Death of DANFORTH HARTSON in CA in 1857
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Death of DANFORTH HARTSON in CA in 1857
Am not related but may be of interest to someone who is. I have no further info but you may find some extracts in old newspapers at URL:
http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php
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Transcribed by Dee Sardoch <deesar@frontiernet.net>
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Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
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>>Wednesday, 22 July 1857<<
EXECUTION of a MURDERER at YREKA -- At Yreka, on Wednesday last, a young man by name of Danforth HARTSON [T is iffy], (a native of Willimantie, Conn.), was executed for the murder of George BURKE. He came to California in 1849, since which time he has lived a restless and reckless life, and has acknowledged the murder of 2 Indians, near Shasta, last fall. Some 3000 persons witnessed the execution, which was interrupted by an occurrence of a most unpleasant nature. After the death-warrant had been read, standing erect upon the trap-door he remarked, “Good bye, everybody, I’m going!†As the door slipped, the body fell, and by some fault with the knot on the rope, he dropped to the ground, the rope slipped off his neck without further injury than stunning him for a moment.
The prisoner again walked with an unfaltering step upon the scaffold, saying at the same time that he was sorry for the occurrence, and desired to know the cause, and remarked that he thought he was in eternity; and that it was some time before he could realize that he was not, and that he desired to add, that BURKE was holding a pistol towards him when he was shot.
He inquired of Mr. BAKER, the attending clergyman, if the rope was
ready. A hymn was then commenced by Mr. BAKER, in which the prisoner joined. In the meantime the officers were re-adjusting the rope. After the hymn, he requested the Sheriff to make the rope secure. He was then launched into eternity. He died without struggling. In 5 minutes after the drop fell, life became extinct.
http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Transcribed by Dee Sardoch <deesar@frontiernet.net>
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
**************************
>>Wednesday, 22 July 1857<<
EXECUTION of a MURDERER at YREKA -- At Yreka, on Wednesday last, a young man by name of Danforth HARTSON [T is iffy], (a native of Willimantie, Conn.), was executed for the murder of George BURKE. He came to California in 1849, since which time he has lived a restless and reckless life, and has acknowledged the murder of 2 Indians, near Shasta, last fall. Some 3000 persons witnessed the execution, which was interrupted by an occurrence of a most unpleasant nature. After the death-warrant had been read, standing erect upon the trap-door he remarked, “Good bye, everybody, I’m going!†As the door slipped, the body fell, and by some fault with the knot on the rope, he dropped to the ground, the rope slipped off his neck without further injury than stunning him for a moment.
The prisoner again walked with an unfaltering step upon the scaffold, saying at the same time that he was sorry for the occurrence, and desired to know the cause, and remarked that he thought he was in eternity; and that it was some time before he could realize that he was not, and that he desired to add, that BURKE was holding a pistol towards him when he was shot.
He inquired of Mr. BAKER, the attending clergyman, if the rope was
ready. A hymn was then commenced by Mr. BAKER, in which the prisoner joined. In the meantime the officers were re-adjusting the rope. After the hymn, he requested the Sheriff to make the rope secure. He was then launched into eternity. He died without struggling. In 5 minutes after the drop fell, life became extinct.