Members of the public had mixed opinions about the Joseph Sager (1798-1835) trial held in Augusta. The opening stanza of this broadside indicated Sager planned and carried out the poisoning of his wife, Phebe Sager (1786-1834) but also noted public doubt about his guilt. The second half illustrated Sager’s public execution as a morose and tragic scene, suggesting minimal support for capital punishment. The overall message is one of tragedy and loss for all involved— Phebe Sager, Joseph Sager, and their friends and family.

Convicted of his wife's murder, Joseph Sager was hanged at Augusta on January 2, 1835—the last public execution in Maine.