St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-27
HORROR AT A HANGING
William West Dropped to
Death While in an Uneorl-
seious State.
He Attempts Suicide Before
the Event With a Piece
Of Iron.
The Rope Breaks and Five
Men Control His Terrible
ContortionS.
Henry Marsh Drops to Death
for the Cruel Murder OF
Clara Jones.

clara JONES'
WASHINGTON. Pa, Feb. &c. The eX
ecution of William West in the jail
ward at this place to-day was almost as
fearful thing as the frightful butchery
that brought him to the sea fold. An UNI
willing, helpless, would-be suicide,
frightened unto death, and drugged
into almost insensibility, was dragged
10 the drop, and fell unconscious,
In order to uphold the majesty OF
the law and expiate crime that could
never be fully atoned for. However, 1t
was known the man was a coward, but
1t was not dreamed that even coward
would make a scene as was presented
at the hanging of West. Early
this morning blood was discovered
on the shirt of the condemned man.
An examination showed that he had by
some means secreted siX-inch piece OF
Iron whetted sharp to all end. In his
cell and while the attention of the
guards was distracted for a moment, he
plunged the iron again and again into
his throat. Even at such time,
It is thought the mans nerve
failed him, and instead OF
stabbing himself to death he weakened
at the last moment, and created scene
that called the attention of the guards
to his pitiable condition. The town had
been alive with visitors from early
morning, and when whisper reached
the people that West had tried to carry
out his
Threat to Suicide,
the excitement was almost too great to
control. The man had covered himself
with a blanket when attempting 10 cut
his throat. but it is thought he was not
long bleeding before his condition was
discovered. DR.. Ernst F. Acheso.
with others, were hastily called
in and worked with the dazed
murderer for several hours before
he was reused from his comatose
condition. On the street were many
who actually claimed West to be an in
nocent man, and scores of negroes
walked about excitedly denounclng any
move to execute him. The mob dis
persed after a while and at 1890, when
1t was announced that West had
covered from his stupor, all
agreed with the sheriff's statement
that preparations for carrying out the
vengeance of the law could not be too
hurried. The man had undoubtedly
been unconscious, whether from fear or
loss of blood, and his former illness will
never be known, as he simply groaned,
turned over in his beclotted couch, and
seemed for a moment to recognize his
attendant. This was the signal for
making ready every detail for
The Last Fearful Scene.
Weakened by his long illness, and
doubly broken down by his unsuccess-
full attempt at SUICIDE, West was still
as strong as lion. He fought the
moment the sheritf'S party entered his
cell. There was little of spiritual
advice given the desperate man, who
struck at physicians, sheriff and min
listers alike. As the hour OF two
had been fixed for the execution,
a short parey ensued between the
physicians and the sheriff, that resulted
ence of ether. This was last deSper-
ate means, and even then il was unsue
cessful. as the demoralized man
seem to realize. even in half
unconscious condition. what was
being done, and fought fearfully,
with attendants and physicians. 1t was
then decided that he must be strapped
to board, in order 10 quiet, as far as
possible, the fight he seemed deter
mined to make OH the gallows. An
ugly struggle followed the attempt to
bind him to the board, and one opiate
after another was administered. This
had the desired quieting effect, and he
was bound to the board apparently help
less. The unconscious negro was then
carried, well strapped and bound.
To the GaIIoWs.
A crowding. awkward jam ensued
when an attempt was made TO bring the
plank to an upright position. All this
time West seemed to be still under the
influence of Opiates, and no one object
ed when the trap was sprung with little
ceremony. Then another chapter of
this tale of horror enSued.
The combined weight of plank
and man seemed to have been too much
for the rope, and it broke. hurting West
to the ground, amid groan from the
crowd already sickened by the CHASTITY
scene. The unconscious man fell on
the ground a ShapeleSS mass, then
awakened from his stupor by the
shock. and, dimly realizing what had
happened, he threw himself again and
again against lIissbonds, struggling to
free himself from the letters that
held him ineXOrably 10 the plank that
accompanied TO his death. The groan-
Ing, frightened man was picked up by
the four members of the death watch
and carried back to the scaffold and
death trap presenting sight that filled
every one present with horror. Another
moose was hastily formed by the sheriff,
who never lost for moment his self
control, and at 40 O'Clock the still half
launched into space.
The Cash iii His Neck.
The sight at this time was too terrible
FOR words. The mans attempt at sui
eide had evidently opened several veins
in his throat. and this made place for
the rope when it was first placed around
pis neck. The fall tore wide cash in
his throat, and blood streamed
covering board and bearers. His
heck was not broken by the second
TALL, and the body was allowed to hang
Tor fully thirty-tive minutes before it
Was;cut down, twitchiHg as strongly as
If could in its letters. Thus ended
scene that eXpiated in every way the
brutal murder of an entire family for
gain.
The crime Tor which William West was
hanged was one Of the most deliberate and
thorough ever committed in this section, and
everything against the man has, been purely
eiIcumstantal, yet convincing. A peculiar
lty of the murder WAS that the neck of every
victim was broken, indicating Mt once ire
mendous strength and an unconscious feel
Ing on The part of the victims, as they were
struck III the back of the neck Wednesday
morning, May II, 1890. young son of A. L.
Crawford. of Bentlyyille. Washington county,
was told by his father to take Ii saw over to
john Crouch, who lived with his wife and
Son near that village. The little fellow
reached the house about $50, aud, after
knocking at both the front and kitchen
doors, ehnled up to the kitchen window and
peeTed m The scene that met his gaze was
horrible Lying ina POOL of blood on the floor
SHE body of a man. Dropping The saw.
the little fellow fastened TO the blacksmith
shop Of David Mitchell where his father was
at work, and told him what he had seen. Mr..
Crawford, his sons and several neighbors
went 10 the Crouch house. where they found