The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-01
J AT ROPES END.
.
LESTER BELDING, THREE TIMES
s A MURDERER, HANGED A
In PORTLAND. & lf<

/ viser-Ascended the Scaffvld
Without Fear, and Swung
y Into Eternity Without
a Word-Other
VIA News.
Portland, March 27.-Lester Btld-
ing, who, on the evening Of July
11th last, killed his wife, his moth.
er-in-law aud Frauls Woodward,
and dangerously shot his father-in-
law was hanged here at $40 o.
clock this morning The story of
the execution as told by the Port
land Journal is as follows:
From dusk last night until 8 o.
clock this morning. Lester Belding
was In consultation with Father
Garland. From the condemned
cell came low words of admonition
and prayer. They were waited
through the passageway leading
to the tank wherein are impris med
many petty criminals, who thanked
God that q chance fee reform exist
ed for them before the eleventh
hour.
At3 o'clock this morning Beld-
ing said he was tired and asked
Father Garland if he had not better
sleep awhile. He was assured that
sleep was needed, and throwing
himself onto his cot, he turned his
face against the cold grey stone wall
of his cell, and for nearly two hours
slumbered. or pretendedsto. Hard
ly a moment passed that the keen
eyes Of the death watch were not
upon him, fearing that he might in
the last moment grow frantic and
attempt to end his life by battering
his head against the grating of his
prison. B. IN p ,s ..s.,..s.. 1,
| Several minutes before 5 o'clock,
Belding arose from his bed and
called for the priest, who responded
| at once. To him he said he was
ready for the last sacrament. He
talked long and earnestly to Father
Garland, and did not cease until
breakfast was brought to him. He
ate his last meal with a relish. :. It
consisted of ham and eggs, toast
and coffee. Sheriff Storey had ask
ed him the night before if there was
any luxury he desired. and he an
swered that all he wanted was q
Iplain, substantial breakfast.
Having finished eating he dressed
with greatgcare, being particular to
brush. the new suit of black clothes
furnished him Wednesday. When
he had nearl y completed dressing
a trusty came from the outer jail
saying that some one had left few
flowers FOR him. The hopeless man
took into his hand the four or five
blossoms and selecting pure white
rose he placed it in the buttonhole
of his coat, say ing: "White is an
emblem of purity is it not, Father7"
There was no reply, and again re-
turning to his bed he sat upon it,
and near by was the priest. To-
gether the two men talked almost
in whispers, and their words were
about the great hereafter.
/ Sheriff Storey with his deputies
entered thsjail a few minutes after
6 o'clock-T The deputies remained
in the outer corridor while the sher-'
if went to the condemned mans
cell and asked Belding if he had
last request to make. Hardly an.
answer did the prisoner make. The
sheriff turned away wondering if
the man would bear up when the
final moment came.
At this time Deputy Sheriffs
Snyder and Frazier were sent to the
scaffold to ascertain if every detail
was in place. They returned to the
Jail and reported to the sheriff that
all was ready.
Twenty-Five minutes past s o..
clock, Sheriff Storey, accompanied
by Coroner Finley, unlocked the
iron door to Belongs cell and ask
ed if the doomed man would listen
to the reading of the death warrant
Il waive it's reading" said BEL
ding in low voice.
"Will you have anything to say
on the gallows?" asked the sheriff.
Il care to say nothing" was the
reply.
For few moments the sheriff
stood looking at the man who was
so soon to meet death at the hands
of the law. Not a word was spoken
by any one. Finally, Sheriff Storey
looked at his watch and going close
to Belding. said: 1T is. time"