The Van Buren press., 1902-07-26
DIES A FELLOWS DEATH.
DAVE M'WHIRTER EXECUTED AT 1919
O'CLOCK YESTESDAY FOR THE
MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
REMAINED FIRM TO THE END.
Made Rambling Talk Of Eight Minutes
and said God had Forgiven him.-His
Last Words were "LOrd have
Mercy on Me-"


q close. The gallows in court square
have claimed their second victim and an
outraged law has been avenged. Dave
McWhirter, wife murderer, has paid
the penalty the law decreed.
Yesterday dawned gloomy rs u fitting
stage setting to the the drama about to
be enacted McWhirter had been sleep.
ing lightly during the previous night
and rose at an early hour. After a
light breakfast accompanied by u glass
OF lemonade, he spent the time that In
tervened in PRAYER. He had previously
asked that his execution be set for be-
tween 10 and II O'Clock, and at 1000
Sheriff Pitcock entered the condemned
man 8 cell and read the death warrant
At its conclusion McWhirter declared
himself ready and the walk to the scat
fold was begun. He was supported by
Rev. Whaling, but, contrary to what
had been expected, he appeared firm
and did not faltsr.
Arrived on the scaffold he made a
rambling talk of eight minutes, the sub.
stance Of which was that be felt he had
been forgiven and his soul would 20 to
Heaven. He advised all to take warn
ing by his case. After speaking he
asked for a drink Of water. At his re-
quest Rev, Whaling offered short
prayer for the salvation Of his soul,
when his hands we're quickly pinioned,
the black cap and rope adjusted, and at
1919 the trap was sprung The drop
of 81 feet broke his neck, but 1t was 10
minutes before the physicians declared
life extinct. The body was placed In a
casket and at the request of his two
brothers, who were here, taken to
Hunts undertaking establishment.
They would not give any information
as to where 1t was proposed to inter the
body, but the supposition was that they
would take 1t to Bentenville. their
home, for interment. They expressed
some bitterness against the community
In their conversation, but all informa.
ton is that they are good law.abiding
citizens and stand we'll In their COM
munity and they will no doubt soon see
that their brother only received the re-.
ward due him.
Sheriff Pitcock was assisted by Deputy
Jim Weese, Jailer Miller, and Sheriff
Joe King and deputy of Johnson county.
Everything had been we'll prepared be.
forehand and the execution passed off
without hitch. They had feared Nc
Whittier would create scene, but,
while he appeared to appreciate the full
import of what was to take place, he
never faltered.
Drs Parchman, Corney, Galloway,
and DR.. W. W. Combs of Mulberry
were the medical attendants. There
was the usual crowd of the morbidly
curious, numbering something like FIVE
hundred present surrounding the stock
ade, but only the legal number were
allowed inside.
THE CRIME.
Dave Mcwhirter married the woman for the
taking OF whose life he yesterday suffered the
extreme penalty OF the law about a year before
the murder, but the marriage proved not hap
by one and they soon separated, Mrs. McWhir-
ter going to live on the Fernby farm with her
two little daughters by former husband Nc.
Whittier on several occasions was reported to
TO have requested his wife to return to his nre.
side and threatened her II she did not comply,
Friday morning. Nov, 10th last McWhrter
went TO- Mulberry and tried 70 borrow pistol
w
borrow one from neighbor under pretext Of
wanting to shoot dog With this no repaired
TO tho resi- denee Of his wife aud renewed his do.
mand for her return to his home and threaten
raised the pistol and opened fire on her as she
attempted TO escape from him, The bullet Just
grazed her left shoulder, As she reached the
back yard he fired again, the bullet entering
(he back Of her head, producing instant death
As she fell he fred third shot, but missed
The murder took place In the presence OF the
two daughters OF the murdered woman. aged
3 and 10 years. These raised an alarm Us soon
as McWhrter left, and within an hour neigh
bors had started IN pursuit Of the murderer. II
house Of ncighber, told him OF the bloody
deed he had committed aud raising the weapon
TO his head made the remark that he believed
he would kill himself then and there, !Io was
pairing TO tho place where he had borrowed the
pistol and threw II into tho yard, whore II was
later found with thrce exploded cartridges and
the other two showing that an attempt had
McWhiiter was Lost. He was finally located and
arrested BY Sheriff pitcock and CITY Marshal
Wells OF Mulberry at Wiser Junction. He had
been wandering about through the Indian Ter
ritory and Oklahoma for some months and was,
rested,
In speaking Of tho crime recently no said he
borrowed tho pistol from his wife's cousin. IN
tending 70 Kill himself He went 10 whero MS
wife was Living IN the bottoms near Mulberry.
uo says her paramour was there aud no caught
them talking together. He then lay IN the
woods near by watching the couple until the
man went away. Then he chided his wife for
her actions and no said she laughed ut him. Hc
told her he was going 10 kill himself aud she
told him she didn't caro- how sO0n he was Out
Of her sight Then he shot hcr twice, no says;
The evidence offered at the trial proved no hred
three shots He claimed the statement was IN.
true, roiterating that he had fred but twice. liz
said his mind and body had been poixonod by
connection given bin u few days before by his
vito 10 cure headache. Amer tho shooting no
said he wanted TO kill himself but was por-
suadcd by q relative 10 leave tho country,
Mcwhirter has been married throe limos Iie
he has threa chill dron by his nFst marriage, tive
sons and u daughter, all grown, sterling Prlot
MeWhlrter aged II, resides with his udclc u :
q, McWhirter, at D0ntonvillc william Y, Me-
Whlrter Ia working IN the mines south OF South
McAlester Mcwhlrtcr had two brothers. H. u,
Mcwhirter OF Ben,onvile and l.. ID. Mcwhirtcr
who lives out West
Up TO the timo OF XIV Iioltons execution Nc
Whittier was n physical and mental wreck, bu
since had Quiotod down, taking bis nonrlsh
mont regularly and had gained considerably u
that DO showed NbJoot fear whenever tho sub
constantly and no doubt his hope Tor tho nl!pr,
had much TO DO IN brAoing him up III a position
that would have beon q tryinK ono V 4 pcrsOi
Of much greater Intelligence than kcWhirte
showed he possessed.