The record-union., 1891-01-20
Execution Of Eubanks for Muf-
dering His Daughter.
HE DEEPLY REGRETS THE AWFUL
CRIME.
Whisky and Cerd-Playing Lead to the
Killing-He Warns Young Men to
Flee From Temptations History OF
the Tragedy for Which uo Was
Hanged.
Special TO the REcoun-1rNrox

Special 10 the RECo1D-UNroS.
SAN JOSE, Jan. l9.-James NJ. E,l-
banks was hanged in the jail yard at 1l:5O
TINS morning for the murder of bis
daughter Ida at Los Gatos OH December
%, 1889
The murderer was man OF immense
size, weighing over 200 pounds.
Or, reaching the scaffold az the end OF
the march from his cell, he suddenly
stepped ahead Of his escorts as though
loath to accept their profiered aid and
awful crime.
lie mounted the steps of the death deal
ing machine with .il'n tread and looked
about upon the aSscinbiagc with an es-
pfeSsion OF coluplaceHcy and resignation.
AT the conclusion OF short PRAYER by
his spiritual adviser, EubanIls raised his
eyes to heaven and muttered:
on. Jesus, | give myself to thee. Thy
Will be done. hope this will be warn
ing TO others.''
The moose was then adjusted by Deputy
Shetlit Hadeier, OF San Francisco, and
captain John Castle, also San Francisco
Deputy Sheriff, drew tho black cap over
the doomed mans eyes. Throughout the
terrible ordea. Euhanks stood alone.
planted firm as u marble column to the
trap-(loor.
At ll:5o O'Clock to the minute the trap
was sprung, and the chila-siayer y-as
waited To eternity. He dropped i've feet.
and must have been killed instantly.
Tho body hung an inert weight, and
only the slightest twitching of the fingers
was noticeable
At the end of eight minutes the attend
ing physicians declared that the Dulsa-
tions had entirely ceased, and the body
was cut down and taken to an under
takers.
After the corpse had been lowered it
was found that the tightening rope had
cut the flesh of the neck, and the breast
was covered with the blood which flowed
from the wound.
The body will be sent to Los Gatos to
be inferred by brother of the dead mur-
derer.
HIS LAST STATEMENT.
Before going to the scaffold he had the
following statement prepared:
COUNTY JAIL, 1880 A. NJ, Jan. 10, 1891
Iacknowledge and deeply repent before God
and my fellow-men the awful crime that has
brought me to this sad end. ! do not seek to
screen myself in any wise. Yet my early ig-
norance OF Gods word, my bad habits of
DEMONSTRATING and card-playng, leading me
into all manner of trouble, led me into this.
So far was gone in sin that a few DAYS before
my great crime attempted my own life, but
was hindered by merciful Providence. All
these things would warn young men to fee
When l came to this Jail my heart was as
llstlu us IL lllllI, DlJ warning OF nv 1atler
to make my peace with God, and my brothers
entreaties and the faithful labors of some kind
Christian friends who have visited me in my
trouble, have led me to seek God and hope in
his mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ /
rely upon the promises of Gods word for for
gtveness of all my sins, and if such sinner as
L have been Is forgiven don't think there is
any man on earth but may be forgiven if he
turn to the Lord
l am grateful to all my friends for their
kindness to me in these days and nv last
thoughts are for my children and that my fate
shall be a warning to others.
JAMES NJ. EUBANKs.
THE CRIME.
The crime was most atrocious, delib-
crate and cold-blooded
About o'clock on the morning of the
tragedy he borrowed a double-barreled
shotgun from u. Wheaton under the pre-
tense that he was going to hunt ducks.
To others he spoke about going to hunt
robins and asked for ammunition to load
the gun with. Finally he borrowed ten
cents and with that procured ammunition
sufficient for his purpose and then went
to the Heath House, which is located on
Main Street in Los Gatos. Going to tho
kitchen door, Eubanks looked in and saw
his daughter Ida, who was employed as
waiter there. AS she never spoke after
the shot, what took place between them
is reported only by Eubanks himself, for
nobody else was i'll the kitchen ut the
time. He said that he took that opportu-
nifty of demonstrating with her and trying
to persuade her to do differently from
what he accused her of doing, and when
she refused to be influenced he drew I'D
his gun and fired. She fell where she
stood. backward from her murderer and
when found was lying on her back gasp
ing her last, with arms and feet wide cx-
tended and a charge of shot in her heart.
He tried to shoot himself and failed, and
then tried TO cut his throat and filled.
He pleaded guilty, bnt withdrew the plea
and was convicted.