Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-27
A HORRIBLE EXECUTION.
Startling Words from the Condemned
MANTLE Feared Death.

CHICAGO. ILL. January 26.-The exc
cut,on in the county jail this morning OF
George II. Paynter. formerly Of Brook
Iyn. n. ". for the murder OF Alice T..
Martin. was attended by horrible scene
when the trap was sprung the rope
snanped IN two. and the unfortunate man,
Who weighed over 900 pounds. dropped
eight feet TO the stone floor OF the corri-
dor His head struck heavily as he feii.
ana the blood gushed from his ears ana
nostriIs. Hs was picked up unconscious
laid ON the crop in a recumbent position
on5 another moose adjusted. The drop
fell a second time without further acci-
dent One OF the attendant physicians
expressed the opinion that he was already
dead when the drop was sprung the sec-
ord time. -
only seventy-fve spectators. half OF
whom were representatives OF the press
were admitted 10 the death corrldor'
PAINTER was a fne-looking man, and a
murmur of sympathy went up from the
crowd az he came into view. His nerve
was wonderful. his glance taking In the
scaffold. the moose. and the spectators
without the tremor Of a muscle.
He walked unsupported to the centre OF
tho tran and nodded. with smile-one
more OF dignity than OF bravado-to
nevsneper-man whom he recognized IN
the front row. Prayer was onered py
Rev. Mr. MOerdyke, and after the white
shroud had been adjusted. the condemned
man WAS asked by Sheriff Gilbert IL ne
had anything to say.
Looking straight at those before MINI
he paused for moment, and then, III
half hesitating manner, his tones grow
ing frmer and more emphatic as ne pro-
ceeded. hs said:
II see some friends here. On oou,
forgive them No friend Of mine wouih
come and see mo die. IL hurts me- Zen
tlemen. II you are going Ia pausel.
There are few gentlemen that would look
AZ an execut.on-few the brotherhood OF
humanity has taught lots Of men better
tban this There was time when. in
India. men sought death through belief
thai II was an advance 10 the future
state To-day ! fear death. | do not
want 10 die. ,,
noused. His auditors were breathless
Tho dropping Of pin would have echoed
through the long, gloomy corridor. Then
Suddenly gathering strength ana with
even more earnestness and vigor ihan ne
had manifeted a moment before. PaynteI
proceeded:
Listen; listen 10 this. II | killed Alice
,tar,tr my wife. although i'm court"
Chera Paynter again seemed as If he was
about 10 break DOWN. IF | killed Alice
Martin. the woman | loved, ] pray this
minute nv last minute on earth. / pray
that The eternal God will take me and put
me I'm eternal h; that He viii keep me
there eternaly. II there is one man In
this audience that is an Amcrican-an
American citizen; on your soul-l say on
your soul-see that the murderer OF Alice
Martin is found"
The condemned man ceased The cfiicer
APPROACHED TO adjust the white cap. when
another thought occurred 10 the con-
demned.
"Gentlemen," he said again. 81 see n
hundred Of my" Gt is difficult 10 deter
mine whether the next word was "Op-
pressors" or "oiiicials'D here. but few
Americans"
Then the white-cap was drawn over his
face. the moose was tishtened, and the