Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-08

MIND dying. but loathed the idea OF dying
on the scafrold. This announcement on his
part some time ago caused the Jail officials
70 Iear that he might attempt suicide
During the past two or three days, since
the hope of executive clemency had de-
parted. deathly pallor had overspread
norton features. and this was very
marked today. He began reading his Bible
carry IN the morning, and while perusing
the 6Sth Psalm 1t was remarked his coun-
tenance frightened very much.
Events of the Morning.
About o'clock this morning two nieces
of the condemned man were admitted to
the Jail and shown into the rotunda They
were shown to the grating near Horizons
cell. He came forth, conversed with them
a few moments and then bade them a final
farewell. These were the last of his rela-
tives to see him. The next two hours were
devoted to prayer and singing. Shortly
after IL o'clock Warden Harris entered the
cell to inquire If Horton desired anything
In the way of luncheon. The reply was
although he had something in the cell at
the time, he did not care to eat
During the morning letter was received
by Horton from a Mr.. Mcknight, one of his
friends He was expecting a letter from
MRS Horton, and one of the ministers made
constant inquiry concerning 1t. 1t was
learned later however, that Mrs. Horton
did not write the letter until midnight and
1t was not mailed until this morning The
oihcials did not expect IT to reach the jail
until the afternoon delivery. The letter
Will be returned to Mrs Horton.
During his final conversation with one of
the guards Horton gave expression to the
wish that his wife could accompany him
into the next world.
During the morning Horton visited Funk,
Smell, Ormsby and other alleged mur-
derers, who have been his near neighbors
in jail He bade them all goodbye. Funk
whose trial will begin Monday next ap-
peared to be deeply affected by the parting.
At II 30 o'clock the warden and all the
jail officials who could be spared from their
posts were assembled outside of the graf
ing near the cell. Horton came forth and
in tones that were choked, said he hoped to
meet all Of them In the hereafter and
thanked them one and all for the kindness
they had shown him during his imprison-
ment. Reaching his arm through the
grating he shook each of the officials by
the hand.
Horton stated to the ministers a few
nights ago that he had had a dream to the
effect that he was going away somewhere
to leave his troubles behind. He seemed 10
be among a number of people, but rose
above them. He then left them, seeming
to go, and that's all he remembered.
Disposition of Body.
The body was removed to the undertake
ing establishment of Boteler and Scott, 4ol
Sth street southeast, where It was en-
balmed. From there 1t will be taken to
the residence of Mrs. Horton, 707 11th
street southeast. The funeral will occur
tomorrow, interment to be made in Con-
gresSional cemetery.
The hanging Of Horton differed from for
mer executions within the walls of the Dis
trict jail for the reason that the attend
ance today was noticeably smaller than at
any similar event in the history of the in
stitution. Warden Harris admitted only
those authorized by the law to be present.
Less than thirty persons were witnesses to
the hanging. The warden declined even
to admit the policemen detailed for duty at
the jail. He held that they were on hand
occur outside of the institution.
Heretofore it has been the custom to have
a double line of policemen stationed across
the rotunda through which the condemned
man passed on his way to meet his doom.
Today there was no such line, the only
police official within the jail being Lieut..
Kelly.
A large throng of the curious had gath
cred before the entrance of the Jail but
there was no trouble of any sort. Warden
Harris was congratulated on the success
of his arrangements, and also because he
refused to admit to the institution persons
who had no right or reason to be present
To Star reporter this afternoon Mrs
Horton reiterated her belief that her hus-
band was not responsible for the murder
by reason of the state of his mind at the
time of the killing of Mrs. Nicholson
The last white person to be executed in
the District of Columbia, prior to today
was Joseph A. Beam. who shot and killed
his stepdaughter Anna Lola Leahy at her
home on Capitoi Hill. the afternoon of the
Friday, July e. 1895.