Webmaster: griffing@fnal.gov

When James Griffing arrived in Kings Ferry, Cayuga County, New York in early December 1850, he found the residents of the village closely following the news of a murder trial then underway in nearby Auburn. In a letter to Augusta, he wrote: "There is much excitement in this County at present during the session of the trial of three brothers named Baham for murder. It was committed but a short distance from this place upon the person of a peddlar under circumstances the most aggravating and ferocious ever conceived of. After a trial of over two weeks, the eldest was criminated and sentenced to be hung the 24th of January [1851]. The others await their trial yet. Had I room and time, I would furnish you with the details, but without doubt you will see them in the papers."

Several Cayuga County newspapers carried articles describing the murder of Nathan Adler, a peddler from Syracuse. The following extracts were taken from the Daily Advertiser, published in Auburn where the trial of the three Baham brothers accused of the murder was held. It is interesting to see how the "facts" change over time. The typographical errors belong to the publisher.

Friday, November 30, 1849

Murder and Robbery

The dead body of NATHAN ADLER, of this city a Dry Goods Pedler from the store of our friend Marcus Cone, was found on Saturday last, lying in the road near the dwelling of a Mr. Bem, farmer, in Scipio, Cayuga County, about sixteen miles south of Auburn, shockingly mangled by blows apparently with a heavy bludgeon. We learn that the deceased was an industrious man, of good character and habits, about thirty-five years old, and belonging to a company of peddlers, consisting of himself and his two bothers, each trading on different routes and meeting together monthly. One of the meetings had been appointed for Friday last at Auburn. The deceased not arriving, apprehensions were excited and his brothers pursuing the route by which he was expected, found him as above stated. A pair of stockings identified as belonging to the deceased were found in the wood-shed of this Bem. The person or persons have not as yet been arrested. We shall probably know more about the matter to-morrow. – Syracuse Reveille, Wednesday

The Auburn papers are entirely silent in regard to this affair. We have the Advertiser of yesterday afternoon, which contains not a word upon the subject. The failure of the peddler to meet his brothers at the usual time is the only circumstance, which has come to the knowledge of Mr. Cone of this city, whose name is mentioned above, calculated to excite any suspicion. He has heard nothing of the murder, so minutely detailed by the Reveille. Besides, we never heard that Bem, the Hungarian General had namesakes in Cayuga County. The whole thing looks to us much like a humbug. Our neighbor has probably been imposed upon. – Syracuse Journal, Thursday

Until yesterday, we had not heard a word in relation to the above. We have no doubt, however, but there has been foul play, practiced upon the person of NATHAN ADLER. – Esq. Bostwick was in this office yesterday, and gave us the following particulars, as near as we can recollect them.

A day or two ago Mr. Bostwick was called upon for the purpose of procuring a warrant for the arrest of two brothers named Baim (not Bem,) who were supposed to have been the perpetrators of the murder. The evidence against the young men, at the time the warrant was called for, was not sufficient to justify the issuing of a warrant for their arrest for murder, but Mr. Bostwick, at the suggestion of Judge Hurlbert, granted a search warrant, with directions to the officers, that if circumstances would justify the arrest of the two young men, that they be taken into custody. Jewelry to a considerable amount was found, and some clothing, which was identified as belonging to the missing man. The body of Mr. Adler has not yet been found, although about two hundred persons have been in search of it for two or three days. It is now supposed that the corpse has been sunk in Cayuga lake, and measures are being adopted to recover it. The two Baims are under arrest.

Monday, December 3, 1849  

The Northville Excitement
Supposed Murder of a German Pedlar on the night of the 6th of November last. Arrest of the two Baims.

As the conductors of a public journal it may be due our readers to state what has come to our knowledge concerning the alleged abduction, or murder of Adler, although we must decline expressing any opinion upon the matter whilst a judicial investigation of the affair is going on.

It appears that there is residing in the south part of Cayuga County a farmer named Baim, who has several sons, two of whom are young men and reside at home with their father; that although Baim does not keep a public house, it has been usual for him to entertain and lodge travelers at his house when requested; that Adler’s brother who has been peddling choice dry goods and jewelry in this country some four or five years, had on one or more occasions when passing through that neighborhood staid at Baim’s house, and that Adler, the missing peddler, who had been in this country on some sixteen months, had made the acquaintance of Baum and his family and it is supposed had called there prior to the sixth of November; that on the fifth and sixth of November he was in the neighborhood with a pack and trunks, exhibiting and selling goods, and just at dusk of the evening of the sixth, reached the dwelling of Baim, since which he has not been seen or heard of.

Adler not reaching Auburn when he was to meet his brother, who was also peddling similar goods, at the time appointed, induced the latter to institute inquiries which led to suspicion of foul play, and, at length, to the arrest of two of Baim’s sons who are yet in custody. Vigilant searches were instituted by the police, assisted by the people of the neighborhood who turned out in large numbers, producing great excitement, and many articles which were identified to have been in Adler’s possession were found. The bulk of the goods, however, remain undiscovered. In a wood near by, a horse was found buried, (an old horse which formerly belonged to Baim and which they say was shot soon after the sixth of November for the reason that it had become useless,) and near by the spot, several feet in the earth, was discovered a pair of mittings, said to have belonged to the peddler, and also a piece of candle. Not far distant from this spot, in a hollow log, was found a common woodman or hunter’s compass and hour dial, which has also been identified as having been exhibited by the missing peddler and by him offered for sale a few days before. A pair of half worn long stockings were also found on the premises which the missing man’s brother thinks were knit by their mother in Germany.

Besides all this, it is said of the Baim’s under arrest, soon after the sixth of November, exhibited an amount of money unusual for him, and had a profusion of finger rings, and freely gave them around to several young women in the neighborhood. His sister’s fingers, too, were extravagantly adorned in that way, then and since. The money has not been accounted for, but the rings are claimed to have been purchased at a peddler’s auction at the time of our last Agricultural Fair. It is further represented that two or three days after the sixth of November, one of the young men under arrest, delivered to a young woman in the neighborhood some eight or ten handkerchiefs to be hemmed for him, with the offer that she might have two of them for her services, and that after there began to be some excitement, and before they were all hemmed, he went to the young woman whom he acquainted of the stories afloat, and requested her to return them to him; since which time they have not been seen. Whether these handkerchiefs have been identified to have been in the peddler’s possession we do not know. The number of them is considered unusual for a young man in his circumstances to have at one time, and the sudden call upon the young woman for them before they were hemmed, is regarded as a suspicious circumstance against him.

We are informed that it is the prevailing belief that the peddler was slain in the chamber of the house, and buried where the mittings and candle were found; and that the horse was killed and buried near by, to allay suspicion in case it should be aroused – but that the body has since been removed and sunk in Cayuga Lake, which is but a few miles distant. The only evidence of the final disposition of the body which has come to our knowledge, is, the fact that a Boat which was moored with chain and padlock nearest the wood where the mittings and candle were found, was cut away, a few days after the 6th of November, and the chain severed, and that said Boat has since come ashore down or near the village of Springport. It is also said that the Lake is above two hundred feet deep near where the boat was moored.

Against the presumptions to which the facts detailed give rise, it is said that Mrs. Baim, the mother of the parties under arrest, whilst in the barn of her husband on the 6th of November (being election day,) met with a serious accident from the falling of a scaffold upon her, which had been erected over the barn floor, and served as the bottom of a corn crib – that she was buried beneath the timbers and corn, which crushed her ribs, injured her back and left her in an irrecoverable condition, that a physician was immediately called who found the peddler there upon his arrival; that from the first, the injury was regarded as likely to prove fatal, and that on the evening and during the night of the 6th of November, many of the neighbors of this family were three; that it was therefore an unlikely occasion for the sons of Baim to have murdered the peddler if he stayed there; that they could not well have done it in the house without exciting alarm at the time; and that when it was expected their mother was about to leave them, it needs the belief that they were destitute of all the common feelings of humanity. To suppose they could have had the heart to imbrue their hands that night in the pedlar’s blood.

It is an old proverb that “murder will out,” and we believe the proverb holds good in most cases. With this sketch of the Northville affair, we hope our readers will be content to wait the final denouement, lest innocent men and women may be made to suffer in reputation for a crime of which they are not guilty. We have vigilant officers in this county who will take good care that the guilty do not escape; and good lawyers to prevent the innocent from being punished.

P.S. Since writing the above we learn that the body of Mr. Adler has been found. It was buried about a mile from the premises of Mr. Baim. The skull of the peddler was found to have been broken in, and the circumstances are stronger than ever against the two Baims. The body was discovered by accident, and by persons too who were not in search of it. It seems that two sportsmen, in quest of game, were in the woods, accompanied by their dog. The dog upon crossing the spot where the corpse was buried stopped suddenly and began to dig the earth. This led to the search and the body was soon discovered, as stated.

We understand that $500 reward has been offered by the relatives of Mr. Adler for the recovery of his body. It is hoped that the persons who have been instrumental in recovering the corpse will positively refuse to receive anything as a compensation for their services.

Saturday, December 8, 1849

The Three Bahams.

Albert Baham, Alfred Baham, and John Baham, Jr., sons of John Baham, Sr., of the town of Venice, was, after a very protracted and arduous examination into all the facts and circumstances, yesterday committed to jail for the murder of Nathan Adler.

Coroner Chase, before whom, and a Jury by him summoned in the cause, the examination was had, commenced the examination on Monday last and prosecuted it with the aid of Counsel, unremittingly until facts and circumstances relating to the death of the deceased and the time when, the manner how, and the persons by whom it was caused, were developed that astounded even those who supposed from the first, that a murder had been committed.

It appears that nothing of the affair was suspected by the people of Venice, until a week ago last Saturday. On that day Charles Adler, a brother of the deceased, who makes Syracuse is home, came into the neighborhood of John Baham, Senior, in the town of Venice and enquired of John Baham, his family and neighbors, for Nathan, whom he said was missing. Some little search was then made, but nothing was discovered indicating  any guilt on the part of the Bahams, only that Adler was last seen at their house on the evening of the 6th of November. The following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, persons were engaged in the search for the missing peddler and his goods which only resulted in finding a place on Baham’s farm where something appeared to have been buried some six or seven feet deep and afterwards disinterred, and in throwing out a pair of mittens since identified to have belonged to Adler, and a mutton tallow candle nearly entire, which had once been lighted, comparing with the candles in use in Baham’s house – a pocket compass, the property of Adler was found about 80 rods distant in a hollow tree, a pair of stockings of his, in the barn and papers and other indications that Adler’s goods had been there, were found in the barn and barn yard. In addition to this, it was ascertained that these three boys had been in possession of various articles of goods believed to have belonged to the missing man. During all which time a very favorable opportunity was afforded for the secretion of all evidences of guilt and for the removal of the body from the premises occupied by the family.

But two of the boys were previously arrested last week upon suspicion and some testimony given against them. Many of the worthy people of the neighborhood, yet believed, that, as their mother was supposed to be in a dying state the night when Adler was last seen there, they would have been disposed to the commission of murder, then. A diligent but fruitless search for the body was continued until Saturday night by the inhabitants, who went out in parties for that purpose.

On Sunday the 2d of December, Joseph P. Swift, Esq. Sheriff of this county, who had the day before proceeded to the scene of excitement, caused a line of rangers to be formed with a view of making a thorough search of all the fields and woods in that vicinity and to commence operations in a place of dense woods about a mile square, situated about a mile and a half west of Baham’s and coming out to the highway on which Baham resided. By this process the body of the missing peddler was found by Robert Denton of Genoa, and John C. Townley, two of the Sheriff’s ranging party, in these woods – known as the “big Venice woods.” It was about three fourths of a mile from the highway, buried with his pack and trunk in a shallow grave under the top of a fallen oak tree and covered over with forest leaves. The spot was concealed by the leaves, but new earth was discovered upon the limbs of the oak tree indicating that there had been digging near by, and a very slight examination discovered the body only some six or seven inches beneath the surface. A bundle of shawls was found in the ground near by. The body was taken at once to Northville in Genoa, where the inquest was held.

On Monday Capt. Chase, proceeded to Northville to hold an inquest over the body, and the same was then carefully examined. It was found to be badly mutilated, and covered with mud. The earth when examined appeared to be of two kinds – one corresponding with that in which he was found, and the other with that where the mittens and candle were found on Baham’s farm. There were worms upon the body, corresponding with those in the soil where the mittens were found, that proceeded from the carcass of a dead horse near by, and a bass wood sapling had been cut away to make room for the grave with the axe, that had gaps in it; and an axe in Baham’s possession had gaps corresponding with the marks upon the wood.

As the examination proceeded it was made to appear that Nathan Adler stopped at Baham’s house on the night of the 6th of November – that Albert, Alfred and John were at home – that Adler wanted to stay over night there, but by reason of their mother’s dangerous illness and the large attendance of neighbors there, who were assisting in taking care of her, he was told he could not stay – his pack and trunks were left in the house a while, and he was around out door, in the barn yard, sometime with the boys – that between 11 and 12 o’clock something was said in the hearing of old Mr. Baham that the boys had taken the Buffalo skins, and had, or were going to sleep in the barn that night, and he called them in and they went upstairs to bed – that they were called up at 2 o’clock to assist in lifting their mother, and went back to bed again – that Albert got up at 4 o’clock the next morning, giving as a reason for rising thus early, that he could not sleep – that he went out, but was in at breakfast and that the old gentleman with some of the neighbors sat up with Mrs. Baham all night.

It appeared in proof that all three of the boys were, after that time and before suspicion was excited, seen in possession of articles of goods corresponding in appearance with those found in the pack, or with those which Adler is known to have had, and that various rings, pencils and similar articles had been by them presented to young ladies in the neighborhood.

Much more proof was given in the matter, which cannot with propriety, be detailed. – After a protracted and arduous investigation, the Jury, late on Thursday night found the verdict contained in the following statement of the Coroner:

Before George B. Chase, Coroner.

At a Coroner’s Inquest held at Northville in the town of Genoa, on the 3d, 4th, 5th & 6th, days of Dec., instant, to inquire when, where, how, in what manner, and by what means Nathan Adler, of Syracuse, came to his death, the Jury found the following verdict; “That the said Nathan Adler came to his death on the night of the 6^th day of November last by violence inflicted upon him with the head of an axe or some similar instrument whilst he was on the premises of John Baham, Senior, in the town of Venice, near his dwelling house in said town, that from the evidence produced, the jury believe that such violence was inflicted upon his head wickedly and designedly by Albert Baham, Alfred Baham and John Baham, Jr. (sons of John Baham,) and who have since been found in possession of a portion of the property theretofore in the possession of said Nathan Adler; and that after such death they concealed the body.”  Geo. B. Chase, Coroner

Public consideration which will occur to our readers, induce us to refrain from publishing the testimony and from the expression of any opinion of the guilt or innocence of the accused. The three brothers are now in jail to await an impartial trial, for the crime of murder, and it is due to them, as well as the public, that their guilt, or innocence, should not be judged.

Tuesday, November 26, 1850

The Bahams.

The Cayuga Oyer and Terminer, now in session in this city, is engaged in the trial of Albert Baham, the eldest of the three brothers, on a charge of being connected with the murder of Nathan Adler, the peddler, which took place about a year since, in the south part of this county. The prisoner was brought into court on Friday last, but as yet only eleven jurors have been found competent to serve.

The great difficulty in obtaining men to try this case is from the fact that soon after the examination of the prisoners, by the coroner’s jury, last winter, a yellow covered pamphlet appeared, giving the whole testimony elicited on that occasion. Who is culpable for the publication of the pamphlet referred to, may be ascertained by application to a certain person who was present at the preliminary examination and took down the testimony. The individual, we believe, was requested by the coroner to be present and assist in examining witnesses, but it was not supposed that besides charging the county for his services, he would attempt to make a speculation out of the matter by a public use of the manuscript.

We understand that some of the locofocos are busy circulating the report that te pamphlet was issued from this office. We take this occasion to say that those who make any such statement are guilty of gross misrepresentation, as the imprint on the cover of the book will readily show.

We could not justify ourself if we had been guilty, for the sake of putting a few dollars in our pocket, of giving publicity to matters which any person of common sense must have known would cost the county a vast deal of trouble and expense. But for the publication of this pamphlet there would have been but little difficulty in obtaining a jury. We hope the individual who is responsible for all this trouble will profit by the expensive lesson, which the tax-payers of the county have just taught him.

P.S. Since the above was in type we learn that a full panel of jurors has been obtained.

Thursday, November 28, 1850

Cayuga Oyer and Terminer.

The following are the names, places of residence, and occupations, of the jurors now engaged upon the trial of Albert Baham, one of the three brothers arrested on a charge of having murdered Nathan Adler, in the town of Venice, on the 6th of November 1849: 

1. Samuel Rockwell, of Cato, Farmer.

2. Amos Carter, Ira, do.

3. Harvey L. Daniels, Mentz, do.

4. Edward Dixon, Mentz, do.

5. Daniel Chase, Cato, do.

6. Zacheus Wooden, Mentz, do.

7. Delevan Marvin, Conquest, do.

8. John C. Dixon, Mentz, do.

9. Jas. P. Smith, Victory, Justice of Peace.

10. Ira Peck, Mentz, Farmer.

11. William How, Auburn, Tinner.

12. Joseph G. Downer, Auburn, Blacksmith.

Thirty-nine witnesses have been sworn on the part of the People, and the end is not yet. There are perhaps thirty more witnesses on the part of the People, and forty or more on the part of the Prisoner.

Wednesday, December 4, 1850

The Baham Trial.

The testimony in this case was closed yesterday morning. Paris G. Clark, Esq. Spoke until the adjournment of the Court last night for the Defense. He will probably occupy several hours to-day, and will be followed by the Attorney General for the People. Mr. Clark’s address was one of great eloquence and power. The case will hardly be given to the Jury before to-morrow. Great interest is manifested in the trial, -- the Court House being densely crowded, -- a large portion of the spectators are Ladies. The Prisoner remains in the same apparent state of stolid indifference.

P. S. – Mr. Clark closed his address at Noon. As we go to Press, the Attorney General is addressing the Jury.

Wednesday, January 8, 1851

The Special Term.

The Special Term of the Oyer and Terminer, ordered by the Governor for the Trial of John and Alfred Baham, for the murder of Nathan Adler, commenced its Session in this city yesterday, Judge Johnson Presiding. An appropriate Charge was delivered to the Grand Jury by the Judge. – There being no business brought before it, the Jury was discharged in the afternoon.

The trial of John Baham was then taken up. D. D. Hillis, and T. M. Pomeroy, District Attorney, for the Prosecution, and Paris G. Clark, Samuel Blatchford, and Amzi Wood, Esqs, for the Defense. Four Jurors were obtained from the regular Panel, when an additional Panel of 108 was ordered by the Court. It is thought a Jury will be obtained to-day.

Thursday, January 9, 1851

Cayuga Oyer and Terminer.

People vs. John Baham, Jr. After a trial of 120 persons, and the using by the prisoner’s Counsel of 15 of their peremptory challenges, the following persons have been chosen as the Jury to try the indictment: 

1. John Leland, Cat;

2. William Duyree, Niles;

3. David B. Rumsey, Victory;

4. James M. Sawyer, Moravia;

5. Henry S. Dunning, Aurelius;

6. Henry Houghtaling, Mentz;

7. John E. Terpening, Cato;

8. James Gaston, Aurelius;

9. William Moore, do.

10. Samuel Bibbins, Brutus;

11. 11. James M. Clark, Mentz;

12. Parden Wells, Auburn.

Frederick Wenfield, who was sworn as one of said Jury yesterday, this morning being ill, was excused, and another drawn in his place.

Theodore M. Pomeroy, District Attorney, is opening the cause on the part of the Prosecution.

Wednesday, January 15, 1851

The Baham Trial.

The testimony for the People in this case closed yesterday, and that for the Defense will probably be gone through with to day. The leading features of the case, we are told, are the same as those in the case of the trial of Albert Baham. It is thought the addresses of Counsel to the Jury will commence tomorrow. The trial has been conducted with great patience and ability, and the learned Judge who presides seems disposed to give the Prisoner every advantage that he is reasonably entitled to. In our Paper of Sunday, we shall probably be able to announce the result of the trial.

Friday, January 17, 1851

The Baham Trial.

Mr. Clark opened his address to the Jury, in behalf of the Prisoner yesterday morning at ten o’clock, and closed at about five o’clock in the afternoon. His address is spoken of, on all hands, as an exceedingly able, ingenious and eloquent effort. An intense concourse of people were in attendance, and Mr. Clark was heard with most profound attention.

Mr. Hillis followed Mr. Clark in behalf of the People. He spoke until the adjournment of the Court last night, and resumed his address today. His opening was remarkable eloquent and impressive; and indeed his whole speech was a very superior effort. He concluded at 12 ½ o’clock.

Judge Johnson commenced his charge to the Jury at 2 o’clock, and at the time of our going to press (quarter to 4) had not concluded. We shall give the verdict of the Jury and the sentence of the Court in our paper tomorrow.

Saturday, January 18, 1851

John Baham Convicted.

The Jury in this case after the delivery of a most able and impressive charge by Judge Johnson, retired about four o’clock, yesterday afternoon, for deliberation. About six o’clock the Court was called, with an intimation that the Jury had agreed upon the verdict. Order being restored in Court, the Jury came in with a verdict of GUILTY. The prisoner received this verdict with a good deal of emotion; and we are told that upon being carried back to the Jail, he was deeply affected.

On the opening of the Court this morning, he was brought in to receive his sentence. Judge Johnson, laboring under the deepest emotion, called upon the prisoner to state whether he had anything to say why the sentence of the Law should not be pronounced against him? The Prisoner said he had nothing to say. Judge Johnson then pronounced the doom of the Prisoner, which was, that he be HUNG BY THE NECK UNTIL DEAD, on FRIDAY, the 14th day of MARCH next.

In the case of Alfred Baham, with the consent of the Counsel for the Prosecution, acting under the advice of the Court, a Plea of Guilty of MANSLAUGHTER, in the Second Degree, was put in by his Counsel. He was then sentenced to the State Prison, in this city, for five years and three months.

Thus has terminated the trials of these wretched and most unfortunate young men. Two of them are to suffer death, and one is to be imprisoned. They were borne down by such an overwhelming mass of testimony, and of circumstances, almost amounting to positive proof of their guilt, that the Juries in each case had no other alternative than to convict. Their doom is an awful one, but the Law must be maintained, and its stern and inexorable Decrees carried out. It is a dreadful business, in every respect – the execution of two young men, just arriving at manhood, is a shocking spectacle; but their Guilt has been conclusively established, and they must suffer the penalties of the violated Law.

The extraordinary circumstances connected with the murder of Adler, have served to give these trials an unusual interest. They have been conducted with great deliberation and impartiality. The Court, and the respective Counsel, have discharged their high duties with eminent fidelity and ability. The trials are now over, and we sincerely trust that our County may never again be the theatre of the horrible tragedy of Murder.

Albert Baham.

Next Friday, the 24th inst., is the day appointed for the execution of Albert Baham, one of the murderers of Nathan Adler, the Peddler. We learn that the prisoner has at last given up the idea that he is not to be hung, and begins to realize the awful doom which awaits him. He converses freely, with spiritual advisor, on the subject of religion, and professes to believe that he is fully prepared to meet his fate. We are led to the conclusion, however, that it depends very much upon who he is conversing with, whether he assumes a thoughtful mood or not. We have been told that the prisoner, when in conversation with others than the Rev. Mr. Nelson, seems to regard his execution as a matter of no importance, and hardly worthy of his attention.

Mr. Nelson has waited upon him at regular intervals since he received his sentence, but at no time has been able to get any thing lie a confession of the crime with which he is charged. On the contrary, the prisoner stoutly asserts his entire innocence, protesting that he knows nothing about the circumstances of the murder, or how it happened that the body of Adler was removed from the Baham farm – after it had been once buried – and reentered on the premises of a neighbor. This removal of the corpse from one place to another is supposed to have taken place after the people began to search for the body.

When Mr. Nelson left the prisoner last night, he asked him if he had anything of importance to communicate, and if he had, he had better embrace that opportunity, as he (Mr. N.) was to leave town in the morning, and should not see him again till the day of the execution. The prisoner remarked that he had nothing to say, only that he was entirely innocent of the crime, for which he had been condemned to suffer.

Friday, January 24, 1851

Execution of Albert Baham.

The terrible but just demand of the Law was carried into effect against Albert Baham, in the Jail of this city, at 11 o’clock, 13 minutes, A. M. today.

We have it from good authority that the prisoner, as a general thing, from the time he was sentenced, up to last night, did not seem to regard his fate with anything like the seriousness which one would suppose should have been exhibited by a person in his situation. He indulged quite freely in jokes yesterday, and seemed to be less thoughtful than those who were making preparations for his execution. In speaking of the arrangements for his execution, he carelessly, and in assort of jovial way, said that if the gallows was not completed till after 12 o’clock today, it would suit him just as well; meaning that if he was not executed by 12 o’clock, the sentence of the Court could not be carried into effect.

Yesterday the prisoner was taken from his cell into one of the upper rooms of the Jailor, for the purpose of having his likeness taken; and during the time he was out of his cell, he was remarkably sociable. In referring to his execution he said, that “where there is much loss there is some gain;” and when asked to explain, he said he should get rid of his iron fetters after he was hung.

During the periods when the prisoner’s spiritual adviser was in conversation with him, he always appeared quite penitent – ready to converse on the subject of religion, confessing that he had led a very wicked life, but professed to believe he had been forgiven all his sins, and was prepared to die. In acknowledging his sinfulness, he was generally careful to state, that whatever other crimes he was guilty of committing, that of Murder could not be justly charged to him.

To prove his penitence was feigned at such times as he was visited by Ministers of the Gospel, it is only necessary to state, that between such visits, on one or two occasions, he was heard to use language which would indicate that he had no especial regard for religion.

John Baham, the brother of Albert, who is under sentence of death for participating in the murder of Adler, was removed from the Jail to the Court House previous to the execution. This was a wise and humane move on the part of Sheriff Fancher. The other prisoners in the Jail were taken to a distant part of the building from where the execution took place, and locked in cells.

After the execution of Albert Baham, John Baham made a full confession to his lawyer and claimed that he was an unwilling participant in the crime that was perpetrated by his brother. A petition was circulated for the commutation of his sentence and in late February, Governor Washington Hunt commuted the sentence from hanging to imprisonment for life. In April 1856, Alfred Baham was released from prison, his time having expired. In July 1859, after serving eight years in prison as a model inmate, John Baham was given a full pardon by Governor Edwin Morgan and released from prison.

Governor Washington Hunt
1850-1852