Mr. Spalding,
from Luke xviii. 13,--"God be merciful to me a sinner!" After
which he was returned to the prison. Between the hours of 2 and 3
in the afternoon, he was guarded to the place of execution by a
company of 40 volunteers (consisting principally of the members
of the Artillery Company lately formed in this town, and
commanded by Captain Zadock Buffinton) under the direction of the
proper civil officers. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins prayed at the
gallows; and at 3 o'clock the cart was led off, and the unhappy
sufferer made the expiation which the law required for his horrid
and unnatural crime.
His behaviour, through the whole, was firm, but decent, penitent
and devotional.
This is the only execution which has taken place in the county of
Essex for near 15 years, and but the second since about the close
of the last century. The concourse of people was consequently
great; and the general decorum which was observed, evinced their
sympathy for a suffering individual of the species.
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