Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-03
TOUCHING SCENE In A CELL
Gordy's Farewell to His Mother
and His Children.
AGED WOMAN BOWED BY GRIEF
Sobbed When She Heard Her
Son Sing.
Had Intended to Ask Gov. Tunneli for
Ciemency, bnt Executive Was Not In
Georgetown When She Came-work on
the scaffold TO Begin Next Monday.

Georgetown, May 3o.-A few nights
ago Jalnes NJ. Gordy, who is TO be
hanged here June llth for wife murder,
called the Jail ,watchman TO him and
offered to pay $4,000 IT the watpbmnn
would help. him to escape. lie said the
money was ready. As soon as morning
came the watchman reported the matter
to Sheriff johnson.
The sheriff has drawn the special jury
which is to be present at the banging,
as the law requires that Jurymen drawn
for such cases shall be given 10 days'
notice. Three Of them live in this
town and the remaining nine are from
other parts OF Sussex county.
Messrs. Charles L. Purnell and George
W. Hatfield of Georgetown, and ex-
Sheriff Eli r. Sharp Of Lewes have
been selected by the sheriff to take the
! prisoner from his cell to the scaffold on
tho day of execution. Mr.. Sharp was
sheriff when Joseph Burton, colored,
was hanged here about % years ago.
AS the time for the execution draws
near the relatives Of Gofdy seem to
realizs more kaenly the situation and
have renewed their etforts4to save the
| prisoners neck, hut from present ap-
pearances all their hopes willbe blasted,
| as the Governor has refused TO Interfere
In any way with The sentence OF the
court Gordy seems unconcerned and
aays he ia only GLAD that the time is go
near lie sent messages to. two marble
cutters at Laurel a few days ago. saying
that be wanted "hundred-dollar
monument" erected over his grave in
tine family burying ground near Laurel,
but unless the family sees DIT TO comply
with his request it is likely that his
desire will not be Carried out by the
marble cutters, as they learned later
that Gordy had no money TO pay for the
work.
Gsurgetown, June 1.-For the last
time on earth the two little children
and the aged mother OF James NJ.
Gordy, the condemned wife murderer,
visited him to-day. They met him in
| his little cell and the meeting betwesn
mother and son was more beartrenhing
even than their first meeting.
The mother bade her son goodbye
with tears streaming down her cheeks,
but the murderer simply shook her
hand as If she were going away for only
a few days. His two little hoys, aged
| " hId y 1onibt 'osDpttiNci1Ioid nv uOptu
TO reaize their father's position, and
az he took them IN his arms and planted
\ farewell kisses upon their cheeks they
did not know that they would never
look upon his face again.
As soon as hiR visitors entered the
| jail yard Gordy began singing hymns,
and as they fell upon his mothers ears
she broke into sobs which could be
heard a considerable distance away.
She brought Gordy come fried chicken,
cake and preserves, and they all took
dinner together in the little cell. Mrs.
Gordy asked Gods blessing upon her
son and committed him 10 His care and
keeping. The scene not only brought
tears to ths eyes OF the death watch.
but 10 the eyes OF many Of tho prisoners
confined in the Jail.
Mrs. Gordy came here to meet Gov.
Tunnel and to ask him to commute
her son "a sentence to life Imprisonment,
but the Governor was not in town, and
she did not see him.
Sheriff johnson has decided to have
the scaffold erected in the northeast
corner of the jail yard instead of the
northwest corner, as at first decided
upon. and this change will not give
Gordy chance to witness the erection
OF the structure. The lumber for it has
been received and the work will begin
upon il next Monday.
Gordy looks well, has a clear COM
plexion, seems bright and cheerful an d
appears not to trouble over his future.
Many believe that he still has hopes ni
cheating tho gallows and woul,i not ne
surprised il he should take his life be.
fore June llth, the date of the hanging.
Gov. Tunnel. while 10 this city
Tuesday was asked about the state.
ment regarding the calling out of the
State militia ON the day of the rxecu,
tion OF james NJ. Gordy. He stated
that he had received request fol
troops but at present he had no inten
tion of calling them out. lie further
considered the matter a reflection or
the people of Sussex county, who were
known to be peaceable and law ahidinf
citizens. He also said that he fehret
no trouble at the execution. Attorney.
General White, who was also in town,
said that be did not make the reques
but it was made by Sheriff johnson.