Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-12
EXP|ATES HIS CRIME
Edward Smith Hanged at the District
Jail Today.
CONDEMNED MAN SHOWS GREAT NERVE
Passes to ScaffoId With Eyes
Fixed Upon Crucifx
d p A TIL WAS PAIN LES S

| Edward Smith, colored, thrice tried and
| twice convicted Of the murder of Edmona
Jackson, was executed this afternoon at the
District Jail The hanging was consum-
mated with absolutely nothing apparent in
the way of a hitch. Many persons familiar
| with Smiths cha aracter and behavior We're
| fearful that he might at the last moment
| create a scene but such proved not to be
| the case. He went to his death without a
| tremor, and the execution was pronounced
| by all who witnessed 1t as one of the most
| dignified, orderly and most rapidly COM
| pleted known In this jurisdiction.
Justice Cole, in imposing sentence, di-
| rected that Smith should be hanged be-
! tween the hours of L. o'clock noon and 3
| o'clock pm Warden Harris entered the
| cell of the convicted murderer two minutes
past II O'Clock to read the death warrant.
Smith listened to the reading with the
closest attention, but did not utter a word.
His arms We're piniOncd behind him by one
| of the guards, and little procession there
upon started for the gallOws. Warden Har-
| ris was in the lead, and he was followed by
Rev. Father Matthews and Rev. Father
Sullivan, with Smith walking between
them. Other officials of the Jail were in the
| rear The party passed through a double
| line of policemen in uniform stationed
| across the rotunda. In the line was Polise-
| man COX, VINO arrested STnltn soon a1leT
the murder was committed.
Approaches the ScaffOld.
| 1t was just five minutes after II o'clock
| when Smith entered the corridor leading to
the scaffold from the rotunda. The jury
consisting of local newspaper men, and also
| a number of physicians and medical stu
dents, we're already sitting near the struc
ture. From the moment he left the cell
Smith did not take his eyes from a crucifiX
held in the hand of Rev. Father Matthews,
who walked at his left. During the march
to the scaffold the priests conducted serv-
ice OF responsive reading. Sill gazing at
the crucitiX, Smith ascended the steps of
the scaffold without the semblance of
falter. He took his place on the trap and
his legs were strapped at the knees and
ankles, and as the moose was adjusted about
his neck it was impossible to notice a sign
of fear or nervousness. He continued to gaze
apparently with every thought concentrated
on the crucitix, and as the black cap was
about to be adjusted he advanced his head
and kissed the religious token with smack
that was audible some distance away. The
|, Gap Was adjusted and almost before the
spectators could realize what was happen
ing the trap had been sprung and Smith
was at the end OF the rope five feet below,
to all intents and purposes dead.
The drop fell ut exactly SIX ard a haif
minutes after j. o'c.Ock, which one
and a half minutes from the moment he
appeared in the corridor from the rotunda
time the warden entered the cell to read
the death warrant. minute after the
fall the body was lowered several feet in
order that the physicians might make their
examinations. From the time it had drop
ped the body hung perfectly limp. There
was not reflex movement of the limbs
IN fact, there was no movement OF any char
acter, except that due TO the turning of
the rope. AT 12:1T o'clock the pulse ceased
to beat but the heart continued to tiutter;
one minute later that, too, ceased The
body was suspended till 12:32 o'clock when
1t was lowered into coffin.
Neck Was Not Broken.
The first supposition was that the neck
had been broken by the fall, but an exami-
nation after the lowering of the body dis
closed that such was not the case. Death
was due to shock, and the physicians were
unanimous IN declaring that the man died
painessly. In fact, they said he was OBJ
nVlouS TO everything from the instant the
trap sprung
Inc execution was carried to a conclu-
SION even more quickly than was that of
SIather and Winston last Friday The
attendance was very much smaller and
Included for The most part only persons
whose presence was absolutely necessary.
warden Harris was congratul ated on he
mentS.
Prior to the execution all prisoners on
the me side OF the Jail adjacent to the scat
a
none OF the inmates could under an,, nns
slpilty' obtain a view of what was going
on number of persons from motives nf
IuiloSlty' assembled outside of the iail.
put the crowd was orderly The poIica DE-
tail, both outside and inside of tba 1afI
CONSISTED OF thirty men, under command
of Lieut. Kelly.
Had Decorated His Cell
AN inspection OF the cell vacated by Smith
.iiie LiofhlhS showed that he had decorated
II with number of pictures of a religions
character clipped from newspaDers ard
magazines. The Jail record this aftarnoo,
under the heading of "Discharged. con-
talhs an entry to the effect that Smith is
no longer prisoner, having BEEN executed
just as the hanging was concluded Ds p;ty
Mafshai James Springmann entered the
jail having in charge James Powell col
oreo, convicted for the murder OF William
fatrick Lee. Powell had been TO tn. citv
argued in Criminal Court No this morn
ing Justice Clabaugh overruled the no
Iioti ana sentenced Powell 70 be hanged |
rroay the 18th of August next, between
the houfs OF II O'Clock, noon and , ,oloc;,
pm. During the ride from the city baii
to the Jail Powell was in great ,fsrrars
CRYING continuously. AS he approachsd RI.
PRISON ana saw the crowd gathered there
ne remarked to the deputy marshal ."rb,xy
are taking one out and brin sfpy ono ~
Ihe next execution at the Dist,j.t lot, |
viii be that of William K Reed. raon1Slv
convicted OF the murder of Elizabetl, TIosp
VINO Is under sentence to be hanged Fr,Say'
the 4th of August next ''
consents to See CIergymen.
reward the last Smiths bravado which |
hsd neen so apparent from the time he was
piaceo under arrest, gave way somewhat |
1esterday he consented to see Rev. Father
matthew's OF ST. Cyprian's Catholic Church. |
Father Matthews was with him un+i, ,o+o
last hlght. and returned at an early hour
this morning. little later he was ioined |
by Rev Father Sullivan of ST Tarasa,s
Catholic Church, and the two clerrvman
We're with the condemned man cons,ansI,,
thereafter until the end
Although he did not sleep more than two
hours, Smith passed his last night in the
land of the living very quietly. He did not |
retire to his couch, but sat in a chair or !
paced up and down his cell until morning.