The evening times., 1899-05-03
MAKING READY FOR
THE DOUBLE HANGING
Scaffold Ropes Greastd and
Thoroughly Tested.
Warden Harris to Set a Death.
= watch Tomorrow Night.
Murdercrs Strathern and Winston
Sorry for Their Crimes-Smith
StOicnl nd unrepentant.

Everything is in readiness at the District
Jail for the double execution which will
take place there Friday between the hours
of IL m and o'clock p. m.
The murderers who are to be hanged
seem to realize the fact that they have
only two more days to live, and are 1e-
signed to the inevitable. They have shown
no signs OF weakness and converse
pleasantly with the guards at the jail, de-
claring that they have every reason to oe-
lieve they will go straight to Paradise
when the trap is sprung.
Strathers and Winston have both grown
fat under the treatment they have received
at the Jail. and appear TO be very happy.
They take long walks every day and spend
most of the time allowed them for exer-
else in each others company. They have
talked with the guards regarding their
crimes. and. while they both regret having
incurred the penalty Of death. they declare
that they are ready to meet their fate like
men. As the time grows shorter they DO
not seem to have any desire to escape the
extreme penalty, and declare that they VIII
be glad when the day arrives and the sus-
pense is over.
Warden Harris, of the jail has not set
deathwatch On the men as yet and does
not tink he will do so until tomorrow
night He says he does not think the men
will try to do themselves bodily harm, rs
they both considered that it would spoil
their chances for future salvation should
they commit suicide. William Smith, the
third murderer confined in the jail. who
will be hanged next Friday, still maintains
the stoical demeanor that distinguished
him throughout his trial. He does not
want a spiritual adviser. and says he VIII
get along Just as well without one. He re-
CARDS the approach OF his execution with
indifference and does not have anything TO
say concerning it.
Smith is an enigma 20 the officials at the
jail. many of whom think that he will
break down at the last moment. When
ever he has spoken of his crime it has al
ways been 10 say that he is glad he did II
and would 90 it again under the same cir
cumstances He will never have the op-
portunity to do it again as he will surely
be hanged on Friday, May II. Smith
seems to have all the sympathy Of the eth
er prisoners at the Jail, as they say they
think it wrong to make him wait 4 week
after the execution of the other men be-
fore he is hanged. Ii will undoubtedly be
trying TO his nerves to be comnalled to
watch the preparations for loubie
hanging and ii is thought by the officials
at the iail that this will cause him TO
break down.
Every preparation has been made COR the
double execution, and Warden Harris does
not expect there will be any bungling in
the arrangements. The ropes were taken
out yesterday. and, after being CREASED and
thoroughly overhauled. were tried with
weights on the scaffold to determine
whether they had lost any OF their
strength. They were found to be in er-
feet condition and will be placed in posi-
ton again early Friday morning On the
day of the execution all of the prisoners
in the north wing of the Jail will he re-
moved to the south wing in order that 70
one shall witness the execution except the
persons designated by the warden. The
prisoners will be kept in their cells Until
after sundown and will then be released
for exercise
This is the first execution that has taken
place at the Jail for almost three years.
The. last man to be hanged there was lr-
win Ford. the murderer of Elsie kreglo,
and he was executed June 20 1896. The
rope to be used on one OF the men frida!
is the same one that Ford was hanged
with. and it was used several times pre-
yious TO that. 1t is about three quarters
of an inch in thickness and very strong.
The end is passed up through the auger
hole in the gibbet and is carried across TO
the upriGhts on either side OF the scatoiu
where large cleats are placed and to which
ii is fastened. Inc rope anu lue sSah'''
are very plain in appearance. The struc-
,ure is built of the strongest materials and
Is fastened together with heavy iron
bolts and nails which make ii doubly Sc
cure. There are three holes in the gibbet
so that three men may be hanged together,
but the full capacity Of the galiows mas
never yet been tested.
Both Strathers and Winston eat heartily
whatever is set before them. Although
ali oil to p~,ta
they do not seem to have appetites for del
icacies and prefer regular Jail fare. They
see their spiritual advisers every day and
during the present week have been singing
hymns almost all of the time they have
been confined in their cells. They are al
lowed more liberty than any of the other
prisoners and spend a great deal OF this
time walking rapidly to and fro along the
long corridor in which their cells are stu
Qtpd