Sunday Washington globe., 1902-05-04

One of those accepted statements about
condemned murderers going the rounds Of
the press is the abnormal appetite devel-
oped by the wretch awaiting execution.
One contemporary says:
Death appetite" Is the name by which
keepers designate the strange, morbid crav-
ing for food which attacked a condemned
murderer in Jail at Camden, N. ].
Samuel Van Stavern was hanged for wife
murder April 8. Three weeks ago, about
the time the death watch was set, Van
Stavern developed one of the most abnor-
NAL aud at the same time capricious ap-
petites ever given to a man under sentence
of death
Van Stavern's keeper defines his strange
craving as the death appetite"
ITO a certain extent all condemned muir
derers develop this abnormal appetite be-
fore death.
"At least all the men have ever handled
have had it, although none, perhaps, to
quite the extent that Van Stavern suffers.
IT'S DEATH the terrible haunting, nerve.
racking fear Of death working on them
that sets every faculty of mind and body
on a rack. They eat, not so much because
they care for food but simply to satisfy a
torturous craving for something. The
nerves of the stomach are disordered by
the strain of the death fear, Just as all the
other nerves Of the body are unstrung. The
nerves cry out, and this produces a sensa-
ton like hunger. This is the only expla.
nation l know for it, but the fact, feel
pretty sure, will be vouched for by anybody
WHO has had the care Of men condemned to
death.
"Of course a secondary reason may be
found in the fact that eating diverts the
mind Of the prisoner little, Just as do card
playing and walking the floor.
Il have never seen a condemned muir
derer yet that didn't eat well and sleep
WE'LL"
Van Stravern, like every prisoner upon
whom the death watch has been set, was
allowed all the favors that mercy comedies
to justice. Among these was the privilege
of ordering anything to be had at the res
taurant which supplies the inmates of the
Camden Jail.
Let Van Stravern have anything on the
restaurant bill Of fare. If he can get the
money let him buy whatever he wants al
other places, " ordered Sheriff Sells when
he heard that the death appetite" had
seized the prisoner.
Van Stavern smiled and rubbed his hands
together in a satisfied way when the order
was made known to him.
Eat? Why, you never saw man that
can eat the things that I'll have sent from
now on, he declared.
They treat me all right in here. but you
know the rules allow only two meals day
I'm not particular about what have to eat,
but l tell you what, would like to have
enough Of it,"
Inquiry developed the fact that the two
meal.a-day rule was suspended in Van
Stavern's case some time before, and that
no limit was set upon the food that he con-
sumed. In spite of all Van Stavern num-
bled, Pm terribly hungry sometimes"
In appearance the condemned man was
terrible picture of a human being ridden by
the furies of death. He was big, muscu-
lar fellow, hard and athletic, despite the
confinement OF six months in Jail Physic-
ally he looked as strong as an OK. But the
terror in the glittering gray eyes and in the
drawn skin about the temples was inde-
scribable. A gread pallid circle trimmed
each eye and fine sweat stood out in beads
on his forehead and around his tightly
drawn mouth.
He began at once to make out a menu,
and the writing of four Of these daily was
one of the chief solaces of existence. He
WI ote them on slips Of paper, often a day
or so ahead, and every order was enough in
quantity to supply whole family Of ordi-
nary eaters Here is a sample menu, said
to be made out by Van Stavern for one
day, in addition to which he had sweets
and fruit brought in by a woman who
visited his cell daily:
BREAKFAST.
Three Oranges.
WafHes. Eggs on toast.
Tenderloin Of beefsteak.
Glass Of cream. Cocoa.
Cigars and cigarettes.
LUNCHEON.
Bananas. White grapes.
Fresh tomatoes.
Graham waters. Iced tea.
Sliced tongue sandwiches
Cream puas. Cigars.
DINNER.
Blue points.
Mock turtle soup. Roast chicken.
Potato pufis. Green peas.
Celery.
Plum pudding and pie
Ice cream. Fruits. Cigars.
SUPPER.
Frizzled beef and onions.
Coffee and Saltines
Fruits. Cigarettes.
When the food was brought and set down
on the deal table in the little cage that Van
Stavern ate and slept in he fell to like -
ravenous creature Apparently It did not
occur to him TO leave anything on the
plates. Between meals he often threw down
a hand Of cards long enough to eat dozen
bananas, a mince pie or other delicacies
that friends asked the good-na ured keepers
TO bring up TO him. Day in and day out the
death appetite" goaded him.
"I'm terribly hungry sometimes, " he said
70 a reporter.
His expression was almost precisely that
Of Gagged wild animal, except that IT is a
little more appealing.