The morning times., 1896-06-26
FORD SLEPT AND PRAYED
Condemned Man Passed His
Last Night Quietly.
BADE HIS WIFE GOOD BYE
Rev. DIR. Roberts Slept In the MUIR
derer's Cell and Aided Him in His
DevOtions = Execution VIII Take
Place This sForenOOn-But Few VIII
Be Admitted.

Irwin Ford will hang today. Sometime
between the hours o: 10 and O'Clock the
murderer of Elsie Kreglo will pay for that
young life with his own, and the last chapter
written in one of the most horrible crimes
that has ever shocked tile District of
Columbia.
Ford passed bis last night on earth pretty
much as do all condemned men.
He did not sleep soundly, and his oc-
casfoDal maps were. divided by moments
OF prayer and spiritual consolation. The
only other occupant of his cell WAS Rev.
John Roberts. his spiritual adviser The
clergyman reclned on u cot In the cell
where Guiteau paced away his last
minutes, and where Howard Schneider
Deryously started ut the slightest sounds
that rang through the stone corridors.
Early IN the afternoon Mrs. Ford. the
assassins wife. his child, and Mrs. Baker
his sister, paid him their last visit. The
farewell was touching. Ford begged them
TO pray for his soul. He beseeched them
not to allow his child to forget him, but to
tell 1T that he died Christian.
He talked more to them than anyone
else. and except-to DR.. Roberts, had little
to say to others.
CONDEMNED MANS SUPPER.
He partook OF a supper of eggs. toast, and
tea at o CLOCK, and received the clergy
man IN Ills cell about 6. The latter pre-
pared 10 stay with his charge until morn
ing. The evening was begun by ScrpturaI
reading, followed by prayer, delivered by
Or. Roberts. Another Biblical reading and
Ford knelt by lis cot and PRAYED,
he reaiized that eternity was near. and
nis prayer was an appeal for his pardon.
reward O'Clock he fell into a light
doze.
The death watch alternated through the
night AT o'clock. captain OF the watch.
Smith, was relieved by Perry who came
Off at 10 O'Clock. The others who sat at
the condemned mans cell door We're Guards
Bovee and Mitchell.
After sleeping less than half an hour
Ford awoke with start, his eyes show
ing that he was evidently for the moment
unconscious or his surroundings. Then he
realized his position. His spiritual belper
had not been asleep and quickly an
preached Ford, who signified an inten-
ton TO resume his prayers Once only
did he break the awful stiffness Of the
night and then in subdued tone he sang
Nearer to Ny God to Thee
SLEPT AND PRAYED.
Altogether it was one OF the quietex
nights preceding a hanging for some time
At the execution of Howard Schneider
the corridors were thronged with news
paper men and telegraph Instruments
Kept up never ceasing clicking
No one was allowed 10 speak to Ford. and
only Rev. Mr.. Roberts conversed with him
at all. Toward midnight the prisoner again
dozed off and slept for i bout an hour, when
his prayer again began. This aIternated
through the night, aad the breaking OF day
found the murderer on his knees in ex-
actly the same attitude as when night en-
yeloped his cell.
At Undertaken Winslow's preparations
went on last night. The coffin OF handsome
black walnut was On exhibition in the un-
dertaking establishment and throngs OF
colored people vlewedit. MIR. Winslow was
in re ceipt last night or a letter from Warden
Leonard telling him to have the coffin at
the Jail at o'clock this morning and TO
return at l o'clock, when the body would
be given him.
II is believed that the execution will
take place about II O'clock. The galows
stands IN the corridor, and the rope has
been prepared.
Very few permits have been granted by
the warden, who will make the execution
as quiet as possible.