Evening star., 1899-03-20
AWAITING THE FATAL MOOSE
Three Condemned Murderers Preparing for
Day Of Execution.
How Strathcrs, Winston and Smith
Pass the Time at the Jail
Spiritual Change.

Yesterday was quiet day at the District
jail On account Of the strict enforcement
OF the smallpox quarantine established at
the prison, and there was nothing TO vary
the monotony of prison life TO the three
condemned men. William strathers Chas.
Winston and Edward Smith. who are
awaiting the date set for their execution.
Should there be no further delay granted
by the court or the President. Stra,h, rs
and Winston viii he executed the 18th of
May. while Smith will pay the penalty enc
week later
These men. as heretofore published in
The Star. were under sentence of death q
year ago. At that time the court cccreed
that Smith and Strathers should die to-
gether, but now VIII Ston and StratherS are
to be associated in death They are con-
fined in adjoining cells on the east side oil
the south corridor. and they frequently
converse together. Smith is on the oppo-
site side Of the corridor, in what is known
as Guiteaus cell. from where he cannot
communicate with the other condemned
men.
on account of the establishment Of the
quarantine no visitors are admitted to the
prison.
Winston and Strathers spent some time
reading books each day, hut Smith is una
Bile to read. Sundays the usual religious
meetings are not held. nor is there any
singing, except what little the warden may
permit the prisoners TO indulge in In thelr
cells. Each day the condemned men are
permit ad to take exercise in the corridor,
but this is a privilege that Smith rarely
takes advantage OF. He usnatty remains
inside and 1t is only once in week or Two
that he consents to take a walk. h. Is ny
no means unruy, however. and ne never
gives the guards any trouble.
Time Makes Changes.
One year has made marked change in
both Winston and Strathers. They express
no fear of the doom which awaits them.
This change, the Jail officials say, is due TO
the religious influences that have been
brought 20 bear upon them. Both men pro-
fess to have undergone a spiritual regener-
alton, ard in this the jail officials think
they are sincere. Revs. Roberts and How
ard have visited them at intervals and fur-
nished them tracts and other religious read
ing. Smith has been visited by the Rev.
Father keenan, of St. Cyprian's Church.
and the good influences Of the priest are
showing on tn. condemned man.
Strathars and Winston, claiming to be
fully prepared for the hereafter. converse
on religious matters every day, while Smith
remains to himself ard evidently puts in
his time in gui-t thinking The spiritual
change that took place in Winston. the jail
officials believe, caused his admission of
guilt at his second trial. At this trial he
retracted what he said on the occasion of
his former trial and confessed Ia the whole
truth.
Friends Call TO See Them.
WILSON'S father. elderly man. called
on him a number Of times prior tu the
tablishment of quarantine. while Smiths
only visitor was Father keenan,. ia aIdi-
ton TO the prisoners legal adviser. Strath-
ers' sister has made many calls on him
also. and a number OF other friends have
been to see him.
The jail offic ais expect no repetition of
the long deiay of year ago. nor do they
anticipate any trouble with the condemned
men. II is regretted by some Of the pris-
oners that all three men are not to be exc
cuted the same day, for they believe the
additional week of Smiths life will be an
exceedingly trying one to him after the
knowledge of the fa:e of the other men.