The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-16
IHE GOVERNOR ASKED DELAY
Until He Could Investigate Pardon
Boards Findings, and Then
Affirmed Them.
SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION
The Doomed Man Not Knowing What
Hurt Him-Iife Became Ex-
tinct In II Minutes.


Frank Walker for the killing OF Tom
Sanders, a Fayette county satoorkeep-
er, was hanged at the state peniten-
tiary in Moundsville yesterday after
noon at 6:4O o'clock and eleven minutes
later the physicians IN attendance de-
ctared that the mans Pulse aaa ceased
beating and that he was dead TINS
was the quickest death on record at
the pen thirteen minutes having oeen
required Cor "shep" Caldwell and more
for Frank BFoadena1 The hanging
was witnessed by representatives Of the
press. physicians, public oneials ana
others.
The sentence Imposed by the tayette
criminal court fixed the execution ne-
tween a. m. and 9 p n1.' and It was
the intention OF Warden Samuel A.
Hawk to carry out the sentence as sooa
after a. m. as poslsbl', but late Thurs
day night he received a long-distance
telephone message from Charleston
asking. on behalf OF Governor Atkln-
son. that the execution be delayed until
after noon, In order that the governor
on his return at noon from Baltimore
might go carefully over the pardon
boards lengthy and exhaustive review
of the case. in which T. washed that
there were no reasons sufficient to war;
rant even the thirty days stay request
ed by Walker and his friends. The gov
Crnor went over the matter carefully
early in the afternoon, and at 4 o'clock
he communicated with Warden Hawk
over the long distance telephone and
announced his decision in line with the
pardon boards recommendation that
the execution should proceed according
10 the sentence of the court.
Shortly after this information was re-
celved, Warden Hawk proceeded with
preparations for the execution, the first
step being the reading OF the death
warrant TO the condemned man. When
Warden Hawk. DR.. Van Wagner and
the Intelllgencer representative entered
the execution buiidIug at 4:S5 o'clock
Walker was found engaged In prayer
with Mrs. Birdie E. Fink. Of the Gospel
Trumpet publishing house, of Mounds
wife. Mrs. Fink was kneeitng on the
floor Of the death cell, Walker was also
on his knees, and Rev. B. N. Spur, rec-
tor of Trinity P. E. church. of Mounds
VILE, was standing near the narrow
cell bed In revereRt attitude. Outside
the cell stood Captain L. G. Lowe, Of
the death watch. The persons named
above were present at the reading Of
the death warrant, which Immediately
followed the religious exercises mem
toned.
1t was just $40 o'clock when Warden
Hawk began reading the death war
rant. Walker sat In the only chair the
cell afforded, his head resting on his
left hand, and apparently In a nervous
and hIgh-strung condition. Rev. Spur
stood beside the condemned man, and
Warden Hawk stood under the electric
light. The murderer's attitude re-
manned unchanged throughout the
raeding OF the document, but his eyes
roved In every direction In vain effort
to find loophole for escape from i'm
pending doom.
Soon after the reading OF the death
warrant The last communion was held,
Mr.. Spur officiating, and in addition
to the condemned man there were pres
cnt two life prisoners. b. E. Forgey and
w. A. Dunlap. This was ended at 6:25
o'clock. after which the murderer was
taken to the apartment in ths rear, from
which the stairs to the scaFold ascend.
Here the final moments were spent, the
condemned man being attended by
captain Lowe and Captain Reese. of the
nixon guards; Rev. Mr.. Spur and 9TH
Qs. Wake. continued to bear up sur
rIslngly well, the breakdown that had
b7ca predicted by nearly everyone con-
rcc:ed with the penItentiary not COM
i1g.
At $3.50 o'clock Engineer Mike McKin-
n,y, OF the prison, assembled to the scat
ga.g. ACCOMPANIED by Guard F. NJ,
FORD. and adjusted the rope. Just at
mi, time the spectators were entering
.nl execution room, and the space in
font OF the gailows was soon well
!grI. Next came Guards Hendricks
Young and Hughes.
II 5:ss o'clock Warden Hawk APP
% red on the scaRold, followed by
- 49,. ,t.t.,, So, at,