St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-01-18

the two men had been committed to
Jail, having in mind only the interest
OF his clients, went to the sheriff,
who was also the jailer, and
warned him that he must not per-
NIT the bodies of the murdered men
to be removed from the Jail until the
debt for which they were held was
discharged, telling him if they were
so removed he would be liable to the
same penalties as if he had permitted
them to escape, and demanded that
he should carefully examine his NIT
timus.
This seems almost incredible to
US, but as the law was then, the
body of a debtor was held to be liza
BILE for debts contracted in his life
time Several instances might be
cited where, in those stern times, the
body of some unfortunate person
was arrested while on its way from
its former home to its grave, and
detained by the sheriff until the sum
necessary to satisfy the claim OF
hard creditor was raised among the
surrounding relatives. Truly, we
live in more humane age.
The sheriff of Grafton county, Col.
David Webster, brave and honest
man, was sorely troubled by this
demand. "What shall | do :" he
demanded, Il cannot keep them till
they decay-they will become intol-
CRADLE" ETC. The lawyer told the
sheriff if he could not keep them any
other way, he could salt them down.
on be DID," said the sheriff, ''if l
j -. Il
out what my duty is" He knew
himself no match for the astute law
yer, and mounting his horse, rode
nearly all night, and early the next
morning reached the house Of Chief
Justice Livermore in Holdeness,
where the Holdeness school for boys
now stands, and laid the case before
him. A few words restored quiet to
his mind; he returned to Haverhill,
delivered the bodies of the men to
their friends, and defed the lawyer.
Burnham was tried at Plymouth,
in May, 1906, and the defense tell to
the lot OF young man who had
been admitted to the bar a few
months before, whose name was
Daniel Webster.
The biographies of Webster do not
make it clear that this was his first
appearance before a jury, but it is
certain that this case was the begin
ming OF his fame. The senior counsel
for the defense on hearing the evil
dence, threw up the case, and said
to Webster, Il wash my hands of
the wretch; if you can say anything
tor him YOU may say it," The evil
dence was so clear, that the power
erful plea which Webster delivered
was directed against the principal
OF capital punishment. 1t was vain,
however; Burnham was found guilty,
but the plea gained Webster a great
reputation.
Burnham was sentenced to be
hanged on the 18th dav of July.
But he seemed to be SO hardened
and 1nsensible that many benevolent
people united in a petition to the
governor in his behalf. The man
was reprieved four weeks lin order
that he may have further time TO
prepare for DEATH" He was exc
cuted at Haverhill on the 18th dav
of August, 1906.
The hanging was a great occasion.
The gallOws was built on a hillside
half mile from the jail, and mill
tary company with martial music,
escorted the prisoner thither He
rode IN wagon, sitting on his coffin,
and seemed to consider himself quite
a hero. Some boys ran past the
wagon. Burnham hailed them and
asked them where they were going.
ITO see you hanged" replied one.
well, you needn't hurry they can't
do anything until l get there" said
he. A multitude of people, estimated
at ten thousand persons, covered the
hillside to witness the scene
Such a crowd had never been seen
before in this part of New England.
Old and young, men, women and child
rem, from far and near came on foot,
on horse back, in wagons and OK
carts. An old man now dead, who
was present, told that he was but a
simple lad at the time. and was
frightened to see so many people.
81 hardly supposed there were so
many folks in the world" The
prisoner sat upon his coffin during
the religious services which were
held, according to the custom OF the
times. There was singing, and a
long sermon by Rev. David Suther-
land Of Bath. That sermon, and the
prayer that followed. were remem-
bered by old people after they had
forgotten almost verything else.
1t is not known that the discourse
was ever written, but some pas
sages are still handed down
The impressive and eloquent words
of the preacher melted the great
assembly to tears. 1t is said that
the only unmoved person in the au-
dience was Burnham himself But
after Mr.. Sutherland had finished,
the criminal made short speech,
in which his fortitude forsook him.