Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-09
PAID THE PENALTY
ON THE SCAFFOLD.
Continued from First Page.


which he was convicted and he said he
had no confession to make. Shortly
after eleven o'clock the trap was tested
under the direction of the Warden, and
was found TO work without the slight
est hitch.
Before midnight it was announcer
that the death warrant would be read
to the condemned man in his cell at
two o'clock, and that the execution
would take place shortly after three
o'clock.
lust at two o'clock Warden Hawk
and others proceeded to the cell OIL
Rroadenax. and the Warden slowly
read the death warrant. His manner
betrayed more agitation than the con-
demned man experienced. There was
no emotion on the part of Broadenax,
and there was just the suspicion OF a
smile upon. his features as he listened
patiently to the Warden. When he had
concluded, Broadenax said very
good" He was asked if he had any
thing to say.
"Yes," he replied, 81 hope will
meet you all in Heaven"
The Rev. Mr. Spur then entered the
cell and administered communion, re-
manning with the condemned man I'M
til the end. Broadenax made no con-
fession. He stubbornly maintained I'M
til the last that the shooting was ac-
cidental. Broadenax was bathed and
dressed. When the march to the scat
fold was taken up he was neatly attir-
ed in black with white shirt and tie
The condemned man, accompanied
by the minister, left his cell few min
utes before three o'clock, and started
up the stairway to the door opening
out upon the trap in one end of the
death chamber. Broadenax walked
with a firm step and did not require
the assistance Of those who accompan-
led him. He vas apparently as cool as
any one of the sixty persons who wit
messed the execution.
When he was permitted to talk he
made short speech in which he said
that if it were not for whisky he would
not be in such a position. He asked
the boys to all take warning from his
fate and added that he had made his
confession to God and was prepared to
die.
On the scaffold with him were War
den Hawk, Rev. Mr.. Spur and prison
officials Mike Mckinney, Capt. Reese,
H. C. Love and F. NJ Sheats.
When the black-cap had been placed
over the head of the doomed man and
the Moose fastened about his neck,
Warden Hawk stepped to the wall and
touched an electric button, which was
a signal to the executioner, stationed in
another part of the building, that
everything was in readiness. The exc
cutioner manipulated the electric ma
chinery and the trap flew open. Bead
enax dropped and in few minutes life
was extinct and his soul was arraigned
before higher Judge.
The trap was sprung at three O'Clock,
and Broadenax's neck was broken by
the fall. His pulse beat for four min
utes and his heart for fourteen min
ties. The physicians present were DR..
Steele, the regular prison doctor; DR..
Fisher, a convict; and Dr5. Smith, of
Glendale, and Stewart, Of Moundsville.
The murder of which Broadenax was
convicted was cold-blooded in the ex-
IRENE. 1t was committed in June, at
a railroad camp called Kimball, in Nc
Dowell county. The victim was a
young man named McFadden. He was
standing on the porch of house occu-
pied by himself, his slayer and several
companions. Broadenax had reyolv-
er, which he had been flourishing and
which he snapped several times. The
weapon was not discharged He then
turned it to the boy and again pulled
the trigger, emptying the contents into
his body.
McFadden died little later. Broad
enax, according to the testimony in
the case appeared to regard the whole
matter as a joke. When a physician,
who was called to attend the boy, de-
manded his fee, Broadenax contributed
and urged others to do so.
Broadenax is alleged to have drifted
into West Virginia from South Caro-
lima, where it is said that he was con-
victed of felony and served a term in
the State prison. His superior intelli-
gence, athletic build, and certain quail
ties of leadership, made him sort of
ruler of the negroes in the rough min
ing camp, and he possessed the DISPOSE
ton of bully. The jury that tried
the case found no mitigating circum-
stances, and brought in a verdict with
out any recommendation of life impris-.
onment