The morning times., 1896-12-19
Murderer Made a Pun as He
Marched to the Scaff0ld.
WAS cool TO THE LAST
Hundreds Saw the Execution of
Margaret browns Slayer I'm MARI
Near the Scaffold With Scant
Ceremony.
.Special to the Times.

Marlboro, Md, Dec. 1S.-James r.
Smith, the murderer Of Miss Margaret
Drown, was hanged today in the jail at
this place. His body was buried in the
yard OF the Jail in the center OF the village
here. 1t was inferred Immediately after
the execution and the earth was thrown
over the coffin with scant ceremony. No
minister officated and the burial was
without the rites OF the church.
The story OF Smiths execution was told
in The Evening Times of yesterday. He
went to his death calmly, and during his
last day on earth the forttude which
he has exhibited since committing the
crime did not desert him. He laughed and
joked with those about him and up to
within fewmoments Of his death appeared
in the very best OF spirits.
The cell on the second floor Of the Jail
seemed TO be the objective point of all
Marlboro this morning. Curious crowds
gathered about the building as soon as it
was light enough to see and Sheriff
Underwood was besieged with petitions
for passes to the execution After break
fast Smith chattcd with the death watch.
This is my last meal on earth he said,
as he finished. Il hope the meals In the
other world VIII taste as good"
INVITED THE SHERIFF TO EAT.
The murderer offered to share his
breakfast with the sheriff but the latter
declined. Smith was by far the most
composed person in the Jail. He had
grown fat and sleek during his incarcera-
ton. His face had filled out and his
skin looked oily and glistened d in thesunlight
which Streamed through the windows.
On the early morning train from l'alti-
more came the colored ministers who bap-
tised the murderer yesterday. They were
the Rev. DR.. BraXton, Rev. John ID. Broadus,
Rev Reuben Parker and Rev. c. K. Parker.
The clerg ymen entered Smiths cell shortly
after o'clock He greeted them pleas
antiy and drawing Il small bible from his
pocket sat down on the edge of his cot
and began to read from the book.
From that time until the hour OF the
execution the murderer spent the time in
I prayer or singing. Occasionally an Of
| fetal from the Baltimore jail would enter
the cell and tle services would be inter
rupted for Il moment while Smith bade his
visitor good-by. Then he singing would
be taken up again and as the ministers
voices rose above the murmuring OF the
| crowd outside the prisoner would drop
| D1tk on MS Cihtttl anu gay dpOut tht
| bare cell as though the entire proceedings
were a good deal of a bore.
SMILED ON THE CROWD.
| Many of the Curious pressed about the
door OF the little room and tried TO catch
glimpse of the prisoner. From time
to time Smith looked up at them and
showed his. seven white teeth in smile
AT 1925 Sheriff Underwood entered
the cell and read he death warrant TO the
prisoner Smith listened Quietly, but ap-
peared to take no particular interest i'll
the proceeding. The murdcrer's hands
| were then bound behind him and at pre-
| cisely 1890 O'Clock Che march for the
scaffold was begun.
As the party left the cell Smith turned
to Or BraXton, who stood beside him, and
said: Il put my trust in Jesus. have
nothing more to hope for on earth
At the top of the stairs, which lead TO
the jail yard, a deputy asked Smith if he
cared for a drink before ascending the
scaffold.
NO" replied the condemned man, If
took it they would say wasn't game anC
could not stand it. It's much better
without
AS Smith stepped into the Jail yard hs
leaned on the arm of Sheriff Underwood
For a moment his eyes scanned the eager
drawn faces which surrounded him; thel
he looked on the ground aud stepped
briskly after the sheriff. As the murdere
turned to ascend the scaffold his toe caught
on a projecting root and he stumbled ant
would have fallen except for the arm O
the sheriff 'Humph," {" he said Il mustn'
fall now. It's not time YETI Then h
looked up at the officials about him ant
| smiled
GAME TO THE LAST.
As the little party ascended the step
the morbid crowd pushed forward unit
those in front were literally forced on t
the lower steps. Bearded men of siXt
jostled boys of ten, who stood gazing, open
mouthed, at the prisoner. There wer
women in the crowd who laughed an
| giggled historically and struggled to gt
nearer the gallows.
The hundreds who had perched them
selves ON trees, fences. housetops and ever
point which afforded view Of the ga
lows gave up their posts and, vaulting th
. | low board fence which incloses the ia
yard. Joined the throng inside.
1t was the verdict of the crowd ths
Smith oIed game To the very last I'll
| same easy, jaunty, devilmay-care smi
curled his lips, and he carried it with Lii
| to his death.
, Fifteen minutes after the trap was sprun
! the body was cut down. DR.. l.. A Grl
: filth, the Jail physician, assisted by DR.
Sansbury and Gibbons, made an eXamin
, ton and stated that death was due I
strangulation. The rope was removed, I'll
body hastily carried to coffin, placed i
, a grave in the southeast corner of th
Jail yard, and within an hour of the tim
that Smith left his cell the last clod {
earth had fallen on his body.