Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-02-22
ELLISON MOUNTS HANGED
Suffering the Penalty for His
Part in the Mccoy Murders.
The Condemned Man Says the Hat
neld Gang Forced Him TO Commit
she Terrible Deed.


neId Gang Forced Him to Commit
the Terrible Deed.
Ellison Mounts was hanged at PikevilIe,
KY, for participating in the murder OF Miss
Alafair Mccoy and her brother. The con-
demned man was cool to the last, and as the
black cap was pulled over his face be de-
clarei that the HATFIELD gang forced him to
engage in the murder. The drop fell at 10 81
O'Clock.
The execution was practically public. Tho
scAffold was erected in the suburbs OF the
town in valley overlooked BY the grave
yard. A small board fence was built around
the instrument Of death, more to avoid the
law prohibiting public hanging than to pre-
vent the multitude from witnessing the pro-
csedings.
In view of the threats made by Mounts
friends to rescue him the greatest care was
observed to prevent such az arrangemsnt.
The Jail was closely guarded and the town
was surrounded by armed pickets.
Mounts did not close his eyes during his
last night on earth. His attorneys were
hopeful for reprisye, but not so with the
condemned.
While the death warrant was being read
in the Jail the prisoner appeared utterly in
different, quietly smoking a cigar. When
the officers began to arm themselves. Two
dozen men composed the guards. Each was
armed with n revolver and Winchester. 1t
was determined looking posse
The prisoner took his seat on a coffiu In a
wagon. The guards surrounded the vehicle
and the death march commenced. Oaly a
few minutes elapsed after reach ng the scat
fold before the execution occurred. Death
was instantaneous.
After the execution the officers discovered
a plot which, if successful, would have re-
suited in the escape OF the prisoner and the
probable death of a number of the guards OF
the jail Through the confusoz of the Jail
cook the discovery was made. The Hatfield
gang, with whom Mounts was connected at
the time, panne the aft lir. The Half Id is
had paid the cook 500 to place drug 10 the
food of tn Jail guards.
The cook was told that the drug which
was given her was merely to make the quarts
go to sleep. She became suspicious and con-
cluded to try the effects of the preparation
on the jail cat. The result was the instant
death of the animal in horrible agony. She
then became alarmed and re used to put the
poison into the fcoi. She did not communi.
cate her intentions, however, to the outlaws,
and they were gathered near the Jail to await
tie signal which would indicate that all she
guards were sick within.
Had this wholesale attempt at murder been
successful. not only tae prisoners in the Jail
would have been killed, but also the Saer as
family aud the posse. The drug was found
to be strychnine. The cook was Immediately
arrested. All the outlaw gang have a I'd to
the mountains of West Virginia, where ii is
sure death for officers who 10 low them.
The sheriff is having the cessary papers
arranged tosscure acquisitions for the would
be murderers, and every effort will be made
to bring them to justice. Should they be
brought back ereduriug the present intense
excitement, every one of them would be in
stantly mobbed, as the people are crazy with
indignation.