Evening star., 1902-01-17
PAYS PENALTY OF CRIME
HENRY BOYD HANGED FOR MURDER
OF MARTHA ODEN.
Early Morning Execution in Marlboro
Crowds Arrive Too Late
to Witness 1t.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. January II.
Henry Boyd colored, paid the penalty OF
death on the scaffold here this morning for
the murder of Martha Oden. He cut her
throat with a razor one night last summer.
Sheriff Benjamin N. Hardesty sprung the
trap exactly one minute past o'clock. The
body was permitted to remain suspended
from the cross-beam of the scaffold several
minutes after life was declared to be ex-
tinct. Then it was lowered and placed in
coffin furnished by the county, to be deliv-
cred to sister Of the deceased for inter-
ment at Mount Carmel cemetery.
The execution was by far the most or
derby affair of it's kind ever witnessed in
Prince GEORGES county. Sheriff Hardesty
was highly commended for the manner in
which the affair was conducted. The sheriff
had anticipated repetition of scenes which
had been previously witnessed at the ex-
ecutions of criminals, and he concluded that
an early morning execution would deprive
some of the morbdly curious people of an
opportunity to witness the last chapter n
the life Of Henry Boyd. Then, too, the
prisoner had requested that the execution
take place early as possible.
Boyd retired at an early hour last night
and was up early this morning. When he
arose he expressed himself as feeling better
than he had ever felt in his life. and said
he wanted to see the Rev. Charles Trink-
haus, his spiritual adviser. The latter
reached the Jail shortly before o'clock and
administered holy communion. A few min
utes later the condemned man partool<
heartily of steak sausage, eggs, biscuit and
coffee.
Now I'm ready and willing to co. he
said to the guard when he had finished his
last meal Father IrinkhauS returned to
the prison shortly after $50 O'Clock. and in
a few minutes he announced that the pr's-
oner was ready to undergo the severe or
deal that awaited him.
Bade His Friends Goodbye.
The death warrant had been read to him
earlier in the morning, and the work Of
making the final preparations required but
a few minutes. When his arms had been
pinioned he walked from the cell to the
doors of other cells and bade three or four
of his friends farewell, saying: Goodbye,
boys; l hope you will all meet me III
heaven
Down the long flight of iron steps to the
rear door of the prison the condemned man
then passed with the priest and guards,
and upon reaching the Jail yard he stopped
and looked to see if any of his TRENDS OF
acquaintances were numbered among the
twenty spectators. He evidently saw none,
for he said nothing. Turning toward the
scaffoId Boyd seemed to make careful
inspection of the instrument of death. j.
Then he got ahead of his guard ana or
Deputy Sheriff Curley and Constable Clark,
and actually ran up the steps and took his
position on the trap. Father Trinkhaus
and the guards were close behind him, and
when Boyd had repeated prayers after the
priest the trap was sprung and the law had
been satisfied.
Boyd's body hung motionless and there
was not the slightest sign of struggle
Drs Reverdy Sasscer and G. F. Owens
made several examinations of the body be-
fore the heart ceased to beat and several
minutes after the last pulsation was no.
ticed the body was lowered.
Wanted 1t Over Early.
Several days ago Boyd mentioned some
thing about the hour Of the execution to
j. H. E. Mitchell, member of the death
watch. He wrote ON a piece of wrapping
paper:
Cant be hung early in the mornins?'
When the guard read this he inquired:
''Will o'clock DOR
Earlier than that" remarked Boyd, land
my mother wants me to be hung early,
too"
Sheriff Hardesty was told of the request
and he was glad the suggestion had come
from the condemned man. While he was
anxious that the affair should be over be-
fore the crowd assembled, he did not want
it to appear that he was exercising undue
haste.
Shortly after the affair was over crowds
of curious people began arriving. There
was delegation of a dozen or more from
Calvert county, who came on the early
train, and a number Of people also came
from Washington, but they were all too late
to see anything except the funeral. Boyds 8
mother, who lives in Washington, did not
come here to see her SON during his last
feu d.VS rf