West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-15
THE NEGRO HANGS.
The Pet Black Bird or Companies G.
aud X Gets n Hard Jolt

Friday evening at S:Is o'clock George
Williams. the negro found guilty OF criminal
assault on the beautiful Jefferson county
school teacher. Laura Knade. Iune a.. near
Harper's Ferry paid the penalty Of death,
being hanged at the state prison. Williams
maintained his nerve to the end and pro-
tested his innocence. The execution came
Oft without hitch. and In eleven minutes
life was pronounced extinct.
The witnesses began 20 gather in the
front Office shortly before O'Clock At
$40 Once Guard Ford began letting the
crowd into the south hall through the steel
cage. In the hall they formed into march
ing procession two abreast and the march
to the annex was begun. when nearing
the annex ihe musical strains Of vel Sung
hymn could be heard cmiuating from the
condemned mans cell. The convict quartet
was assisting Williams 10 his last song ser
vice.
The Witnesses had scarcely taken their
places la The annex when the march to the
scafold was commenced ~ $40. The form
OF the prison chaplain. Rev II. &. Sanford.
was the FIRST to be seen coming up the
| steps, followed by the condemned man.
supported on either side by Warden Had.
dox and Capt Dawson. The prisoners
demeanor was calm and his face wore an
earnest and determined expression lie
took his position upon the trap door 10 the
left and while the straps were being ad-
iuSted about his legs and arms by 6 yards
Sheets. Bloyd and Knight, Capt. Dawson
slipped the moose about his neck. after
which the black cap was drawn over his
head. moment later the guards had fin
ished adjusting the straps and Rev. San.
ford offered brief prayer.
I'm going home to Jesus ferventiy ut.
tered Williams as Rev. Sanford closed
with the word Amen" Captain Dawson
reached to the wall and touched button.
and the prayer had scarcely escaped from
the condemned mans lips until his body
shot through space. followed by a dull thud
and the body hung motionless.
The drop occurred az s:Is. just two min.
utes after the march to the scanold was
| commenced. He was pronounced dead
eleven minutes after the drop. His neck
had been broken
The body was shipped to the Morgan
town University where il will be 'desected
by the medical students. The state law
gives the university the right to demand
the corpse OF an executed criminal or de-
ceased convict VIXEN they are not claimed
by any friends or relatives.
Williams spent his last night on earth
more calmly than any for some time. He
was up aarly in the morning and was joined
shortly afterward by Rev. Sanford aud the
other three men occupying the death cells,
Jesse Briggs. Ed. Hunter aud William
Quill all coored. Most OF the morning
was spent in Bible reading. song and
prayer
Shortly after the noon hour Officer Bonar
took the men into the corridor and allowed
them to exercise by walking about. after
which Williams was given a bath and
| change OF clothing. When he returned to
his cell he delivered a lecture to his com
panions admonishing them to beware of
| associating with white folks, saying that If
they did so they were sure to get the worst
of IT,
lie claimed he was entirely innocent of
the crime for which he was to hang, but was
not afraid to die, as he knew he was going
| to Jesus.
Dinner consisting of fried chicken, omlet
Il and watermelon was served al O'Clock.
Williams refused To eat unless Rev Sanford
and Officer Bonar would dine with HIM, and
they consented. Williams ate very sparingly
but about an hour later ate several bananas.
The condemned man was in The best of
humor the entire day, and frequently passed
Jokes with his companions.
Williams would have been "a years Of age
on the 9Th of next month lie was of a
| dark copper color about six feet tall and
would weigh nearly 200 pounds. lie was a
native of Virginia and was a tramp. Ills
only friend or relative who ever manifest d
any interest IN him during his confinement,
was his step-fa,her named Green, of Virginia,
who wrote several slcileis To hun. The
letters were directed TO William Green.
The negro was dull of comprehension and
| densely ignorant.
HE execution was witnessed Ey about OK
persons. Fifty five tickets we're taken IN al
the door aud the balance were prison
| Off ;ias