Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-07
The Murderer Of Ida Crummel Executed
at New Castle Friday Morning.
BABE THE GATHERING GOODBYE
Declared He Was Going Home
to Glory.

New Castle, Jan. |. Edward Wright,
colored, who cruelty murdered his
sweetheart. Ida Crummel, in Whining
ton on July Both. 1896. was banged In
the Jail here at 1922 o'clock this
morning.
At 10 o'clock the Revs. G. Ii. Har,
man of Mt. Joy Church and G. l.. JEFF.
ferson of Gilbert Presbyterian Church
OF Wilmington, the Rev. r. Nj. Munson,
LII d.. of Emmanuel Church of this
city and the Revs. @. j. Hall and S.
M. Ambrose were in attendance upon
the condemned man. Mr.. Jefferson
was the choice of his spiritual adj
viaers. and to him Wright seemed to
Lean.
At 10. 10 o'clock Sheriff Finn on
tered No. 10 cell and there read the
death warrant, after which services
were conducted until 10. 80. when the
march to ths scatfold hogan. After
the reading of the warrant, the hymn
'Jesus, Lover Of my SOUL was sung.
Itnwas followed by prayer by DR..
Munson. The hymns II Am Saved''
and ~ Have Anchored My Soul were
eung, the prisoner joining in with a
loud voice.
At 10 30 the sheriff stepped from the
cell. He was followed by Wright. I'm
mediately back OF him was CHIEF Night
Warden John Hance The jurymen
marched in the following order: Fore
man John M. Clay James b.
Tnman, Secretary Fl. @. Mahaffy.
james F. Finn, James B. Hance,
Massey, David Leach, Robert McFariin,
ex.Sheriff GilIis and William H. Hunt.
The jur, formed semi-circle by re-
quest Of the sheriff. The following
persons were on the platform Of the
scaifold: The Revs. F. M. Munson,
LII. d., G. Il. Jefferson, G. Ii. Har-
mon, G. j. Hall and S. M. Ambrose.
Charles Simmons of the Salvation
Army, and ex Sheriff Simmons, Chief
Night Warden John Hance and Capt.
Rulings
After brief prayer by the Rev. G.
i. Jefferson, Wright said: GOOD. bye,
everybody. l am going to glory. Good.
bye, everybody. l hope to see you all
there. - At the conclusion Of Wright's
brief address those on the scaffold sang
''Jesus, Lover OF My Soul" and while
the hymn was being sung Capt. Rulings
adjusted the MOSS. The black cap
was placed over the doomed mans
head 10y Warden Hance, and at 10. 30
Sheriff Finn, with broad axe, cut
tut ToDb, dh tno WoEdb is0Cbtf6 my
Houl' dropped from the, lips of the
clergymsn.
The moose, which had been placed
behind the left oar, slipped back of the
neck and was forced up on the spinal
cord and death ensued from strangula-
tion.
The head moved several times and
the legs contracted. This was due to
muscular contraction.
Deputy Coroner Chandler was present
and took charge of the body at IL. 05,
at which time the physicians pro-
nounced life extinct.
DIR. j. j. Black, Jail physician, and
Drs. c. Russell Jakes. II. II. Spruance,
II. W. Briggs, William McCabe, }. P.
Pyle and William Y. Miller took turns
in examining the heart and pulse. At
TO- 43 DR.. Back stated that the man
was dead, although his pulse beat
family until H. AZ.
Nothing unusual occurred in con-
nection with the execution. When the
rope was cut by the sheriff the body
dropped straight down.
Interment was maids in Potter's field.
E. Il. Cochran, Jr.. who had de-
Tended Wright visited him before tho
execution. The prisoner thanked Mr..
Cochran for his efforts and bade him
good bye.
To the Rev. @. L. Jefferson Wright
had stated that he freely forgave all
who had done anything against him.
lie did not wish any harm to anybody.
He also desired to thank Sberiffs Finn
and Gould and ellis for their kind
treatment: also the wardens and Daniel
Miller.
Yesterday was visiting day at the Jail
and in consequence of the hope of those
persons rightfully termed the morbidly
curious OF seeing the scaffold on which
Wright was to hang. the attendance
was much greater than for many years
past on visiting day.
The closing Of the Knowles wooden
mills helped to swell the crowd to a
great extent and throughout the entire
day continuous stream of visitors
kept the wardens busy answering the
bell call and locking and unlocking the
doors to the entrance of the Jail. 1t is
estimated last evening that at least 800
persons had viewed the scaffold.
When the carpenter, Can't Israel ID.
Rulings, completed the building of the
steps leading to the scaifod yesterday
morning, Wright was appraised of the
fact, hut he did not seem to pay much
attention to the matter aud simply
said: 1T will not be long before all
will be over with, and then | will be
hapry with Ida. | have no wish to
stay here. | have made my peace with
my God and am ready to go home"
Among those who visited tho con
demned man yesterday was Gabriel
Scott, colored, who was born and raised
III the same town, Graftsboro, Va.
They had not met for 10 years and their
conversation was principally in relation
to their childhood days, when, as Wright
expressed it, they were "pickaninnies I"
They dwelt but little on the most i'm
portant matter, that of the departure
of one of those interested in the CONVEX
sation to the other world. Finally be
fore saying goud-hye to ca h other
Scott asked Wright what he wished
him to say to his tWright's) mother,
and for the first time since his incar-
ceratiop did be appear to break down.
The emotion lasted but for moment and
then disappeared and Wright again re-
sumed bis demeanor of the past which
has been firm and stolid, ne apparently
fearing neither the hangman's moose
nor the great hereafter
Five colored preachers from different
parts of the State were present at vari-
Gus times during the day and conducted
religious services. Six colored women,
exhorters, and missionary were also
present and ATTEMPTED to ipcucate into