Evening star., 1896-12-18
HANGING OF SMITH
Execution of the Murderer of Marga-
ret Drown.
TAKEN TO MARLBORO LAST NIGHT
Slept SoundIy and Ate a Hearty
Breakfast.
EXHIBITED GREAT NERVE

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
MARLBORO. Md. December Is.-James
Smith, the colored murder OF Margaret
Drown, ended his life on the scaffold here
this morning. He ascended the scaffold
without showing the slightest signs Of
weakening Just before the black cap was
aoJusted he smiled, and after telling the
sEerh 10 make the rope tighter said.
Noed-bye The trap Tell at lo:s3 and
sixteen minutes later the body was placed
In a cofln Death resulted from straneula-
ton, alter severe struggle
-Four colored divines Revs p III A
Braxton. John u. Broadus, c. r. Parker
ana Reuben Parker. were with the con-
aemi ed man wnen he WAS executed In
ms cell this morning he told the ministers
that he had committed the crime under
certain provocatior. that he was sorry for
IL ana mad made his peace with God
Smith Was brought n.re last evening from,
the baltimore JAM where he has been con-
hned since the tragedy was committed. ana
oherln Underwood had the little iail we'll
guarded during the night, although no
trouble was expected. No one but The
preachers and newspaper men was admit
ted during the night. The latter found The
So,rle m nheu mah rather unC communicative
ihis morning ne arose early and ate a
nearly breakfast, remarkIng that IL was his
last meal ON earth. When thisiw was finish
eu the ministers resumed their conversa-
ton with him. Three hours were spent in
prayer End reading the Scriptures
soon AFTER 10 O'Clock the sheriff an
nounced that the condemned mans time
hdu come tls arms We're pinioned and the
march from the lail to the scafroId was
started the Prisoner wore a paIr of blue
trousers and black vest, white shirt and tie
ana was IN has shirt sleeves. Sheriff Tn
derwood held his arm during the march 10
ne prepared TO ist HIM in event of a coll
lapse but instead of losing his nerve he
iairiy ran up the steps, ana when asked II
he had anything TO say he responded, Not a
word, not a word"
Then ne sand 10 ihe sheriff Make The
rope tighter" which he followed with the
goodbye, and IN an instant The body
shot downward through the tran. The
severe struggles and ;witcning of the body
showed plainly that lie lt1 had not resulted
from a broken neck. Drs l.. y. Griffita. j.
+. Sansbury and W. II. y. Gibbons pro-
nounced Smith lead IN sixteen minutes.
A gathering of several hundred persons
witnessed the execution from a lot adjoin-
ing the jail while inside the inciosure was
i large gathering of persons who had been
invited TO act as peace officers.
Many pc tople Were here from Washington,
nearly a hundred wheelmen being among
them. The hotels did rushing business
and the saloons were also well patronized,
hut Sherin L Underwood, who was assisted
by Deputies ]. E Underwood, G. 7. Bland
ford, NJ. c. Waring and others. preserved
good order, and the execution was made
without. "a hitch.
A young DIR. Boswell. from Washington,
ID. c., stepped up to the body, applied a
stethoscope and felt the pulse. He was or
dered away, but would not go. and when
taken inside the jail he and DIR. Griffith had
sorne words, and general row ensued.
which was soon quieted by officials.
Smiths remains were taken 10 a cem-
etery near here and buried.
Smiths Crime.
Margaret Drown, a young woman, who
lived with her aunt, near Seat Pleasant,
Prince Georges county. Md, was found
dead in her room on the evening of July
20 last. Her throat was cut Suspicion
was at once directed toward James Smith,
a mulatto, who had peen a servant in the
family, but who had been dismissed for
having made improper advances toward
the girl. Smith was arrested on tn. follow
ing day i'll Washington. and confessed hav-
ing committed the murder. He was re-
moved TO Baltimore for safe keeping until
his Trial. He was, of course, promptly con-
victed and again taken to Baltimore for
safe keeping. During the entire period
which elapsed since the murder he MAIN
tanned the most stoical indifference 10
his fate