Evening star., 1896-02-14
CALMLY AND BRAVELY
Patsy Harris Goes to His Death
Smiling.
AN EXHIBITION OF COURAGE
The Crime for Which He Was
Executed Today.
II Is l. 4 ST LETT ERS

John. alias Patsy Harris, the young COLI
ored man VINO murdered Matthew spruelL
colored, the 4th of last July, was hanged at
the District Jail at IL 1854 o'clock this MORN
ing.
The sentence of the law was carried ont
In the presence of the smallest number Of
spectators ever present at an execution
here, and the unfortunate man was sent
calmly and smilingly irto eternity just four
minutes from the moment Warden Leonard
entered his cell and announced that mis- end
was at hand. Indeed, the warde, estab-
!ished two records IN carrying into effect the
awful penalty, restricting the number of
spectators to those authorized by law to be
present, and executing the sentence in the
shortest space of time in the history of the
District Jail.
His Last Night.
Harris last night on earth was spent as
calmly and peacefully as if lons JOYOUS
life was his, and not death, fgnominious
and horrible, On the morrow. About
o'clock last evening he drew mis- cot up to
the cell door, and, throwing himself down
upon it, he talked for two hours with the
death watch. He spoke Of his past life, of
his mother, wife and little one, and of the
life beyond the grave, speaking not only
hopefully, but supremely confident of eter-
pal happiness. He talked too, of everyday
affairs, and never once did his voice or
manner betray the fact that he was a
man in the valley of the shadow Of DEATH
About 10 O'Clock he ceased talking and in
a moment or two was sleeping soundIy and
peacefully.
So he rested until 3 o'clock this morning,
He had scarcely moved until then although
once or twice the night watch saw the con-
demned man smile, ard once they heard
him laugh in his sleep. When he awakened
at . O'Clock he raised himself up ana calm
ly lighted a cigarette He took but two or
three .puffs of it and then in a few mos
ments' time he was sleeping as soundly and
peacefully as before.
Spiritual Consolation.
His spiritual advisers, Fathers Matthews
and Keenan,, had promised to return to him
at O'Clock this morning, and Harris had
expressed a wish to be up some time before
that hour. that he might have his cell
cleaned up and everything in readiness for
the last visit of the clergymen. But so
soundly did he sleep. and so long that at
$50 o clock this morning the death vatch
awakened hlm. He arose at once and
busted himself until the arrival of the
priests In arranging his toilet and cell He
ate his breakfast as heartily as if about to
start out upon loEG earthly Journey, in
stead or one into world unknown Then
the clergyrnen entered the condemned mans
cell and remained constantly at his side
until all was over praying with him. con-
soling him and encouraging him. Little en-
couragement he needed for he was not only
perfectly calm, but as courageous SEEM
ing TO have absolute confidence that his
death would Instantly open the gates of
paradise to him.
Spectators Limited.
Meanwhile crowd of idle, curious peo-
pie gathered ia frcnt of the jail ana on ths
Hills to the north of the prison, vainly
striving to catch a glimpse Of the tragedy
to be enacted within its walls. Many peo.
pie, too. making use of all manner of pre-
texts, endeavored to obtain admission to
the Jail. Warden Leonard, however, was
firm in his announced purpose 10 restrict
the number of spectators to thai author
lied by law, and those who hnd not already
been invited to attend were refused adj
mission to the Jail. The prison vas un-
usually quiet, the three hundred or more
prisoners being seemingly deeply impressed
with the solemnity of the occa sion. But
now and then one of them would start
hymn, and a verse or two of K would he
softly sung. Nearer, My God, to Thee"
was the one most frequently sung, and the
grand old hymn rang out with pathetic
sweetness.
As announced by him several days ago
in The Star, Warden Leonard determined
that only those authorized by law to be
present should witness the execution, and,
outside of the dozen or more policemen and
Jail officials, the number did not exceed
thirty-fiye. The jury was largely composed
of newspaper reporters, and at II 80 they
were admitted to the northeast corridor of
the Jail, where the scaffold stood in readi-
ness.
The Death Warrant.
At II :321s Warden Leonard entered the
cell of Harris and told him that he was
about to carry into execution the sentence
Of the law. The condemned man, who had
arrayed himself in a neat suit of black
leather shoes, was engaged with his spirit
ual advisers the time, but he smiiingly
Informed the warden that he was ready,
Then the death warrant and reprieve was
read to him, while the guards tied his arms
behind him.
Before leaving the cell Harris warmly
thanked Warden Leonard and the Jail Off
cials for their kindness to him, and then
the warden led the way to the scaffod No
man ever walked to his death calmer or
more courageously, and as he walked along
behind the two priests and between Guards
Woodward and Walters, Harris smilingly
bowed to two or three acquain tances while
the clergymen read the service for the dy-
ing, they having administered the last sac
rament to him in his cell.
Harris needed no assistance in the march
to the death-dealing instrument, not even
as he quickly asccnded the steps The
guards quickly placed him on the drop, and
the man laughed as one of them miscalcu-
lated the distance.
The party reached the scaffold at IL :34h,
The officers quickly tied the mans legs at
the knees and ankles, and while they were
so engaged, Harris repeated prayer, the
priests reciting the service for the dying.
Just before the black cap was placed over
his head and face he fervently kissed the
crucifX held before him, and obligingly held
his head in the proper position as the moose
was slipped over it. He was smiling as the
cap was pulled down over his face, and
when all was in readiness and the officers
drew back from the drop, the man stood
erect immovable.
The Fatal Drop.
At just :361s Warden Leonard dashed
his handkerchief, and down, Six feet or
more, Harris shot through the drop. For
a second the body hung motionless, then
was a slight, hardly visible, contraction Of
the legs, and from that time until 1t was
cut down, at 1906 the body hung perfectly
still, even the usual slight swaying motion
not being visible.
After hanging four minutes the body was
lowered foot or two that tho physicians
might examine 1t. The man was unusually
tenacious of life, slight muscular con-
traction of the heart being observable
\ a., @s,,-,s o..