The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-04

Last night the blind doors were placed
on the cells in the corridor that COM
manded a view of the corridor with
the exception of the one occupied by
the condemned man. lie called the
attention of the keepers 10 the fact
that this would make the cells close
and stuffy and requested them to take
the blind doors from in front of the
cells of his fellow prisoners. His re-
quest was complied with.
When Van Horns mother visited him
yesterday she inquired what arrange
ments had been made for his funeral
and was informed that he would be
buried in the family plot in Dunmore
cemetery alongside of his brother Abe
Van Horn, who died some time ago.
Immediately after the execution this
morning an undertaken will take
charge of the remains and convey them
to the home of Van Horns mother in
Dunmore. In the afternoon interment
will take place.
This morning Van Horn will be
dressed in the neat suit of black clothes
he will wear to the scaffold, and win
spend the greater part of the time be-
fore the execution with the Rev. Mr..
Bulgin.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The crime for which Van Horn will
today pay the death penalty was COM
mitted August 2S, 1896, at the home Of
his victim, southwest corner of Frank
lin avenue and Linden street.
Just about nightfall, Mrs. Westcott
and several of her boarders were sit
ting on the front porch enjoying an
after-supper chat. One by one the
party dispersed. until finally but three
Of the household remained Mrs. West
colt and two of the boarders. Mrs. Fet-
terhoff and William Brimble. The lat
ter two went to their respective rooms
on the second floor and Mrs. Wescott
went back towards the kitchen, re-
marking something about preparing for
the breakfast.
Soon afterwards she was seen enter
ing the cellar from the outside, carry
ing something in her hands. How long
| she remained in the cellar is not known,
as the parties who saw her go in are
not the same who saw her emerge but
| it is presumed from a general view of
| the circumstances that it was not very
| long.
1t appears that after her throat was
| cut she ran out Of the cellar by the way
she entered, carrying a pan of potatoes
| with her, and making her way into the
| house, deposited the pan on the kitchen
| table and then ran out on the front
| porch, where she called to a boy to run
| for a doctor
! Mrs. FettpIhoff, who was reading on
the second floor, heard the excited talk,
| without being able to distinguish words
| She was alert to hear more of it, and
while thus listening, heard some one
| staggering up the steps and calling her
| by name.
SAW MRS. WESTCJrH.
When she ran to the door she beheld
| Mrs. Westcott standing on the stair
way, clutching her throat with both
hands, while blood squirted between
her fingers and ran in a broad stream
| down her dress.
Van Horn did it. My throat is cut!
she cried.
WHAT" exclaimed Mrs. Fetterhoff
Pm murdered; George Van Horn did
it," Mrs. Wescott replied.
The latter part of this conversation
| was heard by Mr.. Brimble.
| When questioned as to how it oc'
Cured, Mrs. Wescott said: II Wen
| down cellar for potatoes. and bu
! she became choked by the blood finding
its way into her windpipe and she pro
| ceeded no further.
She was laid on bed and a number
| of physicians summoned. They founC
a transverse incision upon her throa
about six inches long; one-half t
three-quarters of an inch i'm depth. Th'
| windpipe was almost completely sew
cred and the juGular vein cut. Sht
was taken to the LackaWanna hospita
that night and the next morning dice
at IL o'clock without having made any
further statement except that she toll
Patrolman David Parry that she fel
she was going TO die; that George Var
Horn cut her throat, and that sh,
wanted the officer to tell her daughte
Emma to be "a good girl.
| Van Horn followed Mrs. WestcGtt
| closely from the cellar and jumping
rear fence made his escape from
the Immediate neighborhood before any
| alarm could be given.
He went down the Delaware ~
| Hudson tracks, then TO the station
thence down Lackawanna avenue iC
Bridge street, then on down the Dell
ware and Hudson tracks to the Soutr
Side, crossing over to the East noun
, tain and spending a portion of tn,
night in a wood-chopper's shanty.
WENT TO ELMHURST.
The next day he Travelled on to Elm
hurst and crossing over to Hawley q
foot followed the canal to Troy IA,
then by slow stages worked his wa.
west, going via Buffalo, Detroit ant
: Chicago and finally into Iowa, WORKING
, as farm laborer at an out of tn
, way place called Brush Creek.
Nearly q year later, July Z, 1897, h
was captured while asleep in a wood
, choppers deserted cabin just outsid
> of Wadena, Ia, a short distance iron
7 where he worked. The capture wa
q made through the aid of a photograp
. sent out by Chief of Police Robins
p He VISA brought back here by Lieuten
I ant of Police John Davis and Dete1
Q tive John Moir and on the way thithe
confessed that he had killed Mr.,
S | Westcott, saying simply that he cu
= her throat.
. lie was indicted for mIrle- Sep
k 10, 1897, and on the following Novclr
b ber was placed on trial. The case oC
= cupied eight days and excited wide
/. spread interest Judge Archibald Irt
G sided. District Attorney John !
r Jones conducted the pros acutiol an
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