Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-28
FAST LOSING HOPE.
Sheriff McCandless Fears That W. Il.
Smith, the Wife Murderer,
WILL HAVE TO HANG APRIL 9.
Work on the Scaffold to be Begun To-Day
and the Rope Ordered.
A PRESS CLUB JURY TO BE SUMMONED

The indications all point to the conclusion
that William H. Smith, the condemned col
ored murderer, will have to hang. Sheriff
McCandless and other officials ali believe
that no reprieve will be granted, and, ac-
cordIngly, yesterday they made arrange
ment for the execution. Work on the seai-
fold will be begun this morning.
1t is now less than two weeks until the
day fixed for Smiths execution, April 9,
and it is nine days since the Pardon Board
recommended reprieye for Smith to the
Governor and no official notice of any re-
prieve has yet been forwarded to Sheriff
McCandless. To this is added the fact that
Governor Beaver has fixed nine executions
Of murderers in various parts of the State
for Wednesday, April 9. This has been done
for the moral effect it will have on the people
of the Commonwealth in regard to homicide.
The officials, therefore, construe Governor
Beavers delay to mean that he will not change
the date of Smiths execution, as all OF the
murderers were convicted at different times,
and all the executions fixed for one day, Tor
the purpose named.
PLANS FOR THE sCAFFoLD.
After consulting with the County Commits
sioners, the Sheriff laid before them the plans
and models of the various scaffolds now in use
in the different cities of the county. They de-
cided on the one used at the Moyamensing
prison, PHILADELPHIA, and at the Columbus
Penitentiary, in Ohio, where all the executions
of that State are performed. 1t will be 10 feet
inches high. The platform will be eight feet
above the floor. The platform itself is feet
long by feet 4 inches wide. The whole plat
form is composed of two trap doors. Under
the one on the right is concealed the trigger,
and the door op the left overlaps this and rests
on it for support. rope runs from the trigger
to the bottom of the last step, where it will be
fastened to lever, very similar to those in use
on the traction cars. This lever will be out of
sight of the condemned man. When it is
pulled the entire floor of the platform will fall.
The scatfold will allow of drop of over seven
feet.
Every part of the gallows will be dovetailed
and bolted. and can be put up without the
sound of a hammer. John Graham will COM
mence to build it this morning.
ANOTHER ROPE TO MAKE.
The rope will be of hemp. and Jacob Bopp
who has made the ropes for all the executions
in Allegheny county, will get an order for an
other one this morning.
Sheriff McCandless said yesterday that he
had about lost all hope of Smith getting re-
prieve, and that he would hurry up all the ar
rangements for the execution. In speaking of
the matter. he said: Il hate to talk about the
details, and wish it were all over. 1 don't un-
derstand why SO many people want to see the
eAeCuJlOu 1HeEe nave Oeeu over q LuOuSdnu
requests made to me for admission. They
come from all classes of people. and the better
class have made most of the applications. They
stop me everywhere and ask for pass The
Jail yard is small and will not hold many peo-
pie. In fact, l don't want any more people
there than is absolutely necessary, and be-
lieve will appoint IL members of the Press
Club as my jury. They can also report it for
their papers. This will greatly reduce the
number of people who must necessarily be
present. But, then. the reprieve may come at
the last minute. 1 only hope it will.''