The Washington times., 1903-07-24
.HOPED-FOR REPRIEYE
FAILS MURDERER HILL
Pays Penalty for Crime on
the Gall0wS.
THE HANGING IS DELAYED
Drop Falls After the Last Hope of
Executive Clemency Had
Been Abandoned.

Benjamin ]. Hill. wife murderer. was
hanged in the District jail at I:z9
O'Clock this afternoon. He was calm
and self-possessed until the last.
Prior 10 the beginning of the march to
the scaffold. Hill was in the condemned
cell one and three-quarter minutes pray
ing with Father Mcclure. He was cool
and collected and marched to hte scaffold
with strong and steady step.
While the black cap and moose was be-
ing adjusted he smiled and remarked to
Capt. J. w. Walters and Guard Emanuel
Ream:
your time"
He was smiling when the black cap
was drawn down over his features. The
trap was sprung at 1:49 and at 2:06 the
jail physicians announced that the man
was dead. Hill was killed by shock. his
neck not being broken.
Hill Not Affected.
The near approach of death did not
affect Hill materially until this morning
He was buoyed up by the hope enter
talned by all at the Jail. from Warden
Harris down. that the sentence would be
commuted by President Roosevelt on the
request of the three Assistant Attorneys
General. Messrs. Day. Purdy and Nc
Reynolds.
When, yesterday, news was received
that their appeal was in vain. the fact
was broken to Hill as gently as possible
by the Rev. Father Mcguire. his spiritual
adviser. under whom Hill embraced the
Roman Catholic religion three months
ago. Hin. after momentary depression,
announced his readiness to meet his fate
1t was after breakfast this morning
that Hill began to manifest decided
signs OF nervousness, and only the
ministrations of Father Mcguire enabled
him to keep from breaking down com
pletely.
The hanging was set for between 12
and O'Clock. Heretofore executions
have been held by Warden Harris as
soon after noon as possible.
Execution Delayed.
Today, however, the execution was
delayed as long as possible, owing to a
Tip" received by Warden Harris that
the President had signifed his willing
ness, at the time he refused to COM
mute the sentence, TO grant a reprieve
for few days. provided good reason
could be assigned. 1t was told Warden
Harris that the Attorney General would
make strenuous effort to secure Hills
reprieve. and he therefore waited until
the last moment for the hoped for re-
prieve.
Hill. however. was kept in ignorance
OF this last hope, and supposed the
delay due to a desire on the part OF the
warden to give him as long a lease of
life as possible.
Last night Hill wrote a statement for
publication. which he conhded to Father
Mcguire, to be made public after his
death.
The Crime Of Hill.
The crime for which Hill was con-
victed was the murder OF his wife. Hill
lived with his wife and her daughter,
girl fourteen years old, at 315 Mis-
souri, Avenue northwest He and his
wife did not live happily and often quar-
relied On the night or November Hili
armed himself with pistol and went TO
the home OF his wife and stepdaughter.
When he arrived they were seated al
the table eating dinner. Hill walked
around 10 the side of the table at which
his wife was sitting and said Hello
Carrie and without further words
pulled a pistol from his pocket and fired
at her three times. The three shots took
effect. The woman never recovered and
died three days later. When Hill fred
at his wife Bertha 4. Marsden. his step
daughter, attempted TO interfere and pro-
tect her mother. This still further in
creased Hills anger. and turning toward
the girl he said "and you, too" and
fred at her Some one standing near
pushed the girl out OF the way and she