Evening star., 1897-06-11
Pays Penalty of Wife Murder With
His Life.
PROTESTED INNOCENCE TO TEE end
Large Crowd in Attendance, but
There Was No Disorder.
HE SHOWED GREAT NERVE

GEORGETOWN, Del, June Thames
M. Gordy was hanged in the Sussex county
Jail at 1926 o'clock this morning for the
murder of his wife. Gordy displayed very
little nervousness, and protested his inno-
cence to the last.
1t had been rumored last night that a
party of men were coming to Georgetown
this morning to mob the murderer, but
Sheriff johnson took extra precaution, and
between { and O'Clock this morning he
swore in forty deputies and thirty jury
men, the latter to witness the execution.
AT the same time George Hatfield of
Georgetown, who erected the scaffold, put
on the finishing touches and tested it.
Gordy retired about 10 O. clock last night
and although he was awake several times
during the night, he rested comparatively
well. Nothing of incident occurred during
the night. Gordy arose from his bed about
3 o'clock this morning, apparently much
refreshed from his nights rest A tempt
ing breakfast of beefsteak, ham and eggs,
oatmeal and coffee were sent over to the
jail by order of the sheriff from the Eagle
Hotel, but Gordy refused to touch it, say
ing that he did not want any breakfast.
People Began to Arrive EARLY.
Early in the morning people from the
country and nearby towns began to ar
=,
and by 10 o'clock the town was literally
crowded with strangers. There was no
disorder, however, and the crowd appeared
to be more curious than anything else.
The people appeared to be willing that the
law should take its course.
The most touching scene of the morning
was the visit from Gordys brothers, John
ami Benton. They arrived at the Jail a;
S:3O, with a new suit for the prisoner. As
they entered the cell they wept bitterly.
and the prisoner was somewhat moved
The meeting was touching in the extreme.
and the deep grief of the brothers was
manifest from the outside. They remaneG
about twenty minutes, and while i'll the cell
the prisoner, with loud voice, sang the
hymn. ''There'll Be No More Parting
There
At $50 o'clock Gordy's spiritual advisers.
the Revs. J. II. Sewell. T. S. Cain and V.
S. Collins, arrived at the Jail. They talked.
prayed and sang with the prisoner whi.e
he was not otherwise engaged. Whenever
GOrdy was left alone for few minutes he
spent the time singing familiar hymns.
Donned His New Suit.
After the departure of his brothers he
donned his new black suit, and spent sew
eral minutes arranging his hair. lie
seemed less concerned about his approach
ing doom than any one else connected with
the hanging. To every one who inquired
ready to meet his God
After the jury had been sworn in ard
stationed in the yard Gordy's brothers
were again admitted to the cell The pris
oner broke down, but soon became cain
and bade them a second eood-hy without a
tremor in his voice. The last few minutes
before the march to the scaffold were
spent by Gordy with the ministers, who
sang and prayed fervently.
The march to the galiows began at 1o:i
o'clock. Sheriff Johnson led the way, fol-
lowed by the Revs. SewelI and Collins
after which came GorGy. with eX-Sherffs
Sharp and Purnell al his siie. Gordy was
handcuffed, but walked with firm step Up
the scaffold steps When the platform
was reached prayer was offered by Rev.
]. II. Seweil, Gordy standing with his head
bowed in prayer. All the conclusion of the
prayer the doomed man was asked if ne
had anything 10 say. He said he had, anG
then read long statement, from manu-
script, which was held before him by o..c
of the eX-sheriffs. In this he reviewed the
evidence which had been brought on,
of it.
He read in a disconnected manner. and
at times it was difficult to gather his
meaning.
After making his statement Gordy bowed
to the spectators assembled in the iail ware
and said: Farewell, gentlemen, to you
all" He then turned to those on the scat
fold and bade each farewell. Again ad-
dressing the spectators, he said: Gentle
men, when you have the love of God you
need not fear death. / have asked Him for
the last five or SIX days to take care OF
me. and l thank God He will do it, /
thank God that can stand before you ana
say farewell, farewell"
The signal was given by Sheriff Johnson,
and Deputy George w. Hatfield sprung the
trap al exactly 1925 o'clock.
Everything worked smoothly, and the
body shot down like a log. 1t remained
hanging about nine minutes, at the expira-
ton of which time Drs. Robinson and Mes
sick pronounced life extinct and it was cut
down.
The physicians stated that the neck had
not been broken, and that death was caused
by strangulat:on
After the jurymen had certified to Cor
dy's death, the body was turned over to
Undertaken Marvels. The remains Were
taken to Wh:testead, the Gordy home
stead, for burial this afternoon.
AS far as is known none of Gordy's re!a-
tives saw him hanged. Just before the
drop fell Gor3y sang There Are Angels
lowering ROUND with dis much force as if
he were attending a camp meeting. 1t is
estimated that about 5000 persons We're in
the vicinity during the execution.