The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-03
Hammons Dies for MUIR
der of Wife.
MOORE FOR WORSE
An Assault Upon a Little Negress On.
iy Eleven Years Old. On the Scat
fold Hammons Makes an Ad-
dress and Seeks 10 Excuse
Himself.

NSpeCidl 10 NEWS anu oDSeINeI.)
Winston Salem N. c., Sept. 2.-J.
w. Hammons was hanged today in the
county Jail for the murder of his wife,
Henrietta Hammons which occurred
on April Goth, last.
The execution was as successful DIS
such a thing could be, and the pris-
oner never lost his nerve. He
was brought into the death chamber
at 11:52 O'Clock. He walked
by the side of his spiritual adviser,
Rev. j. ID. Williams, with a steady
step and stepped on the trap with
seemingly as little concern as if he
were on firm ground. The prisoner
was in his shirt sleeves, wearing a
turn down collar, black necktie and
white shirt. Sheriff Alspaugh read
the death sentence and the Governor,
reprieve. The perspiration was stand
ing in drops on the prisoners face, and
from time to time he rubbed his face
with his handkerchief, and his lips
moved continuously as if in silent
prayer.
Rev Mr.. Williams announced d
hymn. the witnesses present joining in
the familiar strains of There is Q
fountain filled with blood" Then the
witnesses knelt with the, preacher AMI
the prisoner, while the former offered
a beautiful prayer in behalf of the
condemned man. Two chapters ofFtht
scripture were read by Mr.. Williams.
and then the hymn How firm foun-
dation" was sung. After this Sheriff
Alspaugh told the prisoner that if he
wished to make a statement he could
do so.
The Prisoner Speaks.
The prisoner spoke in a very low
voice q he 68I
himself a murderer and he wished
everybody to know the circumstances
in the case as he did. He then pro
ceeded to talk of his past life and thu
crime, declaring he did not intend to
kill his wife, and he did not know
whether he did commit the act. H.
said that he loved his wife, but she
would listen to other peoples advice
and would not live with him. He told
of some family affairs and gave names
of persons who had figured in the
scandals. He asked that no blame be
attached to his children for the crime
he had committed
Talking of his spiritual conditions.
he said he was satisfied that his sins
were forgiven and thanked the people
who had taken interest in his spiritual
welfare during his confinement. The
tears came into his eyes as he referred
to his mother and his childhood
The prisoner spoke for twenty min
utes and concluded with the statement
that he had enemies who were respon-
sible for the crime. His arms were
then tied behind him, and Sheriff Ais
paugh adjusted the moose. After
another short prayer a majority of the
witnesses shook hands with the pris-
oner. who said to each, God bless
you" Following this the black cal
was placed over his face, the sheriff
stepped to the lever, and as the pris-
oner was murmuring prayer the trap
was sprung.
The exact time was 12:37. The
body dropped six and one half feet.
There was not the slightest movement
of the body after it went through the
trap, the neck being dislocated The
attending physicians said death was in
Simultaneous. The heart ceased to
beat in eleven minutes. and after hang
ing twenty-sevn minutes the body was
taken down. When the black cap was
removed the features of the dead man
were not in the least disturbed. Thu
body was turned over to an undertake
ing firm, who placed it in a nice cof-
fin. Relatives carried the remains to
Stokes county on the afternoon train.
The execution passed off without d
hitch. Sheriff Alspaugh having made
careful preparation for the same.
In the Vicinity OF the jail quite Il
crowd had gathered. and large part
of it remained until the body was
taken from the building.
Last night the prisoner complained
of a bad headache and asked for med
icine. which was given him. He went
to sleep about l L o'clock and slept well
until about daylight. when he arose
and dressed. This morning his sister
called at the jail to bid him farewell
The scene was very touching. Ham
mons told Jailer Hammer this morning
that he felt as we'll as man could feel
under the circumstances. He advised
all the prisoners to meet him in
heaven.