Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-29

ment of William S. Riley, o0I I'd street
southeast. where ii was prepared for burial.
The undertaken expected this afternoon to.
receive telegram from the parents OF
Smell. who reside at Aconee. Ga. embrace
ing truvtinns rs to whether or not the
body should lie forwarded to that place for
intermcnt.
Dcati, Warrant Read.
moment or two after the hour of Il
had struck Warden Harris proceeded to the
cell of the condemned murderer and there
read to him the death warrant. SHELLS
arms were pinioned behind him while the
reading was in progress. Without word
being spoken the little procession started
for the scaffold Warden Harris and
Deputy Warden Russ being in the lead.
Next n line was Smell. who was accom-
panied by several of the jail guards. Walk
ing beside Smell was Rev. Father Mcguire,
chaplain of the St. Vincent De Paul So
ciety. who had been with him since
O'Clock in the morning. Rev. John Roberts
and Rev. Mr.. Howard. colored ministers or
the gospel. were also of the party.
AS he appeared from the rotunda, the en-
trance to the corridor in which the Scaffofd
is located it was noticed that sneii MAD
lest considerable flesh since the time of the
trial He weighed 2i6 pounds today. The
prisoner. who is a giant in stature. wore a
handkerchief bound around his head while
going to his doom. He was pale almost to
whiteness and was evidently nervous and
was unquestionably weak. The guards had
to assist him throughout his walk to the
gallows
Mumbled Sentences.
In passing along the corridor the man
mumbled continuously. He repeated such
remarks as THE electricity Is in my
throat They are trucking me-" Don't
forget to let the doctor get the electricity"
and the like.
He gazed aimlessly about him all the
tine. Although there was no delay, the
guards had to assist the murderer very ma
teriaily in ascending the long flight of
stairs. Rev. Father Mcguire assembled the
soaffold, while Rev. Mr.. Roberts and Rev.
Mr. Howard remained at the foot OF the
stairway. AS he was placed on the trap
Smell complained that the ropes cut his
arms He insisted. in a dazed sort of way.
that the rope was too tight. AS the black
cap was adjusted he talked more of the
electricity in his head made some inco-
herent remarks about dying, and declared:
THE doctor wants to cut me.
As these words were uttered the moose
had been drawn tight and the legs strapped
together.
Noting the condition of things. Warden
Harris raised his cap and an unseen indi-
vidual sprung the trap. After Re aching the
end of the rope there was not a culver of
SHELLS body. There was absolutely no
doubt that death had been instantaneous
and entirely free from pain. Cloths were
hastily brought to catch the dripping OF
blood
Witnessed by Carl WeisenberEer.
Mr. Carl We.senberger. father of little
Lizzie stood directly at the foot of the
scaffold within a few feet of where the
body swung after the fall. He appeared
entirely calm. but was not agitated Mr.
Weisenberger stood with uncovered head
and viewed with interest the proceedings
until the body was carried out Another
interested spectator was Policeman Pat
Creagh who arrested Smell soon after the
murder was committed. The execution was
witnessed by less than twenty-five persons.
BY request Rev. Father Mcguire. who
was with Smell for short time last even
ing. returned to his cell at I o'clock this
morning and remained with him until the
last. AS the drop fell the priest was pray
ing silently. During the morning Smell
adopted the Catholic faith and was bap-
tized by Rev. Father Mcguire. The latter
also heard from him the sacramento con-
fession.
To the priest Smell seemed very nervous
and very strange. He talked of his family
and of death. He realized that there was
no chance TO save his life. and expressed
the hope that he would see God. To Rev
Mr.. Roberts he said he believed in repent
ing after death. During his conversation