Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-27
srAxGLEy PAYS THE PENALTY.
Scenes at the Execution in the JAIN at
nMneh Chunk.


uauch Chunk.
MArcH CHUNK, PA, March 26.-The
iail was crowded this morning to witness
the hanging of Oliver William Stangley.
The condemned man was attended by
two Lutheran clergymen. lie walked
the gallOws with a laltering step, being
very weak from the effects Of disease. II
was necessary 20 assist him up the
steps. He said he was ready TO die and
expected TO meet his brothers and sis
ters ia heaven.
The drop fell at 1l;O+. Stangley's
neck was broken, and he died without a
struggle. He was pronounced dead at
I1l:l9.
The crime for which Oliver William
Stangley suffered the death penalty was
committed In Weatherly. on Saturday,
| October y. 1889. Stangley was board
| er al the residence of Albert A. Walbcrt.
/ He was employed IN the Lehigh Valley
car shops there, with Walbert. Several
DAYS before the murder he Quarreled
with Mrs. Walbert, during which he
| threatened TO take her life. Mrs Wal
/ bert had him arrested, but the suit was
| few days later withdrawn.
On the morning Of the murder Stang
/ ley refused TO come to breakfast, saying
that he had a headache, and would not
/ 20 to work that day. Mr.. Walbert and
/ his son had breakfast at the usual time
aud went TO the shops without any suS-
picion OF what was soon To take place.
/ After they had left the house Stangley
went 10 the kitchen and the old quarrel
was renewed. A desperate struggle fol-
| lowed. during which Stangley broke
Mrs. Walbert'S arm, blacked her eyes
and shot her inthe head and body. All
| this took place without the knowledge
/ of any one in the neighbOrhood. About
/ o'clock the S-yedr-Old daughter, Ida,
came down stairs aud found her mother
dead on the lounge in the kitchen, where
/ the murderer had placed her.
/ Stangley fled to Slatington where his
mother and Stepfather resided, and was
there arrested the same afternoon. Dur
/ ing the evening he was placed in the
/ Manch Chunk jail, and on the following
/ Monday he made full confession, ac-
/ knowledging that he had committed the
awful deed, but claiming that she had
anrered him. In his confession he said
that he had always liked her, but that
/ she did not like him any more. lie SAID
that she was at the sink in the kitchen,
washing the breakfast dishes; that
she was scOldng him because he did
not 20 to work that morning; that
he got angry at what she said and
/ Knocked her on the foor with his list;
that he then pulled the revOycrfrom bis
pocket aud fired twice. The first bullet
passed through the oOdy. pierced the
heart and killed her instantly. He then
picked her up, carried her into the par
ior and was making preparations TO
leave the house when little Ida came
down stairs. He said that he sent Ida
20 the neighbOrS' house in order TO get
away unObServed.
Stangley's trial took place in April
last. and he was convicted and sen
fenced to be hanged, but the date for
his execution was not fixed until near
the close of Governor Beavers term.
Staneley's mother, brothers and sisters,
owing to his wayward disposition, gave
aim no assistance, aud refused TO con-
tribute towards the expense OF taking
his case before the Board of PardonS to
try 50 have his sentence cOmmuted to
Imprisonment for life.