Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-06

time he fired tie fatal shot, and therefore the
The trial was terminated on the evening OF
the li;h Of October by verdict of
Lhe prisoner broke down completely when
the verdict was announced. aud his wife, who
was present, showed great distress. His co1n-
sci made motion for new trial, which wss
oyerruied. On the 18th of October, Mr.. Rid
die, the prisoners counsel, took exception to
the ruling of the court, and Judge Humphreys
proceeded to pass sentence. Woods, before
why the sentence should not be passed, in a
slow, low and deliberate tone OF voice addressed
the court as follows: "Your honor. sir-psuse-
/ know not what happened that night OF the
killing Of Mr.. Cheeseman.
TWAS DEPRIVED OF MY REASON,
ana knowed nothing OF what occurred until
such-words as the colored man said. have
been working hard day and night to support my
wife and children. l worked for Mr.. Fay four
born of the charge" Here the prisoner weak
ened and sat DOWN. There wes prejudice
against nae by this man on the jury" [ 4 leng
calm and say what he had TO say.I almighty
God is strong and merciful, and all will come
right Vet ar. Cheeseman knows in his heart
am lot guilty.
NEy RR INTENDED TO MURDER
any person. / never threatened any person, -
MY knowing or knowledge" Another long
pause.l
Judge HupphTeys.-s:Is that all You have to
say?''
The prisoner more slowly and lower than
before. III think that this was put-uP job
me altogether 10y parties living about there who
differ in politics with me, to get me into trouble
they were bound &c have satisfaction" Another
Judge Humphreys.-' Is that all you have to
say?"
Deputy Marshal Phuips.-"Have you got
The prisoner.-"Yes, I have got done, MIR
Philips"
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH.
Judge Humphreys. q few remarks, passed
the sentence OF death on the prisoner, fixing the
tme for Wednesday, November 9th, between
tie hours OF 10 a. m. and p. m.
IN GsneTa II1 Ta Oh .ne appear me Court
il as dismissed.
The Last Appeal.
Or the 9th OF November, Mrs. Woods, wife OF
the esndemned, transmitted q PRAYER fer com
with q statement by Mr. Riddle, the subs.ance
OF which was that Woods, being crazed with
drink, was not morally responsible for his act.
The papers were referred to the ATTORNEY Gene
raj, who, in turn, referred them to u s. AttOrpey
Usher, Gho, after reviewing the case, said -
81 have given to the case a careful cOnsidera.
ton, and feel bound to state that, in my
opinion, the crime was a cruel murder; that
the defendant had q fair, impartial and patient
bearing; that he was ably and zealously de-
Tended; and that the verdict was entirely sur
ported by the facts"
L RESPITE GRANTED.
t.e Attorney General thereupon ne ide an
President
Orded ed Woods 20 be informed that the Erayer
Of his wife and counsel Tor COM mutation of
sentence could not he granted.
As betoIe stated, Woods was TO be hanged on
the Htii ultimO, but on the representation OF his
friends that he had not made suffi Client prepara-
ton for death the President granted him a
respite until to-day
THE PRISONERS CONDUCT IN JAIL
DuriD; Las confinement in jaIl the prisoner |
was frequently visited by the Rev. Father |
McDevitt, OF st. Matthew Church, and Rev. |
'nth pnrIn as d.
Hill, who have administered spiritual consola- |
ton Prior to his execution he was terribly de- |
pressed and il was believed it would be neces- |
'ary to carry Elm so the sCatiOit. He f'reuuant- /
y burst into tears when conYersed with rel i've
% his fate and protested that he knew nothing |
Ut Cheeseman's murder, his conduct generally |
being the reverse Of that of JeRkins, who was |
lung from the same scafold few weeks ago
or the murder OF his wife.
Woods Last Hours on Earth.
Yesterday his family and father-in-law and
brother ln-la1 remained with him until dark, |
when they TOOK their leave, and he vas removed
entative Of The STAR called on him by ap-
continent and found him reading a devotional
YORK near the window, in which q coal oil lamp
vas burning. A small table WAS standing near
lin and on the opposite side guard was seated.
While one of the colored prisoners was seated
lear the door. He appeared in much better
Ilrits than previously, and replied to the greet
ng OF TIE STAG reporter, 81 feel as well a.
ould be expected"
have you anything to say in addition to what
After pause, Woods replied, "well, | dunno
another pause). but a certain man is the causa
4 all my troubles. He treated me seven tmss
nat day. He never did such thing before,
nd after getting me in trouble he came here 10
ee me twice and shook hands through the bars /
aging that he would stand by me aud do what
e could for me; that should have the best OF
ounsel, and then he went away"
Reb.-"i have heard that YOU ST ltst that you |
'ere asked TO fire the buildings"
WooGs.-"NO; mes ser vas told to do il; but I |
card party say thai he would have it DONE |
,as got into this trouble so that 1 would not be |
oie 70 tell. There are three or four Others who
row as much as do about it, and sooner o.
lter i will come ont |
Rep.-"Well, have you anything more to saw"
Wo0ds-"l never fired but one shot that
light, and that was when Gessfo.d came. Cess
)rd told me that l came near shooting him.
Id had only ammunition for one load. There |
Ias nothing in il but powder;
THE SHOT THAT KILLED CHgEsEMAN
~ not come from the window but from the
de Of the house."
Rep.-"Why, who do You think fired ito"
Woods-'Sone one kno VS. and that may come
ut YETI
Reptile evidence was that Won w,re a.
ne window when the Cheeseman's came down.
Woods-''Do you think had it in my heart to |
III Mr. Cheeseman, N IN through whom lex
ected to make my living and whom had ne yer |
cen before that day? feel sure that did noE
re but the once that night. forgive every
ody.
THE NIGHT.
After our reporter left the jail, Woods resumed |
he reading of his religious book until about IL |
clock p. m, when he commenced a letter TO |
is wife and family, and finished it in an hour. |
About midnight he took cup Of tea, aud after
penu.hg few moments in conversation with |
be guard, Mir. George ". Dutton, he resumed
lis reading. About SIX O'clock he seemed
rowsy, and Capt. Torrens, who had relieved
1r. DuttOn at O'Clock, suggested that he lay |
own. Woods accordingly laid down, and soon
ell into an uneasy sleep. Before laying down
le devoutly knelt and offered his prayers, and
Ilso did so on awaking at 4 O'Clock this morn |
ng. Capt. Torrens then gave him a bath, and
IN its completion Capt. j ames Coleman relieved |
capt. TOrrens. During the night Woods spoke |
# the disposition of his body to Capt Torrens |
md stated that he would like to have him, (Capt |
~ Capt. Coleman, Capt. Croker, and MT. |
y Woodward, OF the jail guard as his pail bearers |
n the early part OF the night several friend, |
allied for the purpose of sitting up with him |
Turing the night, but this the rules of the iai
would not allow, and after arranging for fare
veil interview they withdrew.
THE MORNING.
Our reporter was admitted to the room about
O'Clock this morning, and found Woods comb
Bg his hair. In a few moments a small anvil, |
,0ld chsel hammer and punch were brought up
or the purpose or taking the heavy leg irons |
III the prisoner. Woods appeared in tolerably |
good spirits, and when the tools were ready sat
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