Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-03-28
THE SCAFFOLD.

CUTIoN OF A WIFE MURDERER lem
PERANCE LESSON.
On Friday last two very remarkable exc
cutions took place in New York and Massa-
chusetts- remarkable in the fact that they
gave check to the prevailing and apparent
ly well grounded idea that hanging for muir
der was played OUT Inboth cases the most
tremendous efforts had been made to obtain
combinations of the sentences from the Gov
ernors, but through the firmness of these Of
ficials had failed In the case of Foster exc
cuted in New York, he had, while drunk,
murdered an unofensive merchant on a street
car for demonstrating against his insulting two
ladies. The deed was committed two years
ago, with an iron car hook and was called the
car-hook murder. We condense from the pa
pers an account of the executions:
FOSTERS LAST DAY.
Rising. the sound of the workmen's ham
mers erecting the scatfold grated on his ears,
and the sheriff engaged in watching him sub
seouently said that at every thud OF the ham
mer the doomed man trembled like child.
His wife, ever faithful, ever trusting, ever
comforting, was the first to call on him.
Passing through the prison yard she caught
sight of the gallows tree, and growing faint
staggered toward the inc!osed door OF the
iail. Her brother, who was close behind her
supported her into the prison. Fosters cell
door was open, and Mrs Foster sat down in
side the cell with him, her brother sitting op-
posite. Through the open door the deputy
sherifs on guard kept strict watch, and scru-
tinized every actof the prisoner. The Chap
lain of Sing Sing Prison, Rev. Mr., Schoon-
maker accompanied BY Rev. Mr., Tying, then
came into the prison, and for over an hour
! had an earnest talk with Foster. Mrs. Eos,
ter finally broke down under the strain, and
began to weep. when she was taken away by
her brother. Next Sheriff Brennan aud I'm
der Sheriff Stevens came into see Foster, but
they remained but g few moments
| The evening came on, aad the day Keepers
were relieved by the night men, Deputies
| Seebacher and Hanbury taking charge OF the
prisoner. A few minutes after this Mrs.
Foster returned with her brother. Foster
twas sitting in the corridor by the stove, his
llegs crossed, an old fur cap pulled down over
| his eyes, and hie face buried in his
hands. The Deputy sstsr'a2s were sitting
little away from him, unwilling 70 iFespass
| on the privacy Of his thoughts. On the en-
trance Of his wife into the corridor Foster
| raised his head for a moment, and then re-
! lapsed into his former condition OF apparent
apathy Mrs. Foster, supported by her
brother, came slowly to him, and laid her
hand upon his shoulder.
.A chair was handed her by Deputy Sheriff
! Seebacher. when sitting down by her hus-
| ba.sd, she caught hold Of bis hand and said,
II have come back to You. At length the
Deputies, feeling that the time for the part
ing had arrived, whispered to Foster that 1t
was getting late lie nodded, and few
| more words were exchanged when Foster,
rising slowly from his chair; and placing his
hands upon his wife $ shoulder, said, 1T is
time to say good bye, and Immediately be-
gan crying. Mrs. Faster 10 o choking voice
exclaimed: Good bye, goodbye" when
Foster feelings gained an ascendancy over
his usual self possession, he classped her con-
vulsively to his breast, and kissing her again
and again, said once more
Good bye, dear; this is our last, last
good-bye.'
Mrs. Foster Immediately fainted, when her
brother, after silently pressing Foster hand,
carried her into the vestibule Of the prison,
W1lCIG S1lC ICNlNEu' tICu NClIu iOt ACuiS
Foster sank back into his chair, and hiding
his face in his hands, wept bitter y and in ut
ter silence
THE GALLONS APPARATUS.
The apparatus devised for executing Eos
ter consisted Of upright beams, having iron
pulley wheels, to which was 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 culprit
by the suddenness OF the movement. Nine
murderers have been put to death on the
gallows used for Foster.
About six hundred persons had received
permission to witness the execution. The
applications for tickets Of admission, however,
reached nearly six thousand
About three hundred pelice were stationed
about the Tombs to preserve order.
As early as seven o clock in the morning sew
aral hundred people had assembled in front
Of the city prison anxiously awaiting the
moment when the murderer would be led to
the scahfold, and yet not one in twenty of
those who waited SC patiently outside had the
slightest chance Of gaining admission within
the precincts of the prison.
FOSTER S LAST MORNING.
Foster awoke at seven clock and partook
Of cup Of coffee, but ate nothing. He was
ing. He was attended by Rev Mr. Tying
and Rev. Mr.. Schoonmaker, the chaplain Of
Sing Sing He engaged in devotional exer-
cises until nine O'Clock. At eleven minutes
past nine he was led out, supported by
Sheriff Brennan and the under sheriff Fos-
ter walked falteringly to the scaHold. His
face had hectic flush. Arrived beneath the
scafold. Rev. DR.. Tying. assisted by Rev.
Mr.. Schoonmaker, read the fifty first Psalm.
AS the solemn words were read, in which
Rev. Dr. Tying besought God to open the eye of
mercy unto this thy servant, the scene was
hushed and impressive in the extreme Dur
ing the reading Of the service, Foster stood
beneath the scaffold, his head bowed down,
and his left hand shading his eyes. Rey. DIR.
Schoonmaker shook hands with Foster and
sgid Good bless thee, my dear friend"
THE FINAL SCENE.
At seventeen minutes past nine the bolt
was drawn and the bed Y rose into the air.
The condemned man gave one slight struggle
only, so slight as to be almost imperceptible.
There was an absence of the usual movement
of the shoulders. There was slight con-
traction Of the lower LIMBS, and a barely
perceptible motion Of the hands. After
hanging FIVE minutes the body was Covered
about nine inches, and a minute thereafter
about foot further. Twelve minutes after
the bolt had been drawn the pulse ceased to
beat. Foster had died almost without a
struggle
It was evident dufiag the reading of the
services that he was rapidly sinking and
scarcely able to stand. The physicians noticed
this, and Rev. Mr.. Schoonmaker had but just
shook hands with Foster and said, Good bye,
God bless you, my friend when the fatal
bolt was drawn.
After being allowed to hang little over
twenty minutes the 429dy was lowered into