The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-15

which falls and jerks the condemned man
upward four feet.
At 8:l5 the hangman. having completed
preparations outside, came in In . long
black Prince Albert coat Niwat Guard
Nudgeley had = hard look about the mouth,
but there was tell-tale moistness about
his eyes IS be climbed the stairs and stood
on the gallery beside Birchall's corridor
door. The old soldier stood gloomy and
sorrowful until the sad procession had
passed out and down the spiral steps.
Al 1923 the executioner was beckoned to
go up. He began walking round and round.
In his hands was the strap with which to
tie Birchail's arms. While waiting for the
signal he put behind his back and partly
under the skirt of his coat the russetrc0l-
ored straps. and went up the stairs. A
minute or Two later he began to strap the
prisoners arms behind his back.
Then the awful march to death began.
FIRST came Dean Wade. in surplice and
reading the church of England service for
the dead. Behind him was DR.. Chamber
lain, followed by A. D. Stewart and Deputy
Sheriff Perry. The prisoner came next,
deathly pale. but resolute. his jaws locked
with the fixity Of death, his step steady.
His jst-black hair ana mustache made the
pallor of his face like marble. He was
dressed in dark-colored tweed clothes, Q
flannel shirt with black bow at the collar,
and light patent-leather shoes.
He looked so young and there was such
an expression of unmovable resolution and
undaunted courage that the men who saw
eye Of the Law. forgot that he had shot his
fsso tn ~ sv> To- -.
faces Of half the men there were as white
almost a. that of the doomed man.
At the foot OF the spiral stairs the pro-
cession was formed. Birchall's friend.
Weetham, walked on one side Of him, with
Day Guard George Perry on the other.
Jsiier Cameron followed them, and after
them the hangman. The aged sheriff
opened the door Of the corridor overlook
ing the west yard. The march was slow
along the corridor ana out into the yard.
Weetham walked close to the condemned
man and held one hand in both of his.
Here the actors in the tragedy stopped
with their charge. fifteen feet from the gall
lows, and the solemn tones Of the Anglican
service struck every one there with horror
that hardly let them realize the tremend-
Gus importance of that in which they were
taking part. They felt an oyerpowering
pity for the biack-haired young man
standing on the threshold of eternity.
His eyes had not q trace
of the frlvolity that lightened his imprison-
ment As he stood listening to the low
toned priest they were fixed on the blue
sky over to the north. There was not
haunted look, nor was there any fear in
the eyes. but fixed purpose that seemed
10 consume mis- reason. II was not posi-
BILE 10 imagine the expression on his face.
He was living a life time in that hour, and
no one was there but would have shared
the strain of his terrible ordeal. It was
not DESPAIR, but he had strung up his
whole being to die game.
At the words dust to dust" In the SER
vice, Birchali stepped firmly forward, took
his place under the scatfold with his face
to the south, and turned up slightly. He
took Weetham's hand in his, and his friend
kissed him under the galiows. The execu-
toner put the strap around the prisoners
legs just above the knees. The clergyman
took Birchal.'s hand and kissed him. The
Witnesses were sure the end was near, and
the suspense was terrible; no human
knowledge can say how terrible to the man
staining alone there on the green sward.
As the priest entered upon the Lords
prayer the executioner put the black Cap
over the head of the doomed man and ad-
justed the moose about his neck. Birchsn
had declared that he would say nothing al
the scatfold, and the witnesses did not ex.
pect he would. His silence seemed by the
intensity OF his purpose TO be silence con-
centrated hundred times. He did not
n oft too xvtn ~.
might have been to mutter . word to
weetnam or Wade when he babe them
gooo-bye with kiss.
Al ST.. SIX minutes after the procession
started from the corridor, the words "De-
liver US from evil" gave the signal, and a
quick pull on the small rope by the execu-
uoner. VINO stood behind the laws vic.im,
released the immense weight. 1t dropped
with the rapldity OF thought and sank six
or eight inches into the ground by the force
OF It's weight.
Birchai had been placed close to one of
the uprgnts, and the jerk of the moose
Grew the body first obilquely. then up.
The body was jerked into the air about
five feet, and ieit until within two feet of
the ground. Commissions commenced half
a minute later, but were not AZ ali violent,
more resembling heavy breathing, with a
slight twitchlng of the hands ana legs.
At s:30K the convlsions ceased, and 1t
S:35 Dr.. Chamberlain declared lie 10 be
extinct he said the neck was broken.
Mrs. Birchall remained in the cell with
her husband till / O'Clock this morning.
when she was led away, weeping Birch
all slept little. bus his demeanor during the
night remained unchanged. He had an
imI resslon that some one would publish =
iaise confession with him, and 50 prepared
the following rs his tinai statement:
WOODSTOCK, Nov. M-tAll rights reserved. -
II, alter my death, ihere snail, appear In The
press, or in any otner manner whatsoever. any
eonfessloa that had any hand in the murder
of =. C. Benwell, or any personal knowledge OF
said mursief with intent or malice aiorethougns
or any personal connection with 'he murder on
the 18th OF February, or any other day, or any
knowiedse thai any such murder was likely to
be committed; OF any statement further than