The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-19

Last Hours
William Joseph Maier, the vito MUIR
dcrer, wa. hung Yesterday morning at
exactly ll:lO O'Clock in the old jail yard
on EuG street.
The hanging was not public, only
those having tickets of admission being
permitted to witness it. Over two hun
drcd OF these tickets were issued by
Sheriff Lew steenrod, and fully that
number of men were present, includ-
ing the jury, members of the medical
profession, police officers, newspaper
men and others Morbid curiosity drew
nearly everyone who could by any
means secure tho much-coYcted ticket
OF admission.
Maicr passed the night fairly we'll,
and arose shortly after six o'clock. 1t
was hall past eight when he was served
with breakfast by c. L. Van Keuren,
the restauranteur. This, his last meal,
was simple one, composed only OF an
oyster stew and bucket of chocolate,
OF which Maier was very fond.
He was very unconcerned and made
fairly hearty meal. Father McElligott
was with the doomed man constantly
from the time he arose until he ascend
ed the scaffold, and administered TO
HIM the last consultations Of religion
before death.
THE DEATH WARRANT READ.
It was 10 o'clock when Sheriff steen-
rod, his deputies and several newspaper
men repaired to Maier's cell for the
purpose OF reading the death warrant to
the prisoner Father McElligott was
there in the cell praying with Maier.
Sheriff Steenrod read the death warrant
to Maier, preceding it with the follow
ing lew words:
"Wi.liam, what conceive the most
seriou. duty of all my fe, is that which l
am compelled to perform thismorning
BY order OF the court"
He then read the order, or death
warrant:
"SrATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, COUNTY or ONO:
Alta circuit court held for the said county Of
Ohio at tue court house thereof, on the eighth
TWO, presided over by the Hon. Joseph r Paul.
one Of The Judges Of the Fiilh judicial circuit.
Among the proceedings the following were
had:
STATE Ofwsst Virginia. Convicted of murder In
william MnIeE the first degree
npursuance OF an order made by thesuprcme
court OF appeals OF this state on the first day OF
October, 1882, IN the above, cause and entered
in the Law and Order Book Number %, on folios
M lfnF al N hn nj IL ROU fpH
Il aforesaid. was on this day led to the bar OF
Tie CONT in the custody OF the sheriff OF this
county, and thercupon came the attorney for
the state, as well u Colonel W. W. Arnett, whom
the court appointed as attorney for the prisoner;
md there Il being demanded OF the prisoner II
there was anything he knew, or had 10 shy why
the sentence OF the court should not be pro:
nounccd against him. and nothing being alleged
in delay thereof, II Is therefore considered by
this court shat he, the said William Maier. be
hanged by the neck until he he dead and that
the execution OF this Judgment DO done upon
him. the sad William Mailer. by the sheriff Of
lhis Ohio county, OH Friday, November is, 1892,
between The hours OF len In tho morning and
four IN the afternoon OF tho same day; said exc
cutlOn to take place In the building or in the
cncluScd yard thereof, which constitutes and Is
used and OcCunied as the jail OF the said county,
bClng the building commonly known as the old
jail
MAIER WAS COOL.
The sheriff then SAID: civilian,
can only say to you that am glad you
have come to realization oil tho
position in which you are placed
through the ministrations OF the loved
priest, Father McEiligott, and in con-
cIusion, all can say is, to use the
words OF the Honorable Judge Paul,
when he pronounced your sentence,
may God have mercy on your soul.
hn ri aNN
as heis, trembIed more than once dur
Ing the delivery OF these few words.
The dozen or more people present were
Nil more or less affected. Mater. on tho
other hand, was the coolest of all, not
showing any emotion whatever He
sat on the edge OF the bed with his
lace turned toward the floor, seemingly
obllvious to the terrible nearness OF the
moment when he would stand before
The bar Of the Creator and answer for
his sina.
Alter the reading of the death war
rant all excepting Father Nee ligott
lett ;he cell Comment was heard on
Ill sides on the astonishing amount OF
nerve or stoid indifference, whichever
II Vas exhibited By Maier during this
intensely dramatic scene.
Ihc door OF the jail was thrown open
nj 10 o'clock, when all having tickets
werc allowed to enter. Previous to the
opening nj the door, tho entire side.
walk in front OF tho building was
crowded with those who had mostly pa
tien;ly awaited for an hour or more for
the chance 10 cEicr II was but . few
minutes until tho entire ground floor OF
Il