Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-13

O'Clock, John Langster. alias Lancaster, ALA.
Geo. d. Hudson, alias Guinea will be hanged
at the District Jail for the murder of officer
John III. Fowler on the morning of Tuesday,
September 9th, last. This will be the fifteenth
execution under the civil authorities OF the
District since 1850. Little doubt is now enter
tanned by the prisoner officers of the Jail
the execution taking place at the time
appointed. The prisoner was at the time of the
homicide one of the chain gang employed then
on North Capitol and @ streets-having been on
August 11th sentenced TO the work house for
90 days as suspicious person. Slipping his
irons he escaped. and Officer Fowler track ed
him to the square bounded by 1st and I'D and
and streets. 1t being warm day the Off
Ger had taken OF his coat. He found the
prisoner in a back yard in an clubhouse and
seized him; Langster resisted the officer,
who drew his pistol and fired it into the air to
intimidate Langster. This did not have the de-
sired effect, and the officer then appealed to the
prisoner, and getting him in the alley
attempted to put the handouts on him, but
having his pistol and handouts both to manage
could not get the irons on LANCASTER. He called
for assistance to two cOloreG men. and one of
them went to his assistance, when LANCASTER
got the pistol from the officer, and fired once.
as was thought. at the colored man Robert
jackson. who let go his hold of the prisoner,
and left Iangster with the pistol in his hand
with which he shot the officer in the right side.
Fowler walked n few steps and fell. On being
taken to the seventh precinct station he died in
few moments.
AMI CAiIl
Langstcr Immediately ran and got in the rear
of some of the houses in the square southwest
of that in which the shooting took place. iium-
Der of officers going in pursuit. Search was
made OF several houses, and finally the fugitive
was found undcra bed in the basement OF house
81 ID street. When Officer Bo,and ordered
him out; Langster cried, please don't shoot
of Officer FOwlerS death, he said Il am ID
glad off and if l had known there was another
bail in the pistol You would have been in hell"
This homicide caused great excitement ut the
time. as the officer who was killed in the dis
charge of his duty had the reputation of being
a faithful patroinIn. The sympathy felt by the
public for his family expressed itself in liberal
subscription for their relief.
LASGSTER'S TRIAL.
The prisoner was committed to Jail the follow
ing day, September 10th, on the verdict OF the
coroner's jury and was shortly afterwards in
dicted. Having no counsel, the court assigned
Mr. +. p. Phelps to the defense and sci the trial
for October 2Sth last. With some difficulty a
jury was obtained. The defense offered no tes-
timony. but Mr.. Phelps argued that the case
was only one of manslau.hter. The verdict
was guilty, and the prisoner was shortly after
SENTENCED TO BE HANGED
on ''the second Friday after the adjournment
OF the next General Term. On April 2Oth the
January General Term was adjourned without
day. which action fixed May LIST as the day of
execution. President Cleveland was. however
appealed to by Mr. Phelps, Nj. b. p. Davis and
others, who urged that an inquiry be made as
to the sanity OF the prisoner, and a respite was
gran ed for two weeks. In this time thorough
examination was made by Philadelphia eX-
pert; and the report being adverse to i4an.ster,
The President declined to Interfere. The warden
was informed OF this conclusion an Friday, the
Sth Instant and the prisoner was Informed that
no further respite could be expected. This in
formation ne received with Indifference.
THE PRISONER
is a stout built, muscular yellow man, weighing
40 pounds and measuring five feet nine inches
in height. Since his incarceration he has
proved himself to be the most disorderly and
troublesome prisoner ever confined in the jai!
The officer has had to keep him in irons the
entire time. The leg irons. or Shachles, he has
worn continuously, but at time. his hands have
upon him h" has snapped apparently with case.
Even when his hand, We're fastened in hand
cuffs behind his back he has shown such supple
ness as to bring his hands in front Of him.
THE ATTACK on A GUARD.
His last paroxysm occurred Monday morn
ing when, during the cleaning of his cell, he
allowed to walk across the front OF the south
wing. As stated in The STAR he attacked Mr..
Woodward, one of the guards, as he was pass
ing out the gate and, falling upon him. at
tempted 10 choke him to death. Then Tim.
Bowie, Il powerful cOlored man, now serving I.
sentence tor grave robbery, who was standing
near, grappled Langster, who was soon secured
and taken back 10 his CELL
n CHANGE IN HIS CONDUCT.
Shortly after Rev. Father OSulivan. of st.
Peters Catholic church, who has been pcrIodi-
cally visiting him for some months called and
spent some time in his cell. When he came ou.
he reported that Langster was perfectly docile
and promised to devote the few remaining
hours of his earthly career to prayer. He also
sent for Mr.. Woodward and a-ked his pardon
perfectly quiet, and during yesterday he re-
ceiyed visits from two Of his brothers living
here: Rev. Father O'Sullivan again called and
spent about half an hour with him. He was
asked TO take bath and change his clothes,
and he cheerlully complied. On his return
from the bathroom. which is located in the
basement uDdor the first wing, he went to cell
No. /. adjoining his old one-that occupied by
Guiteau after Sergeant Mason had shot at him
and at once took up CatbOlic prayer book,
with which he was soon intently engaged.
There has not been great amount OF curioS
probably outside of the Jail officers and the
priest, Father O'Sullivanj, he has seen fewer
visitors than any condemned man heretofore
confined in the Jail. Yesterday several ladies
called and importuned the warden to let them
see LANCASTER, but the warden was memorable in
his refusaiS, before explaining to the ladies how
satisfied and left. The rope used in the hanging
OF charles shaw, January 10th, 1883, has been
selected for this execution. Another rope has
also been prepared IN case of accident.
THE SCAFFoLD,
being permanent fixture at the jail there is
not much preparation to make for the eXecu-
ton. The cord must be attached to the trigger
and passed through a box leading to a cell
where the man who springs the trap will be CON
cealed. The hinges of the trap must be creased
so that they Will work easily, and the rope
must be rigg0d over the cross-beam with the
hangman's moose in one end, the other being
attached to the cleat on the upright. Small
cords, for pinioning the prisoner and the black
cap to- be drawn over his head have also to be
provided.
The precise hour for the hanging has not vet
been determined upon and 1t may depend very
much on the mood OF the prisoner. The custom
is To start for the scaold in such time as TO give
q full half-hour's grace before the termination
OF the time fixed, in case there should be any
accident Should the prisoner continue in his
present good behavior it Is probable that the
usual custom will be followed.
ADMISSIONS TO THE JAIL.
Under the law the admissions to the Jail will
be limited. The law provides for the presence
of the United States district attorney of this
District and his assistant, the United States
marshal, friends of the party to be executed
whom he may wish present, not more than two
ministers, physicians, jury of twelve men,
ana as many officers OF the peace as may be
deemed advisable. The warden WILL on this
occasion, make no exceptions, and many who
have already applied for passes have been re-
fused.
The New Catholic University Site.
The trustees OF the new Catholic university
paid S2e,5OO cash for the property known as
the Middleton place consisting of sixty-dye
acres lying east OF the soldiers Home ground
The SUMNER OPERA SEASONAL Albaugh's
next week the opera company will be headed
by Jennie Winston, presenting The Queens
Lace handkerchief" This COMPANY are this
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