Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-01-10
NEIY.,RR,S EXECUTIONS.
Particulars of the Hanging of Mar
thu ana Graves To-day.


NEWARK, N. J. ,Jan. 3.--The executions
OF Robert Martin and James b. Graves
took place quietly shis morning in the
Essex county jail.
The prisoners slept woll during the
night, sud this morning Gravss ate a
hearty breskfast. Martin received Coca
munion and retased stimulants. He
bads his family farewell and welcomed
the execution hour, being much dis
trsssed by the sus psnae.
At 1918 sheriff Wright appeared and
read the death warrant to Martin. His
arms were pinioned with strap and he
was conducted to the gallows attended
by the Reys. Ii. Goodwin and A. L..
Wood, who said the prayers OF the
Episcopal Church.
AT 1927 Deputy Sheriff Davis drew
the black cap over Martins face and gave
the signal. Sheriff Wright behind the
screen touched the spring and Martin 8
body shot up to the cross beam, fell back
five feet with 8 thud and spun around.
The left hand was raised to the nose aud
then dropped. The convulsive move
ments lasted almost five minutes. At
l0.40 the physicians pronounced him
dead from strangulation and without ap-
parent suffering. The body was de-
livered to his friends Tor burial.
The sheriff aud his deputies immedi.
stely went for Graves, who was in the
hospital room, where the death warrant
was read, and he WAS brought to the gal
lows. He sobbed and moaned piteously.
No religious ceremony took place. He
was pinioned and at IL 04 O'Clock the
trap was sprung. The body flew up to
the CROSS beam and he struggled hard for
an instant. His pulse ceased to beat in
five minutes, then revived and beat
irreguiarly for six minutes, when 1t
stopped and 1uttered again for moment
and at IL 18 ceased, al which time he was
pronounced dead.
Martin gave his counsel short address
to the public, expressing deep sorrow for
the shedding of iunocant blood, attribut-
ing the crime to the influence OF disease,
medicine and liquor, which had an un
usual effect on him, setting forth that he
bore no malice, and he should die I'M peace
with God. The address closed with
extracts from the Episcopal litany.
Martin was condemned to death for the
murder of his wife and child. He was
So years Of age and was born in England
He came to this country when young
man and after spending several years in
Cuba as machini,st returned to Newark
in 1879. He had married second time
10 ears before, and had two sons and a
daughter by this wife.
On the night of June 18th, 1881, he
returned home in an intoxicated conditi-
tion aud engaged in a quarrel with his
wife. She left the house and he went to
his room. A few moments later she re
turned and went to the room where he
was, picked up her infant daughter
who had b9en lying in the cradle and
started down stairs. Martin followed
her from the room and, with revolver,
fired at her three times. All of the shots
took effect and one stru k the
baby in the sbdomen. Both mother
and child died almost instantly. Martin
was arrested. On his trial he claimed to
have no memory of the crime. He was
convicted in October, 1881, but the exc.
cution was delayed by appeals and
respites until to-day.
PARTICULARS OF THE EXECUTION OF GRAVES
NEWARK, N. J Jan. 3.-Graves who
was hung here this morning was reclust
and lived at No. 1873 Commerce street fol
several years. He was IS years OF age
Iu the same house lived family named
Soden, including a boy named Eddie,
who was employed as street
lamp lighter. Graves was annoyed
by a number of boys, among then
Eddie Soden, who ridiculed his appear
ance and manners. Graves had otter
made threats against the boys, and OF
the night of December 10th, 1881, h,
crept up behind Eddie SUden, while the
latter was lighting lamp, pulled {
pistol and discharged it into the boy'i
back. The child fell dead.
Graves was arrested and, in the follow
ing January, was convicted of murder
his defense being insanity. Owing tt
the various appeals and the illress Of tn,
prosecuting officer, his cass fingered il
the courts until last fall, when it wa'
finally decided adversely. The court o
pardon twice refused to interfere.
Counsel for Graves recently obtained
opinions from DIR. Spiizka of New York
and other physicians, that Graves wa
an in beetle, but the case had been pre-
viously investigated by medical expert
under the direction OF the court, whief
relied upen their testimony and refused
to stay the execution. Application wa
made to the judge who pronounced thu
sentence to have q judicial inquiry int
the sanity OF the prisoner, but this wa
refused as being beyond his jurisdiction