Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-03-01
FOUR MURDERERS HANGED,
The Rope Breaks with Ono of Them
a HorrihIe SnecIncIe.

h0rflDie spectacle.
William Seely HoI kns was hangedat Belle
fonte, Pa, for the murder of his wife and
mother-in-law. Hopkins rose at four o'clock,
and ate heartily of a breakfast of toast and
eggs, and at Q 30 O'Clock be ate a turkey din
ner. His spiritual adviser were with him
until the last, singing and praying, the DOOM
ed man joining in without tremor The
march to the gaIlows began at 10 G5 O'Clock,
the prisoner walking with firm step. They
all knelt on the gallows, the minister pray
ing, after which Hopkins walked to the edge
OF the scaffold and said. Good. bye kind
friends; leave this world without an enemy;
farewell ALL He then shook hands with ali
on he scaffold, and Thanked the sheriff for his
kindness, and as the cap was adjusted be
again said: Farewell The drop was sprung
at TO- Is, but cry of horror arose from the
small assemblage when the prisoner fell TO
floor, the rope having broken. The doomed
man was picked up insensible aud carried to
the scafoid, tue drop was again ad justed
about bis neck, ard the rope was again sprung
at lO.lS. This time the murderer dropped
INTO eternity, aud he was pronounced dead
OF 035.
PHILADELPHIA, PA-Jacob Schoop and
Thomas j. Cole were hanged together in
Moyamensing Prison. Neither man uttered
word after they left their cells or showed
visible sign OF nervousness, and inside OF
three minutes from the time of the starting
of the procession Schoop and Cole were dang
ling from the ends of ropes with broken
necks. The Sherihs physieianssa that death
was instantaneous, the necks OF both men
being broken by the fail. Coles heart ceased
beating in fifteen minutes, while Schoops
heart pusatcd two and half minutes lon
ger.
Schoop was convicted of killing Anton
Schllling, his assistant He acknowledge
his guilt, saying that he had knocked SeGil-
ling down With bis fist during a quarrel
Supposing him dead he struck him with q
Ratchet to make the job sure. He then cut
the body up, and conveying 1t in his wagon
to the park during the night placed it where
1t was afterward found by some boys.
Cole killed Waiter McAllister, a room mate,
whom he charged with having caused him to
lose his employment.
OZARK, Ala.-Rsv Henry Duncan, a Bap-
tist minister, was hanged here for wife muir
der. The execution was public, in violation
OF state law, aud was witnessed by 1000
people.
The crime for which Duncan was executed
was oue of the most sensational sYer com
mltted in the state Duncan, who was about
4j years old, had been pastor Of Baptist
church in this county for several years, and
was very popular. Lust July bis wife died
very suddenly and was buried the next day.
a few days later Duncan left the neighbor-
hood, accompanied by a dashing young
woman, nameI Georgia Baldree, the daughter
Of a well-to planter. Tuis aroused sus-
plcion, and the coroner bad ths body of Mrs.
Duncan exhumed. An autopsy showed that
she died oil strychnine poisoning
A warrant for Daucan's arrest was sworn
out Dad he was finally found in Florida
where he and MISS Baldree were living as
tnan and wife, lie was brought back, tried
ami convicted, and about tgo weeks ago con
fessed, duplicating Mss Baliree. sue was
arrested tut was re.saSsd afew days later.
Ths execution was public because the jail
is not enclosed by "a teoco, and the sheriff
had no placs SBers he could conduct 1t in
private He had the gallows built out IN an
open field. Th.s violation Of a state Law may
cause the sheriff trouble.