Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
A DOUBLE EXECUTION.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April 30
Louis Sommerfeld (white), and
Richard Lee (colOred), were to-day
hung from the same scafiOld at the
same instant for similar crimes
wife-murder. The scailOld was
mounted at q few minutes before
1870. Sommerheld was placed on
the left side of the scafiold, as those
present looked at the men. Lee
was on the right. There, surround
by the officers and the ministers,
ed they stood a few moments. In
quiet tones the last words of con
ISOLATION were said. SOmmerfeld
mnttercd, "Lord receive thou my
spirit, and have mercy on my soul"
Lee said not a word. The moose
had been adjusted meanwhile, the
feet were pinioned and the black
caps adjusted by Officer Jones.
Those on the scailOld stepped back.
The trap was sprung at 1870. and
the two bodies went down like
plImmets "a distance OfsiX feet and
a-half. SOmmeriield twisted around
once or twice and was then perfect
~ still. His neck had been brok-
en- by the fall. Death must have
been instantaneous. Ii was very
different with Lee. His body spun
around a number of times. Then,
remaining steady a moment, the
spinning around was continued.
For five or six minutes this draw.
ing up was repeated at short inter-
walls, and then, with another turn
around, all was still. Two minutes
afterwards the bodies were lowered
a little and examined. Sommer-
field was dead, but Lee was not. In
eighteen minutes Lee was dead.
THE REDEMPTION OF THE TRADE
DOLLAR.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The re-
port submitted to the House by Rep
preventative Lanham to-day from
the Coinage Committee, recon-
mending the passage of the bill for
the redemption of the trade dollar,
says it is estimated that the amount
which would probably be present
ed for redemption will not be great
~ in excess OF $10,700,000, out of
total coinage of S3j, 965,924. 1t is
thought that the amount now in
this country is about 100000
and that no very large amount OF
that which has been exported
would be returned to the United
States. 1t is difficult, the report
says, to enact any law upon the
subject which might not, in some
degree, operate to the advantage
ofthOse who may have purchased
these coins for speculation but it
is believed that many Of them have
found their way into the hands of
people who did not receive them for
such purpose, and that the passage
OF the bill reported will serve as
well as any other measure in the
solution of the matter. IL will GER
tainly eliminate an anomaly from
our system Of silver coinage.
THE EADS SHIP RAILWAY.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The
Senate Committee on Commerce to-
day voted to make a favorable re-
port OH a new Atlantic and Pacific
ship railway bill as substitute for
the original ship bill. Eads and
such others as may be associated
with him are created body corpO.
rate, with the title of the Atlantic
and Pacific Shin Railway Company,
with power to issue capital stock
and bonds not to exceed ia the az
gregate one hundred millions. The
United States Obligates itself to
pay to said company for a period
OF five years after the ship railway
shall have been completed and test
ed any sums of money required to
make twO.thirds of the net revenues
of the said company amount an
nually to the sum of s3,jOO,OOO,
provided that the total liability OF
the government shall in no case
exceed the sum of 81 800, 900.