Evening journal., 1904-09-02
JOINER WENT
To HIS DEATH
WITHOUT TREMOR
Negro Murderer OF John R.
Taylor Hanged at the
County Workhouse This
Morning
NECK BROKEN BY THE DROP
From the Scaffold He Said
Goodbye to the World
He Was Leaving

"Oh Lord, the world farewell" These
We're the last words spoken by John
Joiner, one Of the negro slayers Of John
Taylor. colored, before he was swung
into eternity at the New Castle county
workhouse at Greenbank this morning.
His remarkable GOODNESS was a source
Of wonder. His step was as firm as
could be wished for and he showed no
sign Of fear as he walked up the steps
leading TO the gallows.
William Guest. one OF the murderers
death watches, and Charles Wolfe. dep
uty sherin OF Delaware county, Pa,
walked beside the doomed man. The
latter fixed the black cap over the ne
gro's head and adjusted the moose
about his neck. A Sign to Sheriff Em-
nit #. stidham, who was standing be-
low, gave the latter the cue to pull the
rope which released the lever holding
the trap In place, and Joiner was
launched into eternity. The whole pro-
ceeding took but a few minutes and the
doomed man died almost instantly.
Only a few quivers passed through his
body as it dangled in the air and all
was over
His neck was broken.
Body Cut Down.
The drop fell at 1918 o'clock and sew
en- minutes later the physicians pro-
nounced the negro dead. His body was
allowed to hang until 1915 o'clock.
when he was cut down and placed in a
rough pine box and brought TO the
morgue in this city. The physicians
who examined the body were Drs. j. w.
Bastian, H. w. Briggs and John w.
Muilin. They viii hold an autopsy this
afternoon, after which the dead man
viii be inferred in Potter's field.
Died Frisndless.
Joiner died friendless and without
relatives. In all the time he was at
the workhouse but two visitors. his
counsel, Sylvester ID. Townsend, and
his spiritual adviser, the Rev. p. r.
Moore, called to cheer him up in the
last days.
To the Rev. r. T. Moore. his spiritual
is due much credit for Joiner's
spiritual and physical condition. His
words buoyed the unfortunate man up
in his last hours upon earth and he /
actually laughed while waiting for his
executioners to lead him 10 the gal
lows. He died a Christian" said the
Rev. Moore, land left this world to
meet his God without fear"
Last Hours in Prayer.
Joiner's last hours were spent in fer
vent prayer He arose shortly after
o'clock and at z o'clock ordered a
breakfast Of three eggs, fried ham. a
howl DF mill ma br-.,9 ma 1...t4-.
appetite had not failed him and he ate
With evident relish. After breakfast he
vas visited by his attorney. Sylvester
D. Townsend, who remained with him
or some time. Joiner expressed the
wish that State Detective James p.
Ratledge, Chief of Police George Black
md Special officer William Sehen Wit
less the hanging. officer Scheu took
he statement Joiner made concerning
he murder of Taylor at the time Of his
Irrest. He said the statement credited
o him was not true. as he did not
trike Taylor with the iron weight. He
-dmits having struck the murdered
nan but did not say at the time he
made the statement with what he did
trike the. blow.
In his confession to his attorney
II he deserved, wanted il to be known
nat walter Brinte, who is serving a
fe sentence. was the one who struek
aylor with the iron weight, and that
e himself had struck the murdered
ian with his fist. He held to this con-
assion until the last minute.
The Rev. Moore spent the last min
les with Joiner IN his cell. which had
cen changed from No. 20 to No. 1. SO
nat when he left his quarters none Of
le other prisoners in the corridor ,
ould see him. The unfortunate man
rayed tervently and when his spiritual .
aNiser LETT him he called him back j
iylhg ne wanted 20 recite the Lords
rayer. This ne did with so much fer
or that there was no room for doubt
lat his conversion was genuine
accompanied by Mr.. Townsend and
ie Rev. Moore, Joiner walked with
hrm step through the long tunnel
aiding TO the stockade where the
'aHold stood. His hands were cuffed
,hlhu MN ana he asked Mr.. Moore to 1
lpe ms race. Several tears rolled !
'Wh ms taee. but he showed no fur g
'sr emotion, upon beholding the scat
~, ne looked at for a moment, but
esS tNt ANA MS E1Ze away and ~
ose who were with him hurried him s.
TO the power house where a tempo $
ny room had been prepared. s.
The doomed man wore a black sui,
L no collar or necktie. Ascending
e steps between Deputy Sheriff Wolfe L
Delaware county and William Guest Il
said wearily, 'Oh, Lord. 10 the
orld farewell" These were his last
ords and a few moments later he was
opped into space.
Among those who witnessed the hang
9 We're; Thomas Field. warden Of the
siaware county prison: j. w. Barker.
perintendent of the Delaware county al
nshouse; William Howard ana al
larles Wolfe, sheriff and deputy sher- #
respectively of that county: Police Fl
Iptain Ned Evans and number F
police We're on hand. Neither Chief cl
Police Black or Detective Ratledae
ire present The jury who witnessed
hanging was composed of: &,
-yrus ;. Mousley. Brandywine hum n
Continued on Eighth PaEe.) d,