Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-02-16
DINED ON SCAFFOLD.
Peculiar Dining Place of a
Criminal.

death trap of the permanent
scaffold in the corridor of the
county Jail. Then the table
and furnishings were removed
and Meyers was hanged for the
murder of Michael Kearney and
John Lenheart in this county
last September.
Il may as we'll enjoy life
while it lasts" said Meyers Il
am innocent OF these crimes, aud
I'm going to face death like a
man. I'm not afraid. I'll eat
my last meal right up there on
the scafold."
AS is the custom, the con>
demned mans last requests were
honored. First he had the wild
ows OF the two men for killing
whom he was adjudged guilty
brought to his cell. He asked
their forgiveness for any injury
he had done them. Attired ,
both in the garb of mourning.
the widows of his victims sol>
emnly gave the condemned
earthly forgiveness for his
crimes, and besought him to
turn his thoughts toward a
higher Power for forgiveness in
the hereafter. Meyers thanked
them, and then sent for the
Sheriff and his spiritual adviser.
who had agreed to eat dinner
with him.
Shortly before II o'clock the
three-Meyers, Sheriff Saylor
and Rev. B. B. Collins, pastor of
the Lutheran Church at Meyers
dale-lett the formers cell for
the scafold in the corridor
where the dinner service had
been laid. There was no sign
of nervousness about Meyers
no indication OF anything out OF
the ordinary-he might have
been taking a couple of friends
to sup with him at his home.
Arrived at the table he deferen-
TALLY stood, while the sheriff
and Rev. Collins seated them>
selves. Then he sat down and
bowed his head while the min
lister said grace, and then en-
tered upon the meal. The
daughter of the sheriff served
the dinre rer. Meyers led the con-
versation. The restraint under
which the sheriff and the minis
ter labored was entirely absent
in him. He was enjoying life
while it lasted, to quote his owr
words. Meyers chatted on
making a clumsy joke here anc
there, at which he laughed, dis
cussed the two murders fol
which he was about to die5 once
more asserted his innocence
and expressed perfect willing
ness to die, the spiritual con
ISOLATION afforded him by Rev
Collins having fully prepared
him for the end. Aud all the
while the clock in the sheriff
room was ticking off the second:
which remained to Meyer O:
life. Every movement OF hi:
body caused creakiug of the
trap on which his chair rested
through which in less than at
hour bis body would shoot t.
death.
The condemned ate one of the
heartiest meals he had partaker
of since his arrival in the Jail
At 1890 the dinner was at ar
end. He stretched back in hi:
chair with an air of satisfaction
and, gazing 6xedly at the sheriff
said II am ready"
He was then escorted back tt
his cell for the last time. Hur
riedly the table was cleared ant
removed from the scaffold, tn
upright put in place, and tn
rope adjusted. In FIVE minutes
supported on either side by th
sheriff and his spiritual adviser
Meyers returned to the scaffol
land resumed his place over tn
trap-standing NOV, aud VIII
the moose dangling overhead
He betrayed no fear, being hr1
and steady to the end. Th
final scene was short. With th
rope around 'his neck. Meyel
once more asserted his innt