The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-18

II anything were needed to convince
the Lawmakers Of West Virginia Of the
necessity of abolishing public hangInss
they would but have to read the accounts
of the hanging of John Morgan that
were telegraphed to the metropolitan
papers to be Impressed with The fact that
the state is getting an unenvlable no.orl-
ETY. in the county at large.
The mere fact that the hanging was
Witnessed by thousands Of people drawn
from the surrounding country through
morbid curiosity, as pointed out by the
Intelllgancer in a previous article, is not
the only harm that is done The adver-
tissment that the state gets in the papers
of the great cities Of the country Is OF
character calculated TO cause every
citizen of this magnificent common
wealth to blush for shame. The outside
papers, which have gone into the details
Of gone of the features connected with
the hanging, have done favor TO the
state II the unpleasant notoriety growing
out Of the publications should result in
an abandonment of public hangings in
every county in the state, even before the
legislature has the opportunity to cor
rec. the evil.
In order that the public In West Vir-
glnIa may obtain an idea OF the character
Of advertising the state is receiving
through the outside press, In connection
with public hangings the Ih,elIigeneer
quotes the following extracts from the
special report by staff correspondent
OF the Pittsburgh Dispatch;
The spectacle In Itself was 2 mighty
protest against public executions the
intelligent men IN the crowd were I'M
pressed with this sentiment, and Sheriff
j. O. Shlnn win Join In the agitation for
n change In tho custom OF making a
hanging holiday Tor the people In this
state.
Men, women and children from the
mountain and the plain gathered about
the grewsomc scanold, and with varying
emotions watched every detail The
procession from the ancient and dlngy
Jail and courthouse 70 the gallows re-
sembled cayalcadc,
The simple engine Of destruction was in
plain view OF the priaOnrr for at least a
quarter Of mile o. bis last ride. Falurs,
hawkers OF cheap wares ana gamblers
pllod their tra1es with tho crowd in front
Of the court house while the preachers
were holding religious services IN the
jail and preparing Morgan for death
Profecutlng Attorney Seaman denounced
them as buzzlrdB who thrive on ctrriOn;
but this did not trouble the pbeln auc-
tloncCra OF cheaper ihWdIF Mr. SEAMAN
forced the fakim who dil MY hnyn the
state and city license 10 fkcdaddlc. u ~
such exhibitions mat make pubic hang
ings odious
Tho people VINO had come from Ohio
rnd adjoining counties IN Wos. virginia
were well behaved. but most or them
were armed and determined. a few %
Che hardy mOuntaluH1r1 carried rill1a
hut not moro than ak Wlnchrst'rB were
noticed 10 the hrnF.
ItlBnot pleasant 90 read In the pdpnrs
~ other si1lei that such scenes were
witnessed in our own nor "a II pleasant
to read tie editorial comments N these
pnnffr upon ouch things ! r. not con.
duelye 20 our advancement! 10 have lt
mil.Hot Wcu virginia wh.cn made
sueh wonderful Flr1.1 in boz industrial
dsyaiepneHt. aad mrkHg hor way 10
her standing among the greatest Of her
grau 90 eniigh'cnment wealth and
r.gral proRregsiysneSs, 10 deficient In
thlP one particular
We believe that public SonuaSgt will