The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-09
Haunted by Hls Victims.

the spectral wralths OF red.headed
murdercrs, whose souls be has sent
into the neither world, and confroted
by the awful responsibility of electro
cutting nine criminals within a twelve.
month, the Hon. William N. Darby,
warden Of the Ohio Penitentiary, re-
signed $4,000 position. and is now
seeking rest and forgetfulness in the
Rocky Mountains.
Mr.. Darby, for twenty-four months,
was at the head of an institution that
for years enjoyed the distinction Of
being the largest penitcntiary in the
world. He is a political power in his
section Of the Buckeye State and re-
cciyed appointment to the warticnship
Of .Ec State prison over q host Of
most powerful competitor. lie was
known as the youngest aud hand
somcst wardcn's in the States his
tory.
a fine residence, horses, carriages,
servants and perquisitics galore came
to him in his new Office, but with
them came a new duty, grewsome,
uncanny, kcartrending obligation
the legal execution of all condemned
murderers. And Warden Darby as
sumed the character of the State exc
cutioner when he accepted the politi-
cal sinccure for which there was such
o mad scramble. The wardenship Of
the penitentiary is one of the most
tempting political "plums" in the
gift of the State, and for the nonce
Eif. Darby enjoyed the emoluments
apd privileges Of his new Office.
But shere came dsy when man
down in the dark, dismal cells Of the
murderers' annex he'd TO die by the
inexorable decree Of the law. At the
ghoetly hour OF midnight the doomed
creature, with his heart ehrivelled by
tho unspeakable fear that comes to
men face TO face with violent death,
with paleied limbs and ashen face and
wild eyes staring into eternity, the
murder was led into the chamber Of
death. HE head was shsven. cleo
trodes we're placed at his crown and
on his leg; he was strapped fast in the
great oaken chair, the death mask was
drawn over his distorted visage, shut
ting out forever the last ray of world
light; the warden stood at the lever
fash, creaking of strained leath-
crn bands, a writhing human form, a
moment Of terrific suspense aud it was
over.
"He is dead" came in low, pitiless
tones from tho prison surgeon.
The body limp and livid, was un-
strapped. There was q sickening odor
Of burned human flesh. The cadaver
was thrown upon stretcher, and two
convicts in zebra suits carted it away
to the dead house. The law had been
vindicated. The murderer had given
his life in atonement for the life he
had taken.
But was that alp The law was
satisfied. The warden had done his
duty, but his nerves were shattered.
His peace Of mind was gone. He was
haunted by the spirit Of the soul he
had hurled to perdition.
A month or 80 later the scene in
the death chamber was re-eDscted.
There was the silent procession Of
newspaper men and officers at mid
night fling down the stone corridor to
the murderers' annex. Long rows Of
convicts' faces peered at them from
hundreds Of coils. It was a creepy
feeling that played up and down the
vertebral columns Of novices who had
never stepped 10 this dead march.
The murderer was led out to the cleo
trical chair, and as he took his scat a
terrific thunder storm ragged without
and forked tongues Of FIRE shot athwart
tho steel-latticed windows. Amid the
awful cannonade Of heavens artillery
another stained soul was sent into
eternity.
A third eleetrocution followed.
Three more murderers condemned to
death came to the annex. Nine more
with capital punishment written
against their names lay in jails in
various partsof the St6ts. It was too
much.
Warden Darby paced his office aoor
for hours. Then he sat down and
wrote his resignation. He could not
kill any more men. His fee for each
eleotrocution was $50, but he wished
he had never touched dollor Of the
money. All he wished was to be freed
from his terrible responsibility-to