, 1877-04-22
CRIME.
E(ECJJTJ0<.


|; CLHvELASD, O., April 21.-Charles II. Ster
ling, the Youngstown murderer, was hanged al
12:40 o'clock to-day, at Youngstown, O., fol
Of January, 1876. The deceased WAS the
daughter OF widow, who resided at Powers
town, small village near Youngstown. She
lett home between s and 9 O'Clock on the
morning OF the 18th Of january for Mrs Hcas-
ley's, wuo resided on the Poland road, and by
whom she had previously been employed. Her
body was discovered by Richard Stevens, about
fifty yards from the road, in thicket Her veil
WIS twisted about her mock and embedded iu
the ilcsA Indicating that she had been strangled
to death. The surroundings evidenced the fact
that there had been struggle. The testimony
at tue inquest went to show that the girl had
been outraged. Mr.. Cover and Mr.. Stevens
rccollectcd having seen q stranger in the neigh
borhood about the time the murder was sup
posed to have been committed. Search ives
made for him, and Charles Sterling was arrest
cd . few miles away Hc was identified by both
tho gentlemen as the man they had seen, aud
blood-stains were found on bis shirt. The Cor
oner's jury charged him with murder, and he
was tried and convicted OF murder in the first
DEGREE. 49,
The following special to the Cleveland Herald
gives full particulars Of tue execution: '.At 10
O'Clock this morning +. T. Nicholson, pastor OF
the Baptist Church, called on Sterling. The
TWO had louE talk, in u hich the prisoner still
declared himself an innocent man. He said
that his yindicatipn must DC ut q higher
tribunal He EXPRESSED no preference in
regard to . religious faith, but trusted only
in the future. The lust hour OF the prisoner
was spent in conversation and prayer with lis
minister. The crowd in the hall was surging
for adm1ttance to the fnclosure, but, until few
minutes before tic hour, none Hcre admitted.
Sterling made request "a be taken up on top
OF the jail where he could, once before death,
granted. n strong guard led him up
st 12:l5 After be came down he was
once more led into the cell, where the DEATH
warrant was read to him, and after lew min
his coming out The crowd of tieScted visitors
was let into the inc1osure, and everything placed
in readiness.
At Il 30 Sterling was led to the scal1old, aud.
after prayer, lie YVES handcufcd, placed On the
closed trap. mud asked il ne had anything tosay.
He made a few remarks, insisting that he MAS
innocent. and badc his attorney, WHO was greatly
affected, farewell lie also asked for the brother
Of the murdered girl, shoo1 hands with him,
and, Ut exactly Il: :45, the trap was SPRUNG. lhe.
moose spued under Ills chin, and failed to
break his ueca- After ! few moments OF si-
]cpcc, he began to clap his hands, kick his feet,
aud moan most pitifullv. The sight was hor-
rid one, sickcning i'll the extreme. For at least
two minutes these motions and groans were
Kept up, and it was thirteen minutes before he
was pronounced dead. j
While this scene OF horror was transpiriug on
the scatlo1d, his attorney was being carried INTO.
the jail, where he fell upon bed aud 'Sept in n
most pi:eous manner.
It took three men to control him. Every few
seconds he exclaimed: ''He dead! he dcad!"
The body vas left hanging until $780, when it
was taken down, and will be buried in the pot
ter,s field this afternoon.