The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-14
DEATH HAD NO TERR0RS.
TWO MURDERERs PAY TIE PEN
Atty OF THEIR CRIMES.

The Last Night spent In Conversation
and Hearty laughrer-Religious Ser
vices Refused-6tory of the Crime.
One Marched Firmly and Smiling
to the Gallows.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Aug. I3.-Henry Henson.
the wife murderer, to-day exploited his crime
on the scaffold. Considerable apprehension
was felt at the scene, which at one time
threatened 10 become a tragedy.
About half an hour before the death
watch began the entire crowd present to
witness tue execution was admitted into the
exercise hall OF the jail, into which the doors
OF the prisoners cell open. This rendered
Henson stubborn, for he has refused TO see
any one except the officials, aud it was found
necessary to invite the crowd, the newspa~
per men included, to retire, which they did
Even then the execution was delayed one
half hour The other factor that threat
ened scene was the fact that the mur-
derer weighed over 300 pounds, and had
large neck and small head. In spite OF
these facts the drop was five feet. However,
no untoward accident occurred,
HIS LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
Henson slept little last night. preferring
to talk with his jailors and smoke. His
conversation was of "a cheerful character,
being interspersed with hearty laughter.
As stated before, Henson would see no one,
not even q clergyman. =. +. Edwards. the
rector of st. James Episcopal church, was
at the Jail at an early hour, but the prisoner
not only refused all spiritual consolation,
but did 80 in a blasphomous manner. He
ate no breakfast, but drank large glass of
whisky at 8 o'clock. after which he smoked
cigar.
Toe condemned man refused to hear the
death warrant read. At Z O'Clock the
march to the galows began.
AT THE GALLows.
The galIows was reached three minutes
later, and after Henson bid good-by TO his
friends present in a jovial manner and
talked and joked with the executioners
about the chance Of execution being a fall
| ure, tae black cap was adjusted. At Hem
sons request no religious services we're read
on the scaffold The drop fell at TIL
o'clock, his neck being broken and stretched
out about foot, proving that the fears OF
an untoward occurrence we're not ground
less. At 7:15 O'Clock death was pronounced,
and fifteen minutes later the body was cut
down and surrendered to his friends.
HENsoNs CRIME.
Henry Henson was convicted of the mur-
der of his wife. Ida. The murderer was Q
stolid German of middle age. He had mar
/
unhappily together in boarding house,
which they conducted at 405 South Second
street, Henson being of an insanely, Jealous
disposition. On the evening Of Feb. Q, 1859,
hepson charged his wife with receiving
tho aattentions of boarder. A quarrel en-
sued and hot words were exchanged for
more than one hour. At last Henson took
bis revolver from the dresser drawer aud
started toward the woman. The latter's
| I3-year-old son interfered, and Henson left
the room. A little later he returned,
placed the muzzle of the weapon against
the side Of the unsuspecting woman's head
and sent ball crashing into her brain.
AT the trial the defense set up the plea OF
accidental shooting, but the jury found him
guilty after being out only thirty-three
minutes. The superior court sustained the
finding and set the execution for July 2.
On the evening OF July I, however, Gov.
Francis granted the condemned murderer a
reprieve until to-day, when the laws edict
was carried out