The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
Twice SENTENCED TO
DEATH FOR MURDER
William NJ. Strather to Be
Hanged May 5 Next.
He Must Pay the Penalty for Kill
ing Rosa Tolbert.
A Strange Coincidence of Dates
History of the Crime-The Pris-
Oncr Three Times Repricved.

William NJ. Strather was sentenced yes
terday by Justice Cole, presiding in Crimi-
nal Court No. !, to be hanged on May
next, for the furder of Rosa Tolbert on the
night of October 10, 1897.
The murder according to the testimony
and the statement of the prisoner, was
one of the most diabolical ever committed
in the District. Strather and the woman
he killed had been living together for
more than tire years. She became jealous
of his attention to other women. On the
night of the murder Strathers went to the
place where Rosa was employed and ac-
companied her home. They went out to-
gether to a restaurant for supper. 1t was
after midnight when they returned and
some time between then and daybreak the
murder was eimmitted. When the wo-
man was found the next morning she was
lying across a bed in her night clothes
dead. According to the testimony of
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook there were no
less than six fatal wounds upon her head.
Strather testified that the killing was in
self defence. He said that while he and
Rosa Tolbert were out together on the
night preceding the crime they were on
the very best of terms and nothing I'M
pleasant passed between them. In the
morning she called him about ) o'clock to
wash his face at the hydrant in the alley
as was his custom. On his way back TO
his room he said he remembered that the
lock on the door of his room was out of
order and as he saw a Ratchet on shelf he
picked il up with the intention OF mending
the lock. When he entered the room.
much TO his surprise, he said, he found
Rosa standing by the front window with
bottle in her hand. He walked over near
her to get match and she told him that
she had had a dream during the night,
which was troubling her. She said she
dreamed that he was running after other
women" StIather denied it and told her
that she was very foolish TO be annoyed
about such dreams Without other words,
according to Strather, Rosa struck him
on the jaw with the bottle. The blow, he
said, "dazed' him and she struck him
another on the same place. Strather
maintained to the last that the murder
was committed while he was in this daZed
condition.
Since the commission of the crime
Strathers has been twice convicted, twice
sentenced 10 be hanged, and three times re-
prieved. He was first convicted of the muir
der in Criminal Court No. 3. Justice Brad
ley presiding, but was granted new trial
by the Supreme Court of the United States
ON an error OF law. He was sentenced by
Justice Bradley TO be hanged on May 5,
1898, bur pending his appeal to the Court
of Appeals of the District he was respited
until August. That court sustained the
ruling OF the lower court, Justice Shep-
herd, however. dissenting. An appeal was
then taken to the Supreme Court Of the
United States. which granted the prisoner
a new trial While awaiting the decision
of the Supreme Court of the United States
Strathers was twice respited, once until
January 8, 1889, and again until February
last.
Before the last respite had expired the
decision OF the Supreme Court of the
United States granting Strathers new
trial was rendered. He was again put on
trial during the second week in January,
and was again found guilty of the murder.
When sentenced to be hanged by Justice
Bradley the date fixed was Thursday, May
D. 1898. and by a strange coincidence the
date Of his execution fixed yesterday by
Justice Cole. Friday. May s. is exactly one
year later than the time first named.
The proceedings yesterday in connection
with Strather's case were on the motion
of his attorney, Samuel d. Truitt, for
new trial Mr.. Truitt made a strong APP
peal for his client and at the close was
complimented by the court on the earnest
ness OF his argument.
In oye1ruling the motion for a new
trial, Justice Cole reviewed the case from
its beginning The prisoner, he said. had
twice been convicted by impartial juries
and he could not do otherwise, no matter
how unpleasant the duty, but impose the
penalty OF the law-death.
Strather was then called to the stand to
be sentenced.
Justice Cole asked: Have you anything
to say why sentence should not be i'm
posed" The prisoner remained perfectly
motionless apparently without concern,
and made no reply to the question of the
Court.
Justice Cole then continued, saying:
THE sentence of the court is that you be
taken to the Jail whence you came and
there be confined till May 3, 1899 when
you shall be taken from your cell to the
place of execution prepared, and between
the hours of noon and O'Clock post me-
ridian hanged by the neck until you are
dead. and may God have mercy on your
SOUL
Mr.. Truitt intimated that he would make
an appeal to the President as last resort
to save the life of his client