Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-24
DEEMING'S EXECUTION.
Some Further Details of the Monsters
Death-sOme Things He Wrote.

MELBOURNE, May 23.-The signal
that flowed over the jail here this
morning announcing that Deeming had
paid the penalty for one of his crimes,
caused the public to breathe more
freely than for some weeks. The jail
officials, who were responsible for the
condemned mans delivery to the execu-
toner, felt load removed from their
minds when the procession to the gal
lows formed. Until then they did not
know but that Deeming would manage
to cheat justice in some way.
When the Sheriff entered the cell for
the purpose of reading the death war
rant he found Deeming in dazed con-
dition, and he continued that way until
the drop fell. His answers to questions
put to him were made in inaudible
murmurs. The march to the gallows
was a very short one. Once there, he
was asked if he had anything to say.
His only response was, May the Lord
receive my spirit"
The black cap was then pulled over
his face, and the dangling hook was at
tached to the moose about his neck. He
swayed to and fro slightly at this time,
but made no other sign until moment
before the holt was drawn. Then he
exclaimed, his voice being somewhat
muf1ied by the black cap, Lord have
mercy upon my soul.
The clergyman had barely said:
"Man hath but a short time to live"
when the hangman gave the signal, the
bolt was drawn and Deeming was hang
ing, six feet below the Scaffold. When
the hanging man had remained in view
of the spectators for few seconds, the
curtain in front Of the scaffold was
drawn.
All of Deeming's writings are in pos
session of the authorities, and, it is un-
derstood, that be made written con-
fession of the Windsor murder. The
bulk OF his literary efforts, however,
are but repetitions Of his previous con-
tlicting statements.
Speaking to the representative OF the
Associated Press, who was present at
the execution, Chaplain Scott said that
he had exhorted Deeming yesterday to
confess his crime. The prisoner, he
added, adhered fully to his former state
ment that he had only committed the
Windsor murder. He declared that If
he admitted the Rain Hill murders he
would be lying,
The biography, which report had it,
he was going to bequeath to Miss Kate
Rounsevile, his latest fiancee, is full Of
ribald illusions and fantastic vaporings.
He gave to Rev. Mr.. Scott farewell
letter dated yesterday, and poem, en-
titled ITO God Call"
In this letter Deeming says, 81 am
dying fully pentent sinner and chris
tian. | was unconscious Of doing so. |
can only regard my execution as MUIR
der. Still, death will be relief, l
should have died happy but for this
point"
He referred to Miss Rounsevi!le, in
terms that the Rev. Mr.. Scott declines
to have published.
The Chaplain said that Deeming was
the strangest man he ever met in the
course of his long experience with Grim
inalS. He declared that he was doubt
full whether the murderer was a splen-
did actor or lunat!c. But he was in
clined to believe that he was crazy.
When Deeming was praying in his
cell. lust before the execution, he was
overheard asking forgiveness for the
injury he had done his family. This is
construed as confession of the Rain
Hill murders.
When the clergymen went to Deem
ing's cell few minutes before the time
for the execution, Deeming, falling on
his knees, cried Lord, forgive me for
despatchng my wife and family with
out warning"
Deeming left two wills. In the first
he leaves three hundred pounds to Miss
Rounsevile, and in the second he dlsin-
herits and upbraids her.