The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-08
ROANOKE TIMES BUREAU,
DILLARD 81 PERsINGER BLDG,

BILLIARD IL PERsINGER BLDG,
SALEM, VA, Jan z.
Every arrangement for the legal and
successful hanging of Charles Watkins
tomorrow was completed before sun
down to-day.
In the afternoon Mr.. Thomas Snead,
who built the gallows, made number
of satisfactory tests with tho trap to
see if it would drop promptly. Seven
balls and chains, such as chaingang
prisoners wear, weighing nearly two
hundred pounds, wore placed on the
trap, which were kept in place by two
spring bolts and to these were attached
two small pieces of iron on which was
tied new window sash cord running
over small pulley to the window in the
courthouse situated on the right, and to
the rear of the judges seat. Behind
the shutter stood Mr.. Snead, as the exc.
cutioner will stand tomorrow, and with
sharp, quick jerk of the cord the
bolts flew back, the trap dropped and
the chains and balls fell to the ground
with what the penny-a-liaers call "a
ID th-d."
1t is the intention Of the sheriff to
give Watkins about five foot drop, and
the rope which Mr.. Zirkle brought from
Richmond is guaranteed to stand n
strain of 1000 pounds with a five. foot
drop, and as the prisoner weighs only
about 1G0 pounds there ought not 10 be
any trouble. 4 no rope is a now * inch
MANILA, with the hangman's moose al
ready tied by an expert, who wishes to
be nameless.
All day long crowds of people, white
and colorcd, women and children, were
coming and going, all anxious to see
the death machine. Sheriff Xrlllo has
had few tickets printed. SO that no
one except those known to him will sec
tho hanging: Besides the physicians,
officials and reporters, there will be a
jury of twelve, and this is about all the
narrow pen will hold.
The neighborhood of the jail will be
closely guarded by twelve we'll picked
men under command of Sergeant Frier.
Watkins breakfast Will probably be
furnished by Mr.. Fred. Weber. who
has promised to give him what he wants
and about IL a. m. ne will be Sc
curely pinioned and led from his cell
into the hall of the Jail, then through
the dining-room out of the side door to
the enclosure surrounding tho scaffold,
though it is considered quite probable
that he will raise disturbance, create
scene and have to be carried bodily
up the twelve steps to the place where
the rope will be put around his neck
Tho straps with which he will be
secured are new, being made at Har-
veycutter's, and were fitted on THE
TIMES reporter yesterday evening bv
Jailer Henning, who showed how the
straps would be placed, ono above the
ankles, one above the knees and the
other pinioning back the arms, the
hands being handcuffed in front. The
black cap was made by u. Boon x Sons
and is dudish little silk travelling cap,
with long black cloth veil coming all
around the face as far as the back of
the ears.
Watkins has been much quieter the
last day or so, slept we'll Wednesday
night and has eaten all his meals
heartily. Yesterday he had stew of
oysters for dinner, which he enjoyed.
DR.. Armstrong was with him for about
an hour and half Thursday, and did
his best in quiet way to get from
Charles some confession of guilt, but
all that the murderer would saw was:
"My sins are blotted out; if my Fasher
says l must hang it is all right
When the doctor was about to leave,
Charles asked that the Rev. Mr.. Fox, of
the colored Baptist Church. might be
sent for, which was done, and about S
o'clock Rev. Mr.. Fox went in to SEQ him
and stayed in the Jail for over an hour
conversing with Charles. who stoutly
maintained that his sins were forgiven.
During the time that Rev. Mr.. Fox was
with the prisoner Messrs. Pugh and
Moffett called to SEQ the prisoner, but
got tired of waiting and left, saying
they would call again. Charles looks
fairly well in appearance, with the ex-
ception that his hair and beard have
grown longer than he was accustomed
to wear them.
There is prisoner, ono Farrer Frog.
confined in the next cell to Charles, and
as he is in for o minor offence he Is
given the privilege Of the corridor in
the lower Jail, and can stand tsido the
grating of Charles cell. Charles talks
great deal to him when he thinks no
one is about and Frog says he has told
him all about the murder several times,
acknowledging that he did kill his wife,
but this must be taken with due allow
ance coming from Farrer Frog, who, of
course, might desire notoriety by acting
as father confessor.
One of the death watchers told THE
TINES reporter to-day that the other
morning he heard Watkins talking in
his usual tone of voice perfectly rational
to Frog, and the watch, wishing to sur
prise Charles, said suddenly, Good
morning. Charles, how did you sleep
last night?" Charles at once ceased
talking nationally and commenced his
bla>phemous rawlings.
1t may be OF general interest to tho
public to know the regulations nre-
scribrd by law for the hanging of one