Evening journal., 1891-02-13
colored Of smyrna; Maurice Penfeld
Fixes and +, II Collins of Dover.
undor tho Ropes.

colored Of smyrna; Maurice Penfeld
Fixes and E. II Collins of Dover.
under tho Ropes.
When the men were placed on the
I soafold, facing TO the west, Sheriff
Cole told them that they were at liberty
TO make any statement they desired
Adjusting tho Nooses
The nooses were then adjusted by Mr.
Riding While this was being done Rev Mr..
Cole prayed earnestly for the condemned
men. The black caps were then slipped
over their heads The preacher was still
praying when Sheriff Cole, who was
standing at the right Of the prisoners
and just far snough back to be upper.
cvived by them, gave the rope that held
the trap quick, sharp blow with 4 hatchet
andHin an instant both .men shot down
ward The fall was five feet. There w.s
a powerful ierk that shook the scaffold
They rebounded about ten inches. and
there was q secondary jerk
Then the ropes Logan to tighten and
the death struggle began.
No Weights Used.
No weights were used upon the men.
They were both very light but in con
versation Yesterday afternoon. Mr. Rid
ing said they were heavy enough to make
such fall that would break their necks
Bodies Taken Down
The bodies were allowed 10 hang for
about twenty minutes and were taken
down and placed in the plain pine coffins
which we're under the scaifold. Later in
the day they were taken to the almshouse
burial ground near Camden, for inter
ment, none Of the relatives having
claimed the bodies
Several Persons Faint.
Several persons who went to witness
the execution were overcome by their
emotions and tainted. Sheriff Cole was
very pale and yet he kept excellent con
troll OF his nerves during the entire pro
oeedings.
Big Crowd In Dover.
People began coming into town early
In the morning from all over the state.
Maryland and Pennsylvania. The streets
were lined with vehicles aud every train
brought fresh recruits to swell the
crowd
They paraded the streets as II Il was a
circus they had come TO see instead Of a
hanging and morbid curiosity and sordid
pleasure gave a holiday aspect to the
CHASTITY decree of justice.
Men and boys, old and young women.
mothers with babes in their arms
walked to an fro, anxionsly awaiting the
time for the execution to arrive
Never before in the history of the state
capitol has there been such crowd in
town on like occasion
Prisoners Locked Up.
None Of the prisoners In the Jail were
allowed to be out of their cells TO day.
The four windows in the north end OF the
corridor overlook the scene Of the execu
tion, and II was easier TO keep the prls-
oners confined than TO board those win
dows mp. None Of the cell windows give
view Of the execution.
How tho Prisoners spent the Night.
The prisoners spent the last night in
their cells in quiet manner. Proctor
spent the most part OF the night In
singing and praying and had ftful
slumbers
Young did not seem to be spiritually
impressed, and has never fully realized
his posi- lon. He hoped for a reprieve.
and when he found that Governor Rev
nolds would not interfere he broke down
entirely, and for a time he could not be
comforted and gave the impression that
he would have TO be carried to the gal
lows. He slept soundly and was awake
bright and early. as was Proctor also.
Both men partook heartily Of break
faat, which was served to them by
Warden Boggs.
The breakfast consisted Of boiled ham.
poaehed eggs, toast and coffee
They ate 1t with keen relish, and ex-
pressed their thanks to the warden.
Giving Spiritual Comfort.
Rev j S. Cole, pastor OF Whatcoat A
NJ e. Church of Dover. who has been
the spiritual adviser of the two con
demned men, was with them for some time
before the execution. praying with them,
and doing all in his power to brace them
up for the trying ordeal
Proc or prayed earnestly and inter
sperset the prayers with hymns He
never wavered and was buoyed up by a
religious fervor that has characterized
him for several weeks. His spirits we're
good and he told the minister in attend
ance that he was prepared to meet his
Maker.
Young = wreck.
foHng was completely unnerved. He
could hardly stand. The preacher
prayed with him and did all in his power
to strengthen, but it was Of no avail. He
said he was not ready to die, and went
through the devotional services mechanic
cally. It was plain to he seen that lie
was not receiving much spiritual benefit
from the efforts Of the devoted spiritual
advisers. He acted more like 4 dumb
beast about to be led to the slaughter.
The only idea he had OF the execution
vas that he was to be killed. and the
tears be shed were those Of abject fear
and not of repentance.
The soaffold.
Work upo the scaffold began yester-
day morning. under the supervision OF
Israel Riding. James Clifton and force
OF four carpenters were hard at work
until late last night and it was finished
by noon TO day.
All work was done In the Jail yard and
the sound of the mallet and hatehet
reverberated through the corridor and
cells OF the jail, sounding very harsh and
sinister to the condemned men and the
other prisoners.
James Thoroughbred. colored, the |
negro who is awaiting trial for brutal |
rape upon little Louisa Huntingdon, paced !
his cell nervously while the sound was
echOing and re-echoing about him.
The scatfold was built of hemlock stud |
ding aud pine boards, in the rough The |
uprights were four by six inches, and the /
cross beam from which the fatal roma