National Republican., 1880-02-24
WILL STONE BE HANGED9

Ho Says that lie Is not Afraid to Die--A
Talk with tile Condo mined MRn.
The time fixed for the execution OF James
Madison Wyatt Stone, the wife murderer, ex.
pres next Friday, and although strenuous
efforts have been made in behalf Of the accused
looking TO n suspension OF the death sentence,
nothing had been accomplished In this direc.
tion up to yesterday. The papers in the case
are still at the Attorney. Generals Office, and
everything hangs upon that officials decision.
A representative of THE NATIONAL REPUBL1-
CAN visited the Jail, where Stone Is confined,
yesterday afternoon for the purpose of having
talk with the condemned. Through the cour-
tesy of Warden Crocker, Stone was allowed
tn como out into the rotundn, aud, In the con-
versntion which eusuod. he stated that ho had
resigned all hope of pardon aud was pre-
pared for bis fate, whatever 1t might be. He
had been miStudgod by the people, who wero
clamorous for his death, and he intended to
prepare u statement, after consulting his Coun.
sci, which would put the blame for tho crime
where 1t belonged. He was willing to swear
that he knew nothing of his actions OH the
night he killed his wife, until he was told OF
1t at the First Ward station. lie had en-.
dcavorcd do right BY her, but she would not
let him, aud persisted In running after other
men. Her sister, Iavina Pitcher, had been in
u great measure to blamo for this, as she had
led her of. Ho put up with 1t as long as he
could, aud when lie found the two women
bent on doing wrong he ordered his sister from
his house. OF course his wife made this All
excuse to take herself OF too, and only three
weeks before she was killed he surprised her
In bed with u former lover named Taliaferro,
at house on Nineteenth street. Even after
this he offered to take hs wife back and fur.
nish house for hor, but she refused to have
anything to do with him When first told of
what ho had done he prepqrcd himself to die,
and had lived all along with the gallows star.
lug him In tho face lie was not afraid to die,
and would 20 upon tho scaiiold rs calmly to-
morrow as any man ever did. Everybody at
the Jail had been very kind to him, and any
favor that lie asked had always been granted.
The condemned man wears an air OF cheer.
fulnoss which is the suljccto comment by the
guards and visitors at the Jail He never ap-
pears moody or downcast, but conducts him.
self in a very afablo mauner toward all who
are brought In contact with him. His long
imprisonment does not seem to have impaired
his health, as lie presents about the same ap'
pcarance as when arrested. He Is very CRATE
tul to his counsel, Mr. A. X. Browne, and his
wife, for their efforts in his behalf, but se med
of the opinion that they were futile. Warden
Crockcr sud in reply TO q question by TIN
NATIONAL REPUBLICANS representative, that
unless he received orders to the contrary, he
would begin the erection of the scafOd to-
morrow. The terms of the sentence provide d
| that the execution should take place In tn,
| jail-yard and not in tho building. lie would
| put up high fence either ut the uihoast OF
northeast angle of the jail bulldog. in order
| tu keep out the crowd which such AN uilti
would attract, as 1t was his intention to max,
| the execution as private rs possible.