The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-22
YOUNG STERLING HANGED.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
DEATH ON THE GILLOWS.
Dcci"r'nr his Innocence Ills Last Look nj the
I"rth n sickenins Scene on the scnnoIA
Stering's Lawyer Overcome with Grief

DECLARING his Innocence Ills Last Look nj the
Earth sickening Scene on tb. scuaoIA
Steriing's Lawyer Overcome with Grief
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, April 2i-A Desperate
attempt was made by young Sterling, the MUIR
dcrer OF Lizzie Grumbacher. TO break jai, bers
yesterday morning. Tho warden Of the prison
let him out into an anto-room. instructing an
assistant warden to lock tho room to the corrl-
uOr. which the asa stant neglected 10 do. Ster-
ling seeing the bolt withdrawn, rushed for the
door and seizod the knob. The warden sprang
forward aud placed himsclf against tho door,
Sterling struck him two blows with his fist and
the men clinchod The warden dealt Sterling q
blow on the face. and Sterling shattered heavy
bowl TO atoms on tho warden's head, knocking
him down. Tho warden jumped up and. draw
Ing revolver. kept Sterling at bay until he tthe
wnrdcnl got ont and drew tho bolt Then
Sterling demolished the door with chairs
Deputy sherifrs came 10 the aid Of tho warden
ana the prisoner rushed at them with great vio-
lcncc The officers drew reyolvers and throat
cncd to shoot him. He got back and folding
his arms. said: That's Just whnt want"
After desperate struggle the murderer was
forced back into his cell. He says he was a fool
for not killing tho warden as he intended doing
Sterling tried " commit suicide last Monday by
inhalng gas.
Ou'illng was ScntHnccd 10 he hanged hetwocn
the hours Of IL and O'Clock to-day. AT 10 A.
NJ. Mr.. i. 7. Nicholson. pastor OF the Baptist
Church. callod on Sterling. They had long
talk. in which the prisoner still cnmed himself
an innocent man lie said that vindcation
must be al "A higher tribunal. lie cxpr,ssrd no
preference in regard to religious faith but
trust only in the future. Tho last hour Of the
prisoner WAS spent N conversation and prayer
with his minister. The crowd in the halls WAS
surging for udmittence 10 tho enclosure. but
uhtll wlhln "a cwininut"s before the hour mono
wcrr admitted. The anxiety oi the moment WAS
extreme. sterling made request to be taken
up on top of the jail. where he could once before
dc"th see out upon the world. His request was
Erluted. \ strong guard led him up Al l2l5
7. NJ ntter he came down. he was once more
led into his eel and the death warrant was
read y him.. A low minutes aft"rward he WIS
ied TO the salfcld, just prior tO his coming out
the crowd OF ticket holding visitors were adj
mlted lntothe enclosure. and everything placed
in read ness,
Al l2.3Ooclork Sterling WAS led to the s,airold
md nt'r pray WINS hnud'uil"d, placed on the
closed trup. and asked whether he had any
ius that hn was innocent, and bid his Attorney
who WIS greatly affected farewell II. also
asked for tn" brother Of the murdered girl and
shook hands with llin At exactly II ij 7. NJ. tho
chin and failed To- break his neck. Alter a few
minutes OF silence he began To clap his hands,
klck MS lttt ami moan most ptiluily. The
50" tl'le was slckening in the extreme. For ut
w'rc Kept up, and It was thirteen minutes bs-
Tore hc Was pronounced drai. While this scene
ol horror was trans -piring On the s'ailOld his
Huyflry VS. h"lnE carried into the Jail where
hc fell upon bed and wcpi in the most pitrous
lluuncr. Ii took three Iaru To control him.
l.vry few moments he exclaimed. He's
d'ltl hos delt!n The body was taken down
and buried in the Pottcr's field this afternoon.