mrs. Foster, supported by
70 her brother, came slowly to him, and laid hel
hand upon his shoulder
TO chair was handed her by Deputy Sheriff
he Seebacher, when, sitting down by her hus-
band, she caught hold of his hand and said,
II have come back to you" Foster made
IL some reply in low tone Of voice, and so the
le wretched man and wife conversed for over
n two hours.
!. At length the deputies, feeling that the
time for the parting had arrived, whispered
}. to Foster that it was getting late.
r He nodded, and few more words were ex-
CNduBcu, WIFI USteI, IlSluK blUWly lTOLU his
" chair and placing his hands upon his wife's
y shoulders, said, "It is time to say goodbye, y
b and Immediately began crying.
! Mrs. Foster In a choking voice, exclaimed !:
Goodbye, forever" when Fosters feelings
! gaining an ascendancy over his usual self
: possession, he clasped her convulsively to
O his breast, and kissing her again and again,
= said once more:
Goodbye, dear, this is our last, good
bye"
Mrs. Foster Immediately tainted when her
brother, after silently pressing Fosters hand,
carried her into the vestibule of the prison,
where she revived. They then left for home.
Foster sank back into his chair, and hiding
his face in his hands, wept bitterly and in ut
ter silence.
The leave taking of McElhaney with his
family was also extremely affecting. A cor
respondent says:
AT about half-past three o'clock in the af-
ternoon, his father and mother came for the
f final leav taking. The scene was heart
J rending. The father, in saying his last
n Goodbye" to his son, was greatly affected.
= He kissed his son several times, and shook
:. his hands. He could not speak; these acts
= alone had to express his affection and his
g row, but they were more forcible than words
i. could have been. The mother cried bitterly
l
n peared quite calm at first, but soon became
e SO affected at the grief of his parents that he
burst into tears. After bidding last fare
# well to his parents, his two brothers and two
}. sisters called upon him. The sisters, like
" their father, were SO affected when the time
q of leave taking came, that they were unable
i to speak. The scene between the brothers
G was the saddest Of all. They extended their
hands and tried to speak, but their words
.. choked them. They withdrew until they had
: become somewhat composed and then re-
turned to the cell. After half an hours in
r teryiew they went away.
II George mcdonnell, reported to be the Bank
e of England forger, was arrested on the steam
y ship Thuringia Thursday night. He is a ma
y tive of Boston, and has been once before in
:. custody on charge of forgery. Ten thousand
Of dollars worth of diamonds and considerable
lnA. n