The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-01-16
PHILIP MATHEWS END.
Hanged for Killing the Girl
Who Rejected lis Suit.
The Story Of COurtship That
Ended Abruptly-A Gallows
Scene.

Belleville, iii Jan. i2-The electric
lamps seemed III shine dimiy in Belleyille.
last night, several having been extin-
guished by the heavy wind of the night
previous. On the corner opposite the jail
one was elevated Cd a high pole and sui
feed to bring out from the shadows the
unpaint.d ends of the new gallOws on
which Philip Matthews will be executed
ior the murder of his sweetheart, Annie
Geier. Belleviile is "a quiet town but tine
excitement attendant upon the conviction
and sentence OF young Mathews attracted
some attention and the citizens seem to
realize that an extraordinary occurrence
will take place to day. During the quiet
and silence OF last evening the citizeus
seemed TO hasten, not IN crowds but siugly
aud In pairs To w-the top of the scat
fold, which appeared above the Jail yard
wall, aud when il was seen the ladies who
happened TO he among the cariOus, grasped
the arms OF their escorts tightly and hur-
ried of in silesce.
Mathews spent the day in his cell or
with Forester, the friend whom he made
during his i'm ,risonment. He refused TO
see any one or m' Ike any C. mmunicaiiOI,
but toward evening his family consisting
of father, mother, three brothers and
three sisters, called to bid him farewell
The meeting was Il terrible one. The pris-
oner was embraced by them i'm turn, one of
the sisters being little girl of five or six
who did not seem 10 understand the cause
of her parents agony. Her prattliDg
made the scene ali the sad,ier. The cUl-
prit bro1c down completely when he felt
the arms OF his mother around his neck,
and the guards were forced to separate him
IRON his friends, ali al whom he kissed
passionateiy, especially the little praitlins
sister. His parents were led away with
feeling, Of pity by the GUARDS Later it
il was rumored around town that the
mother wished to see her son hanged and
exaggerated accounts of her actions passed
IRON mouth TO mouth. The runner, now
ever, was without foundation as none of
Mathews friends made application to the
sheriff for permission to view the execu-
ton.
Toward evening the prisoner left his cell
and walked with his friend Forester.
a~ nile before entering the cell. He was
engaged IN drawing until late hour, long
alter every one bad bsen excluded from
the Jail, and his fellow. prisoners had gone
~ STEP, ShCtCniuk hOlcCc dho IAIlSACu ROA"
traits Of the queen and king of Prussia.
IL was net until 3 o'clock this mo- ming
that he got 10 sleep. He then slept reg
aiarly till o'clock, when the German
guard informed him that he was about to
90 off duty. Mathews turned restlessiy On
his bed aud SAID YEARLY that he might go.
Through the white top OF the gallows
! tree was visible with It's black iron bolts
! above the top of the wall, but small
number was attracted by the sight this
morning At 8 clock the three brothers
! separated in the distance, approaching the
/ jail, the younger ~ith basket On his arm
containing the last sad contribution Of his
relatives TO the prisoner, which consisted
. vi fruits, meats, and all kinds Of delicacies.
They were admitted to the jaiier's room,
but we're not allowed to see the prisoner.
Que stood with his hands In his pantalOOps
pockets, totally Indifferent, apparently to
his terrible surroundings. Another sat on
I the end OF the lOuBee and was hardly seat
eel when his sObs were heard by the few
VINO had gained adm ission and sat around
! In silence. Jailer Dawson entered the
! room and the sobbiUg brother called his
attention To the basket, and drew iron. his
pocket clean collar which had oeen pre-
| pared for the final dress of the prisoner
! He was allowed TO enter the Jail, and soon
returned with his face in both hands, sob
| bling piteously, ard then the three brothers
, left the room together.
When breakfast wss announced Mathews
refused 20 eat, and cried vehemently when
his brother visited him.
Belleville, ILL.,, Jan. 12-At loon the
! prisoner assembled the scsffold, dressed iu
broadcloth and slippers. He said: Il
wish you good bye all And then, when
the black cap was adjusted, he said good
bye all" again, meaning Jailer Dawson In
the fall he struck against the side of the
pit dug under the scaffcld and rebounded
but died game. His pulse ceased i'm five
minutes, and he struggled hard. HI,
was attended by thr,e clergymen
The body was cut down at 1925.
The story of Mathews crime 10 not Of ,
nature to excite sympathy for the mar
hanged. II is only the account Of a DELHI
crate murder of an innocent girl becaus,
she would no longer rest her affections up
on him, alter learning him to be unworthy
Phillip Mathews first met the unfOrtunat,
18th of March, 1880. Annie Geier vas
girl OF more than ordinary personal attrac
tons, teacher in one of the Sunda,
schools OF Believille, and loved and re
.spected by q large circle of friends.
CHANGED that large party was given il
her home on the night of the date nance
above. and Mathews was among the guests
Here she first met him, and the young PEG
pie seem to have entertained more tn;
ordinary regard for each other from tn
first. Mathews was not then looked upol
as of bad reputation. and he became fire
quent caller at the house. Soon it wa
known that Philip and the pretty Sunday
school teacher were engaged to be married
and, thenceforth, their relations publicl,
expecting To become man and wife.
Eventually, stories OF evil conduct on tn
part Of her lover came to the ears of Mis-
Geier, occas ioning her great distress n
Visited the house on one occasion Will