Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-17

the court he had reached the refrain of the
song:
I'm going home, I am going home.
I'm going home TO die no more"
And this he sang he crossed the court and
walked up the steps to the scaffold His tread
was firm and neither his voice nor his move
ments betrayed fear or nervousness.
When the procession had passed out Of the
rotunda and down into the court the crowd Of
spectators made a rush for the door and down
the steps. They we're held back at a distance
of twenty yards or more from the scaffold by
line Of police.
On the Scaffold.
Colbert did not finish singing Il am going
home" until he stood on the fatal trap and turn
ed so as to face the crowd of spectators At
his left hand stood Rev. Mr.. Wells. his pastor
On the right were Rev. Messrs. Roberts and
Ftzhugh. while three of the Jail guards stood
at the rear, ready for their grim work.
The moose dangled from the cross beam and
touched the floor at Colbert's feet 1t was
l2:45 O'Clock when the party had taken their
places on thr scaffold.
When Colberts voice died away there was
moment of silence. Then Rev. Mr.. Wells
started another HYMN.
''Seviour. more than life to me.
am clinging. clinging close to thee,
Let thy precious blood applied
Keep me ever, ever near thy side"
Colbert took up the song in u clear voice.
the scaffold, gave a moments inspection TO the
appliances and his final instructions to the
guards and then descended. Then as
Colbert sung in a loud. firm voice a strange re-
frain came back. The song was taken up by
the prisoners in the distant cells and il was
echoed back aud forth through the grated
corridors. As he sang one of the guards
stepped forward and deity pinioned his legs
at the knees and ankles.
THE FINAL PRAYER.
When the singing ceased Rev. Mr..
Wells offered prayer. The prisoner,
during the prayer, kept his eyes
raised most Of the time. but occasionally
closed them and his eye-lids trembled His
hands, folded behind him, twitched sew
eral times. Mr.. Wells finished his
prayer by, reciting the Lords Prayer,
and Colbert repeated the words
after him, looking as he did so steadily upward
toward the ceiling. His voice he said
the words of the prayer was husky,
When the prayer ended Rev. Mr.. Wells, turn
ing to Colbert, said with deep emotion,
Now may the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ
death. Good bye"
As he spoke the last words he flung his arm
about Colberts neck and kissed him on the
cheek.
coLBERT's ADDRESS.
A guard then began adjusting the moose, but
Colbert raised his voice to speak. 1t was clear,
firm. and penetrating.
Brothers and friends" he said, Il will now
bid you all farewell and beg you as one who
loves you, give your hearts to Christ, that you
may meet me on the banks of freedom,
where Gods angels dwell. for now in a few
minutes shall be in glory"
While he was saying the last words guard
was putting the black cap over Colbert's head.
Just before it concealed his face he shouted
''Good-byeI' "Good-bye!' The cap was
quickly adjusted and frightened around his
neck, and in another instant there was
loud creak the trap. sprung
by an invisible executioner. swung
end of the rope beneath the platform.
EXAMINATION OF THE BODY.
The body hung still a moment, then there
were few convulsive movements of the
shoulders and lower limbs, which gave it a
swaying motion.
The physicians, Drs. Mcwilliams, Beatty, and
Goldrell, then stepped forwa.d under the scat
fold and began their examination. 1t was
l2:531S O'Clock when the drop fell.
At the end of one minute the pulse at the
wrist was 81. At the end of the second min
ute, "a; of the third, AS, and at the end of
four-and-a-half minutes there was no pulse
perceptible at all.
After the body had been hanging ten minutes
the heart was beating at the rate of lbs min-
ute. Two minutes later the record was 6s
beats.
THE BODY LOWERED.
Seventeen minutes after the drop fell the
heart ceased beating, the physicians pro-
nounced the man dead, and the body was low
cred ready to be placed in the
coffin waiting for it under the scaffold.
1t was remarked that his features were per-
fectly placid and there no dscoloration.
The physicians found that there was a clear
dislocation of the neck. The rope of the
moose cut into the flesh of the neck.
The physicians and other officials said il was
one of the most complete executions which has
ever taken place in this country, there being
no balk whatever.
After the body was lowered the crowd was
allowed to pass and view the remains.
wENTzELLs RELATIVES PRESENT.
Among those who witnessed the execution
were several members of the family of Went
zell, who was murdered by Colbert.
His brother, Adam Wentzell: his three sons
George, Henry, and William, and his brother
in-law, Mr.. Weaver, were present The three
to take much interest in all the proceeding. A
crowd of sympathiZing friends surrounded
them most of the time.
TO BE BURIED SUNDAY.
About two hours after the hanging the body
was removed from the Jail and taken to Mon
tello.
The funeral services will be conducted in the
Colored Methodist church there, Sunday, at 2
O'Clock, by Rev. Mr.. Wells.
COlbert's Story of His Life.
To STAR reporter, who conversed with Col
bert before the hanging, Colbert said: 'Well. it
cannot be helped. and it will soon be all over.
/ have fully prepared myself and feel assured
that will soon be better off. OF course know
that we all have to die some time A few wears
or DAYS will make but little difference As for
myself, feel that can cheerfully go, but
feel sometimes regret at leaving my parents"
The reporter expressed a desire to learn
something of his personal history. Colbert
said that from what he had learned he was born
the Patuxent river, in Anne Arundel
county, Nd. Before he came here with his
family, who moved to house near b and l4th
streets northeast, in 1873, when he was about
seven years old. he lived in Prince George
county. His mother was before the war a slave
to John Mitchell, in Prince George county,
and his parents, though poor, Woodworking
people, tried to raise him to be good boy and
man. They lived about year on l4th and Is
attended school. Il attended the Sunday
school of the Methodist Protestant church
there" he said, land sometimes taught in the
school, l experienced religion and Joined the
church. but gradually fell away. My father
worked for DIR. LOOMS. at Monticello, and SO did
for time. was raised to work hard, hard
work. / sometimes drank, and my trouble all
comes from drink. This the first time /
ever intoxicated in my life. would
urge all to shun bad company, keep away from
liquor, turn to the Savior, and live honest,