Bridgeton pioneer., 1894-07-12
THE EXECUTION OF PIERCE.

THE EXECUTION OF PIERCE.
IheTe fs Little Doubt But That
Fridsy He fore Noon, the Wife
Murderer will Ii ave PAID ,ha
Penalty.
The remainder of this and one more
foil day to live, and Richard Pierce,
the wife murderer, now In the county
jail, will have taken the long journey,
from which he can never return.
And Richard has realize that all
nope is gone. He is making all prep
arattons for eternity, although he SUE
tains wonderful amount OF nerve
and courage. 1t would seem as II he
will not break dowr, but go doggedly
and, ,stoically to the SGT fold. The oom-
posure the man maintains is something
wonderful.
When told that the death warrant
had been signed by the Governor, he
expresse no surprise, and simply said
1t was what he was expecting. He
then asked the Sheriff II he could not
have something other than the prison
fare. He said he wanted q few delica-
cies, and thought they should not be
denied him. His request has been
compiled with.
Pierce has taken time to think over
bis death. He has expressed desire
for Rev. ]. 8. Thompson, his spiritual
adviser, to accompany him to tho
scene OF the execution, and also preach
his funeral sermon when the author.
tiles turn over the body to the family.
1t Is also pretty certain that he viii
make full and free confession of the
crime, but he does not want it known
until after he has been hung.
A PIONEER reporter was down to
Cape May Court House, and saw the
preparations being made for the exc
cution. The seaffold has been erected
In an enclosure directly in the rear Of
the Court House building. It is not
rooted, and Pierce will have an oppor-
tunity OF taking one last look at the
sunlight.
The scaffold came from Atlantic
county, and upon them Sheriff john
son hanged two colored men at the
same time. The scaffold is q simple
one. but In every respect q neck
breaker. 1t Is composed of two up
rights set in the ground, with a CROSS
top-bar overhead. There Is q slightly
raised platform on the ground, where
the conde mned man stands. The repe
runs up over the top piece and down
on one side, where there hangs sus-
pended heavy weight. The rope
holding this weight being cut, the
weight falla, and Pierce will be thrown
in the air, when he will drop and prob
ably suffer broken neck. Sheriff
Hand has been experimenting with q
large railroad tie, which Is about the
weight of Pierce.
Down in Cape May county there Is
very little sympathy for Pierce, and
everybody thinks that he should be
hanged. They declare that he was al
ways lazy ana worthless, always refus-
ing to work, and never supporting his
family. In fact the crime was COM
mitted, because his wife threatened
that she should be obliged to leave
home if be did not work People who
know Richard, say that he would pre-.
fer 10 bs hanged than sentenced to
work, and compelled to keep at 1t.
Sheriff Hand said that he would
ccme to this city and remain over
Thursday night. He will see to 1t that
q new black suit is furnished Richard,
and on Friday morning Pierce's ioar-
ney to death, will be commenced. The
fellow will be taken over to Millville
on the trolley, and from there on one
of the regular trains.
From this city the party accompany
Ing him will be Sheriff Shinp,
County Physician Thompson, and DR..
j. 8. Thompson. They will witness
the execution. After lunch at Cape
May Court House, Pierce will be taken
to the place of execution.
1t will be a serious jourr ~ for the
wretched man, one that will try his
nerves. He will be gazed upon where
ever he goes, by the crowds of curious
people. On the train he will be the
cynosure of all eyes. AS the cars
hurry along he will be drawn back to
the place where he has spent all OF his
life. The train runs directly by his old
father and mothers house, where he
was reared from baby. What q
journey for man that Is now In per-
fectly sound health-and knowing I ull
well, that the grave Is but Just beyond.