The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1896-05-09
Dimes WAS HANGED.
! Multi-Mrderer Has Paid the
Only Penalty Possible.
luLr he wEr 70 THE 'saFFolD,
a. According to Father Daily, He SIM
.rtsy Repentsd. and Another MUIR
aefer Has Been Waited to the
Place Prepared for Good People.

Place FTePaie1 ioA N~~
p,u, ApELPHIA, May Herman w.
,dgett. alias II. II. Holmes, the most
{torions criminal of recent years, was
kuged in the Jail yard here at lo;is a.
for the murder of benjamin +.
tszel He went to the scaffold with
Sparently calm deliberation.
bulv the Jail officials, newspaper
N and invited witnesses saw the
al scene. and the entire affair passed
without the suggestion of anything
seemly.
Holmes spent the best part OF
sanesday night in meditation. by
sign did he reveal TO the death
itch that he even contemplated
eating the galiows.
bu the contrary, during the night
a in the interval between the dawn
A the execution, he conducted him
Il very like man who believed that
punishment was unavoidable, and
al the best thing to do was not to
ow the white feather
'rhe ministrations of the Roman
,bolic elerpymen, who for the last
" weeks have been with him daily,
emed to give Holmes a chance to
ther himself together, and while his
uduct ON the short way TO the trap
A. neither sullen nor daring, 1t was
ch as to give his keepers the melan.
olv satisfaction that he would do
bthing to increase their anxiety at a
~ irving moment.
During his last night Holmes slept
hly at intervals. lie spent the greater
rt Of the long hours In talking 70 his
bath watch, or in reading. At times
would read his Bible earnestly, and
len suddenly, with petulant move
ent, he would throw the book from
m and busily go over the stories in
10 papers relating to himself, which
has so often read.
The mans appetite continued good
Ia he ate hearty breakfast. Father
kily, his spiritual adviser, at s a. m.
I've him absolution.
Holmes was much affected at part
y with his visitors. lie maintained
calm demeanor. There was no bra
Rdo about the man, but only the com
pSure of one who left all hope be
ind. The prison officials said that
dimes composure was forced, anc
bat he was exceedingly nervous anc
hd a fearful dread of death. . 50
ON THE scArFoLp. 4
When the procession arrived on the
faffold on the right was Father
)aily, to the loft Futher McPake. and
kinging up the rear were Lawyer
|otan and Assistant Superintendent
richardson. The little party stood foi
moment, looking down, and then, II
esponse to sign from one of thos'
eside him, Holmes stepped ;forwart
hd spoke. Pallid naturallyNfter hi
Incarceration, there was no other cvi
ence of any fear or disquiet lie spok
owly and with measured attention
every word, tribe low at first, bu
buder as he proceeded, until ever.
|ord was distinctly audible. H.
"Gentlemen.n he said. II have yer,
NV words 10 saw. in fact. | woul
bake no statement Mt this time. ex
ept that bv not spealxing | would ar
lear to acouiesce in life In nv cxecr
lon. only went to say that the e,
ent of nv wrenc.doinps in taking h,
nan life consisted in the DEATHS of tw
somen, they having died atmy han
5 the result of criminal operations.
Eish to also state, howeve
b that there will be n
Misunderstanding hereafter, al
OF guilty of taking the lives of any {
he Pitezel family, the three childrel
+ father, BENJAMIN Il. Pitezel, {
shose death am now convicted an
Or which am to-day to be hanged.
THAT is ALL"
As he ceased speaking, he stepps
pack and kneeling between Fathe
Daily and McPalke, joined with the
p silent prayer for brief minute
wo. Again standing, he shook ii
land of all those about him and the
ignified his readiness for the end.
Holmes win be buried IN philad,
Phia. He had special horror of u
urgeoa's knife. Mr.. Rotan, was pre-
ent at the execution, and immediate
3fser Holmes was cut down and pr
bounced dead, claimed his body, al
sould not permit post-mortem.
Ho!messs according to Father Dali
was fully nrenared for his fate, al
was s neere in his repentauce for t
numerous crimes he had committt
L is said that he wanted to make
etat mc,t from tbeuallows in the fol
pf confession and expression OF
pentance - - M
uar,ran w u.a.,. hatter kno,
L. II n ua,r.as ,sas ono of