The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-08

PHILADELPHIA. May 7.-Herman W.
MudRets. alias H.H. Holmes. was hanged
In Moyamensing prison Ut twelve and .
half minutes after ten O'Clock this morn
ing. That 10 the time she drop fell. 1t
WAS fully q half hour later before he was
officially pronounced dead,
A half minute before he was shot into
eternity he made this declaration to the
solemn asaemblage gathered about the
scAffold:
Gentlemen, have very few words
to say. In fsot would make no re-
marks at this time except that by not
speaking would appear to acquiesce in
my execution. I only wish to cay that
the scss Of my wrong-doing in taking
human life conststed In the death Of
two women, they having died ut my
hands as the result of criminal opera
tions. 1 wish also to state that there can
be. no misunderstanding that 1 am not
guilty OF taking the lives Of any of the
Pietzel fsmily-the three children and
Benjamin, the father-of whose death
was convicted and am about to die for.
Thar 10 all have to say"
IL will be seen that the words were
WoAA Shone IL Aaoy WoEo equally WELL
pronounced. The voice never quavered i;
the hands, clssped on the dark railing
of the scaffold, did not tremble. The
nerve which all along harac terizsd this
marvellous assassin had NOT deserted
him to the very end. AS the last sylla-
BILE fell from his pnllid lips he turned TO
his attorney. Clasping the right hand
OF the young lawyer, Holmes gave him
firm grasp-hrm even at thai terrible
moment-he laid his left on the other
mans shoulder, and, gazing right into
his eyes, uttered in loud voice, "Good
bye"
Then he carefully buttonsd his coat,
nodded to the sheriff, and In an instant
he shot TO death. He was undoub ssdly
the most atolid OF any In that assem-
blage OF fifty odd men. The psllor of
his face was not deeper than the ordi-
nary prison bleach, and he stood erect
gazing steadfsstly before him. until the
horrible black cap shut out his last look
at earthly things.
fully. During part of yesterday priests
visited him and said prayers. In the
afternoon HE lawyer. Samuel P. kotan,
called for shors time. The balance of
the day Holmes occupied reading his
Bible and other devotional books. The
only sign OF defiance he made Just after
she priests left. Am nervous ?" he
demanded. stretching his hsnds out to
Keeper Weaver. They were as stead v
50 rock. Holmes smiled and retired
to the rear of his cell. He declared
that he had never felt better in hislifeJ
Soon after this the priests returned and
remained with him until the end.
AT two minutes after ten O'Clock the
procession to the gallows was begun,
headed by Prison Superintendent Per
kiDs and Assistant Superintendent Rich.
ardson. Fifty or more men, with un-
covered heads made up the solemn pa
rade and halted before the scaffold. The
instrumen, Of death doomed high in the
centre OF the corridor on the first floor
OF the convict side Of the prison. The
platform which stood eight feet above
the level OF the floor was approached by
q flight of stairs.
The witnesses passed around the
structure and faced 1t. An awful silence
fell for moment, then q murmur Of
sound arose from the other side of the
acafold. 1t was the prayers of the