Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-02-27

W a ~ n-oDb MI L 49,
cordiDg to the law of God and man,
George W. Clark, convicted OF the murder
of William MeCauslaud, on November 10,
1887, to-day expiated his crime on the
gallows. He died prOclaimi5g his inno-
csncs to the last. The mechanical details
of the execution were perfect, and Clarke
death seemed easy.
The early part of his last night on earth
the murderer spent in company with his
spiritual adviser, the Rev. Mr.. Maxwell.
AT 9 O'Clock he retired to his cell, where
the death watch, Mike Montgomery and
James Allison, kept vigil. HE sleep was
much interrupted. Between two and
three O'Clock Clark awoke and asked for
some medicine. A stimulant was admin
istered and he slept eOundly until the
morning light began to break. The gal
lows had been built in ar opening 16 feet
square. closed in by the walls of the jail,
Sherifi's building and court house. The
platform OF the scaffold was
i've feet above a solid cement
door. The trap door, constructed Of
two hinged pieces, was three feet 81 nare.
II was operated by a lever on the platform
which was to be touched by the Sheriff in
plain view Of the spectators. The cross
beam was made If well-seasOned oak,
strong bat not heavy.
At ten o'clock fifty people who had been
provided with tickets crowded iIto the
little enclosure. They saW a hAlf'inch
rope dangling from the beam. About the
platform we're half dozen cheap caue-
bottomsd chairs painfully new. Two
minutes after ten the procession assembled
tine stems to the scaffold. Rev. ]. A. Max
nell and Dr.. J. 7. Uilom were IN the
lead. Sheriff Goodwin and the prisoner
followed. DR.. Burroughs and Deputy Sher-
iff Good win came after them.
After they had seated themselves, the
Sheriff asked Clark il hs had anything to
say. He arose, a superb specimen oil
physical manhood, tall and stalwaIt,
straight as a Norway pine, with imos
maguiicensly museled, and in low trem-
nlous voice said: 81 have nothing more TO
ssy than that am innocent OF the crime
for which am about to pay the death
penalty. l have no i'll feeling towards
any one in this county, OF any o.her
county. / hope all will be forgiven as
hops TO be forgiven, and that God will for
give you all"
When Clark had ended, the Rev. Mr..
Maxwell offered up a PRAYER in a clear,
distinct vet sympathetic voice, invoking
divine love ssd mercy for him about to
meet his God. The clergyman said: /:
''Bless our brother nov in this world and
in the world to come He has made a
solemn declaration of his innocence IN the
face of the cold and unwelcome grave.
Grant that he may see Jesus"
At conclusion of tbs prayer the moose
was carefully adjusted, the ankles strsp-
ned together securely and the black cap
placed over Clark's face. He did not
tremhle ss he stood upon the fatal trap.
The Sherif7s foot was upon the lever.
Gently he touched the prisoner on the
shoulder. The man understood the mean
inc. He gave a slight start, and ther in
anotber instant all was over. The fall
was two feet and six inches. In eight
minutes the pulse was huttering and weak I;
in ten minutes no movement OF the heart
vas psrceptible, and in twelve minutes
life wss wholly extinct. The physicians
aid that the neck was broken. Tne body
was placed in coffin made Of plain wal
INIT mesgre Of ornaments. George w.
CLARK" was engraved on the nickel plate
upon the lid. 80,
George Clark was born and raised with
in a mile of the scene of the murder. be
was thirty.six years old February 10, 1890.
HIS last three birthdays have been spent
in Jail. He weighed about 22O pounds;
hei2hth feet inches. de had been mar
,isd eight years. His wife and two child
rem reside st MasoptOwn, Pa.
In an autograph album belonging to
Nisa Emma Good win, the daughter OF the
Sheriff, Clark wrote the following verte';
when the Golden sun is setting and your Hart
is light aud free and Of absent friends you are
thinking won't you sometimes INN thinK w 9' cIe3 me;
Remember well and Besre in mind, that a true
e-teSd is Hard 10 find, but when You Find one
irSt Snd true change not that old one for the
new-Geo. W. CLARK was Born Feb. TO- lsoi'
Fifteen hundred citizens carried mud on
thsir boots from every township In the
comfy to Way nesburg to-day. They knew
thst tha execution was to be private, but
hnt there WAS fascination in the event Tor
them ANYHOW. A couple of strange old
chrscters appeared in the crowd. Iney
looked like hermits who had tasted IN the
Wilderness for many days, and they dicn
even nse their fingers to comb the tangles
ont of their discolored wniskers oeio'e Tue
hanging of fellow-man lured them osck
for moment TO civilatiOn. Good, SUB,
stsniial farmers were In town also, ana
tbe naddlers and fakirs were ready to turn
an honest or dishonest penny. One man
carried line Of soap. not for the unwsshed
who were numerous enough, but ior tne
avaricious. who we're, however, ratner
yvsrv of such slittering chances for getting
ssa ive f,r a one.n Besides the Sherin's
deputies were circulating about AZ q
rule good order prevailed and not s'ne'e
arrest was necessary.
On the morning OF the 10th Of Septem-
her 1857. William McCiusland, deslsr
in live stock. whose home was IN Aiie'
ghsny. Ps., stepped from the steamer al
McCsnn's ferry landing, on the MOnones,
hsIs riy.r in Greene county, and starteu
10 walk along the public road distance oil
two miles To A farmers house where ne
had been stopping on previous trips he
had scarcely traversed mile when, stop
ping at the head of densely ihieketed "a 5s'
vine to light a cigar, bullet from 81
caIibre revolver went crashing throogn MS
hraip. As he threw mp his hands IN ISL
inc backward his assassin, thinking hlm
Iii alive. ssnt a second ballet, piercing
his palm. But the villain, still not sa.ls, i ],
"A Wits his work, fractured his victim 8
had with a stone. His pockets were
n0ickIv mic riaed of 81, 200 and the robbers
dsd nader cover Of the thicket' down the
/ rsvine. .;.a shout 400
ards from the scene of the crime, @ wss
,hs house of Frank Clark, Jr. OlsrK was
snsnested rs of implication in the crime, t 10
. few days he was arrested, ana a. tne
s.ms time James Nefi WAS taken lnso: Gus
tody. George CLARK aud z scharish lay
ior were arrested. George Clsrk was con
Tieted in April, 1883, and Taylor IN Jan