The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-04
THE DEATH PENALTY,
Robert Elder Hanged for the Murder of
his Father.


MAYS LANDING, n, j, Jan, S,-RobeE
Elder, Jr,, was hanged in the Jail var,
here at 1907 o'clock this afternoon, 70
the murder Of his father, Death was al
most instantaneous, pulsations ceasinl
within seven minutes from the time th'
drop fell.
The crime for which Robert Elder
suffered the death penalty was the mnr
der OF his father, William John Elder
on the afternoon OF Saturday, August !,
1888, Young Elder was about 2l, and
his father about 10 years Of age, The
mother OF young Elder had not lived
with her husband for nearly five years,
their companionship in all the years Of
their married life bringing forth moth
ing but Quarrels and unpleasant feelings
which continued even after the separa-
tion, when Mr., Elder had gone to live
with one OF the two married daughters,
who lived in the same county, Before
the separation, the family lived on a
small farm near HammOndt0n, and dl-
reCtly across the river from them lived
John Elders 90 year old father, who was
IN eyewitness Of tho killing OF his son
by his grandson, When the separation
between John aud his wife took
place, John remained on the
farm, and his son Robert also
remained in the neighhorhood, living
near his father and sometimes assisting
him In his work; but they did not get
along together, for Robert had always
espoused his mothers cause and was at
times rather loud in his denunclatlons
OF his fathers conduct towards her,
On the Saturday before the murder,
Mrs. Elder had her husband placed un-
der OH charge OF cruelty TO hor
l2'year old son, n brother Of Robert, who
lived with the father, but the Justice,
before whom the case was heard, dis
charged the defendant upon the ground
OF insufficient evidence, John Elder,
at that time, 1t is said, made use
Of objectionable language In refer
ring 10 his wife, which still
further augered Robert. The son after.
wards purchased revolver, On satur-
day, August 4, he went TO his fathers
house for tho purpose Of removing his |
little brothers clothes, which he intend-
ed taking to his grandtather's across the
way, because, as he said, the little iel-
low should not live with the father any
longer. When Robert came out OF the |
house he and his father were having
hot words and the father was following
the son into the road. Robert turned
around suddenly and fired four shots at
his father, the third and fourth ones
taking effect, and the old man fell dead.
Robert made his escape that night but
gave himself up the following day,
that the shooting was done In
self defense. He was tried and found
guilty Of murder In the first degree.
Elders last night was spent In listen
ing to hymns which were sung by n few
friends who remained with him the
greater part OF the night. Nearly all Of
The immediate relatives took their last
ook at the condemned man yesterday
afternoon. To all OF them young Elder
presented a buoyant appearance, de-
,laring himself not only ready, but anx-
ous TO die, since ho believed, as he said,
hat his crime was committed in self.de-
iense, and that for either the real or
Iancied wrongs which he had suffered ut
his fathers hands he felt that he had in
licted just punishment on his parent.