Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-19
oASob SSh1 HAhD
Died June IS, 1891,
Aged 81 Years.

The large ante-room of the Jail was
crowded with two hundred or more sheriffs,
deputies, physicians and others, who had
been allowed to attend. It was just twenty
two minutes past ten o'clock when the
heavy iron-grated door WAS swung back,
allowing them to cross the corridor and
descend to the little enclosure, where the
last and most solemn act of all was to be
performed. This place is surrounded by
the Jail buildings and is about fifty feet
square. The boiler house on the north
end is not of sufficient height to prevent
those on the high rock just outside of the
yard from looking, so canvas was spread
to keep out the gaze of the outside world.
In the center of the well kept little grass
plot stood the gallows, waiting for its
victim.
Promptly at 1890 o'clock the final prepa-
tions we're completed and the procession
to the scaffold begun, the deputies having
firmly pinioned his arms. Scheele led the
way, accompanied by Rev. Beverly E.
Warner, his spiritual adviser, and behind
him came Sheriff Clarkson and Tailor
Wells, while following them came Deputy
Sheriffs Pike, Glover and Curtis. Scheele,
aside from Rev. B. E. Warner, was unac-
companied and was without aid.
AS soon as Scheele came out into the
open air from the Jail he cast one look
around at the assembled people, seemed
rather interested than nervous, and then
started on a quick pace for the scafold.
He mounted the steps firmly and on reach
ing the platform quickly took his place.
Deputy Sheriff Curtis speedily began pin
Joining his legs, and while doing it Scheele
spoke briefly in broken German. He said:
"Gentlemen-yes, that is right; there are
! no ladies around here. was feeling that
I would not do this, and that would not
be here, but talked with Mr.. Warner and
I am going to do it. That is all have to
| say. Mr.. Warner will tell you all have
to say. He will tell you my story: I wish
| bless all who have been good to me-"
He had hardly finished when Deputy
| Sheriff Glover adjusted the moose, and
here Scheele displayed the most remarka-
BILE self-control by not even moving mus
Gle or betraying the slightest emotion.
The black cap hastily placed on his head,
! Sheriff Clarkson touched the spring which
| launched the victim into eternity. This
was done in the midst of Rev. Mr.. Warmers
prayer. The drop fell at 1896, and eight
| minutes and a half more the last spark of
life had been extinguished.
AS far as executions go it was perfect
success. The neck was broken between
the second and third vertebrae, and all
sensation must have ceased instantly, for
there was not the slightest trace of strug
gle.
A shudder ran through the spectators,
and then most of them summoned courage
| to look at the swinging form. 1t was at
| once surrounded by the doctors to the
number of fifteen or twenty. DR.. Lauder,
the jail physician, Medical Examiner
Downs, and Drs. Lynch, Garlick, Martin,
Osborne, Hoyt and Phillips of Bridgeport;
Madioo1 Two mi n ara Roard CLAW IF Darhv and
Stevens of Monroe; Drs. May of Bethel,
Bronson of New Canaan, Smith of New
town, and Secretary Taylor of the State
Prison association, noted the pulsations
and heart beats, and DR.. Porter of Bridge
port iotted them down. Four and one
| half minutes after the drop the wrist pulse
had ceased to beat. The heart pulsations
ceased in eight minutes and exactly ten
minutes from the time of the fatal drop
the doctors officially declared that thelaw's
decree had been satisfied and that Jacob
| Scheele had expiated his crime.
The body was lowered in about twenty
minutes and in the afternoon was buried
| in the Park cemetery, Rev. Mr.. Warner
| conducting the funeral services.
It seems that Scheeles frequent state
| ments, he would never die on the scaffold,
had good foundation. When his spirit
| ual adviser, Rev. Mr.. Warner, arrived in
the morning Scheele gave him a five-inch
knife blade, which he had successfully
concealed for year between the soles of
| his slipper and the covers of his morocco
Bible for the past year. He had given
Mr.. Warner his promise not to commit
suicide, and that was the way he proved
the strength of his promise.
was the eighteen year old son of Scheele's
victim.