The San Francisco call., 1898-04-07
HILL GOES
 SMILING TO
 HIS DEATH Murder of His Wife Avenged at San
 Quentin. Bravely the Condemned Man Mounts the
 Gallows. Admits His Guilt and Hopes for Pardon After This
 Life. NOT A TRACE OF FEAR. Delivers Brief Speech in Which He Tells of His Conversion in
 Prison.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN QUENTIN PRISON. April G. wearing pinned to the lapel of his coat tiny sprig of geranium taken from bunch of flowers sent to him yesterday by his boy, Benjamin l.. Hill, the cool est and bravest man who has ever suf- tered death upon the San Quentin gall lows, was executed this morning at 10:o3 o'clock, in the presence of small party, compose. for the most part of newspaper men and prison officials.
 Ten minutes after the trap door was sprung and Hill shot into eternity the doctors pronounced life extinct and the corpse was cut down, lowered into a coffin and sent to his relatives.
 Hills neck was broken immediately and but three respirations were re- corded. His pulse after five minutes became too faint to be perceptible and exactly ten minutes after the drop his heart ceased to beat.
 Hills last hours were in no way out of the ordinary. He retired at about Il o'clock last night and slept five hours. Arising at an early hour he sat at the table in the death chamber and wrote number of letters to frier Is and rela- tives. Not once i'd he exhibit trace of fear. During the morning he was visited by Chaplain Drahms and Staff Captain George Reid of the Salvation Army. The ministers were with the condemned man when Warden Hale en- tered the death chamber to read the death warrant Hill waived this for mality and after bidding him good-by Warden Hale withdrew from the cham Der and the prisoner was prepared for the gallowS.
 His arms were strapped to his sides and at l0:30 the procession started for the execution chamber. Chaplain Drahms led the way, closely followed by Captain Reid. Hill walked behind them, between Amos Lunt, the hang man, and Guard Jones of the death watch. Guard Abrogast brought up the rear. There was not sign of timidity on the part of Hill. His face was kindly and almost smiling.
 Warden Hale announced that Hill had a few words to say and the con- demned man stepped forward and fac- ing the spectators spoke in a low tone. Said he:
 T testify to-day to the great saving and healing power of Jesus Christ. have been a great sinner, but, praise the Lord. l have great Savior. l am about to suffer for my crime just ly l am guilty. This has caused me i dependence in Jesus hands and I am satisfied. He helps us in all circum- stances. For year and half l have been in almost solitary confinement and he has kept me. recommend you all to Jesus. I am this minute satisfied. As soon as I leave this body l will be with Jesus. He is a great Savior"
 AS he finished, a smile overspread his features and he stepped back onto the trap. Amos Lunt placed the rope around his neck and Hill leaned over, and before the blackoap was drawn over his head kissed the cheek of Chap lain Drahms. The chaplain held one of Hills hands while Captain Reid held the other. The rope was drawn tight and the signal given.
 Through the trap the body shot and Hill had paid the penalty. Not a move ment was perceptible.
 Hills crime was committed on street of Oakland on January II, 1896, when he shot his wife in cold blood after she had confessed infidelity. He was tried and convicted and sentenced to be hanged. Appeals were taken and the Governor was asked to interfere, but while delays owing to legal pro- ceedings were obtained Hill has fin- ally died upon the scaffold and satis- fled the demands of the law.
 Born in Wisconsin, he was 37 years old, strong, healthy and stout. weigh ing about 200 pounds. After his con- finement in Murderer's Row he evinced a great interest in religion and among the murderers condemned to die he organized a Bible class, probably the strangest one of its kind that ever ex- isted. When Hill was brought to trial he set up the plea of insanity, but was duly convicted of murder.
 His friends waged a gallant fight for his life and great influence was brought to bear on the Governor to commute his sentence to life imprisonment.