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

<S&GsGZr - for the lnterment OF the
MN&NS~ M body. after the hanging.
III X23</IINs at Jones chapel, near
u; VsH;ES-ZsY Monticello. About the
~NT same time some of the
guards took the rope to
NELSON COLBERT. the scaffold. and with
bag OF sand as a dummy made trial of the
structure by placing the bag in the moose and
sprlnglng the trap. Everything worked we'll.
The dummy weighed over $50 pounds, while
Colbert weighed but 1873 pounds Rev. Mr..
Roberts spent some time in the prisoners cell,
and leaving about 4:30 o'clock, he returned
about 7:3O o'clock, and went again to the prs-
Oner's cell. short time afterward Rev. Mr..
Wells, with several colored women, arrived,
and they were joined later by Rev. Mr.. Fitz-
hugh.
LEADING PRAYER MEETING.
Then Colbert was brought out into the ro-
tunda, and taking his place near the corner of
the cage, united with the visitors in prayer
and experience meeting-Rev Mr.. Wells Mrs.
Roberts and the prisoner offering prayer.
Among the hymns sung were Sweet Hour of
Prayer, Jesus Is Coming Again, Fade. Fade.
Each Earthly joy MY Heavenly Home is
Bright and Fair" As those in the rotunda
sang these hymns, prisoner after prisoner, es-
pecIally those on the Police Court side or north
wing, took up the song. The singing attracted
quite number of colored people about the en-
trance of the Jail
Colbert was attired in white shirt, dark vest
and pants, and took the most active part in the
exercises, leading in most of the hymns, and
with face beaming with smiles, he kept time
with his hand. In several of the hymns he
sang alone. his friends joining in the refrain
and in the one beginning How Happy Every
enid OF Grace, he became somewhat demon
stratlve, and walking over to Rev. DIR. Fitzhugh,
took his hand and held it while he finished the
hymn.
COLBERT DELIVERS AN ADDRESS.
Before singing this hvmp ba Cd 70 +ba
center of the little group and said 'My sisters
and brothers, thank God for what am and
for what feel / have the love of God in nv
heart and am not the least afraid to die. Why,
this flesh Is nothing when the assurance is that
the soul is going to rest with God. would
peg all OF you to pray for the love of God to en-
ter and fill your hearts. Then you may well
come death without fear Right in the pres
ence OF death, my sisters and brothers. plead
to you to turn all your affections to God, and
with my latest breath will sing praises to my
God and exhort all to prepare to meet their
God. Get all the love of God into your hearts
and we shall all meet around the throne. 1
know that have but few short hours to live
but am thankful tonight with the love of God
IN my heart 1 am the happiest being that
walks Gods green earth. Say. brother say,
sister. will you all meet on the right hand of
God?"
Rev. Mr. Roberts replied and exhorted those
hands with him said, Thank God my hours
on earth are short and feel that nv soul is
wrapped up in Jesus love-" Then Rev. Mr..
Wells followed in an exhortation and the pris-
onerled the hymn, Nothing but the blood of
Jesus"
THE SACRAMENT ADMINISTERED.
The sacrament was administered, this service
opening with the hymn, There is fountain
filled with blood" 1t was conducted by DIR.
Fitzhugh, and the prisoner was visibly affected.
Starting the hymn, Say, sister, will YOU meet
me!" he walked around shaking each one by
the hand. The company then lest with the ex-
ceptlon OF the ministers and the prisoner con-
tinued singing, There is rest for the weary"
1t was now about II 80 o'clock, and some of the
guards suggested to the ministers that they and
the prisoner
TAKE A LUNCH.
The invitation was accepted, and Colbert,
taking the arm of Rev. DIR. Fitzhugh, the party
walked to the lunch-room. Colbert appeared
to be the happiest one of the party At the
table he talked as cheerfully as any of the COM
pany. The conversation was mostly on relig-
ious subjects, and he remarked during the
lunch (Which was plain one): Il have been
here seven months, but this is the heartiest meal
have enjoyed, because am at table"
WHITING HIS FUNERAL DIRECTIONS.
Returning to the rotunda, he wrote the fol-
lowing in quite good hand: "The funeral to
take place at o'clock Sunday afternoon. and
want the Sunday school to sing as my body is
carried in church. Safe in the arms of Jesus
and in coming out, We are passing away
want the Sunday school to be all seated before
my body is taken in, so that they can start sing
ing as it is coming to the door. For the lesson
read the 14th chapter of st. John, pause at the
9th verse, instruct a little. Text to preach
from I'd Timothy, 4th chapter, 9Th and 7th
and this hymn at the grave, Hank from the
Tomb"
HIS WILL.
He then dictated the following as his will:
maggie Tibbs, my afianced, at my death
is to have my gold watch, and at her death it
goes to my sister, Rachel. Father will please
me if he will let my dear Maggie stay at his
house till she marries, and in case that her
husband fails to do right by her let her return
to my father" He then gives directions as to
his funeral as above. Next he started letter
to his uncle, Joseph Lee, imploring him to
turn to the Saviour. On this letter he was en-
gagged for some time
ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.
He also wrote a letter to his affianced and
penned the following: "The advice of Nelson
Colbert to all the young men and old ones,
too is to avoid all bad company and make use
of no intoxicating liquor. for it is a bad habit
and will lead you to trouble and sometimes to
the grave. So will give you all due warning
to let all such things alone, and give your
hearts to Christ and be saved before it will be
too late. Oh, sinners, take warning, for l am
now right at the jaws of death and not afraid
to go and meet it, for my soul is filed with the
spirit of God. So desire that all men should
come to Christ and live. These words we're
spoken by Nelson Colbert to the world at large
on the morning Of his execution
During the night, when some of the ministers
suggested that he should lie down, he asked if
they were sleepy and said he did not want to
60 to bed then. At o'clock, with the min
listers, he sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus"
and other hymns. and about o'clock retired
with them to his cell, but not to sleep.
AN EARLY MORNING TALK WITH BRIGGS
They there continued devotional exercises.
singing, and praying. About o'clock Colbert
walked down to the cell of Briggs, who is
awaiting a second trial for the murder of VIM.
moments they sang together: "Ask the Saviour
to Bless YOU. To Briggs he said 1--WE were
to have gone together, but you have been
spared for time for some good purpose. You
have been left behind" He urged him to con-
tinue in the faith and meet him in heaven
Briggs promised to do SO, but was quite over
come and shed tears copiously.
BIDDING GOODBYE" TO HIS FrLLow-pRIsoNERs
From to after o'clock Colbert spent much
of his time in calling on other prisoners,
especially those charged with serious offenses.
Among these we're VIM. Briggs, who had been
sentenced to death for the murder of VIM
Jones and afterward given a new trial. He