Evening star., 1897-03-12

told him that he might look for Matthews
to break down before the hour fixed I
the execution, as his pulse was then at
19D and he was in very nervous condi-
ton. DR.. Clark gave the sheriff some
quieting medicine. which was given the
prisoner en- his trip down.
Matthews told the sheriff last night that
he did not want any supper, merely a cup
of strong coffee, which given him.
Later he talked while with his guard
soon asleep.
Extra Deputies Sworn I'm.
Rumors having been put in circulation
that efforts would be made by lawless per-
sons to tear down the fence surrounding
the Jail so that the execution could be
witnessed by the public, requisition was
made by the sheriff on Governor Lowndes
for muskets and ammunition to be placed
in the hands of deputies to prevent any
such disorder Twenty-Five deputies were
sworn in, and if any such intention existed
II was not shown today.
1t the intention of Sheriff Wade to
bring Matthews to the county Wednesday.
and he went to Baltimore for that purpose,
but he was informed by Jail Warden Bailey
that the governor objected to his removal
ard he was compelled to come home and
make another trip the following day after
the murderer.
1t is alleged that the objection of the
on a telegram sent him from here by Ad-
jutant General Wilmer that somewhat re-
iected on Sheriff Wade, and that he in
structed Judge Merrick, who is one of the
judges IN this judicial circuit, to go over
to Baltimore with Secretary of State Dal-
lam. and If the sheriff refused to acquiesce
In the governors wish to allow TIE prison.
er to remain in Baltimore until the even
ing before the execution to issue a re-
stra1nIng order against his removal The
sherin was much incensed, and expressed
himself forcibly against Interference in the
discharge of his official duties by the gov
ernor and adjutant general Two detec-
tlves were sent down by Governor
Lowndes. for what purpose it is not
known; and they remained around the Jail
until the execution. They reported to Ad-
tutant General Wilmer upon their arrival
here. according to instructions from the
governor.
Guarding the Jail.
The Jail last night was guarded by five
determined men. one of them being Edwin
T. Adams. who, while deputy sheriff under
his father. ex-Sheriff James A. Adams
several years ago, was one of the guards
In Port Tobacco Jail that successfully re-
sisted and drove away a mob that came
down for the purpose of breaking open the
jail and taking therefrom and Iynching
Marshal Rye, who was there confined
aw aiting trial for the murder of young
heeler popular young school teacher
of Nanjemoy district.
Matthews. in talking of the murder to his
guards and to his spiritual advisers, said
re was truly sorry for the murder he COM
mltted and he hoped and believed that God
Would forgive him for thergreat crime Mr.
Murphy. one of the guards. said the report
published recently that Matthews had ex-
pressed a wish to have loaded gatltng
gun and States Attorney Posey. who prose-
cuted hlm before il was all false: that he
never heard Matthews say an unkind word
against any one, and he believes the man
was penitent and prepared to die.
Matthews' Crime.
The crime for which Matthews suffered
The death penalty was the cold d-blooded and
deliberate murder of James ]. Irwin, who
was shot while lying in bed at his home In
Aliens Fresh on Sunday night August 2
last. After his conviction Matthews con-
fessed the crime and said that he had been
criminally intimate for several years
previous with Mrs. Irwin, the wife of the
murdered man, and that she had met him
on the Friday previous. in company with
her sister, and had told him that Irwin
suspected their relations, and that If he
certainly be waylaid and shot and that
after much solicitation upon the part of
Mrs. Irwin and her sister, he made up his
mind to kill Irwin. and told Mrs. Irwin
that he would come on the Sunday follow
ing and shoot him.
On the Sunday afternoon named Mat
thews started up the Wicomico river. and
rowed distance of nearly twenty miles
to Aliens Fresh, arriving there at about
IL o'clock He hoisted ~back window
went upstairs, where the unsuspecting
man was lying in bed beside his wife and
Killed him by shot in the head from a
doube-barrel gun. and then rowed back to
his home at Rock Point. He was suspected
because of some letters showing an undue
intimacy between the wife of the murdered
man and himself. and with but this clue to
go upon States Attorney Posey. by mas
terly detective work, secured sufficient evil
dence 10 convict.
Mrs. Irwin was tried in Baltimore as an
accessory to the murder, but Matthews re-
fused to testify against the woman 1t has
been alleged, because it would, he thought,
create a favorable impression in his behalf,
and he would thus get his sentence COM
muted to life Imprisonment. IL that was
his motive it proved futile, for the gov
ernor emphatically refused to interfere with
the execution of the sentence