Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-03-21
The Execution of Foster.

New York, March 2l.-Foster was exccut-
ed at II minutes past o clock this morning.
The apparatus devised for his execution con-
sisted Of upright beams having iron pu'l~y
wheels to which were attached heavy weight
This weight was suspended about SIX feet
from the ground, the object being in this way
to break the neck Of the cul prlt by the sudden.
ness Of the movement. About six hundred
persons received permission to witness the cx-
ecutiou. The application for tickets of aimls-
siou, however. reached nearly six thousand,
About three hundred police were stationed
about the Tombs to preserve order
Nine murtrrers have been put to death on
the galuws used OH this occasion.
Early as seven clock this morning scvcra
hundred people had assembled III front OF the
city prison anxious y awaiting the moment
when Foster, the murderer Of Avery d. Put
nani, would be led to the scaffold, and yet not
one in twenty IT those who waited so patiently
outside had the slightest chance Of gaining adj
mission within the prcclncts OF the prison. -
Foster awoke al seven o cock and .partook OF a
cup Of coffee, but ate nothing tie was very
pale aud his strength seemed fast failing.
E. was ATTENDED, by the Rev. DR.. Tying and
the Rev. Mr. Schoonnakcr, Chaplin uf Slng
Sing. He was engaged i'll d.votional EXERCISES
up 10 DlGC y cltNk. al clcNch hiiuu,'" pa q
0 clock he was led ont supported by the Sher-
field His face had hrc.ic flush when nc ar
rived beneath the scaft;oId. Rev. Dr. Tying,
assisted by R:v. Mr.. SchooEmakcr read
the 5lst Palm. As the solemn words were
read, in which the Rev. DR.. Tying b"$oughE
God to open the eye Of mercy upon this t'y
servant, the scene was lushed and extreme.
~ impressive. During the reading Of the SER
vice to<.er stood hcncah the >catinid, hi, head
bowed down and his left hand shutting his eyes
The Rev. Dr. Scilonnlnakcr shook hanis with
Foster and said God bless the my dear
friend y AZ seventeen minutes pas; nm: the
bolt was drawn and the body rose into the air.
The condemned nan gave one slight stlllg-
Gle, only so slight as to be almost impcrcnpti-
Bile. There was an absence of the usual move.
ment of the shoulders. There was Il Sigh.
contraction of the lower limbs, and a haraly
perccpshlc melton Of the hands. After bag
ing five minutes the body was lowered about
nine inches and minute thereafter about 4
foot further. Twelve minutes after the bolt
had been drawn the pulse ceased 10 beat. Eos
ter had died almost without a struggle. 1t was
evident during The reading of the service that
he was rapidly 81 king AID scarcely able to
stand.
The physicians noticed this and Rev. Mr..
Schoonmaker had but Just shook hands withFoS-
Grand said good bye God bless you my ftieni, y
when the fatal bolt was drawn. After being
allowed to hang little over twenty minutes
the body was lowered into the coffin and CON
veyed into the dead house ofthe Tombs whence
it will he taken to day to the residence of Eos
ter's widow. The intcrment will probably take
place on Monday next
At twenty minutes before 10 o clock a crowd
of Deputy Shcritfs and others of one hundred
and fifty persons who had gained admission to
witness the execution, slowly made their exit
from the scene.