Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-10
M'D0NEIL'S MURDERERS.
The Details Of the Crimes for Which
They Will Be Executed.
AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE CON-
DEMNED MEN-THE GALLONS
ALL READY FOR THE 10TH OF
OCTOBER, THE DATE SET FOR
THE HANGING.

OCTOBER, THE DATE SET FOR
THE HANGING.
October 10th next will be a red-letter
day in the history of the West Virginia
~penitentiary, owing to the first execu-
ton of murderers had there by virtue
of the late enactment of law by the
Legislature Shep. Caldwell and Frank
languishing in strong steel cages in the
annex building of the penitentiary
awaiting to be strangled till dead by
mandate of law, one for the cowardly
murder of a poor, frail roman by
means Of a shot gun in Keystone. Nc
Dowell county, the other for killing
a sixteen-year old boy for the fun of it
in Kimball, the same county.
Entering the big prison at the west,
passing through the wide hall into the
yard the visitor sees in plain view the
fine two story brick building fronting
to the south and located at the north
end of the yard. This building, called
the annex 90 the prison building pro-
per, was built and completed for much
less than the appropriation of $4,000
made by the Legislature, owing to the
fact that Warden Hawk made use of
the skilled convict labor to help citi-
zen workmen and also because he took
careful supervision of material and
work done.
The first floor front will be occupied
by Surgeon T. Marion Steele as a drug
store and ~dispensary, while the upper
story will be. used for an up-to-date
convict hospital.
The north end of the first floor of the
building lis where the large cell room
is located in which have been placed 4
large modern steel cages 10x10 feet
with every convenience.
In the cells east, fronting an iron
barred door looking out on the paved
walk over which in column of fours
every afternoon after supper, and in
plain view, convicts march past, are
Caldwell and ~BroadenaX, there to re-
main until October 10th next, when be-
tween the rising and setting of the sun,
they will be taken to a small room with
a door leading from the cell room at
the northwest corner of the building,
there to receive the last consolation of
religion they at present so much affect,
and the last preparation made by their
eXecutioners. Then up a flight of eight
steps of sorrow, and not golden ones
directly onto the scaffold. The gloomy
execution chamber is located at the
northeast end of the building, 12x24
feet, lighted with one small window
AXIS feet. The scaffold is ski feet with
two traps, a cross-beam surrounding
it 8 feet in height. While the con-
demned men face the small audience
toward the rising sun, a hand trigger
is conveniently at hand for the execu-
toner to launch them into eternity by
s~trangulation for the offense of wan
tonly killing an inoffensive m and
boy.
Last June Rose Henshaw followed
Shep. Caldwell, an ~ex-convice, to Key
stone, Mcdowell county, accompanied
by a female friend and male companion,
where he was, as usual, lead
ing a vagabond life. The nat
ural f~erocity of the man no
doubt gave bent to upbraidings toward
the oma for presumed faithlessness.
She may have retorted in kind. How
ever that may be, they separated, the
woman off to take in the town, while
the man took in the saloons. A shot
gun was gotten possession of. Shep
says the male companion of his wife
brought it with him, while the man
says it was the property of Caldwell.
However, also that may be, ten cents
worth of cartridges were purchased anc
the men returned to their lodgings.
The woman after circulating through
the town, approached the house where
the men T-ere. A. shotgun was raised.
hred and the poor Rose Henshaw,
loving her slayer not wisely, but too
we'll, fell mortally wounded, her head
being literally blown to pieces. Cald-
well says his companion owned the
gun, and because the woman accom-
panylng Rose repulsed him and would
not grant him a favor, he threatened
and did kill his wife in the attempt to
carry his threat into execution. CaldweA
says he had attempted to prevent his
companion from firing at the m
and during the struggle the gun explod-
ed and killed his wife.
The evidence during Caldwelrs trial
clearly proved that he alone was re-
sponsible for the woman's untimely
death.
Caldwell's convict friends viii make
an effort, by permission Of Warden
Hawk, to raise S45 to enable his attor-
ney, Judge Christian, Of Welch. Nc
Dowell county, to get a copy of the rec
ord of the trial and transcript of the
shorthand notes to bring his case be-
fore Gov. Atkinson for communication of
sentence TO life Imprisonment. The
condemned nan appears to be friend
less out of prison. His mother resides
at Greenville. North Carolina. to whom
a letter has been written. He is 5 feet
S inches in height, black, and of ath-
letic build.
Frank ~Broadenax, the young and
handsome mulatto to be executed the
same haur and day and on the same
scaffold with Caldwell for the killing of
Young McFadden last June, at a rail-
road camp near KimbaIl. Mrnowell