West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-03-05
4 HORRIBLE SCENE IS ENACTED
ON the GALLONS.
MURDERER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
TOO HEAVY FOR THE ROPE.
The Csrd Breaks and the Murderer
Falls writhiug 10 the Ground
--The Second Time lie IL
Launched int Eternity.

A terrible scene was enacted in
the Jsil-ysrd at Washington Pa.
last Thursday afternoon when the
life vas choked out OF William
West by due process OF law for the
crime Of murder. The condemned
man had made an attempt at sui
eide during the night that had al.
most proved successful. He had in
some way gotten possession Of a
rusty nail, and with tho sharp end
had pricted the iugular vein al d
the veins in his wrists, hoping in
this way to escape death OH the gal
lows by bleeding to death. When
tho mans condition WAS discovered
physicians were Immediately sum
moned, and for over three lours
worked with West before he re-
gained consciousness. At 2:2O d.
m. scene occurred in the cell of
the condemned man that is beyond
description. Weakened by his
long illness, and douhly broken
down by his unsuccessful attemp pt
1t suicide, West was still as strong
ne lion. He fought the moment
the Sheriff's party entered his cell.
There was little OF spiritual ad-
vice given the desperate man, who
struck ut physicians, sheriff and
ministers alike. As the hour of Q
had been fixed for the execution, q
short parley ensued between the
physicians and Sheriff. that result
ed IN the placing Of West under the
influence Of ether opistes, or chlor
oform. This was used as a last
desperate means, aud even then il
was unsuccessful, az the demoral-
lied man seemed to realize, even
in q half unconscious condi ion,
what was bting done and fought
tearfully with attcu! ;n.s aud Dhys-
icians. 1t Was then decided that
ne must be strapped 10 board in
order to quiet as FAR as possib.e she
fight he seemed determined 20 make
on the gallows. An ugly struggle
followed the attempt to bind him To
the board, and one opiate af;er the
other was administered This had
the desired quicting effect, and he
was bound TO the board apparently
helpless. The haif.unc, n ,cIeus
negro was then bodily carried, well
strapped and bound to the plank,
to the gsllows. The spectators n.
side the Jail yard had some inkling
Of what was doing IN the cell, aud
knew Of the attempted snicide, but
they we're not prepared for the
scene presented by the procession
to the scaffold. Sheriff Lockhar.,
leading, was closely followed by
four deputies, carrying between
them heavy plank on which the
murderer lay outstretched, bound
and for all the world knows. gagged.
The platform Of the scaffold was
not erected to bear so many men,
and crowding awkward jam en-
sued when an attempt was made to
bring the plank to al upright posi-
tion 90 that the moose might be slip
ped between the plank aud the vic
tins head, aud placed around his
SCARED and bloody neck. After
considerable delay the plank with
its prostrate form was raised to an
upright position and the black cap
was was drawn over Vests head
and the Eoose adjusted as we'll as
could be on account of reaching bis
throat properly. All this time
West seemed to be still under the
influence Of opiates, and no one
objected when the trap was sprung
with little ceremony. Then an.
other chapter Of this tale Of horror
ensued. The mbined weight Of
plank and man seemed to have been
too much for the rope. and it broke,
burling West to the ground ami
a groan from the crowd ,lready sick
ened by the CHASTITY scene. Tbo
unconscious % IN fsllto the ground
a sbapelest mass, then awakened
from his stupos ~ the shock. aud
dimly realizing what had happen
Cd, he threw himself again and
searn against bis bonds. struggling
to free himself from the fetters that
held him inozorablv To- tho plank