The Washington times., 1902-05-23
Elijah Chapman to Be
Hanged This Noon in
District Jail.
KILLED WOMAN WITH KNIFE
Has PROGRESSED Christianity and
breaches to Fellow Prisoners TO Take
Warning From His Fate, But Holds
New Years Tragedy Was Accidental.

Elijah Chapman. colored. will be hang.
ed today in the District Jail for the muir
der of Ida Simms. also colored. on tn,
night of January l last. The sentenc,
OF the court is that the condemned mar
shall be executed between the hours
OF noon and 3 p. m. All arrangements
have been completed by Warden Harris
and If nothing unforeseen interferes the
sentence OF the court will be carried
out within a few minutes after the sun
has crossed the meridian.
Resigned to His Fate.
Chapman is perfectly resigned to the
tste which awaits him on the gallows.
He has never shown any viciousness
Since his Incarceration in the District
jail, and very coon after his conviction
he professed Christianity. and has been
In close and constant communion with
his spiritual adviser, the Rev. John Rob-
erts. who for many years has done mis-
sion work at the jail. A few days ago
Chapman expressed himself as happy in
the thought that he had prayed pardon
for his sins and had been forgiven.
At the religious services held at the
Jail on Sunday last Chapman made a
brief statement TO his fellow prisoners.
In which he blamed himself for the
awful position in which he stands. He
said that he had brought himself to the
gallows by drinking and keeping bad
company. and expressed the hope that
his untimely taking off would serve as
warning 10 all who are leading SINH
lar lives.
Story of His Crime.
The crime for which Chapman will
pay the penalty with his life tomorrow
was committed at 457 Armory Place,
where he and Ida Simms lived together
On the afternoon of January !, 1t is said,
Chapman went home drunk and soon
began to quarrel with the woman. She
tried to avoid him and in her effort to
do so left the room. There were sew
eral other people in the house at the
time, and according TO their testimony,
given at the trial. Chapman called the
woman back and then, without apparent
so1SS VI lutI NCIus, uTGW Il DCl-
knife from his pocket and plunged it to
the hilt In her heart. The woman died |
almost Immediately and Chapman fed. !
Re was, however. arrested few hours |
later by the police. When taken into |
custody he said:
Yes. killed Ida simms, and / am
glad j did. ! am ready to hang for
what ! have done, and you can't do il
too soon to suit me-
The grand jury returned an indict-
ment against Chapman on March Z.
charging him with the murder of the
woman. and he was placed on trial IN
March 81. When arraigned before Jus
tice Anderson, on the day he was in
dicted. Chapman pleaded guilty. The
court, however. refused to accept the
plea and directed the clerk of the court
TO enter plea of not guilty on the
docket
Insanity Plea Raised.
When brought to trial. Chapman,
through the advice Of counsel. did not
testify in his own defense. Insanity
was made the plea Of defense. 1t being
contended by his counsel that several
years ago Chapman was struck on the
head with baseball bat, and that since
that time he has not been mentally re-
sponsible. He was convicted without
saying word in his own defense
When called to stand for sentence.
however. and upon being asked by JUS
tice Anderson If he had anything to say ,,
why the sentence of the law should not
be imposed. Chapman was very willing
10 talk. He called God to witness that
he was innocent Of any intention Of
killing Ida Simms. He said ne loved the
woman and would not have willingly /.
harmed a hair Of her head. The killing,
be claimed. was quite accidental.
Maintains Killing Was Accidental.
Since his conviction Chapman has con-
.ended that he had no intention Of kill
ng the woman. He also said Few Gays !
lgo that If he had received Justice at
lis trial he would not have reen con-
'icted of murder. He said he had no q
II will toward anyone, however. be- !,
.ause of the result OF the trial The
.ourt he said, knew only what seyeral I
Il the witnesses had testified This he '
declared TO be false. He said that some
4 these who gave evidence did not tell
II they knew Of the circumstances.
vhile others told more than they lnew v
o be tire. h
First to Die Under New Code. $
Chapman is the frat person convicted 4
4 murder in the first degree in the "
district under The operations of the =
ew code.
Chapman spent the most of yesterday