Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-02-27
HANGED A SECOND TIME.
Horrible Scene at the Execution
of Murderer West.
THE ROPE SNAPPED LIKE TwINE.

Then the Half strangied Wretch wa,
swung on Again After six Minute,
Delay and Finally Launched Into Eter.
nity-His Desperate Fight for Life.
| WASHINGTON. Pa, Feb 27.-One Of the
most horrible scenes at an execution in
this state occurred yesterday aftern Don.
when Murderer West was hanged. West
had not resigned himself to his fate in the
least, and while he was being dressed for
the scaffold fought the sheriff and his as
sistants like a demon. He refused to assist
his captors in their work, and rolled about
upon his bed until it seemed for time as
though he would never be attired for the
ordeal His struggles We're so desperate
that he was finally chloroformed by the
| sheriff. The moment he lost consciousness
his clothing was hurriedly placed upon
| him. Upon recovering his senses he ragged
like tiger because he had been ontwitted
by the officers and resumed his old tactics
lie refused TO walk from the cen. and
scratched and bit at his captors like wild
animal
Strapped 10 a Board.
The sheriff soon devised a scheme by
which his desperate and unruly prisoner
could be handled. plank was brought
into the cell and West was forced against
Il. He still fought wildly and more chloro.
form had 20 be used before his body was
fastened 70 the plank, back down. Once
tied TO the plank he was helpless, but his
eyes snapped and he bit his lips with rage.
still strapped to the board he was carried
TO the scaifold by the sheriff's assistants.
lie was still somewhat stupid and daxed
from the effects of the chloroform and soon
gave up the fight in despair, for be closed
his eyes and said nothing.
Vests Brother Had a Revolver.
Among the spectators was Basil West
brother OF the condemned man. The
sheriff sighted him and suspecting that
Basil meant mischief, had him hurriedly
searched. In his pocket was found
44-caliber revolver, which was taken
from him AS he parted with the
weapon he turned to the sheriff and said
I'm glad you got that gun for you We saved
me from committing crime .
II Was an Awful sight.
The moose was hastily adjusted about
his neck. the signal was given and the
dropfel Then came the most horrible part
of the whole horrible proceedings. For
some reason the rope had not been properly
adjusted or was not naturally strong
enough, for when the drop fell the doomed
man shot downward the rope snapped like
a bit OF Irvine, and the writhing body tum |
bled in heap to the earth where it showed |
unmistakable signs OF animation. A veil
Of horror burst from the crowd at the aw |
ful sight
The Body Hanged Again.
The sheriff turned deathly pale but |
hastily ordered his deputies to string The 1
victim up again. They held the body erect /
and placed another moose about its neck /
There was horrible delay Of six minutes
and then the drop fell for the second time
The body fell only two feet and the rope.
which seemed TO be Of poor quality also
stretched fully six inches before the
strangling form ceased its downward /
shoot. Il is believed. however that life
was almost extinct before the second drop.
Finally West was pronounced dead. and /
the tortured crowd breathed 4 sigh of ri
lief and LETT the scene with blanched faces /
Basil West Gets the Body.
The coffin had been previously placed in
the county superintendent office, and /
when the jury passed its verdict the body
Basil West. It was taken to his home
and will be buried on Friday at Center
vile.
William Vests Triple Crime.
William West was convicted Of murder
ing three persons. The neck Of each vic
tim was broken, Indicating tremendous
strength, and no suspicion on the part OF
the victims. The names of the victims were
John Crouch and his aged wife and tbeii
imbeeiled SON. and they were slain Nav a |
1889, at Bentleysville
The crime for which West was hanged
had evidently been committed for robbery.
as the Crouch family was wealthy and re-
puted TO keep considerable money in the
house. The murderer, after killing his
victims. had leisurely ransacked the house
and then stole away in the darkness.
William West had been seen near the
Crouch homestead a short time before the
hour when the tragedy must have been
enacted, and several circumstances pointed
to him as the murderer His reputation
was bad. On May u he had went to Ne
nongahela City in company with a white
woman named Ann Brundage They had
no money.
On that day West went to visit his par
ents who lived not far from the Crouch
on the morning Of the 18th and left with
the woman on the first train Before their
departure West displayed considerable
money. West and the woman were traced
70 Beaver county and arrested West was
convicted Of murder in the first degree and
sentenced 70 be hanged The woman was
sent 70 the penitentiary as an accessory.
Harry Marsh Hanged.
EBENsRURG, Pa, Feb q. Harry Marsh
was hanged yesterday afternoon for the
murder Of Clara Jones when the sheriff
minister and jury appeared at Marsh's cell
and notified him that everything was ID
readiness for the execution he said he was
ready, and walked to the gallows support
ed either side by the sheriff and the minis
ter lie mounted the gallows with firm
step and sat down on chair while his
spiritual adviser offered a benediction. HeI
looked CHASTITY pale, but managed to with
stand the ordeal without flinching.
Sorry for His Crime
lie made brief speech stating that b,
was sorry for the crime; that he hoped L
meet all in heaven. and that be was will
ing to pay the penalty. He then stepped
or the hep door and the sheriff adjusted
the straps He then said in a loud voice
Don't you fellows, " meaning the newspa
per mem send ont any false reports. =
After bidding the sheriff goodby the
rope was adjusted and the drop fell lie
twitched violently several times and then
hung motionless Relatives removed the
body to Peaie, Cleariield county.