The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-02
GORDY'S LAST FAREWELL
Touching Visit of His Family to the
Condemned Mans Cell.
The Murderer Bids Eternal Good
Byes To His Heartbroken Mother
and His Little Children.

Georgetown, Del, June 2.-As the time
for his execution approaches murde rer
James L. Gordy is going through a very
distressing ordeal Yesterday he was Wis
tied by his his mother, his two little boys
his father-in-law and nephew.
The older members OF the party came
here for the purpose OF seeing Gov. Tunnel
| and making one last, earnest appeal to
the executive TO commute the sentence of
their wretched relative to life impriSun-
Inent. The governor is one of the directors
OF the Farmers Bank here, and usually
meets with the hoard on Tuesday, but he
did not come today, so that the Gordys
did not have the opportunity to interCede
with him.
The entire party spent most OF the day
in the little cell on the second floor cf
the jail in which their kinsman has spent
the past four weeks, and from which he
will come III a few days to receive the
hangmaa's moose.
1t was the last visit Gordy's mother and
thetwo little boys will make to the jail, and
the meeting and parting were particularly
touching. The children are too young to
appreciate to the full extent the awful
situation of their father, but the aged
mother, who had hoped that executive
clenency might interfere to save the neck
OF her youngest boy, realized that he is
beyond hope.
As the aged mother approached the
dilapidated old structure she broke down
and the little child OF the con de mned man
took her hand and affectionately guided
the steps which were made uncertain 10y
the tears that blinded her eyes. After
tie little party had reached the cell the
vaiiinG sobs OF the bTokenheaFted mother
over her hayward son were distinctly
heard outside the enclosure.
The scene visibly affected the other
members of the party and the prisoners
attendants who were present, but the
guard stated afterward that the central
figure Of the little group, the murderer,
was totally unmovcd.
The mother and children spent almost
the whole day in the dingy little cell
They had brought basket of food. The
intention was that at dinner time there
should tie last gathering of the family
group about tie table. But when the
time came the delicacies were untouch-
ed. Not one of the solrowful co mpany
could touch the food, and it was left for
the prisoner.
When the time came for the last sad
farewell, Mrs. Gordy threw her arms
about her sons neck and implored the
blessing and the protection and the ;ove
of kind Heavenly Parent upon the son
which she was leavingin His care.
The boys climbed into their father lap
and kissed him goodby for the last
time, and the heavy iron door OF the cell
closed from sight forever the one who
had been so much to them. The little
tots brought from the Jail with them
several little articles which the fellow
prisoners of their unfortunate father had
made for them.
AS soon as his visitors left he at
Cnce began to sing at the top of his voice,
as if he desired to cause the impression
Co those outside that he was unconcerl-
ed, but the ruse failed. He could not
keep the tune of the hymn he attempted
to sing. Always before his singing has
been as true as if he were a thorough
master of music, but after a short effort
he became quiet