The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-03-08
ON THE GALLOWS.
Kit Helton Explates the Crime OF
Wife Murder.-Went to Death
Cool and Collected.

Kit Helton Explates the Crime OF
Wife Murder.-Went to Death
Cool and Collected.
"A life for life. - The last act in
the tragedy is closed. The law has
claimed its forfeit, and Kit Helton,
strong in life yesterday morning, sleeps
in the cold ground.
The crime for which Helton died a
felon S death yesterday was the murder
of his wife on September 2Sth last. The
details OF the crime, capture, prosecu-
| ton and sentence are still fresh in the
minds of our readers and it is not neces-
sary to recount them at this time. Last
Monday work was begun on the scaffold
and the saving of every plank and driv-
ing of every nail in the death machine
could be plainly heard by the condemned
man, but he never finched, and kept in
good humor, even at times laughing
and joking. Wednesday, however, he
got into an ugly mood.
McWhirter, confined in the same cell
under sentence of death for a similar
crime, unlike his cell-mate, had broken
down completely since his conviction,
and his moaning and praying was what
got Helton into such an ugly mood that
1t seemed at one time it would be neces-
sary to separate the two to keep Helton,
who was physically in fine health and a
strong man, from doing bodily harm to
McWhirter, in no way his equal physi
cally. He was visited that day by Rev.
Finney of the Baptist church, but to his
greetings answered surily that the Jail
was no place for minister and he did
not want to see him. Later in the day
he was notified by Sheriff Pitcock that
he might as well prepare for the newt
able. He was asked to choose his cloth
ing, which he did with considerable
care and gave minute directions con.
corning matters pertaining to his exc.
cution. Not until the last, however,
did he give up hopes of Communication
of sentence. Being asked Thursday if
he desired the services of minister, he
answered: mo, no preacher can do
me any good. -
| He slept we'll Thursday night and ate
a hearty breakfast composed of porter
house steak, eggs, pickles, biscuit, pie,
cake and coffee furnished him by the
sheriff, and seemed to enjoy it. At the
conclusion Of the meal Helton handed
Mr.. Levi Smith biscuit as a keepsake,
saying: keep this, Iexpect this is the
last time l II see you. " He would not
put on the new suit of clothes furnished
by Sheriff Pitcock, telling him: IF
they hang me today, you can put them
in my coffin.
Yesterday was ushered in by a gloomy
morning, q fitting accompaniment to
the tragedy about to be enacted but in
spite Of this people from various parts
of the county came focking in at an
early hour prompted by sense Of NOR
bid curiosity, that Of seeing human
being led to the shambles. The question
is, on how many of them did the spec
tacle have the effect it is the intent of
the law it should haveY We dare say
few. OF course under the law only
twenty-five persons witnessed the exc
cution within the stockade, and the
only part the crowd saw was the pas
sage Of the condemned man from the
Jail to the stockade, and what the mere
fortunate (2) could see by peeping thro
cracks.
At 1855 yesterday morning Gov Davis called
| Sheriff Pitcock up over the long distance phone
and asked him II the execution had already
taken place aud being Informed 1t had not he
ordered the sheriff 10 stay the execution saying
| he would let him know at Y o'clock, what dis.
| position he intended To make, but within thirty
minutes another message was received from the
| governor saying he would not interfere What
| Davis idea was in doing this II Is hard TO say
AT 9:5j all preparations being complete, Sher-
IN Pitcock, assisted his deputies, entered the
condemned mans cell and read the death war.
, rant after which the march to the gallows was
begun, Helton appearing as cool and uncon.
| cerned as any Of the spectators
On arrival on the platform iielton was asked
| II he had any statement TO make and answered !;
| II want TO thank You Mr., Pitcock for your
kindness, and everybody who has been kind TO
me. That IL all" He then took his place on
the trap, his arms and hands were pinioned, the
cap and rope adjusted, and at 1917 the trap was
sprung, Eleven minutes later life was declared
extinct by the doctors present His neck was
broken and he never moved after the drop, At
| 1884 he was cut down and the body placed in
| the colfn, The remains were not claimed and
were buried In the potters field In Fairview
cemetery,
| Drs. Parchman. Corney. Lucas, Reeves OF
| Alma and Sharp of Dean Spring were the medi.
| cal witnesses