The Sun. — 1842-10-06 (London, England)

GAUTIER.  LYNCH LA* IN AMERICA.  The following is in a letter published in the Boston Gazette :  " I have just witnessed the execution of 'Lynch Law' upon a yellow fellow. Deputy-Sheriff Hammond, while endeavouring to arrest an offender, was, by the above-mentioned yellow fellow entirely defeated in his intent. During the scuffle the prisoner escaped. Mr. Hammond then arrested the yellow fellow, and took him befOre a Justice, by whom he was committed. While conducting him to gaol, accompanied by our constable, the prisoner plunged a knife into the constable's side. Hammond sprang at the prisoner, who now turned upon him and inflicted a terrible and mortal blow—the point of the knife struck him on the chin, passed through his throat, completely severing the jugular vein. He staggered and fell dead. Prisoner being brought to bay, swore he would kill the first man that attempted to arrest him. His pursuers, perceiving his threatening manner, backed out, with the exception of one, who seized a rail, broke it over his head, which stunned him ; but, soon recovering, he resumed his menacing attitude, when a powerful and courageous man seized upon a stone and hurled it with herculean force, striking on the shoulder and dislocating that limb. He was immediately carried to prison. " During the time occupied in the pursuit of the prisoner, the news of the affray had spread over the town, and the crowd around Mr. Hammond's body was joined by his son. They swore that he should not live another hour, and, breaking open the gaol, they dragged him forth. " The mob conducted the murderer to a pasture at the back of the city with the intention of hanging him, but some among them cried out, " Burn him !" The horrible suggestion was immediately caught at. They chained the murderer to a tree, and the cry arose, Let the fire be slow 1' They piled shavings and rails round him until they reached the height of about two feet and a half, a match was applied to the shavings, and the murderer commenced singing, a hymn, ich he continued until the hsat became intense, and then these few half-smothered words escaped him, God take my life.' " Never martyr suffered more courageously. Not one single scream escaped him ; his chest heaved, with the most intense agony, yet all he said was, ' God take my soul !—God take my life :' in accents so low that none except those immediately about him could catch the sound. He had been burning about fifteen minutes, when some said, He feels no pain', he is too far gone.' He immediately answered, Y-e-s, I d-o f-e-e-li-t!' Never can I forget his looks, when with the utmost difficulty he uttered those words. The fire was so low that his legs and feet were burnt almost to cinder before his other ,parts were to any degree affected. The tree to which he was chained was in full blossom."  Tuesday morning, as the Pearl Gravesend steamboat was proceeding up to London Bridge Wharf to land her passengers, when off the Custom House she was run into by a brig, which was dropping down the river with the tide. The collision was of a serious nature, carrying away the frame-work of the starboard paddle-box, with the cooking apparatus, &c., causing the greatest alarm to the passengers. When the vessels got clear, the Pearl came alongside the wharf, and afterwards went into dock to have the inj ur y repaired.