Evening journal., 1897-01-01
WRIGHT'S EXECUTION
The Slayer of Ida Crummell
Hanged at New Castle.
DEATH ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS

DbAlh AIMOol lNblANIANbUUS
THE DOOMED MAN EXHIBITED
WONDERFUL NERVE - SAID
GOODBYE. EVERYBODY" - A.
STRONG AND FERvENT PRAYER
BY REV c. L. JEFFERSON.
Edward Wright, the young colored
man who killed his sweetheart, Ida
Crummell, was executed in the Jail yard
at New. Castle to-day by Sheriff VIII
liam r. Finn. in fulhllment OF law.
Only the physicians, ministers. jury
to witness the execution and news
paper men were admitted to see the
hanging. and all the outer doors were
fastened for the day. It was
gloomy New Years day in the vicinity
OF the prison, and shadow was cast
an over New Castle by the thought that
man was being put to death
Inside the Jail. about o'clock
this morning. the suppressed hum of
voices of those who had gathered to see
the execution was decidedly funereal
I
the doomed man.
THE FELON A YOUNG MAN.
Wright was scarcely 25 years Old
small in stature OF a neat appearance
and had a short trimmed mustache. lie
/ was very black and his hair was always
closely cut He carried his somewhat
narrow head erect and until his con-
/ version recently had a naughty air.
| He was born I'm King and Queen
county. Va, where his mother still
lives. His brothers and sister have
either never learned of his fate or have
manifested no concern about it.
During the seven years or more Of
his residence in Wilmington. Wright
was steady workman and enjoyed
/ the confidence of bosses and associates.
with whom he co-labored at the Lob
dell Car Wheel Company's Works.
Austin Harrington and r. r. Coch-
ran. Jr., his counsel tried hard at the
trial to convince Wright's jury from
the stand that a long spell OF typhoid
fever so unsettled Wrights brain that
he did not know what he did when he
shot Ida Crummel
THE JURY'S VERDICT.
Sheriff Films special Jury rendered
the following verdict after the hang
ing:
1--WE, the undersigned Jurors. bear
witness that the sentence of Edward
Wright was duly carried into execu-
ton on this, tn first day of January,
1897"
HIS LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
Wright ate a big supper last eveninr
and seemed to take his fate SO much
as matter Of course that he conversed
| quietly with Wardens John NJ. Hance
and Charles +. Bowers. He quietly re-
tired shortly after 10 o'clock and at
1890 dropped into a sound sleep. War
dens Hance and Bowers state that the
man slept soundly until $50 this morn-
ing, when some church bells rang out
for early mass.
WRIGHTS REMARKABLE NERVE.
The prisoners appetite. which has
been strong from the very first day of
his Imprisonment never forsook him
even when almost in the jaws of
death. His breakfast this morning.
Which he appeared 10 enjoy heartily.
consisted of bread. butter, ham. fried
potatoes and coffee. II was served at
$50, under supervision Of ex-Sher-
III Gould.
CLOSETED WITH MINISTER'S.
When the jurors and spectators ar
rived at the prison this morning.
Wright was placed in cell No. TO- and
the blind door closed. Two spiritual
advisers Revs. J. II. Harman and c. L.
Jefferson, of Wilmington ad-
mitted at o'clock and. together with
keys. Samuel Ambrose and G. A. Hall.
remained I'm close and private commu-
nicaticn with the prisoner until a few
minutes of 10 o'clock.
PHYSICIANS IN ATTENDANCE.
Six physicians were in attendance TO
make scientific examinations during
the mans dying moments. Two of
these were the Jail physician DR.. j. j.
Black and his assistant Dr. u. &. Me-
Cabe. The Wilmington physicians
were II. w. Briggs. c. Russell Jakes
Henry r. Spruance, John z. Pyle.
READ THE DEATH WARRANT
AT 10 o'clock Chief Warden Pierce
Gould entered cell No 10, where the
doomed cOlorcd man and his spiritual
advisers were closeted They were
singing we Shall Meet Beyond the
River The ex-sheriff proceeded TO
read The death warrant and Wright
continued TO bear up with remarkable
nerve iIe listened attentively to the
reading of the warrant and manifested
no extraordinary CONCERN.
WRlGHTS GRATITUDE TO MR..
COCHRAN.
Il. II. Cochran. Jr.. counsel of Wright.
who has stood by his client,fTom the
day he was assigned by the court, en-
tered the cell at few minutes of 10
o'clock and interviewed his client for
the last time. Wright shook hands
earnestly with his counsel and said
that he felt perfectly satisfied that
everything that could be done for his
defence had been resortcd TO. Mr..
Cnnhrnn aaLnl him uhat rnnnneta he