u-isli you woidd inquire of Mr. Pcakc whether he intends to fay my fees ivitlwut complaining. "Yours respectfully, ••WM. UPHAM."
not sufficient time to give notice to all the members of the council to convene season ably for the objects of the petition. Re spectfully yours, S. H. JKNISON." The Hon. Matthew Hale, late of Albany, "P. S.— I hope Mr. Peake will sign the N. Y. (a native of Chelsea), in a letter written petition to the Governor. I would not wish to me in 1896, thus tells the rest of the s ory: him again to receive the prisoner to his, "Great preparations were made for the bosom if he believes she attempted 10 poison execution of this wretched woman. A gal him. For I believe with the poet that lows was prepared, which was to be erected on the South Common in front of the Court 'True reconcilement can never grow House, in sight of everybody who chose to Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced be a spectator. The sheriff of the county, so deep.' who seemed to be a man of a good many words, talked freely as to what he should "She is, after all, his wife, and the mother do on the occasion. He was to ride round of his children, and for their sake he should! with a drawn sword, and if he saw more than try to save her from the scaffold. W. U." two or three people engaged in conversation Barring the "commerce clause" of this let together, he would ride up and command ter, it is indeed an eloquent appeal, and must them to disperse, and preparation was made have had the effect desired upon the State's for what was generally anticipated as a great Attorney; for on February 9, the Governor | day for Chelsea. Many of the people, how of Vermont wrote Mr. Hebard as follows: ever, did not feel that the occasion was to be "I have come to the conclusion, however a hilarious one. I remember that my next painful to myself, that public justice does not older brother. William, was very much dis require and would not warrant the con gusted and had arranged to go out of town, vening ot the council in relation to the case so as not to be present at the haneing. It of Mrs. Peake. I think I can duly appreci turned out that the 26th day of February. ate the motives which may have operated on 1836, was one of the worst days of the year. A terrific snowstorm had set in a day or two the minds of the petitioners, but still I can not believe that the provisions in the Consti before, and the roads about the county were tution authorizing the convening of the coun drifted so as to be almost impassible. Not cil and empowering the executive to grant withstanding this, the little town was filled reprieves in certain cases should be exercised with eager spectators, or persons who de except in cases marked by some mitigating sired to be spectators of the execution, but or palliating circumstances, and certainly in spite of their great efforts they were dis appointed. The old woman had in some way none such have been presented or urged for consideration in the case of Mrs. Peake. obtained poison in the jail and had This case, compared with the convictions for poisoned herself the day before, so that the capital offences heretofore had in this State, gallows they had prepared was never erect stands perhaps without a parallel for moral ed; and those who came to witness the put ting to death of a feeble, wicked old woman guilt. As an additional reason if any such were disappointed. Rage took possession were necessary—the late hour at which the of their souls. Good old Dr. Winslow, whom application was received and that it was at som»- people charged with connivance, by that time the opinion of some that unless a means of which the poison was obtained special messenger was employed there was
