The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-01-28
ST0UT HANGED
Privately Executed il the Jail Yard, in
The Presence Of Thirty Persons.
MAKES NO CONFESSION.
No Excitement or Disorder Either
about the Prison or the Town.


Within the confines of the high stone
| walls surrounding the Elkton i,l yard,
shut from the view of the outside
world, Alfred Stout the colored muir.
derer of the aged farmer George Dtmar,
expiated his crime upon the gallows.
yesterday, the drop falling at II 80 p. m
Although the drop of over five feet
failed 10 disl0cate the condemned mans
neck, the fall rendered him unconscious,
and after a few slight muscular contrac-
tions, his body hung motionless. and,
death resulted from strangulation in 10
minutes, At eight minutes past one
the body was cut down, DR.. John II.
lamar, the Jail physician pronouncing
life extinct. The body was taken in
charge by Undertaken Harry w. Bell
and being placed i'll a coffin, was delivered
to the almshouse authorities, upon which
property it vas later inferred, no claim
having been made for it by any of his
relatives.
On Thursday night Sheriff McKenney
and Deputy J. Harvey Mackey alter
| mated as death watches. At II O'Clock,
Stout went to bed, covering his head
| with the bed clothing in true negro
| fashion, and apparently slept soundly,
giving no physical indication during the
night of any mental disturbance. He
awoke about six o'clock in his usual
seemingly cheerful frame of mind. He
spoke pleasantly to the guard, and put
ting on new dress of undertaking, a
white dress shirt, neat new black cloth
cutaway suit, and wearing a new pair of
shoes. Between eight and nine o'clock
he ate with relish a solid breakfast of
ham and eggs, potatoes, coffee, jelly,
chow chow, and bread and butter. When
he had finished his last meal, several
colored women came into the Jail and
with Elsmore Brown, a colored prisoner,
sang a number OF hymns, the refrain
being taken up by a number OF news
paper men aad others present, the effect
of which was striking, as the echoes
resounded through the corridors of the
prison, while Stout stood with his face
pressed against the door of mis- cell,
evidently deep!9 affected.
Early in the morning the Rev. |. l..
Wood, had his final interview with the
prisoner. He told him to be true to him
sell and urged him to assert the truth.
Stout was caimer mentally than on
Thursday morning when visited by Mr..
Wood, psrsstentIy declared his inuo-
cence, that he had made his peace with
God, and was prepared to die.
About II O'Clock, the Rev j. Ii. Woot
ten, entered the jail, and fifteen minutes
later his counsel II. c. Thackery and c.
G. Crothers, accompanied by the Rev.
E. w. Scott, entered, his counsel hold
remaining until twenty minutes OF - m,
Stout assuring them that he had no
statement to make to them, still strongly
asserting his innocence. When his
counsel retired, the. Revs. E. W. Scott
aud J. H. Wootten entered his cell
and prayed iervently with him.
While thus engaged, the Sheriff with his
Deputies J. Harvey Mackey and his
special officers. Elk Sheriff w. T. Boul-
den, George King. John r. White, j. p.
Scott, George \. Brown, Major W. G.
Purnell, Elmer Hyuson, County Com
missioner Andrew Anderson, Calvin
P. Merritt and Harry W. Bell had
completed all the arrangements about
tho scatfolding, and the hour for
the final act in the legal tragedy had
arrived. At fourteen minutes past twelve
telegram YES received by Stout from
clerical friend IN Belair which the sheriff
presented him in his cell. 1t read:
please accept my prayers, and read
Psalms 80, Is, Romans 10, Is.
[oigned WEBB.
Ia the meantime Scout's counsel and
the officers of the Jail had vainly waited
for response favorable or otherwise to
a petition to Governor Brown asking
respite but for some inexplicable
reason he denied them even the poor
courtesy of reply, the Governor
refusal to interfere IN the case, only
being incidentally learned through a
reporter of Baltimore newspaper.
The sheriff having considerably
waited all reasonable time, at p. m.
with his Deputy Mr.. Mackey proceeded
to the prisoners cell. Mr.. Scout was then
reading to Stout the scriptures cited in
the telegram. Their entrance brought a
perceptibie pallor to S5out's face, his
| lips twitched, and slight tremor passed
through his frame. Although attentive
to tbs reading, his eyes wandered from
face to face with an imploring expression.
After the singing OF a familiar hymn, Mr.
Wootten offered prayer and MIR. Scott
pronounced the BeledicCloa. Deputy
| Mackey then proceeded to h .ndcutf the
prisoner, and pinion his arms from
behind. Inc sol5mn march from tho
cell to the scaifold began, Stout bracing
himself by last brave effort,
and assuming manner of total
unconcern, firmly passed down the
iron stairs, to the floor below,
bidding farewell to those standing on
either side, as he passed toward the
stone steps leading from the lower hall
to the Jail yard. Twenty steps brought
HIM to the loot of the stairs leading u
tie scatfold. He uullilchingly mounted
the eleven stairs, and took his place on
the fatal trap without any apparent ire
pidatlon. On the platform with the
prisoner were the Revs. Wootten and
Scott, Sheriff Mckinney and Deputy
Mackey. MIR. Wootteu offered short
prayer, during which the unfortunate
man turned his eyes to Heaven. MIR
Scott then impressively recited the Lords
PRAYER, at the conclusion of which
Stout was placed in position GA the trap
ana Deputy Mackey securely strapped
his legs at the knee aud ankles. Stou
never wavered, examined the prepare
lions that were being made, and gazeo
over the people staring at him from be
low. Deputy Mackey then adjusted tn
moose. Removing two rings from his
fingers, Stout requested that one be sen
to his aged mother, and the other to :
young woman named Saunders, and wit
lives in Elkton. GA being asked by th'
3 sheriH vhather he had any St Itsmsnt tC