Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-12
SMITH 70 Be HANGED
Prisoner at Fort Madison Due
to Die on the Gallows De-
cember 30
uNcoNcERNED AS TO HIS FATE
Smith. Who Killed a Woman Named
canaday at Buxton, Has Made No
Effort Whatever to Have His Sen.
tence Changed or Now Trial Grant.
ed.

Des Moines,, Dec. 12.-One Of the
most extraordinary cases In western
criminal history will come to close
beyond the power Of human agency to
reopen, with the execution of Joseph
G. Smith, at Fort Madison prison at
sunrise on the morning of December
30.
Smith is going to the gallows as an
OK to the shambles. Facing death with
stoic's composure, his attitude rather
suggests deficient mental faculty than
Socratic courage Yet, the universal
sense of Misrepresentation seems dulled
in his case, for no struggle. however
slight, has been perceptible during the
year and two months in which he has
seen the dagger-like shadow OF the
gibbet arm frightening Its remorseless
finger toward his heart.
His death by the rope will silence the
vengeful voices which rise from the
grave of a woman who was his friend
and against whom he twice turned
murderous hand. Cheated once of his
victim, he bided his time and, event.
ually. murdered her. Her name was
Ida Cannady. and she lived with her
husband at Buxton when she was shot
by Smith October 16, 1908.
The murderer did not deny his guilt.
He offered no excuse in palliation and
faced death with apparent unconcern.
He is mulatto who was born in Tex
as, and he followed the Cannady fam
lily from Virginia, where he knew
them for four years. He was mem
Der of their household for several
years. but trouble between him and
the husband resulted in severance OF
friendly relations in May, 1903. Az
that time he Is said to have tried TO
shoot Mrs. Cannady and was tried on
that charge, but released. He return
ed to the home, afterwards, to board,
and it was said that q quarrel over the
fact that the woman, on orders from
her husband. refused to cook breakfast
for Smith one morning, was the I'M
mediate excuse for the deed for whose
expiation the hammers OF the gibpet
builders will ring thru the night OF
December 30, while, before the cell OF
the murderer, there will walk, FORWARD
and back. back and forward, the dread
death watch.
smith has been entered in the prison
records as Al years of age, and ~1thout
religion, There are no signs ABOUT ms
demeanor which indicate that he NEEDS
the sustaining influence of religion pur
the chaplain Of the prison has per-
mitted no opportunity to pass without
n,acine before him the consultations OF
hone. without effort to distract his
mind from contemplation of the past
toward the future into whicn ne olos
fair to enter without light.
For twenty-three years Smith mas
worked in the mines of this and otner
states. He was unmarried. He was a
Jolly good fellow with his mates, ana
even after his terrible crime his jocu-
larity Mortified his companions In jail
and those in charge of him. 1t Is said
that prison life will sober a man, and
there are evidences that it has sobered
Smith; possibly without~the certainty
of the moose he would have been able
to throw off the universal influence.
And vet he has made no effort to save
his neck.
Judge not that We be not Judged"
is a scriptural injunction of force, but
one which men have not yet learned to
obey. Who is there, now, however,
who will pretend to look into this mans
heart to say what Is there? In his
testimony given to the court when he
pleaded guilty he was asked as to GER
tain statements he had made while IN
confinement. ut was so lonesome"
said he. once in explanations; and
there was no one else to talk to-" he
said again. The words are mere
straws; perhaps in the heart OF this
man who faces the gallows so calmly
there was a human philosophy built on
meager understanding, but from which
sprung instincts that cropping blindly
about for light and help found them
not in selfish world.
Third Execution In Decade.
When the black cap is drawn over
this mans face at sunrise the morning
Of Friday, December 80. 1904, and the
floor slips from beneath his feet and
the rope tightens, jumps, strains and
then trembles with the travail of pass
ing life, the third man, in slightly more
than a decade, will have been hanged
by the people of Iowa.