The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-07
EXPIATED
| HIS CRIME
Williams Hanged at Salem
For Murder.
PROCLAIMED INNOCENCE.
he Was Convicted Of Killing a
Farm Hand Mined Gallo.
PROCLAIMED INNOCENCE.
VICTIMS GOLD FOUND In ROOM.

Salem. Mass, Oct. ALFRED G
Williams was executed for the murde
OF John Gallo i'm Salem Jail this fore
noon. The drop fell at 1850 and if
was pronounced extinct twelve minute,
ana thirty-ope seconds later
After good nights rest. having re
tired at lO45 o'clock last night, vii.
liams arose at 500 this morning. Hi.
sleep had been quiet and apparentI,
| undisturbed He had spen, the even.
! ing In writing several letters, one OF
! which was TO his mother.
lie put on his regular prison suit OF
gray ana was soon ready for breakfast
winch was brought to his cell at
O'Clock. Beefsteak, toast, coffee and
bread We're served him, but he did not
eat with his usual heartiness. AZ S
O'Clock he was shaved. 1t had been
the custom until yesterday TO allow
Williams, accompanied by his guard.
one hours recreation in the corridor
ADJOINING the office, but this morning
ne had to be content with what exer-
else he could obtain by pacing his cell
In his steps there was. little TO show
agitation, and the near approach of
death seemed TO have no effect upon
the condemned man. In talking 10 his
guards he declared his innocence, but
would not speak further on the matter.
Sheriff Johnson had exteuded but few
invitations to attend the execution. not
more than 10 persons having been asked
10 witness the affair. These included
the warden and deputy warden of the
state prison, II citizens as legal wit
nesses. and physicians. deputy sheriff
and representatives of the local, coun-
ty and Boston press.
These persons assembled at the iail
soon after $3.50 o'clock and at the in
vitation of the sheriff proceeded to the
guard room shortly afterwards. Mean
while Sheriff Johnson had a conference
with Williams. who expressed himself
as grateful for what the officers of the
county had done for him. The sheriff
had with him a black suit OF clothes.
which he asked Williams TO put on.
At 10 o'clock williams. whose arms |
and hands had been pinioned left the |
,ell accompanied by Sheriff Samuel A.
Johnson, Rev. c. III. Puffer, the Jail
'haplain and Williams spiritual ad-
User, and Deputy Sheriffs Arthur
Bishop and Timothy ID. Crowley, who
ad charge of him during his trial. The
distance from the cell to the scaffold
vas only about 40 feet. and but a few
econds elapsed from Williams leaving
rs cell To the termination of the event.
ON reaching the scaffod Williams
'as placed upon the trap and his knees
'ere bound, during which proceeding
rayer was offered by the chaplain The |
lack cap was then drawn over Will
ans face and adjusted. At this point
herin Johnson said that pursuant TO |
warrant issued to him by the super
n court he would execute the sentence |
the court.H He then touched the spring
lO:Ol:5O Williams dropped six feet
he inch and was within so inches of
Dor. His neck was broken by the fall.
he muscular contraction of the limbs
rs visible for several seconds.
During the preparation for the final
enes in the execution the prisoner
as pale but seemed unconcerned and |
u not speak word.
No one was allowed to leave the room |
It'll the doctors had pronounced life
tinct and preparations made for cut
lg down the body and turning IL over
friends. Chaplain Puffer said that
To few minutes of the execution
llliams proclaimed his innocence.
The crime for which Williams WAS | "
ltenced was committed at Lynnfield
ntre, about two miles from Wake W
ID village i'm July. 1897 The exact +.
ne has not been determined but the
iy of John Gallo, the victim Of tho
rider was found in the ruins of the
in which he had lived on the morn
or July ~. Robbery was the mo-
OF the crime and gold pieces known r
nave belonged TO Gallo were found VI
Wliliams' person and secreted in his