Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-09
Execution of J. M. w. Stone,

The execution Of the above named convc
occurred within the Jail yard walls Of Wash
ngton on Friday last, the drop falling at ten
minutes after one. The crime for which III
| suffered was committed Saturday, October
9Th, 1878. Becoming jealous of his wife, h,
drank heavily, and on the night in question
he went to the house where his wife was stay.
ing with her two children and sister. Burst
ing open the door, he attacked his wife $ sis
Ter, who, seeing the open razor in his hand
ran out into the yard. Selling her he ufict
ed terrible cash upon her throat. His wifi
was upstairs, and, hearing her sister scream
she FASTENED down and started for the yard
but met Stone in the back room with the ra
zor in his hand, and he at once attacked her
| iniiicting number OF wounds on her throat
severing the jugar vein and the windppe
lie then made his escape from the house
Both women started after him, the blood flow
ing in large spirits from the wounds, but they
fell in front Of the house. The wife died in q
few hours after the wounds were inflicted, but
the sister recovered
As this is the first instance in which hang
ing has been attended by II decaptaton OF
the culprit, we give The following description
ofthe execution from The Baltimore American't
Washington correspondent. After giving a
detailed description of the preparations for
the execution, he says
@ He walked toward the scaflod with head
erect and an air of composure and resolution
rarely witnessed in one about TO die He as
cended the steps slowly, but firmly Reach
ing the platform he turned and surveyed the
spectators with remarkable self-possesson
There was not the first sembance of assumed
courage or nerve. The man seemed TO feel
his position, but Death had no terrors for
lin. The sympathy of every one present
went out to him lie made no speech, bat
whispered a few words 10 DR.. Rankin, who,
turning to the crowd, said that Stone said he
died at peace with all the world, and desired
TO De forgiven by his enemies, if he had any .
Ten minutes more were consumed in prayer,
to which Stone did not appear 10 pay much
attention. He kept looking around him, and
occasionally would search the assemblage be-
meath for familiar face. Not a muscle was
minutes that, even to the spectators, seemed
hours, firm resolute aud self-possessed
" A length the prayers ceased. Stone bow
ed goodbye to the ministers, the moose was
adjusted, the black cap was drawn down, and
a moment later the drop fell. Stone was a
heavy man, weighing to all appearances,
about two hundred pounds. His body shot
downwards swiftly, but, upon reaching the
end of the fall, which was ascertained later,
measured precisely four feet and seven inches,
there was a resistance so minute as to be al
most imperceptble. The next instant the
body suddenly disappeared from the view of
all the spectators except those in front, and
the large knot that had been so carefully
placed under stones left ear was all that was
visible at the end Of the rope. That the rope
had broken was The first impression of all who
had not seen what had occurred but whena sec
a1 flaf If,
mans head had been cut clean off, there was
a general shout of horror. Some with strong
stomachs for such scenes rushed forward hun
grily, but the majority, some Of whom were
observed 10 yomit, fled from the awful specta-
Gle. Several minutes elapsed before any ef-
fort was made to raise the headess trunk,
which all the while spurted blood IN such pro-
fusion that the officers of the prison ia re-
moving the corpse could not escape soilng
their shoes with the gore The decapiiaiion
had been as complete rs il Stones head had
been taken off with the axe of the guillotine
That the rope which was ivc-eighths of an
inch circumference, should have accomplished
this result is not surprising, considering the
distance Of the fall, which some think was
nearer six feet than FIVE. OF ali the theories
advanced for the decapialion, none can sur
mount the one that the length of the G,l
"''hN ''N wv 'h9lhteo ~ idttf Nillit tue
strength of The rope was thoroughly tested
Many times the capacity of Stones neck to
resist the five or six feet fall Of his body never
seemed to enter inlo the hangmans considera-
ton. After the head had been sewed on his
body, the man was placed ia plain coffin,
colored minister read the burial service, and
the remains were then taken to the Young
Mems Buryng Ground and placed in the
public vault. His counsel. who firmly be-
lieved in bis insanity 10 the last, paid all
funeral expenses