Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-02-19
KLIrsON MOUNTS HANGED.
oufler1mg the Penalty Tor Iiis Part In
tAo Mccoy Murders Riding to
Death on H1s Comm.

oull6r1nG tho Penalty TOR His Part In
tho Mccoy Murders : Riding to
Death ON His Conn.
Ellison Mounts was hanged At Plkevllle,
X. on = Tussasy ss.y for psrtic,rss.ng g iS the the
brother. Tho condemned man was cool TO
~ lask and ~ the black cap was pulled
over his face he declared that the Hatfield
\ RnAx forced him to engage In the murder.
1hs drop fell at 1881 o'clock.
The execution was practically public.
The scaffold was erected in the suburbs OF
de town in valley overlooked by the
Rr8veyard. A small board fence WAS built
around the instrument Of death, more 10
avoid the law prohibiting public hanging
than to prevent the multitude from wit.
Messing the proceedings
In view ofthe threats made by Mounts
friends TO rescue him, the greatest care
was observed TO prevent such an arrange
mont. All strangers 10 the authorities
were excluded from the enclosure In which
the scAffold was situated. Mounts reques-
ted % be permitted to see the scaiiold on
Wednesday. The favor was refused, as 1t
was thought 10 be a scheme TO effect his
escape. The Jail was closely guarded and
z tho town WAS surrounded by armed pick
ets. The place much resembled the prep
arations prior to the approach of an army.
Mounts did not close bis eyes during his
last night on earth. His attorneys were
hopeful for q reprieve, but not so with the
condemned. His friends assorted his in
sanity to the last moment, and are now
loudly declaring that crazy man has been
While the death warrant was being road
! Ia the jail the prisoner appeared utterly
indifferent, quiotly smoking cigar. When
ne hour arrived for the TRIP to the scatfold
TO be made the officers began TO arm them
selvos. Two dozen men composed the
gu.rds. Each was armed with = revolver
and Winchester. 1t was determined
looking posse.
The prisoner took his seat on u conn In
. wagon. The guards surrounded the
vehicle and the death march commenced.
Only few minutes elapsed after reaching
the scaffold before the execution occurred.
g Death was instantaneous. The body was
given to friends and will be inferred in the
mountains of West Virginia.
After the execution tho officers discov-
4 cred D plot which, II successful, would
have resulted In the escape OF the prisoner
and the probable death OF number Of the
guards Of the jail. Through the confusion
The Hatfield gang, with whom Mounts
was connected at the time, planned the
Affair. Tho Hatfields had paid the cook
800 to place drug in the food Of the jail
The cook was told that the drug which
was given her was merely to make the
guArds go to sleep. She became suspicious
md concluded to try the effects of the pre-
paration on the Jail cat. The result was the
instant death of the animal In horrible
agony. She then became alarmed and re-
fused TO put the poison into the food. She
did not communicate her Intentions, how
ever, to the outlaws, and they were gath
ered near the jail TO await the signal which
would indicate that all the guards were
nlck within.
Had this Wholesale attempt at murder
oecn successful, not only the prisoners In
the jail would have been killed, but also the
sheriTs family and the posse. The drug
Was found 70 be strychnine. The cook
was immediately arrested. All the outlaw
gang haye fed to the mountains of Yves,
virginia, whore It Ii sure death to officers
who follow them. All these lawless per.
s0nA who are responsible for this out.
ra&eous affair are from West Virginia.
Inc sheriff IL having the necessary papers
arranged to secure requisitions for thu
W0uldsbe murderers, and every effort vii
8 - made 70 bring them to Justice. Shoul(
they be brought back there during th,
present Intense excitement, every one o
them would be instantly mobbed, as The
people are crazy with Indignation.
s Ihts Is the first legal hanging that ever
occurred in that vicinity for years TIL,
Oeief that Mounts was insane Is becoming
more prevalent in the vicinity. II he wal
IAtionai at the time of arrest II is probabl,
tnat the continued confinement and sus
pense dethroned his reason. He has actet
remarkably strange in his cell for months
Az some times he would refuse TO talk
would not recognize his most intimat,
inonus, ana al other times he would ap
passed.