The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-01-07
JOKED AT
The SCAFFOLD'
Murderer Woodward Want
ed to See Why Women
SIM on the Eve Of
Execution.
ATTRIBUTES HIS FATE TO WOMEN
Played New Tunes At Hls
Nightly Concert History
Of the Crime.
ATTRIBUTES HIS FATE TO WOMEN
Especial to .srhe Jersey city News. =


CAMDEN, Jan. Z, 1903 Paul Wood
ward was hanged here at 1905 today
for the murder of two Camden boys by
poison last October. Just before the
execution he gave Sheriff Miles a writ
ten statement to be made public after
his DEATH
With the certain knowledge that death
must come today, Woodward arose this
morning early, much refreshed, evidently
after sleep in which his impending
doom did not seem to worry him in the
least.
+ On his last night in Jail Woodward
staggered the Sheriff by request that
he be permitted to go to local theatre.
Woodward was a great local news
paper reader. He read the reviews Of
the new theatrical performances. He
told Sheriff Mines he had last request
to make.
Anything within my power | will
grant, said the kindly Sheriff
.Well, then, you send me to see that
new show, Why Women SIM said
Woodward
WOMEN DID IL.
1T was women put me where I am,
and this play appeals Sto me. Send all
the guards in the Jail along and handcuff
me to two of them, but please let me go"
When his request was denied he
shrugged his shoulders and said: All
right, sheriff. It's the only thing I
want
With view of bringing Woodward's $
mind around to what was in store for
him the Sheriff told Woodward he must
have no hard feelings personally. as what
he was going to do was forced upon him
BY law.
That's all right laughed Woodward,
sbut go easy about it. If you hurt me
when You put the rope around my neck
you'll hear from me''
got out his mouth organ and began his
nightly concert.
Are there any new tunes?'' he asked.
IF there are want to learn 'em before
go
Woodward's aged father and mother
visited him yesterday for the last time.
They spent an hour with him and went
away completely mystified by his stolid
indifference. A member of the Grand
Jury saw them depart, their eyes filled
with tetars, and thought the time auspic-
ious to administer a few words of warm
ing to the condemned man.
DO you realize your postion?" he
asked, as he looked into the cell.
Certainly replied Woodward, seer
tainly. Sure thing you know. After to-
morrow I'll be dead one''
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
The crime for which Paul Woodward
paid the death penalty was the murder
on October l last Of John Coffin, aged
eleven years, and Price Jennings, aged
fourteen years. The. boys disappeared
from their homes on October /, and their
bodies We're found in the woods near
Haddon Heights, six miles from here
Previous to the discovery of the bodies
Woodward had gone to the home of
young CefIin and said he could find the
boy if a suitable reward was offered
This cast suspicion upon him, and on
investigation it was learned that Wood
ward had been seen in company with
the lads on the day of their disappear
ance and that the three had purchased
pies near where the murder was COM
mitted.
Woodward was subsequently arrested.
An analysis of the boys stomach show
ed that they died from arsenical poison
ing. The police officials learned that
Woodward had bought arsenic few
days prior to the boys disappearance,
and upon being indicted BY the Grand
Jury was later placed on trial and CON
victed of murder in the first degree.