Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-06-24
WILLIAM HENRY pAINTON
HANGED.
Death Had No TerrOrs for the
Doomed Man
Especial to the REpupI,cAx.1

Especial to the REPUBLICAN
YORK, June William Henry
Painton was hanged this morning in
the corridor of the county jail and
the exacting demands of justice were
appe .sed. He went to his death
bravely, ifnot eagerly, leaving be-
hind a partial confession of his guilt
and sorrowing, if desperate, old
mother to mourn over his fate. lie
professed almost at the last moments
Of his life his unbelief in Supreme
Being and the teachings of the Bible,
md his only prayer was that his
.nemies might be p ,nished 70" the
,lleged wrongs committed against
aim.
Painton apparently had no fear of
God or man. On 8 ,nday he dlnced
to the discorded notes pounded out
If a cheap guitar by q negro pris-
oner. AS he danced he used the
most profane and vile language pos
sible. e. D. Ziegler, one of his at
torneys, visited him on Tuesday
Painton exhibited the utmost indif
ference as TO his fate and cursed
in unmeasured terms every one con-
nected with his conviction. He fire.
luently declared that when he died he
expected to 60 to hades, if there was
such place. There was no change
in his conduct yesterday. Last even
ing his mother arrived from Sones-
town and held lengthy conference
with her doomed son. The aged
parent was almost beside herself
with grief and partial rage, but her
tears and deep sighs brought no
sympathetic response from "her
WILL"
A "MOST PLEASANT NIGHT"
The greater portion of last night
was spent in conversation with nis
death watch, and to use his own
language it was the most pheasant
night he passed since he was in the
York county jail" firing of con-
versation he devoted several hours
to reading. Between two and three
o'clock his eyes grew heavy. Con-
sulting his watch and observing the
time he said mechanically, "Why, |
didn't know it was SO late. / will
have to lie down."
Suiting his action to his words
Painton stretched himself out on his
couch and in few minutes he was
fast asleep. At six o'clock after be-
ing called twice, he awoke and dress
ed hims III. He was perfectly
calm and gave no evidence of fear
ing his impending fate. An hour
later he ate hearty breakfast and
was soon closeted with his spiritual
advisers. They prayed with him,
read passages of scripture to him,
but it availed nothing. He gave
Them respectful hearing, appeared
It times TO be thoughtful, but fire.
Iuently said he could not grasp
The truths as contained in the words
If the clergymen and the teachings
IF the Bible.
Painton's mother was one of the
irst visitors to the Jail this morning
md one of the last to leave when
the execution was over. Mother
md son spent more than an hour to-
,ether. with the clergymen as the
,nly witnesses. Leaving the cell
Mrs. Painton leaned heavily on the
trms of two deputy sheritfs. Her
'obs were pitable, but they did not
lffect the condemned murderer. He
at at ease on the couch with his
ieet propped up and conversed
With his attendants.
AFRAID TO Kill. HIMSELF.
Painton gave the Jail officials sur
Prise this morning. When the
prison physicians called on him he
handed him knife, about twelve
nches long, made of two corset
,tayes. THIS peculiar instr linen,
was as sharp as a razor. Passing
The knife to the dazed physician
Painton said with cynical smile
Il just want TO show the people what
| could do IL wished. | would not
take my own life; i want to died on
the scafiold like a man." Paintor
,aid he kept the knife hid in hi
mattress and that he had it for sew
eral weeks. A bottle OF creosote
vas also found in his cell some tune
lfter the hanging.
While these scenes were being en-
acted within the narrow confines ot
Painton's dungeon the streets in the
vicinity of the prison were filling
up with curious men and womer
Who stood around in small knots
discussing the crime, the prisoner
aud the arrangement Of the execu-
ton. Not more than flltv persons
witnessed the execution. They em-
braced deputy sherifis, Jail officials
from neighboring counties, count,
officials and physicians. They made
their appearance at the prison a.
early as $50 o'clock and came IL
twos and threes until about $3.50
when all had arrived.
Those who were tn witness the
hanging stood around talking ant
casting an occasional glance at th'
clock in the sheriifs office as l
tleked melaneholily. The hand
seemed to move slowly. When the,
regist. re / $50 the sheriff left the OF
ice anil wiih "a tew deput les pro-
i .a.l.a a patafonia aall and real 4.