Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-27
JOE FIFE is HANGED.
THE YOUNG NEGRO ExPEATEs nIs
CRIME ON THE GALLOws.
EXECUTION SOON AFTER SUNRISE.
The Condemned Man Hears W
BraveIy, and Meets Death without
His Last Hours I'm Song and PrayeR.

Joseph Fife, the young negro waiter.
who on Wednesday. July iith. made .
brutal attempt at criminal assault upon
young lady at her fathers home. on
Franklin street. and was six days later
convicted in the Hastings Court, was
hanged in the jail-yard early yesterday
morning, beins the first person to pay
the death penalty In Virginia for this
offence.
The execution occurred precisely at
6;2I o'clock, in the presence OF the ofn-'
cials OF the prison, and sixteen minutes
thereafter he was pronounced dead.
Death resulted from strangulation.
The body, Immediately upon being cut
down. was turned over by City-Sergeant
Claiborne II. Epps to the State Anato-
mical Board and after being properly
prepared by Undertaken Bliley, was, un-
der the direction OF the boards secre-
tary, Dr. William T.. Mathews. shipped
on the 1920 Chesapeake and Ohio train
to the University of Virginia, for use in
the medical department there.
SAID HE WOULD TELEGRAPH.
Fife made no public statement from
the scaifold. He was perfectly cool and
| collected however displaying a forti-
tude which bordered on the callous.
and while the moose was being adjusted
| about his neck he turned To Deputy
Ralston, and after expressing desire
TO see his mother, said 10 the official:
II Will send you telegram on the
| 18th OF March"
The execution. though the first 10 oc-
cur during Sergeant Epps's term OF Of
flee, was conducted in a most skilful
manner. The gallows, which was con-
structed by Carpenter Douglass. was In
perfect working order. and not hitch
of any sort occurred.
The sentence Of Judge Witt passed
last month, prescribed that the execution
/ should take place between the hours OF
A. M. and T. noon. and II was Sergeant
Epps's original intention to have the
hanging about 10 O'clock, but Il being
brought TO his knowledge that the oxe-
cution was being extensively advertised
as the means of attracting excursionists
from Norfolk. he determined to have thu
gruesome affair over as speedily as pos
sible. For this reason, the early hour
was decided uion.
HIS FINAb MOMENTS.
The condemned negro spent his last
moments in prayer and song. He was
not Informed as to the hour Of execution
until O'clock. He slept well during his
last night, and shortly before o'clock
Deputy Gil entered his cell and carried
him tho suit of clothes in which he was
to die. Tho first gray streaks of dawn
| were tinting the skies when he was
aroused from his slumbers. and though
| he realized that the sands OF life were
fast passing away. he was in n cheerful
mood and seemed IN no wise chst down
lie greeted the jailer very eifusiycly, and
with great interest Inspected the neat
black cheviot suit furnished him by Ser
geant Epps. When he had d0nnea the
sonbre garb. Revs Scott C.. Burren and
i. Tart were admitted to his cell Tney
prayed and sang with him for more than
half an hour. and Fife himself offered
an impassloned prayer for his mother
and sisters and the jail officials.
DEATH WARRANT READ.
st this juncture tho prisoners father
entered his cell, and shaking the con-
demned youths hand. bade him good
by. beseeching him 10 continue in prayer.
More singing was INDUCED i'm, and at GIL
O'clock Sergeant Epps. entering the
apartment. soemniy read the death war
rant TO no doomed negro Fife vas
handcuffed by Deputies Ralston and
Welslger, and the march 10 the scaffold
was begun. Tho negro ascended the
steps to the structure OF death with firm
tread, and displayed absolutely no emo
| tion Ha took his position upon tho
trap, and his arms and his legs were
quickly bound.
The colored preachers stood beside, him,
and another song-seryice was held. IL
was during this service that Fife held his
conversation with Deputy Ralston. Rev.
Tart then delivered an h9rangue 20 the
small crowd assembled below. The
preacher shook hands with the con-
demned and departed the moose and
black cap being quickly adjusted there
after.
Sergeant Epps gave the signal. and one
Of his deputies stationed In a cell below
pulled the rope whereby the negro was
launched into eternity.
HE SHOWED FEAR.
Fife heard the signal, and before the
drop fell his frame shook with evident
fear. When the door fell the body shot
straight down 10 within eighteen inches
Of the ground. There It hung until when
Y minutes had expired the radial artery
ceased 10 beat. and minutes later life
was pronounced 20 be extinct.
The only untoward circumstance at
tending the execution was the displace-
ment OF the black cap In the drop. This.
: however was soon remedied by Mr.
( Weisiger. who. ascending a step-ladder.
rearranged the cap. and covered from
view the distorted features.
j JAIL PRISONERS EXCITED.
The spectators left the Jail as soon as
the body was cut down, but great ex-
element prevailed among the prisoners
In the building. The women, hearing
the drop fall. gave vent TO hideous
screams, and IL was some time before
= order could be restored among them.
. The body was taken In charge by tho
, | physicians present. and though DIR.
= Mathews was petitioned by the father
: OF the dead negro for the custody OF
. his sons body. he had 10 decline tho
request. inasmuch as the body was then
the property OF the University OF Vir-
ginla lie, however. Informed the dts
9 tressed parent that the University aus
0 thorities might give him tho custody
OF his sons body II he petitioned ther6
:. therefor This the old man said M
:. would do, and with bowed head he len
:. the jail