The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1848-09-12 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

AMERICAN EXECUTION.—The Newhaven Herald gives an account of the execution, in the past year, of Lucien Hall, at Middleton, Connecticut. Some of the details  sound strangely to an English ear. The number of persons admitted within the goal, and indulged with the view of the hanging, did not exceed 25 ; of these about a third consisted of the relations of Mr. Lavinian Bacon, whom the convict had murdered—her husband, her brother-inlaw, her two sons, and her four brothers were of the number. The murderer was dressed in a long white robe and a white cap. When the sheriff asked him if he had anything to say, he replied, " I have a good deal to say, but do not feel as if could say it." Seating himself as he spoke lie groaned aloud, but shed no tears. He then called for some water with comphor in it, which was brought him. He looked round him rather sulkily, and said, " I think it strange that any one should want to see a man in this situation." After a short pause he continued, "I do not feel as if I could die, after all." Here he raised the knot of the rope and raised it against his left ear. He then said, " I suppose there is no getting away from this at any rate," and he looked over to the front to see how far it was to the ground. It was now about ten minutes before two. The sheriff told him he would give him whatever time he wanted before the rope was cut. He replied that he would like to have 15 minutes, and requested that he might be told five minutes before the time expired. He read awhile in the Bible and Prayer Book, and then, looking at the preparations being made, said. " Give me slack rope enough, Mr. Arnold. Ido not think I have enongh." By this he meant that he might have as much fall as possible, that he might be the sooner lout of pain. In two or three minutes he said again, " I do not want to be particular, but I want more slack rope." The cap was then pulled down over his face, when he remarked that it was tied too tight. The fifteen minutes were now expired, and he was now to be thrown off, when he said, " I thought you would tell rue five minutes before the time expired." The sheriff said, "We will give you five minutes more." One of the officers then called out each minute as it expired—one, two, three, &c. He here remarked that the rope was not properly fixed, and that the knot ought to be nearer to his chin. As the time now rapidly approached, he exclaimed—" Oh dear ! I bid you farewell." " Four" was now called, which told him he had but one minute to live. Just before the last minute expired, he exclaimed, " Oh, dear me ! God Almighty have mercy on me." These were the last words he gave utterance to. The rope was cut, the platform fell, and, with a single exclamation of " Oh !" his spirit was released from the tenement in which it had been defiled. His remains were delivered to those who stood by him as friends. The crowd outside the prison had now increased to about 2,000, all anxious to see him, as they could not be present at the execution. His friends took the coffin out into the middle of the street, laid it on chairs, and the crowd passed by between the ranks of the military, to gaze upon the face of the murderer. Even ladies were there from a distance.