advantage to the world, I may be indulged with three days for its
completion; secondly, that as there are those ties which even death
cannot sever, and as there are those who may have some regard for
what will remain of me after death, I request that my remains,
disfigured as they will be, may be delivered after the execution of
the sentence to those dear friends, that they may be conveyed to the
ground where my parents are laid, and where those faithful few may
have a consecrated spot over which they may be permitted to grieve. I
have now to declare, when about to pass into the presence of Almighty
God, that I feel no enmity in my mind to any being, none to those who
have borne testimony against me, and none to the jury who have
pronounced the verdict of my death."

The last request of Russell was refused, and he was executed twelve
hours after the conclusion of the trial. At noon, on the 21st of
October, 1803, he was borne pinioned to the place of execution. Eleven
regiments of soldiers were concentrated in the town to overawe the
people and defeat any attempt at rescue; yet even with this force at
their back, the authorities were far from feeling secure. The interval
between the trial and execution was so short that no preparation could
be made for the erection of a scaffold, except the placing of some
barrels under the gateway of the main entrance to the prison, with
planks placed upon them as a platform, and others sloping up from the
ground, by which it was ascended. On the ground hard by, were placed a
sack of sawdust, an axe, a block, and a knife. After ascending the
scaffold, Russell gazed forward through the archway--towards the
people, whose white faces could be seen glistening outside, and again
expressed his forgiveness of his persecutors. His manner, we are told,
was perfectly calm, and he died without a struggle.