The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-16
A HANGING IN FLORIDA.
BILL WESTMORELAND SWUNG
FOR KILLING HIS WIFE.

/ The Black Culprit Unconcerned to the
] Very Last-His Brother Told Not to
Weep, But to Brace up and Do
RiRht-The Story OF the Crime Con
cisely Told.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Aug. 15.-BLn
| Westmo-eland, a negro murderer, was
hanged here to-day He was in the com
paLy Of Father Kenny and Sister Mary
Anne from an early hour in the morning,
and up to the moment be swung through
the scaffOld exhibited a degree of nerve
aim st unparalleled. At II O'Clock he was
led from his cell in he county jail, aud, in
passing through the Office to the yard, was
permitted to tarry few minutes to bid
good-by t. his brother, a prisoner in the
affecting.
SOME GOOD ADVICE.
The brother broke down and wept, but
Bill said: That won't do; brace up, and
when You get out do right aud you won't
have To die like me- AS he was led up to
the scatfo!d by Sheriff Broward t e con-
demned man recognized several acquaint-
ances or the wall OF the jail yard, to several
OF whom he Nodded and to one he smiled
and gave a significant wi k. He repeated
all the responses after Father Kenny in a
loud, cleir voice, d when his hands had
been piniOned by the sheriff he Strengthened
himself up aud sad, Ppm ready"
FALL OF THE TRAP.
The sheriff dropped his handkerchief as
signal, and young Engilsnman named
Hall, who had volunteered, then sprur q
the trap at exactly 1l:25 O'clock. His eek
was broken in the fall and life was extinct
in four minutes.
Through Sister Mary Anne, Westmore-
la d seat parting message to his mother in
Georgia He also left written stateme It
addressed to Hamilton Jay, city editor of
the It6eS Union, in which he avowed COM
plete repentance, and expressed no fear of
death.
The execution was witnessed by about 100
people in the Jail yard, but the surrounding
streets, roofs Of houses and trees were filled
with Degroes anxious to catch a glimpse of
the terrible scene.
Just prior TO ascending the scaffold West
moreland had his photograph taken. He
made no speech.
THE MURDERER AND HIS CRIME.
Westmoreland was born in Macon, Ca,
twenty-five years ago, his parents having
belonged to DR.. WestmOreani of that CITY
Both Westmoreland and his wife bore uu-
sayory regulations, and we're constantly
engaged in broils. The husband was par
ucularly jealous OF his wife, and having a
vicious temper, h several times threatened
her life and frequently maltreated her.
KILLED WITHOUT WARNING.
Matters got 50 serious that the wife finally
had him arrested and jailed, ard on hi,
release he remained quiet for time, but
finding that she would not 1--we with him
any longer, on the night of April he en-
le ed house where she was S, aging il
Brooklyn, suburb, and being frenzied by
dri he deliberately pulled out pistol and
killed her without a word of warning.
The ether OCCUPANT III the room, a negro
named Dan Gioben, then received the con
tents of the pist l, but fortunately was not
killed, although severely wounded, by West
moreiand, who, in addition to the pistol
bali, bit him sayagely on the face and
body.
Westmoreland, when captured, was very
sullen and savage and manifested very
little interest in his trial. However,
| through the influence of Rev. Father
Kenny, the savage nature was completely
Subdued, and, finally. when the day Of hi,
execution arrived, Westmoreland was a
changed man.