The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-18
ing Scenes.

DENEhs
Wilhelm Maier, who on the morning
OF April 5 last killed his wife, Marie, at
their homo on Woods street, in East
Wheeling, will take his leave of earth
to-day.
At an hour already determined by
Sheriff steenrod, but as yet made
known to nobody else, he will be taken
from the room IN tho second story OF
the jaiIer's residence, where he has
been confined, to the scaffoId in the
south yard OF the old jail, and there ba
hanged by the neck until he is dead.
Yesterday the scafoid was moved
from the position where It stood on
Wednesday. when 1t was sketched for
the ISrEIbroENcER, to the opposite end
OF the enclosure. As it WAS at FIRST ar
ranged, to reach the scafold Maler
would have TO walk from his cell, il the
comfortable room in which he has been
confined can properly be called cell,
down the stairs out OF the jail building,
through tho yard the length and
breadth Of the Jail building, and then
back the full length OF i. and at that
through all the assembled spectators.
Yesterday morning it was suggested
that it would be well TO put the scatfold
at the other end Of the enclosure. BY
this arrangement the scatFold will be
reached as soon as the prisoner enters
tile enclosure, which will save him from
the ordeal OF the passage through the
crowd, and shorten his walk.
MAIER HAD A KNIFE
A sensational fact was developed yes
terday. This was that the condemned
man had had in his cell for some time,
just how long is not known. large
knife sharponed TO keen Edge. with
which he could at any time have taken
his life.
The way this fact came out was
peculiar The ISrELLIdESCER said yes
terdqy morning that many people VINO
had come i'll contact with Maier were OF
'theopinion that no would commit SUI
eide II he had the means. When his
spiritual advisor, Rev. Father John Nc
Elligott, saw this, he at onco fastened
80 the mil, and told Maier that il he
had been contemplating suicide and
had kept this from his spiritual ad-
visor, he was trid.ng with him; that
self murder was a grave sin. and one
guilty OF it could have no hopes OF
heaven.
Alaier said he had no thought OF sui
eide, and to show the sincerity OF his
declaration he produced katie, sharp
ened, SAYING he had had it in his cell
for some time aud could have killed
himself at any time Ii he had wanted
10. He surrendered the knife cheer
fully.
The TSrELLtGEScER's references to his
possible suicide was based on recent
remark OF his that he wished he had
sixty grains Of morphine or a revolVer.
Rev Father AlcElligntt says Maler
still bears up remarkably well. and he
thinks he will 20 to The scaffold firmly.
He saws Maer has always had q de-
cided vein oil quiet, almost grim humor,
but has been more grave since the
governors refusal 10 Interfere.
now NE WILL GO TO DEATH
Yesterday a new suit OF black cloth
ing sack coat, vest aud trousers, was
purchased for the condemned man
from D. Gundling & Co. This suit he
will wear on the scaGold What dispo-
sition viii be made OF his body has
been little discussed. II any friend
desires to take charge Of it, 1t will doubt
less be turned over 10 hin. There has
been talk Ot a post morlem to ascer-
tain If Maiers brain was deceased. but
nothing official has ever been said on
this subject,
Rev. Father McElligott visited Maier
several times yesterday and spent sew
eral hours with him last night he
told an lSTELLiGEScgR reporter that he
wouih 70 10 Maier's cell a, hait.pa six
or little later this morning and re-
main with the prisoner from that time
until after all was over
All lhe formal religious exercises will
be held in tho Jail. From the cell
Father McElligott will walk with Maier
to the scaifoId, repeating appropriate
prayers, and he will 90 with him upon
the scaIold. and jast before the black
can Is adjusted he will present the cru
ciiix tOr him TO kiss.
Last evening Maier was apparently as
firm aud bright as he ever was. He ate
three hearty meals yesterday. His
breakfast was ham and eggs. For din
ner he ate square meal, with good
sized bucket OF chocolate, added at his
own request With his supper he was
allowed bottle Of beer, for the first
time since his imprisonment. He was
also furnished lunch Of midniRht. 70.