The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-16

sonville, be chosen. Stone was a member
OF the Methodist Church al his home i'm
something of shouter, but ordinarily re-
iigion did not cut much figure in his daily
life.
The gallows was the same prepared sew
eral years ago. 1t was built of wood and
stood at the north end of one of
the cell houses. 1t was eight by twelve feet
two stories. The trap was located in the
moor OF the upper room and was two feet
and five inches square. The bolt was so
arranged that with slight pressure of the
foot the supporting bolt could be shot from
It's place. This released the trap and Stone 5
body plunged through the opening into the
room beolw. The drop was six feet. The
rope was a three-quarter-inch hempen cord,
ana had been suspended In It's place for
seVeral days. The moose was tied by War
den Patten, who in person adjusted it
about Stones neck and pressed the trig-
ger which sprung the trap. Two sides of
the gallowS were arranged with swinging
doors, which swung open to afford an on
obstructed view TO the few people who were
permitted TO witness the execution. These
representatives of the newspapers and the
ten persons selected by Stone.
Stone spent half of the afternoon i'm the
company of Rev. Charles r: Tinsley. of the
NJ. Z. Church, and Rev. w. II. McCane,
OF the Christian Church. The time was
passed in reading the Scriptures, praying
and other devotional exercises and CONVEX
satlOn on religious matters. Stone read the
Bible himself and seemed to get a. great
deal of consolation from this passage from
81. John: For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that who
soever believeth in Him should not per-
ish, but have everlasting life.'
stone stated that he was satisfied with his
prospects for the life beyond the grave,
that he had sinned, but had been forgiven
and would be saved. He stated that he had
scaffoid. Said he: II am guilty and deserve
death, but / am not afraid to die
Warden Patten, read the death warrant
rinfr he a hGo or.1
1t without show of emotion. He only
said ''It is no more than deserve
The warden then informed Stone that the
execution would take place about fifteen
minutes after midnight.
Il am ready" replied the murderer, land
After the ministers had left Stone began
wife
At o'clock attorney John H. Spencer
held a final interview with the condemned
man. stone was very much affected and
frequently gave way to to tears "a and hysteri-
the telegram just received from Governor
Matthews, in which the Governor said he
would not interfere under any circum-
stances. Stone exhibited no surprise at the
IT know that I will be gone before morn
1 wouldn't care if it wasn't for leaving my
wife and children. / have told the whole
truth about the matter and and that & Is all ca, can
| died with a lie on my lips. BY the hope
| have to meet my dead girl in heaven,
have told the truth
The prisoner was shaved and given a
bath In the morning, and in the afternoon
his measure taken for q suit of cloth
inG. This suit he was to wear on the gal
lows. The post-mOrtem will be held at
Washington tomorrow. 1t will then be
taken TO Stones fathers farm for burial.
In the prison record Stones personal de-
scription appears follows: Occupation,
farmer; age, forty-two years; height, five
feet, eight and one-half inches; weight $50
pounds; complexion, light; eyes, blue; hair.
brown; nativity, Indiana; habits. temper
ate; can read and write; married; father
of four children.
For his last supper on earth, Stone or
dered beefsteak and pork, eggs, hominy,
biscuit, five baked potatoes and some sweet
cakes.
To all those who have seen him this
afternoon he especially emphatic in
his declaration that he was alone in the
dreadful work of butchering the Wratten
family.
BY Stones request, Col. Steve Bedding
and c. G.. Sefrit, Washington newspaper
men, were permitted to see him late yes
terday afternoon. Rising to his feet and
lifting his right hand in a dramatic ges-
ture he said vehemently:
Il want you men to say that on the
scaffold / solemnly declare that I had 10
help in this killing. L was alone and un-
aided, as God is my witness. 1 cannot
strong suspicion against other men, but
rney a.e innocent. L know that L am go
ing to die in few hours, and L maintain
before high heaven that [ alone am guilty.
Stone then accepted cigar, lighted IL
and smoked it with apparent relish.