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Fredonia Censor, December 7, 1842
Lockport [Niagara County],
Nov. 30 [1842]
The Execution – The execution of David DOUGLASS has
just taken place within the walls of the new Jail in this village.
Within a few minutes of two o’clock, the prisoner, clad in his grave
habiliments, was led under the gallows, and commended to God, in prayer,
by Rev. M. Curry. Rising from his knees, DOUGLAS then addressed a few
words to the spectators, affirming that he and the man he was to suffer
for, were good friends – he had, no spirit of animosity against
CUNNINGHAM, and did not intend to take his life. He said that he forgave
all men – that he had been treated kindly by the Sherif[f], Mr. STONE –
that his counsel, Messrs. CARTER and HUNT, had also been very kind in
what they had done for him without pecuniary reward. He closed by
reiterating his denial that he had any intention of killing CUNNINGHAM.
The moment he concluded the weight fell – the prisoner was suddenly
drawn up, and passed beyond the reach of human tribunals to his last
account. After hanging some twenty minutes, the body was cut down, and
conveyed to Cold Spring Cemet[e]ry for burial.
The appearance of
the prisoner was up to the last moment cool and self possessed. Not a
sign of fear was discoverable. From the moment of his sentence his
conduct had been variable – at times manifesting a spirit of penitence,
and relapsing into the most hardened obduracy. The evening before his
execution, he hade an attempt to hang himself, and from his whole
demeanor there is too much reason for apprehending that he met his fate
an unrepenting man. – Courier.
Notes:
• A local
doctor in need of a cadaver unburied it and used it for medical
research.
• This was the only hanging in Niagara County. Alfred
Holmes was the prosecuting attorney and Washington Hunt defended David
Douglas. This execution led to John Greenleaf Whittier writing the poem
Human Sacrifice condemning capital punishment.
• The 1840
census tells us that David had 1 female 20-30 in house
3 males
besides himself he was 30-40
2 males 5-10 1 male under 5
also
there Asa Douglass 40-50 with family |
