Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-17
i5ssesIy willing and ready to meet bis

ol. IW' "hicu was sworn in by
Snefln johnson was as follows Samuel
r. FISHER OF Eilenaale, foreman: j,
?. Lane' Samuel A. Reed George "
patheid, Charles purneli, Albert Pen
per, FL K. Sharp, Joseph W. Hunter.
John /. Wagaman, Robert Short, Franl,
farluw, and Thomas j. Salmops.
After tho jury had been sworn in and
stationed In the yard, Gordy's brothers.
bsnton and John, we're again admitted
70 Inc cell Tho prisoner broke down,
but soon braced up and the three
sang hynius.
Ihe last few minutes bofore the
march TO the scaffoid were spent with
the ministers, who sang and PRAYED
iTegently. DR.. Gilmer OF Philadelphia
was present for the purpose OF making
an examination.
THE MARCH TO THE scAFFoLp.
The march to the scaffold began at
III. 10 O'Clock. Sheriff johnson led the
way and was followed by Pastors l1well
and Collins, after whom came Gordy, sx-
Sheriifs Sharp and Pnrnell at his side.
He was handcuifed, but walked With a
hrm step up the scatfold steps.
When the platform was reached prayer
was offered by the Rev. j. II. S. Ewell.
Aa Gordy stood out boldly on the scat
fold, with his head bowed in prayer, he
bad ministerial appearance.
| At the conclusion of the PRAYER the
doomed man was asked il be had any.
thing iu say. He said be had. and then
reau his statement from manuscript,
which was held up before him by one
OF the ex-sheriffs. He read in dis.
connected manner, aud at times it
was difficult to gather his meaning. He
made general denial of his guilt He
said be never saw the murdered woman.
After making his statement, Gordy
bowed to the spectators assembled in
the Jail yard, and said. Farewell,
gentlemen, to you al'' Then be
turned to those on the scaffold and
bada each ono farewell. Again ad-
dressing the spectators be said
Gentlemen, when you have the love
of God you need not fear death. |
have asked Him for tho last five or six
days to take care Of me. and thank
God He will do it. / thank God that
can stand before you and say fare
well. farewell. :" He bowed reverently
and the spectators, some OF whom we're
moved to tears. replied. Farewell. "
Pastor Ewel's prayer moved many.
He pleaded with God to sympathize
with the relatives of the doomed man
and to have mercy on him who was
about to meet his death.
After GoIdy had spoken his last words
to the spectators. ex-Sheriif Eli Il.
Sharp turned to him and asked him il
he had anything further to suy. to
which be replied that he had not.
THE LAST FAREWELL"
Mr.. Sharp then adjusted the moose,
it being necessary to remove Gordy's
collar in doing 80. As soon as the
moose was in shape and the doomed
mans legs bad been strapped together.
be exclaimed farewell, and the black
cap was placed over his face.
The signal was given by Sheriff
johnson and Deputy George W. Hat
field sprung the trap exactly at 10. 25
O'Clock. Everything worked smoothly
and the body shot down like log. 1t
remained hanging about nine minutes.
At the expiration OF which time Drs.
Robinson and Messick pronounced life
extinct and il was cut down.
The physicians stated that the neck
had not been broken. and that death
was caused by strangulation.
After the jurymen had certified to
Gordy's death, the remains were turned
over to Undertaken Maryil's assistants,
who took 1t in the coffin, which was
placed in the hearse, to Whitesville,
the Gordy homestead.
GAME TO THE LAST.
/. That Gordy died game there is no
question. He was Just as firm at the
last as be ever was, and was apparently
resigned TO his fate.
AS far as is known, none of the doomed
mans relatives saw him die. just be.
fore the execution Gordy sang ANGELS
Hovering Around" with as much force
as il he were attending a campmeeting.
1t is estimate that about 8, 000 people
we're in the vicinity of tho Jail at the
time OF the execution, but there was no
demonstration.
THE BEST OF ORDER PREVAILED.
When the hearse carrying the coffin
and body passed out of the gates, the
crowd surrounded il but did not inter.
fere in the least. Throughout the exc
cution the hest of order prevailed in
the town, although some boys on the
outside of the Jail were a tritle noisy.
Ex-Sheriff Eli r. Sharp, in comment.
ing on the affair afterwards. said :"The
people deserve credit for their de.
meanor. The execution was as COM
plete as could be imagined, and was a
creditable job for Sheriff johnson and
his assistants.
Ex.Sheriff Sharp had performed the |
operation once before. He banged Joseph |
Benton. oolored, in 1872. Mr.. Sharp |
informed The Gazette's representa-.
tive that while he was placing the stran |
around Gordy's legs he could feel that |
the mans nerves were forcing him, and |
had he been kept on the scatfold much |
longer ii is believed he would have col |
lapsed.
Dotectjve Witsil and 90 deputy
sheriffs we're in the veranda of the Jail,
but they had no trouble with anybody.
Ex-Sheriff Sharp gave to one of the
men handkerchief which
he had used TO wipe Gordy's eyes be-
fore the cap was placed over his face.
Many people came down from Will
mington and other places up the road
gu the II. 30 train, With the expectation
of seeing the execution, but they were
An hour too late and some were dissap-
pointed.
At o. clock the jail yard gates were
thrown open and the people we're allowed
to pass in and out and view the scatfold.
All the afternoon the yard was crowded.
IT was matter of comment that
neither the sheriff nor any of his
assistants were affected by the execu-
tion. All stood the ordeal wonderfully
well,