The Washington times., 1905-02-15

there might yet be no hanging. The
gibbet was hastily removed from the
prison yard to the storeroom, under
orders OF Warden Deturk.
Messenger Arrives.
The big bell in the prison was tolling
the hour of II o'clock when a blue
coated messenger boy dashed up the
prison steps. and pulling the entrance
gong, hurried by the ioorman, crying
breathless1y:
"Greason, Edwards
Warden DeTurk was in the main cor
rdor. To him the messenger delivered
the despatch
The warden tore open the envelope.
AS he read the words he hurried up the
steps 10 the second tier. where Mrs.
Edwards. sitting in her cell. was count
ing OF the minutes to her end.
Mrs. Edwards Stunned.
The warden stopped before the grated
door and smiling at Mrs. Edwards said:
Mrs. Isdwaris. here is some good
news for YOU have a telegram from
Mr. Ientz, your counsel, which reads:
'Greasofa- Edwards case continued for a
month.
The woman WAS seated on her cot and
did not at first seem TO grasp the import
OF tie message. Almost completely col
lapsed ny her approaching doom, her
mind torn by many emotions, she failed
a. first to understand. She rose unstead-
lily to her feet and as she sWayed it came
10 her that she was not TO die on the
morrow
Her Prayers Heard.
Thank God she gasped in her Ger
! man dialect. You could tell me 20
news that would please me better. God
is good and he has heard my prayers .
Mrs. Edwards half turned and fell
Frustrated and overcome on her bed.
She sobbed aloud for many minutes and
/ tEen sank upon her knees and prayed
l can hardly believe that II Is true -
she said this afternoon. Il had given
! ap all hope, though ! knew my God
not taken my little alma from me! I
would that she could be with me again.
nave every confidence now that I shall
never be hanged.
Warden Tells Greason.
| Warden DeTurk told Greason OF the
news, and the negro chuekled as If he
/ had heard a joke. Then he said:
oh, / am so mighty glad
| When they left him. Greason began to
] sing to himself Greason never lost his
courage during all the period of his in
/ careeration. and his stout heart won
| him many friends in the prison. War
/ den DeTurk gave immediate orders IN
remove the galiows from the prison
yard.
| The warden said he was very glad
that the pair had been granted a stay
Of execution Reading exnressee t4e
confident opinion this afternoon thai
neither Mrs. Edwards nor Greason viii
/ ever hang.
Counsel for Mrs: Edwards and the
negro. Greason. left here at o'clock
/ this morning for Harrisburg to lay be-
/ fCre the board of pardons Il petition for
a continuation OF sentence. but few be-
iieYed II would be Of avail
/ Whl!e outside IN the prison yard the
/ carpenters were quietly preparing the
/ galiows, Mrs. Edwards sat on her cot
: in her narrow cell this morning raw
aged by recurring commissions of a rerv-
/ Gus complaint and the victim of her
! own contending emotions. The wretch
! ed woman was in state OF almost
complete collapse.
Grieves for Alma.
They said of her at the prison this
morning that the woman's life passed
/ out when little Alma. the child of her
| illicit lover, was taken from her on
| Monday and sent away.
| The little girl will be taught to forget
! her mother who bore and raised her
within the prison walls after her arrest.
Mrs. Edwards thinks only Of Alma
and her children scattered over The
country. and broods on the memorto.
! Of other days. When not overcome by
/ commissions and hysE@ria the woman
! stares at the brick wall across iron
/ the cell door-alone with her thoughts
for neither Mrs. Edwards or ifrcdsof
! have death watch
The prison matron. Mrs. Sailie New
! comet. makes her rounds of the corri,
| dors through the day and stops for g
! few moments 10 comfort the woman
/ The condemned are kept under con.
/ CT n
ened by loss of sleep and food ant
only holds up by strong stimulants
/ Her hysterical commissions are awft1
| to see.
| DR.. schemehI. the prison physician
! has her in his constant care
|