Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-22
HANGED
The Execution of Carhook Foster.
He Hopes for Communication to the
Last.
A Boston wife-Murderer Hanged.

NEW York, March 21.--The apparatus
devised for the execution of Foster cons lsIs
of straight beam having iron pulley
wheels to which are attached heaVy
weight. This weight is. suspended about
six feet from the ground, the object being
in this way to break the neck OF the cul-
prit by the suddenness of the movement.
About six hundred person received
permission to witness the execution. Inc
applications for tickets OF aa-
mission, however, reached nearly SIX
thousand. Some three hundred police were
stationed about the Courts to preserve
order. Nine murderers have been put TO
death on the gaLows erected fol Foster.
There were hundreds awaiting outside
the Tombs, hoping to be able to witness
Fosters execution. The crowds were kept
back by the police. Not one in twenty OF
those outside, however, were admitted.
The execution of Foster took place at Is
minutes past O'Clock this morning, in the
Tonlbs. The prisoner in the morning was
very faint. He partook of some coffee, but
ate nothing. @ lrAE4HeA 5Wt1
At II minutes after o'clock Foster left
his cell on the march to the scaffold. As
he entered the yard, Foster gave one quick,
startled glance around, but instantly re-
covered himself and walked with a tolera-
bly, firm sep to the gallows. He was at
tended by Sheriff Brennan and Under-Sher-
if Stevens, closely followed by Rev. DR..
Tying aud DR.. Shoemaker, the former of
whom prayed as he walked. On reaching
the gallows, Foster, of his own accord,
placed himself beneath the moose. His
face looked very pale beneath the black
cap and grew paler every moment. As
DR.. Tying prayed be bowed his head and
covered bis face with his right hand. For
Six minutes DIR. Tying continued his prayer,
and as it wss evident that Foster was at the
point of sWooning, the Sheriff quietly sig
nailed d.. Tying to finish as quickly as pos
sible, aad advancing shook Foster by the
hand. DR.. Tying then babe him farewell
and at 9:1S A. NJ. the signal was given-the
bolt was drawn, and Foster was jerked
violently into the air. The unfortunate
man gave only slight struggle, there were
few perceptible movements of the lower
limbs and the execution was over. Foster
was a heavy man and for once the neck was
broken and the spectators we're spared the
terrible spectacle of q man writhing in the
throes of strangulation. The heart ceased
to beat in rather less than twelve minutes
from the time the weight fell, and in all
probability Foster died without pang.
About 800 spectators were present at
Fosters execution. The doomed man
seemed to have hope of Communication up &c
the last moment. Nearly all the evening
papers issued extras over the event. This
afternoon Fosters body was removed from
the Tombs to the residence Of his widow.
|
BosToN, March 21-John McElhany,
| who murdered his wife, was executed at
| the Suffolk jail here at II minutes past II
o'clock this morning. There were about
AGO spectators. The prisoner walked firm
ly to the scaffold. He left $1,000 worth Of
| property to his child. 1t is stated on the
authority of McElhany's spiritual advisors
that the members of his wife's family re-
| fused to allow him to see his child, Nellie
| Emma, aged two years. ar