The times., 1899-05-06
Strathers and Winston Meet
Death Without Fear. .
The Execution Well Conducted by
Warden Harris.
Funerals of the Men VIII BE Held
Tomorrow From Scott's Under
taking Establishment.

ored, were hanged at the District Jail
shortly after noon yesterday. Both men
were hanged from the same scaffold at
the same instant. Within seventeen min
utes after the drop fell the victims of
the execution had been pronounced dead
by the Jail physician. The warden's jury
then filed into the Jail office and attested
the verdict by subscribing their signatures.
Just twenty-one minutes after the physi-
clans verdict, the bodies of both men
were lowered into caskets and given into
the charge of Undertaken McKensie Scott
for burial. Both funerals will take place
from Scott's establishment at 43S Second
Street southwest tomorrow afternoon. The
interments will be at Harmony Cemetery
Without doubt the execution of Strathers
and Winston was the most successful and
well conducted that have occurred in the
District jail. There was absolutely not a
hitch in the proceedings. Order and a gen.
orally excellent demeanor were evinced by
the subjects of the execution as well as the
witnesses The impressiveness of the oc-
casion rather than the horror generally in
cident prevailed. The witnesses, exclusive
OF the Jail attendants and the policemen
detailed. numbered about fifty. but SO well
were they handled by Warden James II.
Harris that they seemed mere handful,
Many persons who were attracted to the
jail by morbid curiosity demanded ad-
mittance at the Jail door but were denied
by the warden and his deputies. Warden
Harris had limited the invitations and was
strict in seeing that his instructions con-
corning admission were observed None
was admitted who had no business either
In journalistic or medical capacity un-
less 1t were few well-known and promi-
hent attorneys. Among those who were
present were Lieut.. John F. Kelly, of the
Sixth precinct; Attorney Campbell Car
rington and Attorneys F. R. Keys and
John Taylor, who defended, respectively.
winston and Strathers during their trials.
IL was understood that the executions
would take place shortly after IL O'Clock.
Long before that time the privileged wit
nesses had assembled. Everything was in
readiness al the noon hour when Warden
Harris gave the signal that The time fer
the death of the condemned had arrived
Heading the funeral procession he moved
10 cell No. 81. at the end of the corridor
known as murderers' row, and which was
occupied by the condemned. This was q,
l2:Ol o'clock. The death warrant was
then read and the solemn procession moved
along the corridor, across the rotunda. and
into the scaffold yard
The condemned men were attended ~
their spiritual advisers Rev. p. " wor.
than, pastor of St Paul's A. NJ z. Church:
Rev. Charles Williams. and Rev. w /
Howard. pastor of Zion Colored Baptist
church, who had been with them through
out the greater part of the night. The
Rev MIR. Howard married Winston TO the
woman for the murder of whom he was
yesterday executed. The other attendants
upon the condemned were the guards E.
5 Ramsdell, George C. Gumm, James
Woodward, George Blanford. Eugene
Walsh. and David Proctor, who had COM
Ead Il
during the night.
The little procession reached the scaffold
at 1904 O'Clock and three minutes later
the drop fell. As the procession moved
along the corridor the preachers and the
condemned lifted their voices in the we'll
known hymn, Blessed Assurance" The
strongest voices were those of Strathers
and Winston. 1t was a psychological study
TO witness the apathetic demeanor of the
men. They were totally obiiyious TO their
surroundings, and mounted the steps of
the scaffold singing firmly as though at
tending anything other than their execu-
ton. There was not the slightest dis
play of emotion and to the closest OBJ
server there was nothing apparent but
absolute confidence.
Arrived at the floor of the scaffold the
men assumed their positions. Winston on
the right of Strathers. The former glanced
at the trap beneath him while singing,
and evidently, satisfied that his position
was not correct. shifted to one side.
Quickly and deftly the nooses were then
adjusted and the black caps drawn over
the heads. Now the mufled yet firm tones
OF the men could be heard in the hymn
which was concluded in an instant after
ward. There was a slight pause and then
the voice of the Rev. Mr.. Workman an
nounced the twenty third Psalm, The
Lord is my shepherd" Even while the
words were on his lips there was given
an almost imperceptible signal and the
annals of the Jail recorded two more muir
derers dead.
Strathers did not struggle. while Win
ston. the lighter man who had been given
a greater drop, evinced muscular convui-
sion. Il was thought that Strathers' neck
had been broken. but such was not the
case as the physicians announced that ne
had died of strangulation and shock. On
the other hand. Winston, who apparently
was strangling TO DEATH was pronounced
as having sustained broken neck. Ae-
cording to the statements of the physi-
clans, both men died at the instant they
reached the end of the rope.
Strathers and Winston were well pre-
pared for death. and looked upon the ar
rival OF their last day and the prepara-
tions for their end in most complacent
and matter -of-fact way. They slept well
during Thursday night, retiring about
midnight and arising at 6 O'Clock yesterday
morning The clergymen had been with
the Condemned men from early evening
until they retired. Neither man had shown
a disposition TO do other than firmly meet
death, and no apprehension had been felt
by the warden for their safety. AS mat
ter of custom rather than precaution,
the death watch was set. as is usual at
such affairs, and remained with the men
until they arrived at the scaffold.
When the men arose yesterday morning
they dressed and went to work cleaning up
their cells as usual. That work completed.
they were moved to the large double cell.
No "a. There both expressed a desire to
see their spiritual advisers. The request
was acceded to. This was after a hearty
breakfast had been partaken OF. The re-
ligious services continued until 8 o'clock,
when the clothes which the condemned
men were to wear on the scaffold were
given them. These were donned in their
respective cells. and consisted of new black
serge. suits, new shoes. white collars, cuffs,
and shirts. and black \bow string ties.
When dressed the men were returned TO
cell No. "a. where the religious services
were continued until the reading OF the
death warrant.
Strathers. when asked to make a state
ment declined. saying that all he cared
TO say had been fully published. Winston.
on the other hand. was anxious to make
statement, which was as follows:
Il am extremely grateful to the warden
and guards for the kind manner in which
they have treated me during my coniine-
ment
Lewis Hickman has done me much
harm. but l forgive him and all other of
my enemies. am glad to say that have
tsNa u.