The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-04-12
sEATTER HANGED.

der u Isaiah Colby aud Nora Colby,
bis wife, was avenged al Lock Haveu,
Wednesdays, april 4,b, 1888, aud
Luther j SLatlsr has expiated his
crime on the gallo 8.
The sky Wednesday morning was
overcast with clouds. but they were
not threatening, aud nj On early bour J
people FROM the country began 10
come III and 10y the time fixed for
tho execution The town was filled
With visitors. On tho faces of all
could 10 seen look that indicated !
anxiety and mental excitement. Al
the jail the inmates wero early astir
and preparation was begun for the
execution that was soon 10 take
place
Shaifc,s last night on earth was
spent bat little differently from those
Of the last few weeks. He spent the
evening up 10 ten o'clock playing
checkers with Sheriff Leaby and
Harry Beck; the turnkey. He chat
ted aud talked pleasantly with those
gentlem II and appeared to be calm
and composed in mind. When at
that hour they bid him good night
aud retired, Thomas Hewitt, the night
watohman, took their places, and
Rev. Father Seibert, Shaffer's spirit
ual advisor, entered the cell and re-
mainod locked 10 with the condemn
ed man during tie night. Sbaffer
soon grew sleepy, went to bed and
slept soundly throughout the night.
Early in the evening he received q
, brief visit in his cell from Rev Faith
er Sheridan, Of Cleartield, whose kind
words have done much to assist
3 Father Seibeit in his miuistra,ions
= The irons had been removed from
Q S5afler's limbs at seven o'clock and
4 for the first time in many weeks he
] slept without tho CALLING leltcrs
| Several special officers kept guard
= outside Of the prison walls durin g
: he night, but there was no Incident
] occurred to disturb tho slumbers OF
= either Shafer or the other inmates
$ of the Jail.
= After eating his breakfast, which be
apparently relished rs well as usual,
and after Father Seibert had said
mass the prisoner was in very
pleasant frame OF mind, aud was in
readiness to receive his relatives.
About eight o'clock cab was
= driven to the jail aud the condemned
mans father and sisters entered thf
prison TO take their leave of an err-
q, ing son and brother, The scene wa.
affecting and touching, aud drew
% tears from the eyes of oil who witnos'
+. sed it. Sbalfer bore up maniuly
under the trying ordeal. Direeil,
A, after the mass had boeu said th,
as sherff's family bade him good-by
Is and he was left alone with his spirit
,- ual advisor until the time should ar
,e rive for going 20 his death.
i. During all the honrs of the fore
NJ noon the crowd Of sightseors increas
> ed aud by ten o'clock the sidewalk
a. on both sides Of the street in from
he of the jail were crowded with meu
as Hundreds OF persons stepped up t
as the Jail door and rang the bell, an
H. made every effort possible to obtni
Ii admitlapce. Men offered large sum
20 Of money for pGsses,in some instanc
on es Offering as much as ten, iftee
nt aud twenty dollars for pass, whic
20 had they obtaiued would not hav
e. admitted them as they were no
10 transferable. The crowd was order
ly ard quiet aud gave the police II
trouble, seeming to be generally sal
isfed to be permitted to gaze upo
the prison walls. la tie rear Of Tia
Jail yard eyes were pressed close (
the cracks in the big doors with th
hope Of obtaining glimpse Of th
H. gallows.
h, Tuesday Shaffer was taken out in
nd to the Jail yard and shown the seal
u fold. In the evening he was take
n into the room TO look at the coffin j
~ which his remains were TO be placeC
dc Feeling OF it's finish he remarked
r~ "lts nice one. Amt it ~
ty lie was apparently as compose
10. when looking at these emblems {
~ death as though he had no pal
"n whatever in the gbastly proceeding
I'D 80 soon to begin.
- At eleven o'clock the holders
. passes were admitted TO the Jail 40
- " they occupied positions in the ia