Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-09
FUNK MEETS DEATH
Continued from First Page.)

| broken but post-mortem examination
| proved such vas not the case. 1t was said
| by the physicians. however. that death
| must have been Instantaneous from shock.
Five minutes after the drop fell the only
| evidence of life was a nervous twitching OF
| the muscles. The body was allowed to
| hang. however for thirty-one minutes, not
| being lowered into the casket until 12:40
| O'Clock.
| Throughout this his last morning on
| earth Funk conducted himself graveIy. His
| usual light-heartedneSs missing. But
| his nerve never for an instant failed him,
and he showed considerable interest while
the death warrant was being read by War
| den Harris.
! Every recourse of law and the executive
| were applied TO by Funks counsel, Messrs.
| d. w. Baker and Alexander Wolf. They
worked for him ndefatigably until the last
chance for saving their client had disap-
| peared Neither was present at the Jail to-
| day.
| The usual crowd of morbid curiosity seek
| ers about the Jail al the time of an execu-
| ton was missing today. and the several
patrolmen detailed for duty there had no
| work to perform
| Hope Vanishes.
| Funk's last hope vanished last evening
when Father Mcguire, his spiritual adviser,
| returned from the White House and told
| him the attitude of the solicitor general
| and the President. Funk's usual careless
and gay demeanor changed Immediately.
| there was no other alternative than death
| itself. He became serious and almost NOR
! bidly gloomy. He at once set about max
| ing arrangements for his funeral, and re-
| qussted Father Mcguire to see that his
| body was buried in Baltimore.
Mrs. Kate Clark, sister of the condemned
man. came to the jail to see him late in the
afternoon and told Funk that President
| Mckinley had declined to interfere with
the course of the law. Funk told his sister
goodbye. He said to her he was innocent
| and protested again that his conviction
was an outrage. a traveSty on justice.
! Father Donaghue of the Catholic Univer-
| sity spent the early evening with Funk,
leaving the Jail about pm. When he had
| tons for retirement. He disrobsd, and, fol-
| lowing his custom since confinement, in
| dulged in sponge bath. He seemed to
| enjoy the bath immensely. He retired
quietly and apparently contented. after bid
| ding good night to the guard without his
| cell.
Funk. however. did not sleep well. He
| tossed about upon his cot almost continu-
ally. occasionally dropping away in peace
| full slGmber for a few minutes.
! The condemned man as early as 6
| o'clock and calmly dressed himself in the
! same clothes he had been wearing curing
| the last months of his Imprisonment.
| Father Mcguire arrived about o'clock and
was at once shown to Funk's cell He
| shook hands with the prisoner and the
latter seemed very glad to see the clergy
man again. He continued to talk with the
| priest until his breakfast arrived.
| His Last Meal.
| The repast was served at 7:3O O'Clock and
consisted of ham and eggs fried potatoes,
cup of coffee and glass of milk. Funk
| ate heartily. When he had concluded a
| fellow prisoner with whom Funk had been
| friendly called upon him and exchanged
| greetings. He suggested to Funk there
| was yet chance for reprieve but the lat
| ter shook his head gloomly, saying:
No use holding out any hope, old man,
| thank you I've given up
| At O'Clock Funk was taken to the main
| corridor of the jail. where he was shaved
Meantime Mr.. Rich, who supplies the Jail
| with clothes and shoes for the prisoners.
| had arrived with Funk's suit which he had
! selected for the execution. The condemned
| man was soon thereafter attired in black
| serge business suit. The trousers were
/ creased. He Wore patent leather shoes a
| high turn-down collar and d neat black bow
| Fathar Donaghue arrived at 10 O'Clock
| ana went to Funk s cell The devotional
services continued there until interrupted
| by the arrival of Warden James FL. Harris
| shortly before the hour of noon. Captain
| Harris read the d@ath warrant, which had
been IN his possession since June - last,
the first date set for the execution He
! also read the former respite of the Presi-
! dent, in which today was fixed as the tiay
| OF execution.
| An Intercepted Letter
t Some time ago a letter written by Funk
and addressed My dear wife was inter-
cepted by the authorities. The envelope
was addressed "Aiiss- Maud Bell, 612 Cum
! bertrand street, near Park avenue BaIti-
more. Md"
! Starting out with My dear Wife," Funk
I wrote:
Il received your dear letter this morn
! ing and it was the best | have received in
q long time. Now. dear Maud | know the
! strain on you is bad but do not worry or
! shed one tear for me, dear. Always re-
| member that while | am innocent man.
/ whatever happens, il is Gods will Re
member. too, if | must lay down my poor
and perhaps worthless life for another's
! crime 1t Is not more than Jesus Christ did
for love of us.
! 1T is true Maud, that while there is life
there is hope and ! do hope, nay, more l
| expect justice to be done me-; but if it
should not be done. remember, dear that
| | am ready and almost willing NV life
has been a mistake, and while any other
death would be preferable, | have placed
my troubles in the hands of our Heavenly
Father, and l am willing to abide by His
decision"
After reciting the legal moves that were
anticipated at the time the letter was
written, Funk continued:
IF these fail they will go to the Presi-
dent of the United States, so you see dear
! there are quite a few chances yet Oh
how would like to vindicate myself of
this hellish charge and begin life anew at
/
We're possible to right the many wrongs |
have done it could be done at the side of
dear, sweet woman like my own dear
Maud. l know since you have written to
me you have brought me to myself and
now am trying to live a good life and am
gaining strength every hour l pray to
God that | may be able to prove to you,
dear, that can become worthy of the love
and confidence which you have placed in
| me.
| No. dear. the rules are not changed
and am sure you can see me any time Won
| come. l was in hopes 1 could send YOU
some money, for | am sure it would come
| in handy under the present circumstances
but l was disappointed again. 1 have not
| heard from my father for almost week.
| l received a letter from Blanche this
morning. She did not say when she would
come. In your letters you did not tell me
If you had received three letters at one
| time the first part of last week
| This letter leaves me all O.. X and in
good spirits. Give my kind regards to
your sisters and tell them to write AS
this is the last sheet in my tablet, 1 will
close shortly. Now remember, dear, shed
no more tears. but pray to God that the
! wheel of fortune will smile. once more
boz, To-