The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-04
The Execution of GOttleib viii
liamS for the Murder of
Mrs. Eliza Nj. Miller.
The Fearful End Of a
Vagabond's Career.
The Scene of the Execution
this MOrning-The Prison,
Within and without.
The Drop Falls at 1l'17 A, M.


AS Gottleib Williams is the first of the des-
peradoes who have recently afflicted this COM
munity to suffer the extreme penalty of the law,
there is more interest manifested in his fate
than would otherwise have been the case. The
great atrocity attending the crime of which he
was convicted, the friendliness of the victim to
him up TO the very morning OF her death, and
the wild and ret kless life which the murderer
had led from his earliest youth, taken in con-
ter of the evidence brought forward at his trial
have all tended to render the case one of the
most interesting in the annals OF crime, and TO
create corresponding sensation in the minds
In THE EvENGNa TELEGRAPH of yesterday
afternoon we gave q full and succinct account
of the crime committed by Williams together
with his demeanor during the period of his i'm
prisonment. Since then the unhappy man has
demeaned himself In much the same manner
as before.
The Prisoner Yesterday
was visited by his brother, Mr. Henry Williams,
with whom he is on the best of terms, and by
whose request the prison officials rigidly ex-
cluded from access to the prisoner every one
except his brother, the Rev Thomas G. Allen,
of the Protestant Episcopal City Mission, and
Mr.. Thomas j. Worrall, his counsel AS an ad-
ditional precaution against creating any dis
turbance within the limits of the prison, the
Chief of Police yesterday instructed his Lieuten-
their prisoners during the day of the Execution
before o'clock in the afternoon. Quite q num-
Der of prominent persons attempted yesterday
to obtain interviews with the prisoner, and,
falling in that, to get view of the scaffold and
its surroundings, but in vain.
Williams. and the Rev, Thomas G. Allen, were
with him. He was also visited by his counsel.
Mr.. Thomas j. Worrall, with whom he con-
versed freely concerning the testimony brought
forward against him at the trial; examining it
minutely and picking out Its flaws. 1t had been
rumored in some quarters that Williams had
made. or was about to make, a full confession of
his guilt, but we were assured by all who had
conVersed with him that he still persisted in
asserting his Innocence, although when the
question was put to him-"What do you think
of the verdict the jury rendered against your"
he appeared disposed to bubble over the mat
81 do not think that the trial proved me
The question was then repeated more ex-
"Now that you are so soon to die, what do you
think of the verdict? Was it or was it not a
Some of the bystanders assert that he made
much the same answer to this, while others did
not notice any answer at all, but declare that
Williams hung his head in silence.
The Final Arrangements for the Exc
.. cutiOn
were made yesterday afternoon under the per-
sonal supervision of High Sheriff Howell. The
scafIold was then placed in position on the
same spot which it occupied on the Sth day of
June last, on the occasion of the execution of
Anton Probst. This is the northwest corner of
the prison YARD ana In snch posltaon tnat , not
was enabled to witness the final scene. The
scaffold is the one that has been in use in this
city since the time when Langfeldt was hung,
several years ago. The case OF Probst was the
last in which 1t was employed in this city, but
during the past winter IL has been loaned to the
authorities of Montgomery and Bucks counties,
on the occasion of the execution of Jacob Had
dopp and Albert Teufel.
The witnesses of the Execution,
by the strict rule always observed by Sheriff
Howell were few in number and those only
who are provided for by the express terms of
| the statute of the State of Pennsylvania. They
consisted of the Sherif's Jury, few of his depu-
ties the spiritual adviser of the condemned
man, the Sherih9s physicians, and nine repre-
| sentatives of the press
| Many persons who have morbid curiosity to
| witness such unnatural scenes have beset Sheriff
obtain permission
! him TO be present, and all such applications
have been steadily and wisely refused Among
| tion was Mr. Milo Miller, the husband of the
! murdered woman. He expressed strong de-
! request was regarded as so improper under the
! circumstances that 1t was peremE vorily refused.
! The Futile Attempts OF Many Friends.
During the early part Of the day many friends
| Some claimed their right as relatives, others
as near and dear friends; but all opportunities
| ception of those who had been with Williams
the day previous, came the decided answer,
It was we'll that the last hours of one who was
| about to be enter upon eternity should not
| friends and sorrowful partings should not draw
| the thoughts of Williams from his approaching
ence enS anu Among those Who claimed an interview
were many ladies, who, with others, had put off
| a visitation, living in the hope that a re.
| prieVe would stay the hand of the executioner
| for time.
THE Scene without the Prison.
| AS might have been expected, the execution
| had magnetic influence upon large number
| of individuals. whose strong desire to witness
| anything terrible or exciting naturally drew
| them TO the Vicinity OF Moyamensing, al
| though the grim and formidable walls of that
| prison effectually closed their vision to what
| was transpiring within.
| AS usual In such cases, the police regulations
/ were effectual Lleutenants Fuller, OF the First
| Police District and Hampton. OF the Secoud f,
| were detailed to guard the prison without, with
l a force of one hundred and eleven men-com-
| posed OF sixty-sx from the First and forty-hve
from the Second District f II -.--s-,, u,
! These men were stationed on every side or
! the prison, at the base of the towering walls,
except on the eastern side OF the front, wher o
they stood without the fence.
! Upon the door-steps OF neighboring housesi
on either side of the prison, leaning against
trees and standing upon fences In the vain
hope of being able to look over the walls were
those individuals who had congregated, 10 De,
at least, in the immediate vicinity OF the exc
cution. ~.
The number was not large, however, lot tne
| peremptory orders of the Sherln, pronlDltlng
them from an entrance, gradually deereasseu
the various gatherings Those who dla fenla ~
however, were all intent on canVasslng bne
trial, the demeanor OF the prisoner now hss
would conduct himself on the scanolo, anu
whether there was any probability OF resplISS. T.
| All the late murders were touched upon py
these persons, and fun details Of norrlDiIe I5