Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-29

MORNING SPENT IN SINGING AND ExHoRTING-
THE SCENE AT THE JAIL-sroRY OF HIS
CRIME.
Benjamin Hawkins, colored convicted Of the
murder of his wife, was hanged in the District
Jail at noon today.
Rev. DR.. Howard left the prisoner about
O'Clock last evening and Rev. Mr.. Roberts kept
the prisoner company from that hour to IL
O'CLOCK engaging in singing and prayer. 1t was
intended that the colored Young Mems Chris
tan Association should hold a prayer meeting
IN the rotunda, but no visitors were allowed
other than the ministers, and consequently
there was no meeting held.
During the evening from $50 to $50 o'clock
hfty-one persons, most of them women. applied
Tor admission to assist in the meeting. One
colored man came only for curiosity Ito sec the
gentlemen who is to be hung tomorrow"
The prisoner was allowed some extra liberty
| during the evening. His cell door was left
open that he could sit outside. Early in the
evening Hawkins went up to the cell of Cross,
III whose case motion for a new trial was re-
fused yesterday, and tried to comfort and cheer
him.
GOOD NIGHTS REST.
At 11:S0 o'clock Rev. Mr.. Howard called. and
finding Hawkins in excellent spirits, took Rev.
Roberts place. About II o'clock Hawkins,
after offering favorite prayer, lay down on
his cot and IN few minutes was sleeping
soundly. He slept on till $50 o'clock this morn
ing. The ministers were at his cell as soon
he was awake and conversed with him. He
stated that he had enjoyed his rest. He turned
over again and within five minutes was again
asleep and did not awake till Z o'clock.
EARLY MORNING FAREwELLs.
After q prayer and before breakfast he
started with the ministers down the tier of
cells, bidding his fellow prisoners goodbye,
endeavoring to cheer them and urging them to
forsake evil ways and turn to Christ Before
he had completed the rounds breakfast was
| announced and he returned to his cell and eat
it. He sat down to his last meal and ate it as
if he relished il.
At few minutes past Rev. L. H. Jackson,
the recently appointed pastor of ST. Paurs
Church, South Washington, arrived. About
Hawkins cell and engaged in singing and
prayer. The first hymn was 'Halleluiah Thine
the Glory" followed by Not Half Has Ever
Been Told" and others.
WALK AND A CIGAR.
The religious exercises in the cell we're con-
tinued until about $50 o'clock. when Hawkins
desiring to exercise, lighted cigar and walked
up and down the corridor for a time At this
time the rope was taken out to the scaffold and
was soon put in place with the moose ready for
the work.
He SINGS ALONE.
Hawkins continued his WALT and after fuish-
ing his cigar sang the hymn, 'Hark, the Voice
OF Jesus Calling" This was the first time he
had been heard to sing alone and it was re-
marked that his voice though not of much
compass was pleasant. Shortly after this he
handed Rev. Roberts an orange to take to his
daughter, who on Sunday last sang "Tho Home
of the Soul for him.
At lO:45 o'clock the ministers repaired with
the prisoner to the big cell at the end of the
tier and there resumed devotional exercises
which were kept up till the hour for the march
to the gallows At II 80 o'clock jury was Sc
lected and were shown into the corridor and
seated near the foot of the gallows.
Rev. Mr.. Roberts, then came from Hawkins
cell a few minutes after IL O'Clock and said to a
STAR reporter that Hawkins had displayed more
camhess than ever he had seen Ill the case of a
man SO soon to be executed.
THE PROCESSION.
The procession moved from the cell in the
following order: Deputy Warden Russ and
guard Rev. John Roberts, prisoner between
two guards, Rev. L. F. Jackson of St. Paurs
Methodist Church and Rev. W. J. Howard of
Mt Zion Baptist Church and two guards On
the march to the scafold the HYMN safe in the
Arms of Jesus" was sung. On arriving at the
foot of the structure Rev. Mr. Roberts and the
two guards, who brought up the rear, stopped
and the others assembled to the platform. linen
| the hymn In Thy Cleft, Oh Rock OF Ages" was
sung and Rev. w. J. Howard offered the PRAYER.
ON THE scAFFoLD.
Hawkins, who wore suit of dark blue
walked with firm step. Taking his place on
the trap he joined in the singing while his legs
were being pnioned Rev. Mr. Howard
| offered prayer thanking God for the profess
sion of faith by the prisoner and his resignation
Hawkins sung the next hymn and then said:
"Gcntlemen, bid You all good bye and hone
to meet you In better land. God bless you
| all. God bless the man who is about to put the
rope around my neck. Try and meet me III a
better world. Good bye"
THE DROP FELL.
The drop fell at few seconds past u o'clock
1t was at first thought that the neck was not
broken, for there were some spasmodic witch
ings of the legs and quiverng of the feet In
four minutes after the body was lowered and
Drs. McWiiliams, Hagan, Lerch and Lugenbcel
examined it.
Tho ropes were loosencd. The pulse con-
| tinued to beat for fourteen minutes but the
physicians were of the opinion that death was
instantaneous and that the movements noticed
were spasmodic. One OF them said that cleo
trlclty could not have done the work better
The body was cut down in twenty-five min
utes and placed in the coffin and the Jurors ap-
pended their signatures to the certificate. The
body was taken to Mrs. Browns, in Fenton
place, for burial.
WOMEN WHO WANTED TO SEE 1T.
Yesterday some Of the Jail officials were taken
by surprise when two white women and a
young girl applied for permission to sec the
execution. One request fer a pass from a
woman came by messenger. I his was the
first time the officials ever had such REQUESTS
The women were answered that any applica-
ton would be useless, rs it was bad enough to
have men witnessing such sight.
RAN AFoUL OF THE YoEKTowN-While the
steamer Ceylon was leaving Gibraltar MAY 10
she fouled the ship Yorktown of the American
squadron and damaged the latter's figurehead.