Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-04-12
The Execution of Foster.

OK the 2lst of March William Foster
eXpiated the crime Of murder on the scat
fold. The following is the New York
Hsrald's account of the circumstances at
tending the execution:
The Rev. DIR. Tying, in clear voice,
then commenced to read the Episcopal
service for the condemned, and the tall
spare, young minister gave the responses.
AS the awful self-accuSing words were re-
cited the doomed man bowed his head still
more. At the end of two minutes his
weakness visibly increased. His limbs
trembled as if with palsy, and faint but
agOniZed grOan escaped from his lips. His
left hand still nervOusly rubbed over his
eyes, and his body began to sway to and
fro more painfully still. In gazing on his
agony the words of the service became an
intOlerab'e monotone. The strong frame
of the man, bros ell with unutterable de-
|spair, as it swayed like reed in the wind
and trembled in every nerve, excluded
all things else from the mind that could
appreciate the unspeakable misery rolled
into these fast-ebbing moments of his life.
For five minutes the reading continued,
and Fosters weakness had SO increased
that Sheriff Brennan whispered sharply TO
DR.. Tying. Its too long," The reverend
gentleman indeed brought the service to
"A sudden termination. and, turning quick
ly to Foster, grasped his right hand and
hurried away, overcome with emotion.
followed by his assistants.
He who has stood by gallOws tree can
alone tell the nature of the moment that
follows when. the clergymen gone, the
thralling awe. The seconds to the on
locker seem whole minutes; but o the
condemned. whatare they? Sheriff Bren-
nan went through the hand-grasping for
mality. All was done as expeditiOusly as
possible to shorten the misery-that is,
to shorten the life, for life then was mis-
cry almost too deep to bear. The black
cap was pulled over the face. A tiemOr
ran through the miserable creatures tot
tering clay. The executiOner, nimble.
fingered, dark-eyed, stOut-built, med,
sized young man, stepped forward in
stantly and linked the moose to the rOp,
that danglcl from the beam. A glanc,
showed that it still hung slack. One sec
Ond's pause in perfect silence, handker
chief waved, the sharp sound of fallins
axe, and at eighteen minutes past nint
Fosters body fairly leaped into the air
The legs were jerked up to the body con
vulsively. and opening wide as they re
Taxed. the heels came together with sharl
click. The left hand was also thrown up
ward, but fell Immediately by his side
In the first half minute following ther
were five distinct nervous writhing mo
tiOns of the trunk. After these Their
was no sign of struggle. The cervica
vertebra were evidently dislOcated by tn,
shock. After hanging five minutes tn,
body was lowered that the doctors nigh
examine for signs of life. AT twenty
even minutes past nine faint trill wa
felt in the pulse. At thirty minutes pas
nine pulsation ceased at the wrist. A
thirty-three minutes past nine the hear
had ceased beating, and Justice had exact
ed the full penalty for the murder of Ave
ry ID. Putnam. Such were the physicians
reports as they stood taking turns in list
ening at the breast of the thing of clay
But the crowd were wild with excitement
After the first shock the line of pOlic'
moved closer to the scaffOld and the thrOns
behind pressed close upon them. Neck.
were craned to catch glimpse of th'
sight of shame.