Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-13
TO BE HANGED TOMORROW.
william Bond to BE Executed At Rockville
Tomorrow.


Tomorrow,
Tomorrow morning between the hours of
and II William Bond. a young negro. will be
hanged in the Jail yard at Rockville, Nd, for
the murder on November %, 1891, Of Margaret
Cephas, q colored woman about thirty years Of
age.
Late yesterday afternoon a representative of
THE STAR visited the condemned man in the
Rockville JAIL Bond was found reclining upon
rude couch placed on two carpenters trestles
In his cell and complained of feeling rather un-
well. having but recently recovered from an
attack OF fever. He was in an uncom.nurica-
tive mood, and spoke only when questioned,
and then only in monosyllables He declined to
discuss his case, but it is understood that he
has informed Jailer Cornell that he will make
statement on the scaffold Bond is un-
doubtedly possessed of rather low intellect,
| and 1t has been asserted that he was not re-
sponsible mentally for the crime Of which he
stands convicted. He was examined recently
BY three state insanity experts from Baltimore,
at the request OF his counsel but in view OF the
fact that the governor failed to interfere after
| their report had been made to him it is be-
lieved that the experts decided that the man
was responsible.
The wretched man has recently been visited
by the Rev. l.. r. Milburn. Baptist minister
OF Rockville, and he is said to have expressed
himself as having made his peace with God and
~ being prepared to die This afternoon the
Rev. John Roberts. a colored evangelist Of
Washington, and wife will visit Bond and 70
main with him during his last night on earth.
endeavoring by a service OF prayer and song to
console him during his last hours
THE scArFoLD IN POSITION
The scaffold was placed in position in the
jail yard this morning. The drop and rope
have been tested and Sheriff Alfred F. Fairall
is in readiness to perform his unpleasant duty
Sheriff Fairail stated today that the execution
would probably take place about II o'clock, as
be desired to give Bond all the time he reason
ably could. The exc luton, as directed by the
law. will be q strictly private one. and Sheriff
Fairall states that only the number of specta-
tors authorized by law will be admitted to
witness it. Twenty is the number. and it in
Guides the law officers, clergymen. counsel and
members Of the press. The scaffold
is constructed Of Virginia pine. There are four
posts, by 4, supporting the platform, trap and
beam. The beam is made of two 2 by inch
joists laid parallel and separated by two pinch
pulleys. over which the rope runs down to
within four feet of the ground and is fastened
by cleat The trap Is made of one-inch boa rds
laid on an inch ledge at one end and on a five
elghth-inch square iron bolt at the opposite
emu. There Is attached to this bolt a wire
which is conveyed over pulley and down 10 a
treadle just flush with the bottom tread of the
SUITE. on Whlch tne eSecutloner VIII step and
trip the drop just as he leaves the stairs after
adjusting the rope and cap. The trapdoor is
four feet square. and falls to the ground when
the bolt is pulled
CONFLICTING OPINIONS OF HIS GUILT.
The people OF Rockville are not unanimous in
the belief that Bond should be executed, some
contending that the woman having been a
sufferer from epileptic fits she may have died in
one OF those spasms. Others leo that the evil
dence on which Bond was convicted having
been wholly circumstantiai. communication of
the death sentence to one of life imprisonment
would satisfy the ends of justice. 1t is apparent
however, that the great majority of the people
believe the condemned to have been rightly
convicted and desire that the extreme penalty
of the law should be inflicted. White the exer-
else of executive clemency would not surprise
the people OF Rockville, it is generally believed
that Coy. Brown will not interfere