The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-14

ST LOUIS, Aug. 13.-[Spccial Henry
henson the wife murderer, has ex-
plated his crime on the scaffold. Con-
Siderable apprehension was felt of tho
scene, which at one time threatened to
become tragedy.
About half an hour before the death
walk oegan the entire crowd present to
witness the execution was admitted
into the exercise hail OF the Jail. into
which the doors OF the prisoners cell
opens. This rendered Henson stubborn,
for he has refused to SEQ anyone except
the officials, and it was found necessary
TO invite tho crowd, newspaper men in
cluded, to retire, which they did. Even
then tho hanging was delayed half an
hour
The other factor that threatened n
scene was tho fact that the murderer
weighed over 300 pounds and had a
large neck and small head. In site of
these facts the drop was five feet How
ever, no untoward accident occurred.
Henson slept little last night, prefer
ring TO talk with his jailors and smoke.
HIS conversation was of n cheerful char
actcr. being interspersCd with hearty
laughter As stated before, Henson
wo"ld see no one, not even clergy
man. ii. II. Edwards, rector Of St.
James Episcopal Church. Was ~ tho
Jail At an early hour. but the prisoner
not only refused all spiritual consola-
ton, but did SO in Il blasphemous man
ner. lie ate no breakfast, but drank a
large glass If whiskey ut i o'clock, after
which he smoked cigar. The con-
demncd man refused To hear the death
warrant read.
AT o'clock tho march to the gallows
began The gallows WAS reached three.
minutes later and after Henson had bid
goodbye to his friends present in
lovlal nannerand talked and ioked with
the eNecutioncrs about the chance of
the execution being failure, the black
cap was adjusted. at IIenson's request
no religious services were read on the
scailold. The drop fell at tail, the neck
being broken and stretched out about q
foot, proving that tho fears of an unto
ward occurrence were not groundless.
AZ 7:l3 oeath was pronounced, and If
teen minutes later the body was cut
down and surrendered to his friends.
Henry Henson was convicted OF the
murder Of his wife, Ida. The murderer
was stolid German OF middle age. He
mad married widow With one child.
Ihey lived unhappily together in a
boarding house which they conducted at
505 South Second street, Henson being
OF an insancly jealous disposition On
evening OF February >. 1889, Henson
charged his wife with receiving the at
icntion OF Il boarder. Aouarrel cnsued
and hot words were exchanged for moro
than an hour At last Henson took his
revolver from dresser drawer, starting
towards the woman. Tho latters l3-year-
old son iutcrfcrrcd and Henson left the
room.
a little later he returned, placed the
muzzle of the weapon against tho side
OF the unsuspecting womans head and
sent ball crashing into her brain. AS
the stepson came from the room a sec
ond ball grazcd his form. At tho trial q
defense Of accident was made, but tho
jury found Henson guilty after being
out only thirty-thrce minutes. Tho SUI
premc court sustained tho finding and
set tho execution for July .. On tho
evening of the first however, Governor
francis granted the condemned MUIR
derer repricvc until to-day, when the
law edict was carried out.