Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-02
Wyatt Went to the ScaffoId
Without a Faltering Step.
MURDERER OF CAPT. 0. M. CAULK
Hanged at Annapolis FRI
day Morning.



Wyatt was pronounced dead at 10. %.
and the body was lowered into neat
walnut casket and taken into the, jail
building.
II ever man going to certain doom
displayed utter disregard for the pun
ishment he was about to meet, Robert
T. Wyatt was the man. The prisoner
rested we'll throughout the night, and
was up early in the morning. After
making his toilet, he asked one of his
guards that his breakfast be sent to
him. The meal was brought into his
cell, and the prisoner ate with evident
relish. After finishing his repast,
Wyatt stood for some time looking out
through the window of his cell.
Shortly before O'Clock, the Rev. j.
p. McComas, rector of ST. AIMS
Church, accompanied by several ladies
of the parish, entered the jail. Their
presence was communicated to Wyatt
by Sheriff Bowie, and the prisoner was
taken from his cell and directed to
enter large room on the second floor
of the building. As be entered the
room, Wyatt's face frightened when
he saw the rector and the ladies', who
had administered both to his spiritual
welfare and personal comfort since he
was sentenced to death. He spoke
cheerfully with each oil, them, and stated
that he felt all right.
Religious services were begun, and
Wyatt participated in them. Indeed,
| II was difficult for many OF those who
looked into the room to tell VIII ich was
| the prisoner, for certainly there was no
nervousness that would direct attention
| to the medium sized, well dressed and
| panl ra, tuhn utppH nv film aida
of Mrs Eugene Worthington and sang
from book which they jointly held.
Sew eral times during the services
Wyatt apparently thought for the COM
fort OF the ladies. As 1t was quite
stuffy in the room, he thoughtfully
procured fan and began tanning the
lady next to him. During the services,
| which consisted of the administration
of the holy communion, Wyatt knelt
several times on the floor, and on aris-
ing each time carefully busted the
knees of his trousers, and frequently
looked admiringly on q boutonniere,
consisting of a white rose and smilax,
which adorned the lapel of his coat
At the conclusion of the services, a
number Of persons who had congregated
in the room were invited 10 go out by
Mrs. Eugene Worthington. The males
crescent, Including the minister, left the
room as requested, and the prisoner
was left with Mrs. Worthington and
Mrs. John s. Wilmington. Mr.. Nc
Comas and the members of the press
awaited outside in the corridor =
At 90 minutes Of 10 o'clock, Sheriff
Bowie accompanied by Deputy Sheriff
Burlingame and James I. Small, ap-
preached the door and said it was time
to prepare for the end. Mr.. McComas
re-entered the room, and the ladies,
after saying farewell, left. Mrs. Whit.
ting ton as she left the prisoner was
visibly affected.
Sheriff Bowie told Wyatt his time
was up :" The doomed man, facing
the sheriff, said: II am ready" The
!, sheriff then withdrew from his pocket
! leather thong with which to secure
the prisoners. hands. Wyatt, looking
at the leather band, said to the sheriff
~ had better remove my cuffs. !" This
cool suggestion was received with some
, surprise by the sheriff, in whose face
WYATT evidently saw the surprise. III
, quickly added: SHERIFF Bowie, dom
J feel badly because you have to hang
me. You know it is only your duty,
, and / don't feel badly toward you. y
! The sheriff raised. his eyes to the fact
of the prisoner and said: ssYes, it il
my duty, and want you to keep W
your nerve. - With smile on. his fact
and looking directly at the sheriff
Wyatt said: "There will be no trouble
, about that with me, and half jestingl,
! added: "You are the one to keep vi
your nerye.' BY this time Wyatt haC
, removed his cuffs and, stepping littl
! from the centre of the floor, CAREFUL.
: arranged them on a table in the room
He next proceeded to pull his Goa
sleeves up in order to give the officer |
Q better chance to manaole his wrists
4 but before this was done he was handel
] a pair of buckskin gloves. Wyatt pro
= decided to put them o.. in a deliberat
manner. His wrists we're then fastened
and Deputy Burlinganet began to stral
his arms from the rear. Wyatt, VIII
! evidently took pride in his appearance
. noticed that the lapel of his coat wa
y being rumpled. He requested the sherii
: to wait until his coat should be pulle'
. down and buttoned across his breast
This was done and the strap wa
fastened. Wyatt again showed. hi
. regard for his appearance. for he aske
: one of the deputies if his coat were no
! drawn IN in the back, and to satlsf
him the coat was drawn down and tn
i wrinkles sInoothed out isservice wa
: met with "Thank you; that
a better.
y The black gown, with its hood, wa
i next brought into the room. Wyatt
e eyes dropped fol moment on tn
:. garment, and, ther raising them to tn
I, face of Deputy Small, he said: "Whe
> you put the rope around my neck dra'
it Just as tight as you can. :" A
right replied the deputy, and then,a
if by way of explanation, Wyatt added
l. ~ don't want it to slip.
v After shaking hands with the recte
4. and the Jail officials Wyatt was led on
Ia of his cell accompanied by Deputie
II Burlingame and Small. Mr.. McComa
"a and Sheriff Bowie brought upthe rear
/. The steps of the scatfold, at rear doc
IA of the building, were assembled BY tt
prisoner without the slightest hesiti
ton. He drew his eyes up for momer
ON reaching the platform, as though /
d were blinded by the sun, which shor
or directly upon his face. Mr.. McComii
le took a stand. near the man on tt
ar scaffold, aud while Deputy Burlingan
K manacled the prisoners legs Depui
ID Small quickly adjusted the moose. /.
m The black cap was drawn over II
ia prisoners head, the two deputi
j. stepped aside, and Sheriff Bowie pulie
the trigger, which sprung the tral
The body shot down, and after swim
OF ing around several times, remained re
sd fectly stationary. The only evidence
1e suffering, if suffering 1t were, was
}. slight twitching OF the feet and body.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.