Connecticut western news., 1873-03-28
SALISBURY. CONN. Friday Morning, March 28, 1878.
Fosters Execution.

The following abridged account of the execution of Wm. Foster, in New York city, we clip from the New York Daily Sun:
 At minutes past 9 the physicians filed into the yard through the door, and took up their position. The greatest decorum was observed by the spectators. Every face wore sn expression of sadness. and men spoke to each other in whispers with quiv- ing lps. At II minutes past Sheriff Brennan, followed by his depaties, entered the yard, | when the spectators removed their hats | The sheriff took his place and the deputies Stood in file. All were dressed in decorous black and wore their badges ahd slaves. Immediately after them came William Eos ter, with the Rev. Dr. Tyng on his left and the Rev. Mir. Walker. of Calvary Episco pal church, East Twenty fifth street, on his right. Each clergyman held prayer-book in his hand. William Fosters arms We're pinioned be- hind him at the elbows, but not tightly.
 
 collar, black cloth trowsers and brown cardigan jacket over white shirt. On his feet were pair of laced shoes. He wore his beard with the upper lip shaved. Gu his head was black silk kerchief, knotted behind Around his neck, with the knot right under his left ear, was the dreadful cord. One hand rested upon tne other. His face was deadly pale. His cheeks were sunken and his features were sharply defined. His lips were tightly compressed, bis eyes were closed and bis head was bent forward. He walked with the feeble gait of man stricken with years, but showed DO hesitation.
 When the condemned man reached the drop, deputy sheriff, whose hands trem- bled and whose face showed an inward struggle to restrain the manly tears, gently placed him under the fatal beam and with drew. The spectators viewed the awful P-sP~-atians with suppressed emotion. The judicial machinery was ready, aud .l.- -i.- tim stood with minister of Christ's relig- lon of love on each side of him, ready to be strangled for the good of humanity and to point a moral
 During the ten minutes occupied by the Rev. Mir. Tyng in reading from the prayer book of the Episcopal church, the prisoner stood swaying backward and forward, with his right hand by his side and his left up to bis face, with the fingers wandering over the eyes.
 At the expiration of the ten minutes oc- cupied by the Rev. Dr. Tyng, and before the reverand gentleman had concluded, the condemned man began to tremb.e in the limbs, and Sheriff Brennan passed behind Dr. Tyne and said:
 "Too long, too long"
 The sheriff then went up behind Foster and whispered, Billy, 1 thought you promised me to bear up like man."
 Foster seemed to make powerful effort and braced himself up.
 Dr. Tyng then quickly concluded the ser vice and the sheriff and his deputies ap- preached the condemned man. Dr. Tyng shook his hand and said with much fcrvor, God bless you, my son" Mr. Walker also shook hands with Foster and the two clergymen withdrew.
 The deputies shifted the moose around under his left ear and frightened 1t. Tue legs were left unbound. The snap hook at the end of the cord around Fosters neck was slipped through the thimb&e on the rope which hung from the beam overhead. Then the black kerchief was drawn over the palid face of the doomed man.
 Inside the box the executioner was wait ing with wellhoned jack knife Tn his hand. He had his eye down to the watch hole, waiting for the sign. Sheriff Bren- nan gave a rapid glance at the arrange ments to see that all was ready. Then he and his deputies moved away. Under Sheriff Joel Stevens stepped ten feet in front of the gallows and turned his face towards 1t. Then at 9.20 he raised his hand and thrust it into his bosom. The eye at the hole vsnished. Then came a rasp, whirr and e thud. There was a motion of the legs just as though Foster was springing from the ground. You could hear his shoes creak. Then he shot almost up to the beam, and fell with a force that almost made the gallows groan. The hands were open as though in the act of clutching. As the body fell they half closed, with the tips of the fingers and thumbs together. Half minute and then slight spasmodic action of the chest, the arms and the legs. Then all was still.
 UHder the left ear, just below the knot, was 8 gash nearly an inch long, as though it had been made with a sharp knife.
 After tho body ad hung seven minutes Dr. Vandewater took off his hat, approach. cd and felt the right pulse. There was 8 feeble dutter of life. Then the execution CT slowly lowered the body. Six minutes later Col. Nelson Place, Jr., surgeon of the Eighth Regiment. felt of Fosters pulse, and opening the jacket and vest placed his ear oyer the heart. It was at rest.
 At twenty minutes to eleven two men seven feet by two and half AnotAe, followed with two camp stools. The box was placed upon the stools in front of the gallows and the lid unscrcwed. Inside the box was beautiful rosewood coffin. The rope was unlocked and the undertaker's assistants lowered the body and placed it in the coffin at ten minutes to eleven. The doctors felt of the neck and announced that 1t was broken. Then Coroner Young and the jury gathered around and gazed on while the moose was removed and the head laid upon the pillow. The eyes and mouth were closed. The face was ashy pale but peaceful in its repose. There was