The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-20

s,.,ol Dppatel 70 The IHttllige"eer.
CHARLESTON. W. Va, June 10.-It is
..,ims,ed that iully6,OOOpeoplo Witness
'I,bc execution Of Sim johnson, the
.lsrcl rapist, to-day. 1t is doubtful
s,ncb n crowd was ever before seen in
G,,eston. They came from all direc-
inns and by all manner ofconyeyanecs.
L5n.op rose at an early hour this
Tsrping after good nights sleep and
n his breakfast, apparently with o
raI appetite. He was visited later by
fsar)es +. Armstcad' the well known
sorcd lawyer, who had taken quite
,,i interest in his behalf, his brother
Ssoro eI1 n, and uncle, Joseph johnson, OF
point Pleasant. He did not display any
rp,yopsness or excitment and expressed
himself as prepared to meet his fate,
'nI sincere hope that he had been
lorriyeu by God ior his crime.
Il eyactlyllO'Clock the party march
al from the Jail, johnson and Sheriff
pirscn. in the lead, and mounted the
.rstS5ll followed by Rev. Father Stem
Ser Officers Foley, RAIDER, Rusk and
Gpil. DR.. Stump and Henry, Deputies
Fielder, Conlcy, Chase and Miller and
other citizens.
QUICK WORK.
Johnson walked with u firm step and
Immediately stepped upon the fatal
tnp. Sheriff Pickens at once adjusted
be rope, drew down the black cap,
mjhd the lever and Sim Johnson shot
5oynwards through the trap. All oc-
cured in such n short length Of time
that the spectators scarcely realized
That was occurring, less than minute
having elapsed from the time the party
reached the scafold to the time the
dnp fell.
liz died almost without a struggle
inn stranguIation, as his neck was not
Enken, and the body was cut down SO
minutes later, the attending physicians
having announced that life was extinct.
Tie body was taken in charge by I'm
dsraker Harlow and placed in o hand
some imitation rosewood casket with
ilTer trimmings, and was taken to the
home Of his mother on Broad street.
Funeral services will be held at the
Catholic church tomorrow morning at
O'Clock, and the remains will be laid
tOnsti in the Catholic cemetery.
AFAlTHPUL PRIEST.
When Johnson was first lodged in Jail
liter sentence had been passed, he
Hened very careless and when visited
bythepastors Of the colored churches
le'e showed that Indifference as to his
tl'e. They soon discontinued their
visits but Rev. Father Stenger, of the
Catholic church, having n feeling OF
pity for him, and believing it to be his
dHty to do everything possible to pre-.
pane him for DEATH called on him and
soon became freqnent visitor to the
llL liz became recognized us the
pisoner's spiritual advisor and in a
short time won his fullest confidence.
70 him johnson poured out his
thoughts, his desires, his hopes
and his fears, us he did to no
one else on earth. And too much
cannOt be said to Father Stenger's
credit for his faithful service in behalf
SiihIs irlendless boy. What he was to
FELIX kampf sixteen months ago;he was
toSlm johnson. Both were friendless,
lnGHeyIess, neglected and deserted, and
70 both Father Stenger proved q friend
This was the second legal execution
Una! has taken place in Kanawha coun-
t{slnce the organization Of the State,
lae Iirst having been Felix Kampf, who
,5s, aisa on the same scafEold on March 7,
10y, ,ioF the murder OF his two children.
JShnsons oiIense was criminal as.
sallI' On a young white girl in April
lasI' lie was detected in the act and
arrested. His trial, conviction and
sentence occurred within few days
alsrTaFd All efforts to obtain q com
mutation mutation OF sentence for him were