Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-08-27
TIE GALLONS FINISHED
At tho Penitentiary For the Coming
Executions.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE INsTRU-
MENT OF DEATH-HOW THE
CONDEMNED MEN ARE PASSING
THE TIME-OTHER PENITEN-
TIARY NEWS.

ing the first hanging In the West Vir-
ginia penitenGIary. and as the instru-
ment OF death is a matter OF interest
to the pubic the following description
is given.
The execution room is situated in
the north east corner of the annex
building and is 12x24 feet. The scat
fold platform is 10x12 feet.
To the cross beams to which the
ropes are to be fastened is feet. The
platform is feet from the stone flag
ging fitted with two adjustable traps
for either one or two executions They
are each 3x4 feet.
A hamburger is at the left side OF
the trap-door, a slight touch by the
hand of the executioner sending the
Iurderers into eternity.
Over the scaffold the ceiling is 26
feet high. while east of it in the spec
tators' portion of the room it is only IL
feet high.
having but one window AXIS feet. How
ever, electricity will light it and all
parts of the building
Deputy Sheriff Koontz, of Fayette-
vile, Fayette county, is the designer
and builder of the gallows and will as
sist in the execution of Broadeuax and
Caldwell. He has had much exper-
fence in such matters, having at one
time sent five murderers into eternity
By way of the gallows.
The gallows was built in the prison
with the aid of convicts. 1t is made
out of yellow pine with natural fin
iSh.
The condemned cells will be furnish
ed with iron bed steads Of modern
fashion. spring beds and wooden
blankets.
Broadenax and Caldwell will be
hung the same day, October 10th, at
the same hour between sunrise and
sunset, if nothing interveneS to delay
the execution.
Caldwell lies continually in bed with
his face covered with his blanket. He
talks but seldom to his keepers and
the burden of it is that he is hoping
against hope.
Mr.. H. c. Love, who was Office gate
keeper during the time Caldwell did
time in the prison and under whom
he worked, seems to be his special
friend. to whom he unburdens his trou-
bled mind, relative to his hopes and
fears. He complains that his lawyer
has ignored the letter he wrote him
few days ago. He appealed with tears
in his eyes to Mr.. Love to accompany
him to the gallows on the day Of the
execution.
While this is the condition of Cald-
/,
signed to his fate and patiently awaits
its coming. While lying in bed all the
time he constantly reads his bible. He
seems to have ppenchant for Judges.
He called the attention of his keeper
to Judges, IA chapter, Is verse: What
is sweeter than honey and stronger
than a lion?" Samson answered IF
We had not plowed with my heifer, we
had not found out my riddle"
What is your answer to this rid
dle?" queried his keeper. Life is
sweeter to me than honey and stronger
than lion," was the earnest response.
guitar was handed to him by permits
sion of Warden Hawk and the delight
with which he received and played on
1t displayed the musical and slumber-
ing, emotional, poetic temperament OF
the man and of the negro race.
The dynamo for the electrical plant
is being rapidly placed in position on
secure concrete and cement founda-
ton. The wires are strung into the
north hall as well as the south and into
the cells and other departments. The
switch boards are rapidly nearing
completion, in fact everything is al
most ready for the final lighting up of
the prison.
Warden Hawk contemplates inviting
the public from Wheeling, Mounds
vile and elsewhere to witness the
electrical lighting of the prison and
the grand display to be made
Truly the many improvements made
not only in the management of the
prison and modern improvements are
to the credit of Warden S. A.. Hawk
and will surely rebound to his honor
An amusing incident happened TO one
of the convict painters while at work
about the gallows Harry is a
Washington, d. c., young man and OF
undoubted artistic skill. who loved not
wisely but too we'll. for he had two
pair of damsels on his staff and as he
says, sent here for little thing like
adultry for a period OF one year
He is in much demand for painting
service and while at work on the gall
lows with bucket of paint. the trap
doors being closed, he inadvertently
stepped on one and 10 and behold. it
opened and he disappeared to the floor
below. smeared with paint and slightly
bruised Harry never tires Of telling
how he was the first person to drop
through the trap without having his
neck broken.
AS to the health OF The prison under
care of Surgeon T Marion Steele. it is
remarkable that ont Of 642 convicts
present. only two responded to Doctors
call on Tuesday.
Any sick convict reporting to his
keeper will be sent to answer Doctors
call at a. m.
Al any other time during the dav
sick convicts reporting the same will
be sent to the dispensary. where Sur
geon Steele's accomplished assistant
will attend them and if they are tn
able to continue work viii be sent TO
their cells to rest
After 6 D. m. when all conviets are
locked up the assistant physician makes
the round visiting every cell in tie
prison while sunnlied with a case n