The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-24
HOW HE DIED.
MAY the Lord Have Mercy on My
Soul" Deeming's Last Words.
The CRIMINAL HELD TO The LAST
To His Declaration Tint He Was
Guilty OF Dnt Ono of tho Murders.
The Writings lie Lcft--Thc Chap.
''rain's Estimate OF IIIm..onc OF the
Strahgcst NIcn He Ever Net.

MELBOURNE, May 23.-Tho signal
that 1oated over the Jail here this
morning announcing that DeominS
had paid the penalty for one OF his
crimes caused tho public to breathe
moro freely than for aome weeks past.
Tho jail officials who were responsible
for tho condemned mans delivery to
the executioner felt q lond removed
from their minds when the procession
to tho 2allows formed. Until then
they did not know but what Deeming
would manage to cheat justice in some
way.
When tho sheriff entered tho cell for
the purpose OF reading the death war.
rant he found Deeming in q dazcd con.
dition, and no continued that way un-
til tho drop fell. His answer to ques.
tions put to him wero made in inaudi-
bio mnrmurs. The march 10 tho gal
lows was q very short one. Onco there
ho was asked II no had anything to say.
His only response was "May tho Lord
receive my spirit" Tho black cap was
then pulled over his face and the dang.
ling hook was attached 10 the moo
about his neck. lie swayed to and fro
slightly at this time, but made no other
sign until Il moment before the bolt was
drawn. Then he exclaimed, his voice
being somewha. muiiled by the black
cap, Lord have mercy upon my SOUL"
Tho clergyman had barely said:
MAN hath but n short time to live"
when the hungman gave tho signal, the
bolt was drawn and Decming was hang.
ing six feet below the scatTold. When
the hanging ina had remained in view
Of the spectator for a few seconds, the
curtain i'll front OF tho scafTold was
drawn.
All OF Dceming's writings arc in pos
session OF the authorities, and it is IN
derstood that he made Il written con-
fession Of the Windsor murder the bulk
OF his literary efforts. however, are but
repelitions OF his previous conflicting
statements.
Speaking to the representative OF the
Associated Press, who was present at
the execution, Chaplain Scott said that
he had exhortcd Dccming Yesterday to
confess his crime. The prisoner, he
added, adhered fully to his former state
ment that he had only committed the
Windsor murder. lie declared that il
he admitted the Rain Hill murders he
would be lying.
The biography, which, report had it,
he was going to %bequeath TO Miss Kate
Rounsevillc, his latest iiance is full OF
riba!d illusions and fantastic vaporings.
He gave to Rev. Mr.. Scott q farewell
letter dated yesterday and a poem en-
titled 40 God l Call"
In this letter Deeming says, ~ am dv-
ing a fully penitent sinner and Chris
tian. l was unconscious OF doing so. l
can only regard my execution as n muir
de-. Still, death will be n relief, /
should havedied happy but for this
point" 5g:(
He referred to Miss Rounserillo III
terms that the Rev. Mr.. Scott declines
to have published.
The chaplain said that Deeming was
tho %straneest nan he ever met in the
course Of his long experience with Grim
inals. He declared that he was doubt
full whether the murderer wal n splen-
did actor or q lunatic. But he was in.
clined to believe hat he was crazy.
When Deeming was praying in his
cell, just before the execution, he was
overheard asking forgiveness for the in
jury he had done his family. This is
construed as q confession OF the Rain
Hill murders.