The Charlotte Democrat., 1897-02-11
MONROE JOHNSON
HANGED TODAY.
Pays the Penalty of His
Crime.
HE PROTESTED HIS INNOCENCE.

utes--f1is Neck Was Broken by the
Fall--The Execution Private but
Large Crowd Gathers at the Jail.
Monroe johnson was hanged Mon
day morning.
To the last he protested his inno-
cence, and said he died with a clear
conscience.
CROWD AT THE JAIL.
The Jail yard and porch were
packed with people curious to catch
any glimpse or get any rumor of |
what was going on inside. Wagons,
carriages and all kinds Of vehicles |
were massed in Mint street in front |
of the Jail, and the street for two |
blocks was pretty well filled with pee |
pie.
All the morning the Sheriff was
besieged with applications for ad-
mission to the hanging, but the
crowd was limited, and the tickets
gave ont hours before the hanging
occurred.
The Sheriff issued permits to the
doctors, policemen, newspaper re-
porters, and q numoer of citizens
white and colored.
The crowd was gathered in the
upper corridor of the Jail half an
| hour before the execution occurred.
THE NEW GALLONS.
The new gallows was erected in
the corridor, the rope being suspend
ed from large beam, the ends of
which we're firmly fixed in the brick
work of the walls.
The gallows was built by Mr..
Frank Horah. 1t was of pine, seven
feet high, the trap being six feet ten
inches above the floor.
This gibbet was made in new
style. Instead of having a rope
} knot, which had to be cut with an
axe, the platform was held in place
by trigger, which was connected
with an iron lever. When the lever
is pushed in, the trigger is sprung
and the trap falls.
= THE DOCTORS PRESENT.
: DIR. D. O'Donoghue and DIR. Fl.
l NJ. Wilder, who have attended every
hanging here since 1880, were pres
ent.
DR.. E G. Register and DR.. Mon
: roe Mccoy were there.
DR.. E. @. Houston, one of the in
strucsors 10 the medical department
u = of Davidson College, was present.
Sheriff Monroe, of Rowan county,
was present by invitation of Sheriff
Smith.
TALKED WITH JOHNSON.
y Rev. R. H. Simmons. the colored
!. Methodist Presiding Elder, had ;
+ talk with johnson that mornln
4 johnson told him he was innocent o.
! the crime of which he was convicted
g He said he was willing to die, bu
% that he bore no animosity agalns
any one, and was "resigned to th
will of God"
ON THE sCAFFOLD.
III At 11:1O the door to the cell
ie e opened and Sheriff Smith walked IN
u with johnson behind him, and wit
them the priest, Father Francis.
10 johnson mounted the scatfol
le stairs, an officer holding each arm
He was very nervous and held bach
Ia having to be forced to the platform
% Father Francis and Sheriff Smlt
81 stood on the scaffold with the con
a. demned man.
~ The light came dimly through tn
&c narrow grated windows. The crow
! was breathless, while Father Franc
~ read the prayer for the dying.
81. go, my God, am heartily sorr
a. a. for having offended thee" repeate
az Johnston after the priest.
eu When the prayer was done he kls
ed the cross.
no JoHNsoN's LAST WORDS.
~. "Johnson has asked me to spea
ds to vou." said Father Francis, "but
o as ked him to address you himself
le- johnson spoke in a low ton
he scarcely above whisper.
yas "Sheriff, you are hanging an inn
tes cent man." he said, and then told tt
nd crowd he was innocent, and expect'
ar to go to heaven.
ed "God bless you," he said to Faith
ain Francis.
he Father Francis descended t
len scaffold stairs.
ere johnson called him back agai
,ad and said in a low tone, "God bic
the you ,
ity "Good bye; farewell" said t
the priest. :,
led I'VE will meet you in glory" sa
md johnson.
Ok Just as the Sheriff was placing t
he moose around his neck, Father Fra
he els was called back again, and Joh
10 son sent a message to his wife, a
nce again kissed the cross.
Thy FIXED THE BLACK CAP
en- Sheriff Smith adjusted the no'
9re: around his neck, fixed the black c
ack over his head, and told him to remi
lee still on the trap just in that posltlt
un- The Sheriff descended the stal
this which were taken away, and Johns
rlty was left alone on the scanOld, 1acl
death and waiting moment for
Why plunge into eternity.
not His arms were strapped to
the body, and in bis left hand he he'll
and handkerchief.
that THE TRAP SPRUNG.
ant At11:19 the block was knocl
&C, out, Sheriff Smith pushed the Il
sVeo lever, the trigger was sprung
the trap swung from under JoI
sons feet.
i.os He shot downward four feet n
gen inches.
e1- His neck was broken by the f
liver There was no writhing or tw
~ ~ Ot Ot ing, and hardly spasmooie twl
,r,e5 of the body.