The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-04
SIN FURNISHING ITSELF.
Afraid 10 Appear Before The Bar Of Human
Judgment.
]. B. S1LhfItLD HANGS BlASELP.
yuder seven Indictments for Bnrning, ana
Guilty Of other Violent Acts, lie
Quietly and Ingeniously Took
His Own Life.

HOUSTON. VA. March Especial
]. r.. stanneld. who was confined In JAIL
here for housc-burning in this county.
an account Of which was published IN
The Times in January last. committed
suicide last night by hanging himself
lie used a valisc-strap and parts of The
sheet from his couch for the rope.
lie attempted to XIII himself soon after
his arrest by cutting his throat, but
failed. and since that time every pre-
caution has been taken 20 prevent his
ending his own life. Nothing was al
lowed 10 be given him in jail by which
IL was thought that nc could accom-
plish that purpose.
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
His vaiise was searched before being
delivered to him. but the strap was leit'
and he used that for a moose As the
cell was too low 10 allow "a iall the
length Of his whole body, ne tea ms
feet TO his back. after fastening the
moose around his neck. and attached II 10
an iron bar al the top OF the cell, and
then arranged to remove a chair upon
which he stood 10 tie the strap, ana
fell and was stranglcd 10 death.
lie was so quiet in his arrangements
thar none Of the other prisoners ~ Jal!
knew what WAS going on until ne was
found dead this morning.
lie wrote letters 10 each OF MS coun-
sci. but l have not learned what they
contained
lie belonged TO a prominent ana re-
spccted family. and is believed TO have
been insane
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
HOUSTON. VA. March Especial. -
One Of the most deliberate suicides
known 10 the world occurred last nigh;
in the Jail al Houston Halifax county
j. b. Sianneld. under seven indct-
ments for incendarsm. tore MP sheet
measured the distance from the ho0r
and fastened the end of the twisted
strips to the top OF the iron grating OF
his cell. To this he attached strap.
probably used TO hold his clothes around
the neck. having previously run the strap
through the buckle. The moose was
thus ready and securely fastened.
Then he tied back each foot 10 the
upper part Of the leg. lie placed the
moose around his neck. and drawing
himself up on the side Of the cell high
enough TO get sufficient fan. swung loose
and ohoked himself 90 death.
DOOhED IN Ills CELL.
when the Waterman went into the in
ncr jail this morning he looked in the
criminals cell. and not seeing him on MS
bed. supposed that some plot was st
work against the life Of the jailer. fol-
lowed by the effort 10 escape. Feeling
for his pistol. and finding II ready. he
Investigated moro closely and was start
led 10 see hanging from the iron ceiling
what seemed TO the trunk OF man, with
half his legs smpntated Closer inspec-
toned revealed the situation above de-
scribed.
The news spread rapidly through the
town. ana 10y 10 o'clock everybody knew
IT. When the Lynchburg and Durham
train arrived. at 9;26 \. NJ. the con
ductor and hTakcmen We're very anxious
Ia hear "thc particulars showing that
the wires had already speeded the news
far and near.
HIS TRIAL.
The trial Of Standcld had beer set for
last cOurtday. the fourth Monday iu
February, but a continuance was grant
Cd in order to secure important witnesses
from Cincinnati. Now the case mas been
moved. at the criminals own motion and
decision. TO the supreme Court of the
universe.
He was 10 undertake 10 prove insanity
as a defence. and had employed some 81
our ablest lawyers. His intensely ma
licious temper. his revongeful nature, his
frequent acts OF destruction of his own
property. and the burning OF buildings
were some OF the evidences 10 be offered
Of an unbalanced mind An additional
instance was more conclusive than any
of the foregoing. They showed the spirit
OF revenge natural to criminals, but this
one indicates clearly an unbalanced mind
WANTED TO ANSWER INGERSOLL.
lie took five hundred dollars Of the
hard earnings Of several years. went TO
Cincinnati rented an opera-house, and
advertised that Colonel John 3. Stan
field would lecture in answer 10 lnger-
soil. He Ind no audience. ana last all
his money. II would te proper and
right FOR an educated man. OF logical
mind and good abilities. 20 answer this
inndel-for-money, nut in the case Of an
average farmer. between thirty and forty
years of age. with no learning or plat
form experience. st appears good cyl
dence Of insanity then. II not before.
This occurred just before his last at
tempt TO burn, when he was wounded
and captured.
This attempt TO take his life is the third
that he has made. and there will be no
more.
4 WElGIlTY MORAL.
The moral is weighty-thc end OF had
life. sin furnishing Itself Its effect on
the peace and good order Of the county
Will hc lasting in its beneficial results.
When the courts hang or imprison
criminal the public mind is somewhat
turned from the crime and the criminal
To the agencies used by The majesty OF
the law but when man. fleeing from
his own conscience. fears TO so before the
bar OF human Judgment. ana prefers with
his own hands 10 hurl himself. "A muir
dcrcr. into the presence OF his God. the
crime stands out with boldest front and
most horrible mien. This should be the
<Narf ,f all tuIf.fal ppDish menf de-