Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-14

The Murderer's Doom.
The Hanging of WilsOu-REc Attempts
Suicide Appearance mt the GnIIOws, etc.

I 7,
forming the public Of the condition of the con
demned 1t appeared that the sheriff was il
doubt whether he had right to execute vii
son, and telegraphed to the supreme court, il
session at Bridgeport, for decision in the case
Wilson stabbed himself with Il piece of wiz
which he had unaceountaby secreted abou
his person, according TO his own statement
since his partial recovery. The story goes tina
iailor Fem was with him in his cell when tn
deed was done, and that he was only discovered
by spasmOdc movements that he made. Tn
wound, close to the heart, was oUc-quarter o
an inch long, and when Wilson's hand was re
moved from it, he shuddered, and seemed abou
| to 90 into SpaSms; but after the consultation 0
the physicians at nine o'clock he seemed better
and was able to sit up and make statemen
that he had sccrcted the wire with which he at
tempted to kill himself while in the state prison
and that he had sharpencd it by rubbing
! against the wall of his cell The decision OF th
| supreme court was anNiOuSly awaited Tht
| military guard was on foot and had bee
| on duty at the Jail since eleven o'clock. Wilson
| wound in any case would have been fatal. II
could not last over two days at most
The excitement concerning the execution O
I
| noon, and immense crowds assembled at tn
| court house and the Jail. Meantime Sherii
| WcStcll Russell had repaired 10 the SuperiO
court room, where he, with the press, attended tn
decision Of Judge Butler in the case 1t came
| briefly stating if the criminal was conscious
| and could give an account of himself that thu
| execution should proceed. Sheriff Russell a
once left the court, and with the reporters,
| committee of thirty citizens of Hartford, anC
| the deputies from the various counties, entered
| the Jail. Into the narrow passage was crowded
| a large number of spectators and dctachmen
of the City Guard, The spectators were ranges
| along the two rows of galleries. looking down
| upon the corridor
At Il few minutes past one o'clock hum and
| buzz in the court yard announced the appear
! ance OF the prisoner, and at quarter past Sher
| i'll Russell made his appearance with the con
demned Wilson upon his arm, and walking erect
| and proudly beside him. Wilson was very pale
whether from confinement and his wound OF
| emotion it was impossible to Judge He was
! neatly dressed in black sui. with linen shirt
| without any collar, and looked like gentleman
| preparing for an evening call RAJ her than like
| criminal. He mounted the steps with extraor
| binary irmneSS only ialterng once or twice OF
account of his lame foot. The chaplain of the
| state prison and various other gentlemen fol
| lowed more unquietly even than he.
| As he arrived on the flooring he took the dan
| Cling rope in his hand, and with half smil(
said something inaudible. A chair was at once
| called for and while Il man was bringing il
| Wilson spoke in an unconcerned manner botl
| to the sheriff and other gentlemen standing
| around. At last he sat down fronting the spec
| tatOrS, and leaning his head on his hand Once
| or twice he pressed his hand to his heart proba
| bly, feeling the pangS of the sharpened wire
| sticking in the flesh near the heart but there
| were no signs OF pain upon his face, nor any
| symptoms OF fear 1t was now exactly twenty
| minutes past one. Wilson did not look On any
one especially, but seemed lost in thought.
Finally Sheriff Russell took up the death war
| rantand began to read it, his voice failing him
| two or three times When he came to that part
| which referred to the death of Wilson he said
You must excuse me, gentlemen" and biz
voice broke down. Wilson looked at him won.
dcringly, but did not shift his position. As last
| the Sombre message was concluded, hats were
removed from heads and james Wilson was
asked if he had anything to say. He made
| careless gesture and said, 81 don't see rs tina
would do me any good" and then tried TO rise
| He was at once assisted, and staggering
little advanced to the edge of the sCaffold Sait
| he, 81 presume you all before ne know what
am here for, and that have now got wire il
my heart and cannot say much. hope my fat
will be solemn lesson to you all. You know
why | am here to encounter death not beittin.
| dog or Il murderer" Here his voice becamt
| very ndiStinct and number of sentences were
lost, even to those nearest the scaffold; but the
| substance CT what he said, according TO those
on the platform, was defending his course Of
action in trying to expose the prison system, and
he said he hoped that prisoners would not be
treated so that 1t would be necessary to kill any
more Wardens.
Wilson was then advanced to the middle Of
the scafiold, where the rope had been thrown
over. His eye caught it,; he smiled and drew
it down toward him almost reverentIy saving
as he placed the moose upon his neck "When a
man puts rope around his neck in the cause of
humanity he has no fear" He saidsthese last
words violently, almost passionately, and then
added more calmly: 81 have no fear; draw the
rome light, please, Sheriff Russell"
Wilson was hanged until he was dead, He
died instantly, without a murmur or grOan
and hung mOtoneSs. A strong guard was in
force before the prison, and when the crowd at
tempted to rush 10 the windows to get a sight
OF the corps, the guard stampeded them.
The following is Il copy OF his will:
HARTFORD COUNTY JAIL, Oct 10 1871,
The Last VIZ and Testament Of DaUid KeRtley.
l will and bequeath that my body shall be given
to the medical college of New Haven to be used for
the advancement of science, on condition that
the said medical college shall agree to pay com
petent counsel to solicit the next general assembly
holden in and for this state to pass the following
laws:
An act to protect the prisoners in the Connecticut
state prison from abuses by officers Any officer in
the state prison who shall kick, strike or otherwise
abuse any prisoner, except when acting in self do
Tense, shall for such conduct be discharged by the
warden or directors and shall also be prosecuted
before the superior court for such violation of duty
and on being duly convicted shall be sentenced to
three months confinement i'll the county jail.
I'd. An act relating to punshments In the Connec.
ticut state prison. The use of the lash and the
shower bath is hereby abolished after this date
No punishment shall be inflicted except by cOnfne-
ment in dark cell on bread and water, except for
attempts to escape, which may at the discretion of
the warden, be punished by beng compelled to wear
ball and chaln but no prisoner shall be compelled
to wear a ball and chain longer than two months
The number of violations of the prison rules and
the kind and amount Of punishment inflicted for
each offence shall be reported. But in making such
reports the names of prisoners shall not be inserted
The directors shall make full report of the income
and expenses ofthe prison. giving the items in full
The directors snail see that the officers pay shall be
such as to secure the services of intelligent and
competent men. No night Waterman or other Off
Ger shall receive less than forty dollars per month
and board. The directors, when going through
the prison. shall not be accompanied by the warden
deputy warden, or any other officer, and shall allow
each man a chance to speak to them in relation to
his food and treatment. 1t shall be the duty OF the
warden to that the dark cells kept clean and
properly warmed. The dark cells shall have board
floors that prisoners shall nObe forced to be on the
stone floor All acts or parts ofacs conflicting with
or inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.
Third act relating to the directors of the Con-
necticut state prison. Ii shall be the duty of the
directors of the prison to visit it between the third
and fourth of every mouth. At each visit the drec-
tors shall go the entire round of 1.-THE prison. giving
each man chance to speak to them in relation to
his food and treatment. All acts or parts of acts
conflicting or inconsistent with this act is hereby
repealed.
DAVID kENTLEY, alias JAMES WILSON
Most of the other states have laws to protect pris-
oners in the state prison from the abuse of officers
There is no such law i'm this state. The use of the
lash makes persons revengeful and ten times worse
than they We're The use of the lash has also
brutaizing effect on those who use it, frequently
converting good men into demons. The hover
bath is not used now, but should the lash be abol-
ished the shower bath would then be brought into
play, as the law as it stands permits the use of the
shower bath Experiences Of the neighbOring
states prove that the dark cell with bread and
water Is all that Is necessary means of punish
ment. The death of Mr.. Webster aud Mr. Willard
is attributable directly indirectly to the infu-
ence of the lash and to the neglect of the directors
to do their duty. The pay of the prison officers is
now so low that men fit for such high trust would
not accept the situation. Not intending however
TO say by this that there are not some good men
holding the position of state prison officers now
Some OF the lower officers men in the best sense
of the word and yet they get but ninety cents per
day The highest officers at present in the prison
would better nil the position of conyicts than keep
ers. JAMES WILSON or
ID. hENrLEY, as you like it,
New England Dispatches.
CoSNECTICUT.
Especial Dispatch to the Spy.l