Evening star., 1897-06-04

party we're Lewis spiritual advisers Rev.
Mr.. Milliken of Falls Church and Rev. B.
L. Brewer of Fairfax Court House. who
were, with the prisoner, singing an appro-
pirate hymn.
While the hymn was being sung Sheriff
Gordon motioned Lewis 10 the trap, and
when there the moose was placed over his
neck. Lewis, however, did not seem to
mind this proceeding and kept up his. sing
ing as loudly as before. Rev. Mr.. Brewer
then led the entire audience in prayer, in
which Lewis seemed greatly interested.
Had Something to Say.
At the conclusion of the prayer Sheriff
Gordon stepped forward and said to Lewis:
Jim. have you anything to say?'
''Yes. SIR replied Lewis. IT am SO glad
to be allowed to confess and be forgiven
for my great crime. Truth shines in dark
ness, and we seldom find 1t in the light.
We cannot make a thing bleck out of light,
simply because this space in which we are
working is dark. am very sorry that this
passion overcame me again, for 1t has
overcome me on many occasions. / petit
tioE you all to be very careful not to let
such passions lead you from high to low,
instead of keeping on the steady gait"
No sooner had he added that this was all
he had to say than the man dropped into
space, the trap having been sprung. For
q Time re struggled terribly, Dut tnlS OlQ
not last more than two minutes, when he
became suddenly quiet, and at 5:2S he was
to be dead by the physicians
in charge. The body was cut down and
put in small pine box for burial.
Held an Autopsy.
The large number of doctors present de-
c!ded that it might be well to hold a post
mortem examination over Lewis remains,
and this desire on their part was complied
with. The only operation they performed,
however, was taking off the top of his
head and removing his brains, which ap-
peared to be normal, and weighed about
fcrty-eight ounces. The post mortem was
conducted by DR.. Thomas Fisher of Alex
andria and DR.. Coombs of Washington. The
brains. 1t is said, will be further examined,
after which DR.. Coombs of Clifton Station
Fairfax county, Va, will make report on
the subject before the Fairfax Medical So
ciety. The cause of Lewis death was
found to nave been strangulation.
At the time of his death Lewis wore the
same suit OF clothes he had on the day
of his capture at Charlottesville. with the
exception OF white neglige shirt given to
they were the same clothes worn by Lewis
at the time he made the criminal assault
upon poor old Mrs. Reidel. sixty-three
years of age.
His Last Night.
Lewis last night on earth appears to
have been anything but pleasant one, for
The Star reporter was told that 1t was
long after 2 o'clock before he closed his
eyes. and even then he slept lightly. Dur
ing the evening visitors to the doomed
mans cell were allowed in large numbers,
but when some members Of the press asked
this privilege. although 1t was granted in
an off-hand way, they were never allowed
to take advantage of the privilege granted,
the excuse being that somebody else was
In IN bor
too many up at the same time.
1t was a noticeable fact that Lewis wife,
who lives in Alexandria, came near him
but once during his confinement and then
deeply wounded on account of such treat
ment, but soon let the matter drop, as he
saw no chance Of her arrival on the scene.
During Lewis confinement he appeared
to be quite popular, and at times a great
number of people called to see him hut
later on he grew sulky, it is said, owing to
the fact that he knew of the rapid ap-
proach of his end.
Had . Good Appetite.
Lewis had a splendid appetite while he
was behind the bars, and ate everything
that was put before him. Yesterday, for
instance, he ate very hearty dinner, con-
sisting of some four or five pieces Of but
tered toast, soft-boiled eggs. steak with
onions, sweet breads, corree and desserts.
DuC laSt nlSHt lie COuiu only De persuaded
to partake of q very small quantity of
food and this morning seemed to have lost
his appetite entirely. Although there were
some dainty dishes put before him he de-
clined to take anything except one cup of
coffee, feeling. he said, 1.-The other dishes
would reach him in the great beyond
1t was on Monday when several clergy
men visited Lewis and obtained a confess
sion. which opened the eyes OF the COM
munity, as every one felt that Lewis would
go to the grave without admitting his
guilt. From that time ministers OF the
Gospel visited him more frequently, and
he appeared in an especially good frame of
mind Thursday night. In addition to con-
Tossing the crime with which he W1s
charged. he admitted that he had commit-
ted three offenses Of like nature.
The history OF the ofense for which
Lewis was hanged today Il one that has
been prominent in many CT the newspauers
of this and other cities, and but q few
words VIII sufice to explain the situation
Crime for Which Lewis Died.
On the night Of April Is Lewis went to
the home Of Mrs, Ida Refiiel ar Rosa ryfu