Evening journal., 1893-01-27
JUST BEFORE THE EXECUTION
The Doomed Mans Touching Farewell
To His Father and sister Positive Pro-
tests of Innocence.

tests of Innocence.
STAFF Correspondence Evening Journal
ELKToN, Jan. 27.-Stout was seen in
his cell last evening by an EvEHING
JOURNAL reporter right after he had said
good bye for the last time TO his aged
father and loving sister. The farewell
was an nfiectionate one. and the negro's
usually bright eyes were dimmed with
tears, while the sisters cries aud sobs
could be heard all over the little jail
Stout said that he was perfectly ready
20 meet death he was innocent and
hoped that the question of his guilt would
never be asked him again, as he had re-
peatedly said that he knew nothing of
the crime for which he was TO suffer
death. and had never been in the habit
of telling direct lies.
Il know how precious life is, but have
but once to die and can walk TO the gal
lows to morrow with unfaltering step
Did Not Want Them Kept out.
Shortly before sunset the interior Of the
Jail was crowded with Elkton people and
friends of Stout from the neighboring
country, he having expressed. a wish to
Sheriff McKenney that all Of his friends
might be admitted and also all the Elkton
!
their presence would not worry him In
the least.
Preparing for the Great Hereafter.
Rev. l. L. Wood, Of the NJ +. Church
paid bis last visit to the doomed man
early in the afternoon, and then colored
preachers from all about the town came
end were closeted with him at intervals
during the remainder Of the day.
Mr. Wood said that to-day when b,
urged upon Stout the importance o
making a confession if guilty of the
crime and that he must not die with
lie on his lips, Stout replied "Mr Wood
you seem 10 doubt me, and yet / hav,
told you all along am innocent Mr.
Wood said the reply was made in a re
sentful way which would not have beer
the case IL Stouts mind had been at rest
about his guilt or innocence.
Stout's other spiritual advisers are
Rev. c. f. Herbert, colored, of Bethe
African Methodist Episcopal Church, anc
Rev. f. w Scott, colored, Of Providenc,
Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev
William Schouler, or Trinity Protestant
Episcopal Church, has also visited him.
A Complete Deuth-Trap.
The gallows. which is the first thai
was ever erected In Elkton, is one Of tn,
most substantial and complete struc
lures of the kind ever put up i'm Mary
land Every beam and scantling is made
Of the strongest material and hnishe,
and put together by experienced hands
Calvin Merritt of Elkton was the de
signer and builder One Of his ideas i.
something entirely new in the erection o
q hangman's scaffold. 10 is a trap ropl
hanging through a supporting beam oi
the left side and coming ont upon a largl
chopping- block, so that the work o.
severing the supporting cord with
hatchet was done i'm an instant
Another new idea was a heavy trap door
four feet square and supporting weight
, which drew the door back agains
heavy rubber, so that IL fell AM
struck noiselessly and remained where
struck.
The Last Cecil Countlan Executed.
The last man hanged in Cecil count
was Medford Waters, who was execute
at Cherry Hill in 1879. the hanging bein
public. Previous 10 that the last hang
? ing was that of Robert Swift, white, e2
. ecuted in 1855 for murder. The rop
! which was tied around the neck Of MeC
ford Waters was used to-day TO suppol
the trap door upon which Alfred Stou
stood. It was cut about half way up b