Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-11-22

ti0n-But rev Moments Required
after Reaching the Scaffold Nor
gansown People Present aud Wit
messed the Hanging.
! UNIoNTowN, Pa, Nov. 22-Wil-
| liam Simms one of Fayette countys
murders was hanged this morning
shortly before noon. The speetaeu-
| lar part of the execution was entirely
lacking. There was no speech by the
condemned on the gallows, no prayer
from the minister and nothing what
ever but the adjusting OF the moose,
the black cap and the springing of
the trap which hurled him to his
/ death.
The services in connection with the
execution were all held ia the cell be-
fore the murderer was led out. The
cell was near the seaffold which had
been erected in the east corridor Of
the jail. Simms had been removed to
this cell on yesterday.
He passed very good night. His
sleep was not marred by any bad
dreams and he appeared to be perfect
ly contented. He ate hearty break
fast this morning.
| Rev. Thompson of the Baptist
! church was his spiritual adviser. 1t
will be remembered that some months
ago he took Smms to the river one
| day and baptized him into the church.
The event was rather an unusual one
and it attracted great deal of at
tention at the time.
| The minister talked with the con-
4 demned this morning and gave him
the last words of consolation He
expressed himself as satisfied and ready
| to die.
Simms came from Roanoke, Va,
and the crime for which he met his
death was revolving one. He has
had several stays of execution and
through it all has displayed an indif
! ference that is remarkable.
The gallows on which he was exc
cuted is the joint property Of Greene
and Fayette counties aud has been
used before for the same purpose.
Harry Garrison and Adam Bower
Of Morgantewn witnessed the execu-
1 ton.
ON THE SCAFFOLD.
Simms walked with firm tread to
bis doom. William German deputy
sheriff of Allegheny county an expert
adjusted the moose placing the knot
under the right ear. This having
been done Sheriff Mccormick sprung
the trap.
1t fell at ten forty two and in hf-
teen minutes life was pronounced ex-
tinct by the physicians present. The
remains were cut down. Simms died
of strangulation His neck was not
broken. The remains were turned
over to his relatives. They were Ia
ken to Dunbar where they are bel ng
embalmed this afternoon.
The following letter was given by
Simms to his pastor, Rev. Peter r.
Thompson:
This is sketch Of my past life.
/ will endeavor to inform the public
of my misfortune and my past life.
L am now % years, nine months, sew
en- days old. / was born on the 9th
Of February, 1877, in the city of
Roanoke, Va, and lived with my par
ents until my marriage on the 9Th
day of October, 1899. The ceremony
was performed by Rev. Jacob Moon,
at my fathers house. / wish to say
to the public that the day of my mar
riage was the day my trouble began.
and | regret that day ever since. /
tried every way to comfort my wife,
and for d short time lived as happy a
| life as any poor man could expect.
And the crime which | committed for
her intfdelity | done it ia heart of
anger | dearly loved my wife and
was more than sorry after / had done
the act, but it was too late. But
am proud that / can say with pure
heart that God has forgiven, and
wish the people would do the same.
/ am Christian man to-day, al
though ] am behind the bars. And
| want to say TO all Of my friends,
male especially, let this be an example
to all of you. And when you marry
be careful who you marry and don't
marry too young. | heartily thank
/ the preachers for what they have done
for me. 1t won't be but few short
hours until | am called away and
shall enjoy my sleep in the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, the Redeemer Of
our sins. | remain truly and sincere
/ ~, William Simms.n