The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-06
HAN0ING IN CONCORD, ". N.
Eiwin willis Major, the Wife Poisoncr. Pay
ing the Penalty of Ills Crime.


CoNcoRp, N. H., Jan. 5.-Elwin Willis
MaJor. who was convicted in December, 1875,
at Nashua, OF the murder Of bis wife, was hanged
here today. Majors wIfo died suddenly In 1874,
and her death was at frst attributed to natuia al
causes. but subsequently suspicious were
aroused which induced the authorities to cause
the exhumation OF the body when strychnine
was found In the stomach. A sister Of Majors
wife having died suddenly In 1859, her body was
also exnumed and traces OF strychnine found
10 the stomach, and circumstances seemed to
warrant the presumption that Major having
maintained criminal relations with bis sister-in.
law. poisoned her to get rid OF her.
On the FIRST trial OF Major the jury failed TO
agree, but he was convicted Of the murder OF
his wife on the second trial. Until within few
days he has confidently anticipated a commuta-
ton OF his sentence, aud avowed bis innocence
throughout About a week ago he addressed
the following letter to his children:
My DEAR LIrrlr CHILDREN MAY AND CHARLIE I
nave seated p5s II 10 perform the painful duty Of writ
week am 10 be deprived Of my lie and YOU are to
i nd ctn not sB nave al eS
through 10 M ne Tor do no, wish to pain your Ie
you again on eSrth desire TO leave YOU this in nv
S@ .s 'S 20 sSs Ss sS taSy eass ol % Joa Sn
! was falsely accused of taxing the life
had. md for VII m l would have given my own ife
Tie wSrd oa and sn SSsr ann cSey nnoe Soe rG
Of the swfu chsige against me was surrounded y
grs.,' we c9ny'cea o., and am about 70 .uaer this
OF the host N lthers that Cod Ills great goodness
ever b see little chlliren with SIZE VAS Kind loving
de III she a mcmber OF the baptist Church, ana
siy dear little cGiliren wish you to live such i've.
that when God calls for lon you may BE- prepared 90
inc to sav some wort IN ihis fafrwe letter 70 s"n ha
wnen sog 9ld enough to Understand u wi Ps hs
soush, found great consolation IN my Bble aud
sachns Of precious f pron.e. for HSs ,ho.e TAI az
love love v9d on. my darlius II is nard for me leave
Z noiSns IA tvs %orld dS2'' fo2T w6cs Hss' woSaS SS
fSTTe cu ss & cce cp 5SF me 70 Sss p.
s5oSss se M s',s ns1 y9cy n rIn .s'' nsi be 9ee 10
@ rom ns and ,se ,e gS er The wEel
darlnss cannot enjoy ,his ilfe together may
meet Ia heen %arre We .hs never sssIn ee
st"ytT . sTSs %rSas m D. TTas r.. n ~ man sa9 u for
III. .ihe nv ictIer can write YOU and when
but my dsrhnsy. remembcrt was written ny who
e.t prayer was th, YOU should r6~ up n he love sd
fear ofGod. Dcsr litle May, have few worls to
s0oa.by. / want you TO always remember your iesf
mother wi tender ,9ye ana reverence and remeIher
ocn't know nov, but trust you wi some time. nov
-' IA 'ac KIN ns.. st S SSsrt Save wIHs d'ac ' 10y
smos moiaer but rcScmosf rDS SoS OF her
when lass you. You wa ncr baby aud she loved
youvcry dearly. And now. my dear lttl" children. In
Remember me a. your loving father who suffered As
great wrong ever fell to the lot Of MN Thougr
ole an unjust Death az the hand OF man. and without
the -Nmpat1y Of the wOriG. trust say from nv
my cyiuE words to you and may Co.'s olesaing rest
upon you the PRAYER of your atfrcttlnaie iafncr
NrWtll until we meet 10 heaven. ILNfN y. MAJOR
All efforts to obtain a {, c,mmuiltiou of sem
t"ucc were unav .ilins. ON uesdhv last COY.
Cheney visited Mai ,r 10 his cell, amt told him
plainly and firmly that the sentence of the law
would he carried out. Major at first begged for
commut alton, but. ON finding that mercy
would not be extended to him, be became
greatly affected.
The gallnws used Is tho same as that upon
which PIKE and Evans the latter the notorious
Noithwood murderer. suffered death.
Major spcnt the n.s ~ before the execution In
religious deyotions. In the morning. soon alter
10 O'Clock, he was summoned 10 bis death. lie
received the oncers Cal MY, aud appeared to be
Resigned to his fate. lie shivercd soMrw at "a
the rope was adj jlsted round his neck, hut
seemed to te firm lie was urged To make a con-
fession, but replied with an assertion OF his IN
uuCtuce.
The spectators tecan to be nervous. r. they
bencld a human being about 10 perish on cir
cumstantal evidence, and declaring his inno-
cence ON the gallows. All was ready, the ~
mad been drawn over MAJORS face. and the trap
was about to be sprung when the doomed man
suddenly gave way and dropped TO his knees, to
all appearances entirely broken down. An offi-
Ger stepped TO his side and helped nm up.
Every thing beng 70 idy, the trap WAS sprung
SPA ms followed and all was over. lie hal e,i-
IDENTIFY died almost without pain. After hang
ing a reasonable time the body was ken down,
and al Inquest beld according to law.