The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-09
A Remarkable Exhibition of Nerve ON the
Scaffold-His Address to the At
tending Crowd.
His Last Remark-"The Moose Fits
just Like a Charm"
The Story of the Tragedy and the Subse-
quent Trial and Execution of
the Homicide.
A MURDER EXPIATED,
Stout Goes to His Death Calmly and With
out Display of Bravado.


ROCKVILLE, Aug. S.-Rockville to-day
furnishes an evidence of the fact that the
way of the transgressor is hard in the hang
ing of Joseph w. Stout, for the premeditated
murder of Taylor Dunbar, committed in
November last near Darlington, Montgomery
county. The sentence was executed shortly
after 1 o'clock at the jail-yard, and was
witnessed by about 200 people All day
yesterday and this morning the town has
been filling up with strangers and farmers
from the surrounding country attracted by
the knowledge that the hanging was to take
place, and by noon the streets were filled to
overfowing while the crowds about the Jail
were crushing Street takers and patent
medicine venders displayed their wares at
every corner, and a stranger ignorant of the
cause of the presence of such a crowd would
have naturally inferred from the demeanor
of tie people that fair or
some kindred event was in progress.
All the preparations for the hanging were
completed yesterday, even to the minor de-
tails, and naught remained for to-day save
the execution proper.
sToUT's LAST HOURS.
For several days Stouts department has
been more quiet and thoughtful than here
tofore, although he never showed the faintest
signs of weakening, even when placed upon
the scaffold. Yesterday he received several
visitors, with all of whom he conversed free
ly and without reserve most of his time be-
ing spent with his friend Edward Bly, for
whom he sent few days ago. Last night he
ate hearty supper after which he talked
with newspaper correspondents and others,
and read the newspapers until about 10
o'clock, when he yawned complacently said
he was sleepy and retired, falling almost i'm
mediately into peaceful slumber, from
| which he did not awake until o'clock this
morning. His breakfast was brought
him and was eaten with evident relish, after
which Rev. s. K Fuson, his spiritual adviser;
John R, Co urtney. his attorney; Edward
Bly, and Joel Stout, his relative, were admit
ted to his cell, and spent half an hour or
more with him. With Mr.. Courtney,
Stout arranged his remarks to be made on
the seaffoid, and expressed desire to have
things done up in good shape" and to the
others he demeaned himself as usual About
| 10 o'clock everyone but the minister was
excluded from the cell, and an hour was
spent in devotional exercises, the condemned
man appearing to be perfectly penitent and
contented. He expressed himself as ready
to die, and said he hoped to be forgi ven.
A few minutes before noon Stout dressed
himself in asuit of neat fitting black clothes,
selected by himself few days ago. and called
for his dinner, eating quite leisurely and
apparently, at least, with a good appetite.
At the conclusion of this, his last repast
Mrs. Musser, wife of the sheriff
bade him farewell, pinning jaunty little
button-hole bouquet on the left lapel of his
coat as she did so. Stout thanked her for
her kindness and announced himself as ready
for the ordeal. The gates to the jail-yard
were thrown open and the crowd of about
$50 privileged individuals were permitted to
enter the McCune Cadets, under command
of Captain Clinton Murphy, repelling the
throng of outsiders who pressed upon the
| inclosure, old
| MRS. DUNBAR's NERVE. 47s ....
About this time, q lady OF middle age,
dressed in mourning, pushed through the
crowd, attended by an old man. The widow
of the murdered man!' was whispered
through the assem- mblage, and all eyes were
turned upon her at once.
Surely, you are not going to witness the
hanging?' exclaimed some one near the en-
trance, as the lady passed.
Certainly. am" was the calm response
II can see it without flinohing. Any man
who could deliberately murder so good hus-
band and father as Taylor Dunbar was to me
and his five children deserves no sympathy,
and has none of mine. / could fasten the
rope around his neck myself" and the little
woman set her teeth and fixed her gaze upon
the gallows.
At ten minutes before 1 o'clock the process
sion started from the Jail, passing through
the jail-yard to the inclosure in full view of
the crowd outside the picket-fence. Sheriff
j. r. Musser led, followed by Rev. S. K.
Fuson and the condemned, supported by
Attorney Courtney, who Stout insisted
should attend him at tine supreme
moment, and William Houghkirk, deputy
sheriff; Attorney Pruitt and Joel Stout Ed
ward BLY, and Bowman Lay, in the order
named.
| ON THE sCAFFoLD
Stout appeared perfectly unconcerned, but
assumed no air of bravado, and took his seat
while Sheriff Musser read the death warrant
a process consuming ten minutes time. Rev.
Fuson then stepped forward and offered a
| brief and appropriate prayel for the salvation