The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-27
FIFE EXPIATES HIS CRIME.
The DOOMED Man Vas Hurled Into
Eternity, but Died Game.
MEYER PLINCHED OR SHOWED FEAR.
He strangled 20 Death Almos. lmmedis
ately-His Body Was shipped to the
University OF Virginia for
Medical Purposes.

who attempted criminal assault upon two
white women i'm this city was hurled into
eternity from the end OF a rope at 6:T
o'clock yesterday morning at the yard of
the city Jai.
The condemned youth never once finch
| ed as he stood upon the scaifoId with
| death staring him I'm the face
once he smiled, and from The time ne
| was led 10 the place of execution he
never showed signs of terror, but died
game. To Deputy Ralston, the negro
| spoke his last words on earth.
| "Ill send you telegram on the lith OF
| March, We're whispered IN tone hdll
| JOcular.
| Through an his trial and imprisonment
up 10 the time of his conversion Inc has
| maintained an air OF defiant stoidity, sell
| dom expressing his thoughts and scarcely
| shedding tear as he contemplated MS
| fatc. And at The last glimpse OK Ms face
| defiance had given place 10 look OF
| pleasant anticipation.
Thus he died and tho stern risor or
| Nirginias intention 20 stamp out crime
| for tine like OF which no suffered, needs
| no further Illustration.
DURING THE NIGHT
The scenes at the Jail during the night
| were peaceful enough.
| to II O'Clock IN conversation with his IA
| thcr after which he spoke chcerlully with
| the dcath watch. Deputy tclsteih ana
| laying down upon his cot slept soundly.
| rrom the Jail Office from o clock
| evening, until . I'm the morning came the
| subdued voices ol the reporters ana JAN
The cool night air in the Office was
| murky with smoke from good cigars ana
| in the dining-rOom several OF sergeant
| Epp's reportOrlal guests were partaking
| OF "A bohemian spread OF good coffee ana
Thus the time passed. toled softly off
| on the night breezes from distant clock
| towers. with eating, smoking, and uncon-
| sclously quiet conversation the men IN
| the office and the court below whiled
| away the minutes, as the dusky object
| of the laws decree IKE "A log. stretched
| at length. in the darkness OF his cell,
! slept the sleep of child.
AWAKENED by THE WATCH.
His father arrived al the Jail early,
| Fife WAS awakened by the death watch
| promptly al o. clock and Deputy Ralston
| carried To- MIN a neat suit OF black The
| prisoner arose ana after performing his
| ablutions dOned the new clothes and
| therein presented neat appearance. lie
| was then given his breakfast eating
| heartily Of an omelet coffee sandwiches
| and tcnderl0in steak that had been pre-
| pared by the 1ails expert chef
Rcys. Todd and Scott Burrcll, presented
themselves at the jail gate al this june
| ture and were admitted, repairing direct
| ly to tho condemned man cell, when
they waited TO accompany the negro 10
| the scaiold
Sergeant Epps ana Deputies Ralston
! and Weisigcr made second test OF the
| rope ana drop, az $3.50 o'clock in thc
| presence Of the reporters ana the police
| detail which consisted of Sergcants Mat
| thcws ANA Otcy and Privatcs Dunnug-
! ton, sutton. Redford Pcndlot0n. Hughes
and SoWolli who had arrived several
| minutes before.
| The rope was passed over the beam for
the last time and Deputy Itaston made
| % secure Then from cell No. H. ON the
HN..H NNH..H
! of which would spring the drop. was
| pulled and the trIp-door fen with clash.
| Deputy Wcsigcr. who is "a 2lO FOUNDER
| then stepped into the moose ana swung
| OFT. bringing lis weight heavily down on
! the rope several times. This was sdtis-
| factory test and the moose v as tossed up
| over the beam ont OF the way. The rope
was one peculiar for its strength, about
| fourteen feet long ANA drop was given
| 10 IL OF about six feet
SINGING AND PRAYING.
Up in Fife's cell the scene was "a weird
| one. Tho gray morning light breaking
| through the iron barred window, the two
| negro preachers with the condemned be.
| tween them sitting ln the semi-darkness,
\ inob of attentive faces cleaning h1Zily
| from the doorway made up an awe iu-
| spring picture. and when the simple
| melody of Rock of Ages arose, all hats
came on ana every head WAS bowed.
| After several songs and continuous cN-
| hlrtatiou of the prisoner. he was invited
| TO pray. which he did with voice that
| betrayed in strength the only emotion Of
| the entire ordeal lie invoked divine re-
mombrauce upon his sick mother and
| blessings for the jail officers who had
| kindly treated him
After more singing and quiet convorsa-
| tiOn the preachers ceased ther dttcn-
| tions ard the cell became quiet. Fife was
| seemingly absorbed in thought, when
| there came an orderly and soft stepping
| little procession headed by Sergeant Epps
! who entered the cell and requesting Joe
] 10 stand up-read the death warrant.
THE WAY TO THE SCAFFOLD.
| Fife smOOthed his attire and after be-
| ing handcuned, treading nOiselessly IN his
stocking feet with Deputy Italston's hand
| on his shoulder ne followed Sergeant
! EpDs out OF the cell, down the corridor
| and steps and with tho small group or
! spectators giving way 10 the scaifOld.
The rest Of the procession was made up
| bv Deputy WcIsiger the two negro di-
| vines Doctors W. S. Gordon and d. W
i poyser and Undertaken Bliley.
In the hands of the deputies rife trod
| braVcly and steadily up the scduOld stairs,
! followed by the preachers.
! Deputy Rllston placed the negro In
| position ON the trap ana with the assist
aucc of Deputy Weisgcr firmly strapped
| the prisoner arms. knees and ankles. lie
| did not finch during the operation, hut
| submitted himself 10 tho deputies VINO,
after removing bis collar and crayat
Scott Burrell al this juncture led the
| singing OF blessed Assurance with Fife
listening iuttmtIV. but mdnlicSing no sign
OF weakness. even smiling pleasantly IN
| stead.
Burrel then read the DIST Psalm. closing
| with a fcrYent prayer.
Rev. Todd closed the religious exercises
| with a short address in which he told or
| fife's recent conversion, and pointed 20
| als cheerfuness in the face of an awful
death as a demonstration Of the potency
! or religion OF Christ.
At the closing OF the preachers words
| Deputy Wesiger adjusted the moose.
| while Deputy Ralston placed the black
| cap over the prisoners head, the two
| stepping back of the trap.
| Fife whispered his strange last sentence
| in the ear OF Deputy RalstOn. and one OF
| the deputies with Mr. Walter Douglass
4 the builder OF the scaffOid. entered fatal
| cell No. II. With "A little iinkle proceed
| ing the drop fell and the soul OF Joe Fire
| entered into eternity AT b.Zl o'clock eX-
A. the noise OF the falling trap a loud
waillne arose from the corridors where
! -..,eral relatives Of the negro were as
! sembled. They were soon quieted how
! ever. - ,--,., .,,,-,
| Fffo aid not move "A muscle alter the
| tran fell and in just sixteen minutes DR..
! Cordon pronounced him dead, the body
! being taken down quickly. lt was convoy
| "a 10 the operating room, where super
| Neial examination by DR. Gordon revealed
| tbe Fact that death had resulted from
strangulatiOn and that the Vertebra was
Tndertaker Bliley took charge Of the re-
mains Immediately and incased in a
| neat coffin. they were taken 10 his under
FI.r