Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-03-28
GOTHAM.
GOTHAM.
THE DOOMED MURDERER. g.
FOSTERS LAST HOURS.
THE DEVOTION OF HIS WIFE.
THE PARTING BETWEEN THEM.
CONCLUDING SCENES.
THE LAST,
THE PARTING BETWEEN THEM.
CONCLUDING SCENES.
THE LAST.

NEW YORK, March 20-Noon.--
Foster passed the day quietly and re-
manned during the greater part of the
time in his cell. He heard early in the
day of the final effort of his counsel to
prevent ON legal technicality the exc
cution tomorrow, and his hopes re-
4ived. On receiving intelligence that
the effort had proved vain, he became
very detected, hung his head on his
breast and desired that no one would
speak to him except his wife. She had
last effort On recovering, she returned
il his, sat by him for hours, but
! spoke little.
, About $50 This evening the Anal
PARTING between Foster and his wife
| took place. both being deeply affected.
! He kissed her repeatedly, and she
i chung to him until, overcome with
emotion, she tainted and was car
ried away by her brother. The prison
| officials were deeply affected by the
scene.
| Rev. DR.. Tying spent upwards OF An
| hour this afternoon with Foster, who
listened earnestly to his e1hortations.
| Fost:r was also visited during the day
by his brother-in-law, his father, and
~ Father DuranIuett, a Catholic
priest, but refused to undergo the Or
deal Of parting with his children, whom
lie has not seen since his arrest.
NEW YORK, March 21-Noon.-
Foster was executed at II minutes past
9 o'clock this morning.
Foster awoke at o'clock and par
took OF cup of coffee, but ate nothing.
He was very pale and his strength
seemed fast failing. He was attended
by Rev. DR.. Tying and Rev. Mr..
Schoonuaker, Chaplain Of Sing Sing.
He was engaged in devotional exercises
mp to O'clock. At II minutes past
8 he WIS led out, supported by Sheriff
Brennan and the under sheriff. Foster
walked unfalteringly to the scaffold !;
his face had hectic flush. Arrived
',eneath the scaffold, Rev. DIR. Tying,
assisted by Rev. Mr.. Schoonmaker,
read the ffty-irst Psalm. As the
solemn words were read, in which the
Rev. DR.. Tying besought God to open
the eye of mercy to this, thy servant,
the scene was quiet and impressive in
the extreme. During the reading of
the service Foster stood beneath the
scafold with his head bowed and his
left hand shading his eyes. Rev. Dr.
5chOonmaker shook hands with Eos
ter and said, Good bless thee, my
dear friend" At seventeen minutes
past nine the holt was drawn and the
body rose into the air. The condemned
man oave one slight struggle only
80 slight as to be almost imperceptible.
There was an absence of the usual
, movement OF the shoulders. There
was slight contraction of the lower
! limbs, and barely perceptible motion
OF the hands. After hanging five min.
1ltes the body was lowered about nine
inches and Il minute thereafter about
q foot further. Twelve minutes ate,
the holt had been drawn his pulse
ceased to beat. Foster had died almost
without Il struggle. It was eviden,
; during the reading of the services thai
! he was rapidly sinking and scarcely
/ able to stand. His phys clans noticed
this, and the Rev. Mr., Schoonmaker hac
t but just shook hands with Foster anG
said ''good-bye, God bless you my
; friend" when the fatal bolt was drawn
After being allowed to hang little
over twenty minutes the body Wal
> lowered into a coffin and conveyed into
The dead house of the Toombs, whenc.
| it viii be taken to-day to the residenc.
= Of Fosters widow. The iuterment viii
: probably take place on Monday next
; st twenty minutes before 10 O'Clock
the crowd Of deputy sheriffs and others
Of one hundred and fifty persons, wht
Lad gained admission to witness tn,
j execution, slowly made their exit from
the scene.
Shortly after Foster had been Gu
down the sexton of DR.. Tyng's church
called at the Toombs and requested
hat the body be allowed to remain til
= late in the afternoon, when it will h,
removed 10 the residence of his wife
! Mono Of the unfoftssaate mans friend,
na7r called to see the body since thu
execution. He IS lying in :. room il
,he TonI..i,s, ii the undertaker's box
waiting 10 be removed