The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-09
A HANGING PREVENTED
By tho Suicide of Condemned
Murderer Eokert.
SWALLOWED A DOSE OF POISON.

He Had Shown Remarkable Nerve the
Night Before, Even When Bidding Q
Final Farewell to His Favorits Little
Daughter--A Brutal Crime.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Dec. 9-At6 O clock
yesterday morning Warden Boland was
aroused from his slumbers by one of the
night watchmen, who reported to him that
4 BRAN Eckert, who was to have been
hanged at 10 o'clock for the murder Of
Frederick T., Bittenbender on July Z, 1895,
had taken poison, and was dying The
warden hurried to Eckert's cell, and found
him breathing heavily. He telephoned for
physicians, and Drs. Long and Lenahan
responded, but nothing could be done for
the prisoner, and the condemned man died
at II :3S from morphine poisoning. There
Is no solution of the manner in which tho
poison was obtained by the prisoner. In
the afternoon Eckert's body was removed
to Nanticoke, where 1t was Inferred.
When Eckert's wife and children left
the jail shortly before Monday midnight
the condemned man appeared to be in ex-
cellent spirits. He showed not trace Of
the terrible ordeal he was soon to face.
He had previously read aloud, and in
firm voice, the published report that Gov.
ernor Hastings had declined to interfere,
and that nothing could save him. Then
followed an impressive religious service,
In which - 'kert took unusual interest.
When prayer had been offered for the
murderer ne and his wife sang Eckerts
favorite hymn, "God be with you till We
meet again" He sang with great fervor,
and his deep voice could be heard above
oil the others
During the leave taking very pathetic
incident occurred. When his little daugh-
ter, Rebecca, his favorite child, clasped her
arms about his neck, she said: Papa,
mamma says that tomorrow you will come
home to us, and oh III be so glad" He
well understood what the child did not.
He would go home to them, but 1t would
be cold In death. He pressed the child
close to his breast and nodded in the af-
tlrmative. There was not q dry eye in the
room. Even Ecksrt, who had maintained
such composure throughout his entire
confinement, was visibly affected.
When Eckert retired at midnight he re-
quested that he be called at 6 o'clock in
the morning. 1t is supposed that he swal-
lowed the poison, which he had probably
had concealed for some time, while lying
with his back toward the death watch.
The crime for which Abram Eckert was
condemned was the murder, on July 7,
1885, of Frederic T. Bittenbender, a prom
inent resident Of Nanticoke, this county.
The murder was ono of the most cold
blooded in the annals Of Luzerne county
crime.
Eckert was the janitor of the high school
at Nanticoke, and had an imaginary griev-
ance against Bittenbender, who had but
recently been elected a school director,
and who was chairman of the building
committee For some time Eckert had
been neglecting his work at tho school
house, and Bittenbender spoke to him
about it, and told Eckert he was in danger
of losing his place unless he was more at
tentive to his duties as janitor.
On the morning of July Bittenbender
met Eckert in the street in Nantcoke and
told him there was some work at the
school house which must DO done at once,
and the latter replied, good naturally,
IAN right, Fred, I'll go down and do it,"
Nothing more was seen of Eckert until
about 12 o'clock. As Bittenbender and his
father were driving up Main street, Eek
ert, who was standing in front of the
First National bank, called to Bittenben-
der that he wished to speak to him. The
latter stopped his horse, and Eckert ap-
preached the carriage, saying, Fred, 1t
seems to me you have grudge against
me-" Blttenbender said he was mistaken,
and that all that he wanted of the janitor
was for him to look after his duties at the
school in proper manner. Hardly were
the last words out of his mouth, when
Eckert sprang backward from the car
riage, drew u revolver, and, taking DELHI
crate aim, fred. The bullet entered Bit
right eye, causing almost in
slant death.