The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-09
THE scAFFoLD.
Execution Of Arm strong, the Wife,
Murderer, at Wilmington, Della
ware - Scenes In the Prison
and Jail Yard-Conduct Of
the CONFERENCE.-The Con-
fesslon, Etc.

W T.
snfo- the extreme pena ty of the law for the
SasRAsASof his wife.
THE PRISONER
was man of about fifty-three or fifty-four years
of age, of medium size, about five feet nine or
ten inches in height rather heavy SET His
features were not of brutal cast though they
habitually wore q sour and disagreeable express
sion. His face was bronzed by exposure.
HIS HISTORY.
Armstrong was born in this State in New
Castle county, a few miles below Middletown.
He was apprenticed TO blacksmith. but we
believe, did not serve out his full time. He was
not considered a vicious boy. He remained
about Middletown until he reached manhood.
On the acquisition Of California, about 1910, he
went out with the coast survey as chain bearer,
etc, and remained there several years. After
his return from California he married Miss
douglass, and acquiring some land by the mar
riage, he settled down and went to farming, at
which he continued mp to the time of his arrest.
He was not accounted a vicious or dangerous
man by his neighbors although he was not
very well liked. He was very fond of Dragging
OF the bloody scenes he professed to have wit
messed in California. 1t was a matter of COM
mon report that he and his wife lived together
very unhappily, and he had at several times
beaten her. He served on the jury at the May
term of the court in 1865 and it is said that he
sat on the jury which tried Dandy for the
murder of Burnett, and acquitted him on the
All the facts Of Armstrong; trial and con-
Viction are so fresh in the minds of our readers
that we need not repeat them.
HIS DEMEANoR AFTER TRIAL
was such as TO draw forth encomiums from
the iailOrs, He was very quiet and orderly,
ana gave the prison keepers no trouble
whatever. He lived on the ordinary prison
fare, except that occasionally Mrs. Herbert
the Sheritfs wife, has sent him meal.
He freely conversed with all who gained
admission to him, and frequently admitted
that he killed his wife, though he insisted that
he did it in the heat of passion, after she had
already attacked him with hatchet. His YER
sion of the affair was that his wife attacked
him with hatchet when he was entering the
room; that she strnck him the head with
the pole of the weapon, and then attempted to
strike him with the edge; that he warded off
81
from her and struck her the blow which killed
her, and then, frightened at what he had done,
crime. This statement is not consistent with
the evidence, as nothing was more clearly
the woman's back was turned towards him.
From the character of the wound, it could not
have been otherwise.
LAST INTERVIEW,
Yesterday he had his last interview with his
two eldest sons boys of about II or ii years of
age. Both boys were witnessesson the trial.
The interview is SAID to have been quite af-
fecting.
The preparations for the execution were COM
pleted yesterday. The excitement concerning
the execution is very intense, and there is but
little il any sympathy expressed for the pri-
soner. great many visited the jail and jail
yard yesterday to see the scaffold.
THE ROPE
also attracted some attention. 1t is of MANILA
and about three-quarters of an inch in thick
ness.
was built against the wall at the north end OF
the iail ward, 1t consisted of two heavy upright
posts of by inch scantling, and n cross piece
of the same timber. 1t is 10 this beam or cross
piece that the rope was attached. These upright
posts stool feet inches apart, at distance
of about So feet from the wall. They were
about l51S feet high, making the beam to which
the rope was attached about that height from
Ibe ground. The upright posts are each braced
by three pieces of by4 inch scantling. Directly
feet, at height of about 81 feet from the ground;
ascent to IL is by flight of steps. Connected
rectly under the gallows was the drop" small
platform about 215 feet square. Itwas supported
ny rope connected with the gallows.
LAST NIGHT.
The prisoner was alone in mis- cell all night
and was very quiet. He was awake at an early
composed in his demeanor, but said he could
meet his fate without fiinchlng.
SCENES TO-DAY-rHE CROWD.
An immense crowd assembled before the
doors Of the Sheriff's house for hours before
them before the doors were thrown open 10
preserve order and decorum, and announced
influence of liquor would be admitted. He
gave strict directions for carrying out this order
TO the special police in attendance.
THE JURY
aummoned by the Sheriff to witness the execu-
tion were George S. Hagany, Howard z. Walton,
William II, Quinn, William Broomtield, John
Lyman, Henry Bleyer, Isaac Wright, James
Christy, Jacob Walton, William p, smith;
resolved 10 donate their fees to Sheriff Herbert
THE EXECUTION.
All the preparations for the execution were
made by about IL o'clock, and few minutes
afer the doors of the hall OF the SherIff7s house
were thrown open and the crowd was admitted
they passed through the hall of the Sheriff7S
house into the Jail, and through the corridor oi
that building to the yard. Between twelve hun.
dred and thirteen hundred people were ad.
Initted. AS they passed directly under the
door of the prisoners cell, he could hear the
framp and shuttle of their feet distinctly fol-
nearly an hour before his execution.
OUTSIDE
the weather was as gloomy as the character o.
1he duty TO be performed 10y the officers OF the
law Ine rain fell steadily, and the yard, though
partially covered with rough boards. was
framped with mud Among the crowd were
the Sheriff and his Deputies, OF Cecil county
Maryland.
MAHACLING THE PRISONER.
A few minutes after II o'clock the Sheriff, ac
tcompained by "a taller, entered the cell OF tia
pTisoner and placed the handouts on hi
SUrists This occupied some three minutes, AM
4 the mournful procession OF death left the cell
on its way TO the fatal platform, In the follow
Minister in attendance. Rev. Daniel George.
Prisoner, Andrew Peter Armstrong,
accompanied by a Jallori
Sheriff, William Herbert
The Jury.
ARRIVED AT THE SCAFFoLD,
,be whole party assembled, and the prisone
snoved forward TO the centre OF the group, tn
s1,ta,ffF ofandinp a his left. and the Kew. NJ