The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-01-24
Pete" Meyers Hanged.
murder of flichaeI karney and John
Lenhart Avenged by the
Law.
SCENES AT THE EXECUTION
Meyers Said He Was Content to Die on the Trap if
it Was Gods Will That He Should Do
So.--AppeaI to the Pardon
Board Failed

'.rA EeNef Meyers was hanged IN
the county Jail at I2.5S o'clock lis after-
noon- de walked boldly onto the death
trap and stood erect while sheriff Savior
adjusted the moose around his neck. Rev.
Collins read Passage from the scriptures
aud offered brief prayer.
The prisoner said be hoped to meet all
present in heaven. The sheriff then
pulled the black cap down over his head
and said. Good bye, Peter Good
bye" came the response in firm tone.
when the Sheriff pulled the lever and
Meyers dropped tn his death. The nnr-
der Of Michael KArney and John Len
hart was avenged.
Meyers did not struggle and al the sxpi-
ration OF fourteen and one half minutes
he was pronounced dead His neck was
broken.
At Ii.S0 O'Clock dinner was served in
the main corridor OF the Jail. Owing to
the contracted space il Was necessary 10
place the table over the death trap
Those who sat down were Sheriff Sayl5r.
Rev. Collins. Guard Knepper and the
prisoner. Rev. Collins asked blessing
IN which he referred feelingiy to Meyers
last meal The prisoner did not show q
tree OF nervoesness- He was neatly
dressed, and wore q new necktie that
had been given 10 him only few min
utes before A red flower adorned ia
lsa lapel OF his coat Meyers ate heartily
and apparently relished every bite that
passed his lips The dinner consisted Of
roast chicken, salad. vegetables, cake and
coffee, and ice cream. The prisoner con-
tinued 70 eat after the Others had finished
and looking AZ the Sheriff said, with
smile, sheriff you must have bad
light breakfast I am enjoying every
thing"
After the rspsst was finished the prison.
er was conducted % cell No I. on the west
corridor, accompanied by Rev. Collins.
Veteran Isaac Jones assisted Sheriff Say
lor 70 adjust the moose in the ring over
the trap and at 1890 the Sheriff read the
death warrant 20 the condemned man.
Meyers said that was an unnecessary
proceeding. but he gszed inteDtly on the
big official document and li~faned stten-
lively while the Sheriff read Several
Newspaper representatives and Jail
attaches then visited TIRE cell and bade
the condemned man good bye. He
asked the newspaper men 70 return his
thanks to Sheriff SaylOr for the kindness
be had shown him. and said his thoughts
were not fixed on temporal things.
AT 10 O'Clock the prisoner requested the
Sheriff TO spring the trap. the instrument
OF death upon which be was 70 stand two
hOu-s later. He was Immediately taken
TO the main corridor and when the bars
holding the trap were released and the
sssei platform Instantly dropped iato its
proper place. he said That's all right
Sheriff; well not have any trouble. bot
viii make a good job OF it,
At eight o'clock last night Rev. F. B.
Collins. Meyers spiritual adviser. snd
Alex MarkIe, Of Meyersiale. were sd-
United TO the co rridor in which Meyers
was confined. They remained with the
Condemned man for two hours and before
leaving Rev. Collins gave him commun-
ion.
After the clergyman and Markle left,
Mrs. Karnsy and Mrs. Leuhart, widows
OF the men murdered by Meyers, were
admitted 70 the corridor and were warm
" greeted by the prisoner. Meyers had
sent for them t0 visit him and both ladies
said they could not deny his last request
Meyers told them that be was anxious to
ask their forgiveness and TO assure them
that he bore them no III will The ladies
told him they bore no resentment towards
him. and felt that Il was their christian
duty 70 comply with his request TO visit
him. The interview lasted for perhaps
hfteen minutes aud was very affecting.
The prisoner retired at Il:30 o'clock and
y midnight was srand asleep. He rest
g quietly all night, not disturbing the
dezth-watch in any way. At 60 o'clock
be awoke aud bidding the guard good
morning, dressed himself in the suit he
had worn ever since his confinement.
which he changed before going onto the
trap for a neat black eutawsy coat aud
dark trousers. As soon a. his toilet was
c,mpleted he asked guard Bittner for q
cigar, and upon being given one, said:
This Is the last smoke I will ever take"
When guard Kneppsr relieved Bittner
a. 30 O'Clock Meyers crested him pleas
3 ,tlE. and then saj4. 'Fhis i my last
dsv on earth. bat am fully prepared u
e. have forgiven all my enemies"
Waen breakfast was served be ate
heartily.
Rsv. Collins was admitted to the jail at
5 o'clock aud remained with Meyers
until the last.
The arrangements made for Meyers
funeral were changed yesterday. when
his relatives purchased lot in the MeT-
ersdale UEion Cemetery and had a grave
dug. The fntersnent viii take place To-
morrow morning. The prisoner had ex-
pressed wish to be laid by tho side Of
his mother aud arrangements have been
made TO transfer her remains from the
Meyers private burying-ground TO the
Union Cemetery.
Never. wss anxious thst his picture
should not appear ia the newspapers and
persistently refused N pose for photo
0rapher. Yesterdsy afternoon he told
sheriff SAyl0r that he would like % have
MS photograph taken in order that i
might be given 70 The various members
OF his family after be was gone. In con-
pliance with his request the Sheriff hsd
PHOTOGRAPHER VIA 80 prison Al O'Clock
last ME az. when the condemned man was
brought down 10 the Sherifi-s private
oface and q fi2sh-liZht photograph was
taken of his featureL Pete" had pr
pared for the sitting. having paid partie-
nlar attention 20 his toilet He wore
freshly la1udered colOred shirt and
standing collar and tie. His hair was
cornbed down smoothly over Ms high
forehead. and be held an ILLUSTRATED copy
Of a book entitled "Christ and His Dis
ciplss.- = in his hand. The photographers
promised before leaving 70 show Meyers
a proof OF the pictare this morning. and
expressed the opinion that il would be
fairly good one-
Afser the photograph was taken Meyers
asked the privilege OF = private interview
with ths Sheriff. He said that he
had thought Of m skiing statement up m
the tran, b.. upon reelection concluded
no. 70 do 50. .'Tnsre Is one thing wSEt
70 say. Sheriff" ne eOutinusd. and thai
il that have = great dstl Of love tot you.
and app sscizts all yoa hsgs ds9s fsr ma
Yoa can depend apoa il that wiil bear
up al right when The time comes 10
morrow. bat want 10 say thst l would
g. q