The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-21
TRAINED TO DIE BY GALLOWS.
a Condemned Murdcrer's Health Inn
proved by Gymnnsttcr.

proved ny Symunsttch.
wlLLIAMsPoRT, Pa, May 20.-Fearing
that he would die before June 8, the date
set for his execution by hanging, William
Hummel, condemned murderer, has re-
stored himself to perfect health by careful
physical exercise.
The average condemned murderer has 70
be watched to prevent his attempting sui
eide, but Hummel is not that kind of 4
man.
1t cannot exactly be said that he looks
forward TO his own execution with zest,
but it is certainly true that he much pre-
fers TO die by the hangman's moose on June
D than to die naturally before that date.
He takes peculiar pride in the fact that
he has regained his strength, and glories
In the physical prowess that he will ex-
hibit on June 5.
Why" he said yesterday, 'if want to
exert my strength 1t will take twenty men
to get me to the gallows.'
Hummel's crime was an atrocious one.
Without any known motive, except fiend-
ish rage, he killed his wife and three little
children in November last. He and his wife
had had some trifling dispute over small
sum of money that she asked him for At
o CLOCK the next morning he got up, pro-
cured an axe. and slaughtered his whole
family. one after another. willie they slept
The murderer managed to aide his crime
lot week He took the Bodies of his
wne and children in wagon to a dcsolate
spot some miles away and hid them in q
haysfack. where they were discovered &C.
cidentally.
Hummei narrowly escaped punishment
by mob violence. He was tried and
speedily convicted. After being sentenced
he made confession, though at first he
feigned insanity and pretended to receive
spirit messages from his wife and chill
dren.
When first told he was to be hanged
on June 5 Hummel almost died of fright.
into such bad physical state that the
prison doctors said he would never live
to be executed.
This judgment by the medical men had
peculiar effect on Hummel. He said he
must live every minute the law would
give him. He cried and moaned that he
did not want to die, that he wanted to
live until the time should come for him
to be hanged.
Sheriff Gamble took an unusual interest
in his strange prisoner and told him that
II he would obey instructions he would
live to be hanged Hummel promised and
that same day the sheriff inaugurated .
system of physical training that has done
wonders for the condemned man.
Hummel was the next thing to living
skeleton when he started in to build him
self up, but SO zealously has he worked
that he is a splendid physical specimen,
and looks like the trained athlete that
he is.
regular wglking exercise, increasing the
work gradually. Hummel began to eat
little and to sleep easily.
Deputy Sheriff Joe Smith. an old-tlme
athlete and gymnast, was assigned to the
Job of restoring Hummel to health. In
time Joe showed the murderer how to
hang by his legs onto the prison railing
and drop eight feet into an upright posi-
ton. Then he schooled Hummel in turn
ing handsprings, wagon wheels, and back
f1ippers
But the exercise Hummel most fancies is
boxing, and thanks to Smith. he handles
the gloves with a fair amount OF skill.
They engage in two six-round bouts a day
and the deputy sheriff has all he can do to
keep even up with the murderer.
Hummel now weighs 1913 pounds stripped
and is as agile as cat. He can walk the
whole length Of the jail corridor on his
hands. He runs sprint foot race daily
with his trainer in the jail yard, the fin
ish line being within a couple of feet OF
the site of the gallows on which Hummel
will die.
Deputy Sheriff Smith said:
Some people may not approve Of the
methods that have adopted to fix Hummel
up. but I-claim that il is the best possible
thing that could be done. We would not
care to carry half dead man to the glib
bet His crime was such a fiendsh one
that he should be in the best OF condition
physically and mentaily-so that he will
be able to fully appreciate the extent of
his punishment.
"Hummel is in fine shape now mentally
and physically, and / am going to keep
him So This exercise that have given
him has made of him a new man. His
mind is healthier than it was. and since
the improvement in his bodily condition
he has developed a conscience and now
fully appreciates the enormity OF his
crime