The times., 1899-05-05
TIE DEATH WATCH
ON THE MURDERERS
Everything in Readiness for
Their Execution.
StratherS and Winston to Meet the
Laws Demand.
The Traps to BE Sprung Between the
Hours of IL O'Clock Noon
End ; y. III.

William NJ. Strathers who was ton
victed of the murder of Rose Tolbert, and
Charles Winston, who murdered his wife
Emma Winston. will pay the penalty o
their crimes today at the District Jail be-
tween the hours of noon and o'clock p
m. Since their conviction they have made
their peace with God and spent their last
night on earth singing praises to him
whom they hope to meet in heaven before
the sun sinks to rest today.
From the time of their incarceration
their spiritual advisers have been in con-
stant commune with them, but more espe-
cially so during the last week Since last
Sunday one or more of the ministers OF
the gospel who have been minis.ering &c
the spiritual needs of the prisoners, and
through whom the condemned have been
led to confess Christ as their Saviour, have
been Offering consolation, from early morn
ing till late at night. Last night, how
ever, was the first time their spiritual
advisers spent the whole night with them
Those who spent the last night with the
condemned are the Revs. Roberts, How
ard. and Williams.
AS on other occasions when the minis
ters would visit Stratners and Winston,
party in cell No. /, on murderer's row,
which has been occupied by Strathers since
he was convicted. This Is next to cell No.
3, which is occupied by Edward Smith.
who is sentenced TO die on next Friday
for the killing of Edmonia Jackson, whom
he murdered on November 10. 1897.
Though Smith has been frequently ap-
pealed to by the ministers of the gospel
who visit the Jail to take part in the reii-
h. hoe faratI -nft ua1
He has on occasions when asked TO join
in these services said that all he desired
was to be let alone. Yesterday his only
regret was that he, too, was not going TO
the gallows with the others.
During the last few days, as is the Gus
tom with the wardens of jails, Warden
Harris has given the condemned prisoners
anything they might desire to eat other
than the food served daily TO the prisoners
Up to last night neither Strathers nor Win
ston expressed any desire for anything
but the regular food which has been served
them since their incarceration. Warden
Harris has, however, added few delica-
cies to their regular meals, and these were
eaten with much relish.
The usual watch was kept over the con-
iemnsd prisoners last night, but the virgil
could not properly be termed the death
watch for the warden did not think such
precaution necessary, especially In the
face of the fact that the spiritual advisers
of the men were with them during the en-
tire night. Aside from this the condemned
have conducted themselves in such man
ner since the death sentence was imposed
as to aIlay all suspicion that they would
attempt 10 do themselves any bodily harm
However, the usual number of guards
we're put on duty last night with instruc-
ticns to watch over the prisoners during
their last hours. The guard was composed
of the following officers E. S. Ramsdell,
George C.Gumm, James Woodward, George
Blandford Eugene Walsh. and David Proc
tor.
All preparations for the execution were
completed yesterday afternoon. The last
detail was the testing of the ropes. These
were tested by tying sacks of sanl equal
in weight to that of the prisoners, and CIV
ing them a drop the number of feet the
bodies will fall. The test was satisfactory
and the ropes we're removed from the scaf-
fold.
The first man hanged on the scaffold on
which Strathers and Winston will expiate
their crimes today was James Madison
Stone who was executed for the murder of
his wife and mother-in-law nearly twenty
years ago. The structure is also famous as
having been the scaffold upon which Cult
eau. the assassin OF Garfield, was hanged
The last man who paid the penalty OF his
crime upon 1t was Irwin Ford who murder
ed Elsie Kreglo.
meeting of the Newsboys' Union, Will
ing Workers Club. will be held this even
ing at 4,1 n Street. to make arrangements
for the burial OF Strathers. The funeral
it is expected, will take place on Sunday
and will be attended by the members of the
union in body.