Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-27
HEATH BAPTIZED IN JAIL.

Ceremony Performed by Rev,
Claude Jones.-The Muir
derer Talks Freely with
The Preacher. dreams OF
His Dead Sweetheart.-A
Bath Tub Used for The
Immersion.
Elmer Heath, the murderer of pretty
Katie Adkins. and would-be suicide
Thursday professed repentance of his
sins to Rev. Claude Jones, of the Chris
tian Church and was baptized into the
faith in his cell in Worcester county
Jail at 30 O'Clock. Rev. Avery Dono
van of the Methodist Protestant Church
and Rev Aloysius Green of the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church were present in
his cell and assisted Mr. Jones in the
service. About Il score of others were
present including singers from the var
ious churches.
The change in Heaths manner to.
ward his visitors, in speaking of his
crime, was very noticeable today. The
change was first noticed by Deputy
Sheriff Hearthway after Mr.. Jones Wis
il to Heath Wednesday afternoon. In
speaking of Heath and his connection
with his acceptance of the faith Mr..
Jones said:
| My first conversation with Elmer
Heath was Wednesday afternoon. All
visitors had left the prison and he and
l were alone. l began the conversation
by letting him see there was no doubt
as TO his guilt and need of repentance.
but also sympathizing with him in the
weakness of the moment when he com.
mitted the crime. He listened atten
lively aud with none of the indifference
of which many visitors had spoken. He
seemed to realize his guilt and to wish
to make amends as far as possible. The
Scripture lesson l read was from Acts,
the second chapter. called attention
to the fact that in the passage was an
account of a great gathering hundreds
of years ago, when the murderers of
Jesus Christ were listening to the
preaching of the Apostles, aud explain
ed that when the sermon was drawing
to close the weight of their sin seem.
ed heavy on these murderers and they
cried out MEN and brethren. what
shall we do?" Had the Apostle given
them no hope there would be none Tor
Elmer Heath to day. But l repeated to
the prisoner the words that the slayers
of our Lord heard-"Repent. and be
baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission
sins" Acts. 2-3Sl. l also read from
the last chapter of Revelations where a
murderer is named among those for
hidden heaven. He saw his need, tx.
pressed penitence for his crime, and
manifested a desire to be immersed.
We knelt in prayer. While thus en-
gagged could hear his sobs which grew
louder and louder. He seemed complete.
ly overcome. When rose from my knees
he remained in the same position with
his face hidden in his arms. He would
clasp his hand occasionally, all the time
sobbing greatly.
In the evening / paid him another
visit, taking with me folding organ.
We spent while together in singing
He was acquainted with the hymns and
| Joined his voice with mine.
He looks with some hope to the next
| life. He spoke of a dream he had cf
Miss Adkins, which though but dream,
would indicate the trend of his thoughts
He thought Katie Adkins had appeared
TO him from Heaven. For two hours
they walked together arm in arm and
then he returned to earth to die and re.
turn to her where there would be no
more parting. He spoke of the effort
she had made to keep him from bad
companions, saying lovingly. "She Of
ten called me in when | was on my way
to the station knowing that was not a
good place for me- He also told me of
his father and mother and the great
grief he had brought upon them. He al.
so spoke lovingly of his parental train
ing in religious matters and how he
early became a member of the Methodist
Protestant Church He seems familiar
with the Epworth League Hymns and
asked those present to sing. Life Is
Like a Mountain Railway"
All arrangements of the service had
been made by Jailer Hearthway early in
the morning and there was not hitch
to mar the lmpressiveness of the scene.
The tub in which the immersion was
given was the same one in which Asbury
Dixon, the murderer of his paramount,
was baptized.
The surroundings were gruesome in
the extreme and some of the women
present faltered Before they allowed
Jail Warden Hearthway to lock them
in the cells and corridors. One had to
be allowed to return to the Jail proper
where she waited for the return of her
companions.
In the cell in which the small folding
organ. which Mr.. Jones fur nished. was
placed and in which the singers stood
held, not 80 minutes before, an insane
prisoner and during che lulls in the
services his mutterinE could be heard
in the cell above. to which he had been
removed. All the other prisoners were
also locked in the second tier of cells
and were not allowed to participate in
the services The cells were dimly
lighted. what light there was came from
small windows located near the ceiling
and the percolated sunlight that came
through the small CRATES was not suffi.
cient TO make clear the faces of the
worshipers in the rear of the corridor.
Heath stood in the front part of the
corridor near his cell door facing the
tub i'll which he was to be baptised
During the time of the services his one
position, that of leaning against the
cell with bowed head resting on one
hand. was expressive of one sorrowfuI
for his wrong doings. At times deep
breathings and signs escaped him and
indicated the terrible emotions of one
guilty of an awful crime such as
Heath's. During the singing of some
of tho hymns his aypraSciop indicated