San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-10
LATEST TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
As ISOLATED Press Dispatches and
Specials Up to the Hour OF
Going to Press.
MaxWelIS Last Hours.

Wells last day on earth entered his
narrow cell, it heightened the sickly
pallor of his face, which had in
creased during the night. Shortly
after day break, Maxwell threw him
self on a cot in his cell, but remained
there only few minutes. He then
arose, lighted fresh cigarette, and
sat down at the table, making a poor
attempt to read, he was plainly ill at
ease, and occasionally glanced fur
lively out through the gratings OF the
narrow window Of his cell, and out
into the inner yard of the Jail.
At a few minutes before 5, he per-
formed his morning ablution and
dOnned his funeral clothes, the outer
garments being of plain black, with a
Prince Albert coat. At Sis Father
Than arrived and entered the cell,
the door of which was closed, and
those within the Jail moved away to
give all privacy possible. Father
Than then administered the cOmmu-
Mon to the condemned man. At the
conclusion of the religious services in
Maxwell's cell, like offices were
accorded to Henry Landgraff,
by Rev. Father Than. Landgraff
had occupied greater portion of the
night after 1890, and appeared cool
and collected. While the Father con-
fessor was administering communion
to the condemned, the deputy sheriffs
were engaged on the scaffOld, prepar-
ing the apparatus for its work. Al
$50 Maxwell and Landgraff sat
down to their final meal, which had
been prepared by the jailor's wife.
Each was served with like dishes,
Landgraff ate lightly. AS he sat at
the table, it was plain to see
that all of his assumed in
difference had departed, and his
face was blanched and white,
troubled hunted look was in his
eyes; he was evidently growing weak
er, and had lost all hope of staying
the executions. On the other hand,
Landgraff maintained the same old
stolid look. At sos Sheriff Harring-
ton arrived at the Jail and pronounced
that the execution had been post
poned two hours, the only reason as
signed was the postponement had
been granted at the request of Max
wells attorney.
Maxwell received news of the post
ponement calmly, the expression of
great relief was plainly visible on his
features. Landgraff gave it no atten-
ton. However, at S:47 Sheriff Har-
ringtOn entered the cell where Max
well and Landgraff had been placed
to hear the death warrants read, when
the sheriff announced the final mo-
ment had come, Maxwell paled and
pulled his finger nervously, his only
demonstration during the reading of
the warrant, was the biting of his
lower lip, and gulping as though to
swallow something. Landgraf re-
ceived the reading of the death war
rant stoically. The arms of the con-
demned were pinioned, and the
march to the scaffold was quick
ly accomplished. The men mount
ed the steps without assistance,
Landgraff was unmoved, while
Maxwell glanced about him piteous-
ly, and it was plain to be seen that he
was weakening rapidly. Neither of
the men had anything to say. The
black caps and nOOses were adjusted, |
and at $3.50 the drop fell. Landgraft' |
did not move a muscle, and Death was |
evidently painless. Not so with Ma: =
well, whose breast heaved convul-
sively, while his limbs were drawn |
upward. A stream of blood poured |
down the breast of his coat, which was
afterward found came from a cut on |
the nose, caused in some way by the |
rope. Landgraff was pronounced |
dead in II 1-2 minutes, Maxwell in IA. |
Landgraff being cut at 8 -, and |
Maxwell at 9:15. 1t is claimed that the |
neck ofeach man was broken. There |
was an immense crowd about the Jail,
and extra police were required to
clear the streets. Landgraffs re-
mains will be turned over to his
brother, and those of Maxwell will be
inferred in Calvary cemetery today.
Maxwell furnished a document he
called his dying statement, which is
the simple epitome of the story of the
crime heretofore published, in which
he reasserts his innocence of the will
full murder of Preller. Maxwell's
crime is SO well and widely known
that it need not be detailed again.
April 9Th, 1885, he murdered his
friend, G.. A. Preller, in the Southern
hotel in this city, by the use of chic
reform.
Landgraft paid the penalty for the
murder of his sweetheart, of whom he
was jealous.
The injunction secured by the
First National bank against H. L.
and others, restraining