Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-10
nonHHr ELDEs, JG. HANGED.
The Drop Fell a Eeyg Minutes After
n0On--Rts Last Hours.

MAYS LANDING, N. j., Jan. 3.--Robert
Elder, Jr., was henged In the jail yard here
at 12.0T o'clock this afternoon. Death was
almost instantaneous, pulaations eeaslng
within seven minutes from the ime the drop
fell.
Elders last night was spent In listening
to hymns which were sung by few friends
who remained with him the greater part of
the night. Nearly all of the immediate rel-
atives took their Inst leave OF the CON-
demned man yesterday afternoon. To all
OF them Elder presented buoyant appear
ance, declaring himself not only ready but
anxious to die since he believed ae he said
that his crime was committed In self-de-
feBoe, and thpt for either the real or fancied
wrongs which he had suffered et his fathers
hands or felt that he had inflicted Just
punishment on his parent. He was typi-
cal Jersey farm hand.
He Rte a hearty breakfast about s o'clock
this morning, after having what he declared
to be refreshing sleep. The same strong
nerve which hls been the most prominent
feature OF his demeanor since MS convie-
tion characterized his actions while he was
taking his LAST meal and while the final
preparations we're being made for his ex-
ecution. He expressed wish that none OF
his relatives be admitted to see him this
morning, which was complied with, and
the only persons he saw we're his spiritual
advisers ard the attorney who made O
strong but vain effort to save him from
being hanged and came to bid him good-by.
THE STORY or ROBERT ELDERS CRIME.
The crime for which Robert Elder suf.
fered the death penalty at Mays landing,
Atlantic county, to-day, was the murder OF
his father, william John Elder, or as he
was better known, John Elder, on Saturday
afternoon, August 4th, 1888. Young Elder
was about "a and his father about 60 years
of age. The mother Of young Elder had
not lived with her husband for nearly i've
| years, their oompanionship In all the years
OF their martiedife bringing forth nothing
but qnarrels and unpleasant feelings, which
continued even after the separation, when
| Mrs. Elder had gone to live with one
| or the other of her two married daugh-
| ters who lived in the sam9 county.
Before the separation the fatally lived on
| small farm near Hammondton and
| directly across the road from them lived
| John Elders 90-years-old father, who wos
| an eye witness to the killing OF his son by
! his grandson. When the separation be-
tween John and his wife took place Johr
remained on the farm, and his son Robert
also remained in the nalghborhood, living
! near his father and sometimes assisting
together, for Robert had always espouset
| his mothers cause and was at times rather
loud In his denunciation5 OF his father;
| conduct toward her. On the Saturday ba
fore the murder, Mrs. Elder had her husband
placed under arrest on charge OF cruelty
to her 12-years-old son "a brother of Roberts
who live with the father, but tie justict
before whom the case was heard discharged
the defendant upon the ground OF insufh
Client evidence. John Elder at that time 1
is said, made use of Objectionable language
In referring to bis wife which still furthe
angered Robert. The son afterwards bough
revolver and on Saturday, the 4th o
H.. a. l.41 Bait 1rAy 20
the purpose OF removing his little BROTHER
clothes, which he intended taking to hi
grandiather's across the way, be
cause, as he said, the little fellow
should not live with the father any longer
When Robert came out Of the house he ami
his father were having hot words, and tn
father was following the son into the road
Robert turned around suddenly and fire
sa,5r ShGts ~ r. hta the
ones taking effect and the old man fel
dead, Robert made his escape that night
but gave hinlsalf up the following day
claiming that the shooting was done In eel
defence. His Indictment by the grand jury
his trial, conviction and death sentence ii
the county court, and the refusal OF the su
preme court to grant q new trial followed
at short interval, and the prisoner
who had been confined in tn
county jail at Mays landing, began tt
prepare for death. During the days OF hi
confinement young Elder spent his time II
reading first works OF history and travel
and latterly religious publications. He wa
at all times an obedient prisoner, and gav
no trouble to any of his keepers, but b
always entertained the belief that his nee
would be saved from the gallows, and onl
gave II up when the last ray of hope van
ished In the refusal OF the board of pardon
to tighten the punishment. The murdere
was of ightcomplexion, about five feet eigh
inches 10 hight and weighed about IA
pounds. He possessed rather more tina
the average intelligence found among Jei
sey farm boys, but was somewhat addicte
to drink, and 1t is probable that he ha
imhibed rather too freely on the day OF th
murder.
Elders execution was the first to occu
In Atlantic county 10 12 years, the previou
J one being the double hanging OF Jack Hi
and John Fullen, two 'Pine rats. for th
killing of old man George Chislet. Th
motive was robbery. This execution too
; place on the 9th of August, 1876.
I