Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-06
VALE HANGED TODAY
Went to the Scafold Singing g
lynn.
ASCRIBES Els Fate TO STRONG DRINK
History Of the Crime for Which He
Suffered Death.
HIS JAIL EXPERIENC E

HIS JAIL EXPERIENCE
I'm going home to heaven; amt that
good news?' sang Nelson Vale. as he stood
on the scaffold at the District Jail this
afternoon. I'm going home to Jesus"
Just then the drop fell. 1t was precisely
six minutes after Il o'clock. Although the
pulse continued to beat in manner unusu-
ally strong for twenty-four minutes, death,
SO far as sensation was concerned, was in
Simultaneous. 1t was due to shock. The neck
was partially dislocated, but was not
broken.
The execution, which was the penalty for
the murder Of Alexander Jackson last jan
uary, was probably the quietest in the his
tory of the Jail. The attendance was small
er than at any other similar event. Within
three minutes from the moment the warden
started from his office for the cell Of tie
condemned man, to read the death war
rant, the drop had been sprung. Upon
reaching the end of the rope the body
twiched slightly and then remained passive
until lowered into casket at 1892 o'clock
Within half an hour from the time the
warden gave the signal to the unseen exc
cutioner the body of Nelson Vale was on
r. s. Harvey's Sons. Later it will be turned
over to Undertaken Charles -Dabney, who
will remove 1t to Wales former home at
Fort Reno, near Tenleytown. Funeral serv-
ices are to be conducted Sunday afternoon
either at the house or in a church, 1t has
not yet been decided which The interment
Will be in cemetery near Tenleytown. The
funeral expenses. after the body leaves
Harveys esta blishment, will be borne by
friends of the deceased. the arrangements
being In charge Of Rev. John Roberts.
Went Singing to scanoId.
Vale, who was at least seventy years of
age, marched to the scaffoId singing the
hymn quoted in the foregoing. He was ac-
companied by Rev. Mr.. Roberts, Rev. W.
j. Howard and Rev. Charles Williams, all
coored ministers. The clergymen and the
condemned man participated in the singing
the voice of Vale ringing out strongly and
without a tremor. His conduct was little
short of remarkable in the face of DEATH
When the warden and his assistants went
to the cell for the last time Vale arose
quickly from his chair and placed his arms
behind him, in order that they might be
strapped.
He walked unswerving1y across the ro-
tunda, along the corridor and up the steep
steps of the scaffold- AS though anxious
for the end to come, he unhesitatingly took
position on the drop and, to the best of his
ability, assisted those whose duty 1t was to
strap together his knees and to adjust the
moose and the black cap. Throughout these
proceedings he was singing. The skin of
the neck was not broken by the drop and
there was no bleeding.
Strong Drink RespOnsIbIe.
All indications point to the fact that Vale
really wanted to die To Rev. Mr.. Roberts
he stated this morning:
I'm glad to go. I want you to tell them
after it is all over the real cause of my
trn,, InI1,
the day before the shooting 1 spent rs
cents of it for a pistol and the other so
cents for whisky and gin. mixed. The
liquor was responsible for what 1 did,
Rev; Mr. Roberts spent the night. with
Vale in his cell Shortly after IL o'clock
last night the condemned man. at the re-
quest Of his spiritual adviser. lay down to
rest. He ate hearty breakfast this morn
ing and in the intervals between prayers
conversed with the ministers regarding the
execution. He calmly inquired if 1t was not
the duty of the warden to read to him the
death warrant. Frequently he would walk
up and down the cell, and once on reach
Ing the doorway glanced in the direction Of
the scaffold and remarked:
I'm going to heaven that way"
Half an hour before the execution War
inquired If there was anything he could do
or If there was anything the inmate would
like to have to eat.
No No thank you was the answer Of
breakfast and enjoyed it and want moth
ing more"
Babe Fellow Prisoners Goodbye.
During the morning Vale babe goodbye
to a number Of the prisoners. He also gave
Instructions for the disposition Of his be-
longfngs. He told the ministers to give
ring to his daughter. certain other things
to his son and several small articles to one
Of the prisoners who had been especially
kind to him. In connection with these be-
quests Vale announced that he was at
peace with the world and had nothing
against anybody"
The march to the scafrold was past the
cells occupied by Funk and McUin, con-
demned murderers. Both were very quiet
today. After the execution of Vale Funk
inquired in an interested manner regard
ing the details Of the hanging.
Wales Jail Experience.
During the several months that he was
confined in Jail. Vale never gave the guards
the slightest trouble. So far as he was
able to do so ne lived Up to the very letter
of the rules OF the prison. Being unable
to read and write, the unfortunate man
passed many hours in reflection and brood
ing over the fate that awaited him. From
the time of his arrest until the foreman
OF the trial jury said: Guilty indicted"
Vale believed he would be acquitted. He
certainly hoped for penitentiary sentence
at the WORST, ana IL was not until a week
ago that he really believed he would have
to die on the scaffoid. He had heard Of
the postpOnements in the cases of Funk and
SEell. from time to time, and he thought
his counsel would be able to prolong his
life in this way.
When Funk's execution was postponed
until fall Vale felt certain he would be
permitted to live through the summer. Pris-
soners in tho jail. and others. were respon-
sible for this belief. for his spiritual adj
wiser, the Rev. Roberta has always told
him he would better prepare for the end
ing Of his life on the scaffold. At one time
Vale broke down and for several days he
refused to be comforted. Then 1t was be-
lieved he would never be able to walk to
the scaffold without assistance. Soon after
he turned his thoughts to religion there
came a decided change in him, and he de-
clared he was not only willing, but was
anxious to die His religious enthusiasm
soon knew no bounds and he talked of 90
ing to glory as IL he were about to gain
what he had lived for more than three
score years.
His Only Regret.
The only regret ne expressed was that he
would have to die on. scaffold. From
time to time he talked to his fellow prison.
erS about the civil war when he servad 40