Saint Mary's beacon., 1888-05-03
A LIFE FOR 4 LIFE.

About 6 o'clock last Friday morn.
ing Rev. Charles X. Jenkins, S. j.,
visited Biscoe in his cell, heard his
confession and during the Mass which
followed administered to him Holy
Communion. Masters Robert Loker
and George Coombs of Leonardtown,
served the Mass.
After the Mass, Biscoes breakfast
was brought to him and he ate hearth
ly. From time to time, during the
morning, friends called upon the con-
demned man to say goodbye and
found him much affected. AT 10
o'clock, however, he composedly dress
ed himself and prepared for his walk
TO the gallows. About 1890 o'clock,
Mrs. d. c. Hammett and Sheriff Ching
called on Biscoe and subsequently he
sent for Deputy Sheriff Drury, who
went TO him and remained sometime.
Father Jenkins spent the last hour
with him.
Dinner was taken to the prisoner
at ll:l5. At u; the drums beat and
the Leonard;own Rifles which were on
guard fell into line. Guards were
placed in front Of the Jail and the
line extended to the Court House to
keep back the crowd and prevent any
obstruction OF the way to the place Of
execution. At 1890 o'clock, Sheriff
Ching, Deputy Sheriff Drury, the Jail
guard and the reporters entered Bis
GOES cell. He was sitting on the
stove and was perfectly composed.
He asked fer Mr.. Connolly, the Tailor,
and when he came, whispered to him,
Give my clothes to Simmie."
After Mr.. Dru,y had taken off the
irons, Sheriff Ching SAID, Come Bis
Coe, and the prisoner quickly arose
and walked down stairs accompanied
10y Father Jenkins and the officers.
At l2.36 the procession issued from
the Jail and proceeded to the gallows.
Immediately in the rear OF the
Court House and directly behind the
Judges seat, building 24x24 feet
had been erected. Herein was the
scattold, and with no affected defiance
unto death but with real GOODNESS and
calmness which evidenced utter fear
lessness, Blscoe walked up its steps.
The rope was quickly placed around
has neck; Father Jenkins, who stood
close to the doomed man, said: BIS
coe requests me to say that he has no
statement to make beyond what he
has given to the reporters, except to
8 sl- 81 m Z, ,,raN- 60 / -, I'll.
cuffs Were taken off and while his arms
and legs Were being tied, Biscoe whis-
pcred 10 Deputy Sheriff Drury How
long will | have TO stand this? The
rope Is choking me" When ordered
to step forward upon the trap Biscoe
promptly obeyed. the black cap was
adjusted and the Sheriff came down
from the scatold and pulled the lever.
At lilo o'clock, T. N. the drop fell.
For a moment the body hung motion
less but soon was convulsed and there
was a brief struggle. For about s
minutes, at intervals, there were slight
twitchlngs Of the muscles. DR.. John
I. Spalding stood with his fingers on
the hanging mans pulse for the pur-
pose of determining when life was ex.
tinct.
At l2:49 2. m. Friday, April -,
1855, John Benjamin Biscoe had paid
with his life for the murder CT Cant.
Robert L. Dixon, Of Baltimore. on
August -, 1886.
In l. minutes alter the drop the
body was lowered into a neat casket
and number of persons viewed the
remains. There was no Disagreement.
Blscoe wore neat dark suit, a pres
ent from Mrs. D. c. Hammett.
The door Of the enclosure having
remained open many Of those on the
outside had a view Of the execution.