Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-22
JAMES WEST HANGED AT B,LrusoxI.
Inc Crime for which he Suffered Death
Some occunt Of the Criminal and his Victim.
[stxe.al pisratcA q Th, So. !

tStec0I Dispa,oA q ~. Starl
BAIT MORE, August 22d. issS-rhis norm
ing Jt aes West, colored, suffered the extreme
penalt, Of the Law In the jail yard, in this CITY,
for the murder Of his parsmour, Annie q bon.
on the 18th Of March last. The scsaold used on
this Q, casion was the one on which Holah.n
and \ eholson lately suffered death; bat Sherirf
Kane, in order 20 have the execution more
privsi ly conducted than on that occasion
order the gsllows to be taken down and
reere. ted between the jail building and the
penit, ntiary. This prevented Thousands from
witne sing the execution this morning Who
would have otherwise overlooked the scene.
VESTS CRIME.
West on the night OF the 18th Of March last
attacked the woman. Annie Gibson, with a
Ratchet, INJECTING wounds which caused her
death in two days; They had been living to-
gether ss man and wife for several years. aud
Lsd one child about y years old. The woman's
character was bad and she was frequently quar-
relsome 70 West and was not true % him For
several days before the murder she WAS contin-
ually railing at and about him, and he took to
ha drink, and while drunk on the evening Of
INC murder he borrowed pistol and knife,
weapons were taken from him, but about m
O'Clock p m cries OF murder were heard, and
parties looking out saw him running away aud
heard him say that he had killed her. A
Ratchet was found in the house with hood
marks upon it. West Immediately went 10 he
station and gave himself up. The victim, An
l.. a "A
West WAS also q bad character, having INT a
short time previous TO the last issue flushed a
term in the penitentisry. Since his conviction
ne has made several statements In regard 70 the
murder, but in none of them did he denv in
hicting the fatal blow, but claimed tina, he vss
Inaddened by her conduct towards him, and
drunk at the time, and also that she b al .akgo
up with other men. He was sentenced 20 40 n
On the 18th OF June, and although for a time he
had strong hopes Of the Intervention OF The ex-
eegnve ne shortly after commenced the work
% QuAr -.
has father, who died when he was quite young,
was Catholic, he sent for priest. and for y v
era weeks past has expressed himself as being
fully prepared TO meet his fate
WHAT THE PRISONER SAID NEsTKRDAy.
West yesterday sent for Warden Irvine. .ai
personally thanked him for good treatment
while in his custody. The prisoner said that
week or 50 ago he felt a. ii he did not want 70
die, but now that he had realized the consOls-
uon OF religion he was no longer afraid He
believed that he had made his peace with God.
and was satisfied for the law TO take it, course
In regard 70 his crime he said he could not now
realEe now he had ever committed murder
He thought that the witnesses m ght have been
more lenient towards him, but he bore no iI-
VIII toward any one. Father Noonan, rector Of
ST FRANCIS Aayiers Church, (colored,) and
several OF the 0blste Sisters OF Providence,
colored, were assiduous in their attentions to
the religious needs Of the prisoner yesterday.
Father Noonan was with the condemned man
until late last evening, and the officers Of the
Jail say that West shows a great deal more
nerve than had been expected of him.
EXPORTS FOR COMPUTATION OF SENTENCE
A few days ago petition, numerously signed,
was sent to Governor whyte, asking that the
sentence be committed TO Imprisonment for life,
to which the following answer was received:
course. WIN. PINCKNKY WHITE"
MI. Irvine, the warden, wrote TO the Governor
on the same subject on the 10th, and received
NEW YoRK HOTEL, August 2I.-Dear Ir-
rtss: have your favor of the 10th. I have no
SUFFICIENT reason 10 interfere. No provocation
a defenseless woman. Society and it, protec-
ton demands just such penalties for the terror
Of eyil-doers, and the sooner the lawless UNDER
hs,se, 'hS Vo sharp punishment follows crime the
LETTERS OF THE CONDEMNED MAN.
This morning number OF letters were hand
ed to the reporters for publication, having tern
dictated by West 10 q friend, he being unable
to write; one of them Is address 70 the pub
nc IN which he denies some Of the statements
made a. TO bis character, saying be was not q
common thief or drunkard, and that he had
worked for a living ever since he was a boy;
that he has been under arrest three times for
nghung ana once for stealing; that he never
was in the penitentisry In his life. In another
address TO the public he says that he IL a poor
colored man who vas never brought mp in any
religion, and feels thankful to God for having
led him in the true faith. He had been cast
into prison on the charge of murder, and while
he felt sorry for what he had done, at the same
commit wilful m-rder, but that the bad treat
ment which his own child received and excess
Of drinking led him b il, and he urges all good
Catholics to pray for his soul.
His Last Day On Earth.
Last night West slept well, and arose at ave
O'Clock this morning and took 9 bath. He asked
to see the scaffold, and Is de looked at il re-
marked, alt is not such q bsd-looking thing,
after ALL" He was then given his breakfast,
and he ate heartily, and at about O'Clock his
spiritual advisers, Rev; Fathers Nconan, Oar
rah and Goru, with Mr.. Van Noal, came and
engaged with him In religious services, admin
istering 70 him the extreme JUNCTION, and they
minutes 10 10 O'Clock Sheriff Kane, with his
deputies, entered the room. and the black
shroud was placed on the prisoner, and imme-
diately they started to the scafiold. est kept
bis head raised az he walked along, and was
engaged in prayer while the priests recited the
litany for happy death, and on the scaffOld
he knelt and received the last Indulgence in the
hour of death. The prisoner then arose, and
the rope having been adjusted, and the white
cap drawn, the priests and sheriff at 10 o'clock
left the platform, aud while West uttered the
words, Good bless me; be merciful 70 me, q
sinner, }" the trap was sprung, and he fell fully
four feet. The knot, owing TO dampness, did
not slip and be died Of strangulstion, but his
TO hang p minutes, when DIR. Houck examined
him and pronounced him dead, and he was
placed in the coffin, which had been furnished
ltcc VI Coct " y. oFdy. un0trtakcr. Inc
funeral viii take place this evening under the
direction Of some Of the members Of the burh
Of 81. Francis Xavier.
Col. Kane, sheriff, for special fsvors. G.
IBY ASSOCIATED PRESS.l
BALTIMORE, August 2. - Two executions,
both negroes, occurred In Maryland to-day. A
few minutes past q. m, LAWN Palmer, aged
IS years, was executed at Townsontown, Balti-
more county, for rape, and 1t Baltimore City
shortly after 10 O'Clock, james West, aged e,
was executed for murder. In August lse,
Palmer with his accomplice, VIM. h. Pritch-
ard, colored, aged II yeas, committed an as
sault on . young German girl who had gone
out 70 gather blsckberiiee In Baltimore county,
about mile from the city, and rsvished her IN
the most brutal manner. Both were arrested
and committed to Jail at Towsontown in
January 1ss1- Palmer made hrs escape from
jail. Pritchard was tried In March 1s1, con-
vicssd and executed September 18th. Palmer
vas recaptursd Dsosmber is2, tried At the
May term Of the court this year, convicted
and sentenced % be hanged ON to-day.
Palmer prayed last night until O'Clock; after
which, he took ssPper, - the conclusion q
which - remarked 70 ehose present, GOOD
night 70 all; Kind good night 70 all wish
YOU All . happy nights rest" He then offered
( short prayer, sang . hymn, and retired at 10
O'Clock. At II O'Clock he was awakened and
a. ~ 80 IL. 49, ~