Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-08
RALPH N|REBI|'K RANGED.
The Extreme Penalty Of the Law Paid
BY the Murderer Of D. B. Lands
THE HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
THE MURDERER HAD REFUS-
ED TO VACATE A HOUSE OWN
ED BY Lands, BARRICADED
HIMSELF IN 1T. DEFIED THE
OFFICERS AND SHOT Lands
DURING A FARLEY.

LANCASTER, Pa, June Ralph
w. Wireback. the murderer OF D. B.
Lands, was hanged in the jail yard
this morning in the presence of several
hundred persons. The drop fell at
1918 and life was pronounced extinct
Is minutes later. This was the first
hanging in this county since 1858, when
two negroes were hanged, although
there have been several convictions of
murder in the first degree during that
period.
Contrary to expectation there was no
scene or wild demonstration made by
Wireback who walked quietly on the
scaffold and died without struggle.
After eating supper last evening Wire
back said he was prepared to meet
death
The crime for which Ralph w. Wire
back was hanged to-day was the muir
der, on April Z, 1898, of David B. Lam
dis, president of the Conestoga National
Bank. Wireback occupied a house
owned by Lands, which the latter sold.
Wireback refused to vacate the prem
ises, claiming that he had verbal
agreement with Lands which gave him
the option of retaining the house an
other year. Proceedings were instltu-
ted, and when constable repaired to
the house to eject him he found the
nouse barricaded from cellar to garnet.
Wireback was driven from room to
room until eventually ne took refuge
In the garnet, which had been strongly
barricaded, and access to which was
only by a narrow stairway. He was
armed with an old muzzle-loading shot
gun, and from an aperture in the bar
ricade he had control of the stairway.
During one of the numerous parleys
held with him he asked for Mr.. Lam
dis. and the latter assembled the steps,
when Wireback asked what would be
done for his (Wireback's) family ii
he should surrender. Lands made an
equivocal answer and moment later
Wireback fired, blowing off the top of
Landis's head. In the trial that en-
sued the defense was insanity, and at
times he became so violent that it was
necessary to use force to subdue him.
Several efforts were made for re-
hearing, but without success.
BETHANY, Mo-, June Fireman
Cochran, who killed Geo. Scarborough
in 1897, was hanged to-day.
Cochran and Scarborough were farm
ers and quarreled over a woman.
PRINCETON, Mo-, June Peter
kindred, who shot and killed Andrew
A. Alley and dangerously wounded his
cousin, Joshua Alley, at Mercer, on
February 5, 1898, was hanged here to-
day. Kindred was carried to the scat
fold and held in position while being
pinioned.
Kindred had been under the influence
of morphine for several hours, and
slept soundly an hour before the exc
cution. Joseph Alley, and the wife OF
the murdered man, witnessed the hang
ing.
WEST CHESTER, Pa, June T.
Jonas Preston, Jr., colored, was hang
ed in the Jail here to-day for the muir
der of his wife in February, 1898.
The condemned man confessed his
crime on the gallows, but said he was
not to blame. While he was making Il
rambling statement, Sheriff Hayes pull
I'd the rope. The fall broke Preston's
neck and death came quickly. His
body was taken down in q minutes.
Just before the trap was sprung
Preston said he had been shamming
insanity.