The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-13
Preferred to Sleep Rather than Talk
with the Chaplain, but Spoke
Briefly to His Brother.
NO HITCH IN THE EXECUTION
FOURTEEN MINUTES FROM FIRST TO
LAST OF THE HANGING.
No Struggle and yo Scene on the Scaf-
foId-Story OF the Crime for Which
Hoover Was Hanged.
Special to tn. indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind, Nov. 1s.-Edward
Hoover was hanged at 12:O6 o'clock this
Friday) morning for the murder OF his
father-in-law. Frank Sutton. in Indianap-
oils. on May II last. Thirteen minutes later
he was declared to be dead. and the body
was cut down. He died with scarcely a
struggle. The body will be taken to sheri-
dan to-day for burial in the Hoover fam
ily lot.
Three heavy meals. consumed to the last
crumb. were eaten by Hoover yesterday,
and at every interval allowed him he slept
as soundly as a babe. The day for him was
crowded with events that would break the
nerve OF any man less stolid and animal
like than he. Early in the forenoon War
den Reid entered the condemned mans cell
In murderers' row and with trembling
voice read to him the ofncial warrant OF
death. which was received with gesture
of indifference and almost OF impatience at
being disturbed with trivial and unin-
teresting a matter
During the day the warden gave his per-
sonai attention TO the final preparations
in the chamber Of death. inspecting and
testing the drop and rope, noting the re-
suits OF the airing and cleaning the gloomy
corridor had received. examining the con-
tents OF the little dungeon that opens at
the foot of the scaffold and In which
Hoover spent his last living hours. Short
ly before noon the prisoner was taken to
H.<
required ablutions as though impatient to
get the proceedings along. After dinner
four guards conducted him to the death
cell and left him asleep, with the death
watch just outside the grated door,
NERVES WERE STEADY.
The march through the long halls to the
gallows room was made without incident.
The murderer walked steadily along and
passed within touch OF the drop without
a visible tremor. The slender whip-like
rope hung above the black platform full in
his view as he entered his new cell to await
the summons OF death. Amid these awful
surroundings no word escaped him. no
plea for mercy fell from his lips. He had
already rejected indinerently the chaplain's
proffer of spiritual consolation, and again,
in the presence Of the dread instrument of
execution, he declined to enter into any
conversation with the minister. He pre-
ferred to sleep.
He was informed that any request he
isb isnt &c care 2 70 n,,e msx any message ne might
municated TO the watch at his door, but
he uttered no word unless addressed. His
complete insensloilisy to the things about
with which he accepted and ate the supper
that had been prepared for him with par
ucular care. That done. he slept again
Shortly after IL o'clock two guards car
ried him a full outfit of new clothing, con-
sisting OF a neat black suit Of outer clothes
q suit OF light underwear, a necktie, a COL
lar and pair OF socks, In which except
the collar and tie, he was dressed He was
also required to wash his hands and face
and comb his hair. These proceedings
were accomplished in silence. the directions
being given In few words and In a low
voiee s As N ,un,snl ,,n came very near the lit
executioners and witnesses approached the
black-painted chamber and took their po-
stions at the foot OF the trap. When the
warden's watch indicated the passage of
the midnight hour that official turned to
the guards at the cell door and slightly
mediateiy unlocked two prison guards
stepped inside and took Hoover by the
arms. one on each side. and rapidly con-
up 10 the platform. and TO the center of
the trap, facing him outward. while another
guaru dusekry Ia ,o ao1nsisd S the strap about
been pinioned with another strap before he
left the cell The guards stepped back of
the trap, the warden gave another sign
and Edward Hoover shot into space with
his neck instantly and as the doctor said,
neatly fractured.
he DIED QUICKLY
The cell was opened at 12:O5. Forty Sec
onds later the drop fell. and Hoover was
declared dead within thirteen minutes.
without having spoken word on the scaf-
fold.
When the physicians had pronounced the
man dead the rope was cut and the corpse
was borne into the outer corridor, where
the undertaken took IL in charge put on
the collar and necktie and hurled IL 10
the morgue down town. There was no dis
ngurement OF the body except the arssul
scar where the thin rope had burned and
chafed the neck In the instantaneous jerk
IL received the sudden weight of the
falling body.
Without pausing to see the undertaken
perform his duty Warden Reid and his
party returned hastily TO the once, all OF
them agitated by the solemnity of the
scene they had just passed through, and
In a few minutes the brilliant lights were
extfnguished and the great prison was dark
and gloomy and all was still as though no
unusual incident had taken place. Mr.
Reid. as he passed out. controlling his
emotion sufficiently to artfculate, remarked
be able 20 face execution. for each one
IN his experience has been Infinitely worse
than any before.
William Hoover, OF Sheridan, Ind, q
brother OF the murderer. arrived late Thurs
day night 10 take charge of his brothers
remains. He called at the prison and spent
several minutes with the murderer The
condemned man had nothing to say to his
brother. and was not visibly affected wher
the latter took his departure. but instead
threw himself his cot and was soor
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