Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-02-01
Lippkin Dies.

Early last Friday morning, jan
uary %, the final preparations
were completed, the prisoner walk
ed firmly from his cell to the scat
fold, the trap was sprung, and a
penitent murderer was launched
into eternity, thus closing the last
legal chapter in the case of the
Commonwealth of Virginia VS..
Benjamin Lippkin, indicted and
convicted of the murder of Rich
ard Ellyson.
The first execution TO be held in
Clarke county drew a large crowd
of the morbidly curious, who were
anxious Ia view the execution, but
every precaution had been taken
by Sheriff w. w. Smallwood and
his deputies to enforce the law
concerning private executions.
Lippkin himself was anxious that
the execution be public as he said
that he wanted all to see his exam
pie and be warned in time of what
might befall them if they violated
the law.
In conversation with this writer
late Thursday evening Lippkin
said: We'll, sir, my time is getting
short. | will be glad when it is
all over. / have had a good while
to think it over, and / am ready to
go. 1t would be a good thing if
every man could have a months
notice of his going away, so that
ne could get ready. That other
man referring to Ellyson) was
taken away without notice, and he
didn't have any chance to getready.
L am not afraid to go. for l have
made my peace with God and | am
resting on his promise to take me
home to happiness. Good bye,
sir, | thank you for what YOU have
done for me, and hope / will see
you in that Great Morning. Good
bye"
Lippkin slept well Thursday
night and ate a hearty breakfast of
chicken Friday morning.
Before 9 O'Clock Lippkin's pas
tor, Rev. Harmon, of the Freewill
Baptist Church, and other colored
preachers, entered the corridor
facing Lippkin's cell and held SER
vices for the dying.
At 9:35 the last walk to the scat
fold was begun, the preachers sing
ing and praying as they went.
After reaching the scaffold Lipp-
kin looked the structure over care
fully, and even eyed the beam to
which the moose was attached.
The preachers sang Beulah, !"
then prayed, and then sang God
be With You Till We Meet Again. 4"
The straps on hands and feet
having been previously arranged.
the black cap was drawn over the
prisoners head, his last words be-
ing Good bye, friends; good bye" "
The trap was sprung and the
body shot downward, stopping
with a terrible jerk rs the neck
was broken. The neck breaking
heightened the body considerably,
and there was very little move
ment after the fall. Only the re-
fex muscular action caused the
hands and feet to twitch convul-
sively.
Exactly twenty-one minutesafter
the drop fell, Lippkin had been
pronounced dead, the body was
beginning to stiffen in the cold air,
and was lowered onto board and
taken charge of by Undertaken
Enders.
BY Lippkin's expressed wish,
the remains were taken at once tC
the Franklintown Cemetery anC
inferred. All told, from the time
of the religious service beginning
at the cell until the last clod OF
frozen earth was thrown upon the
grave, not longer than four hour.
were consumed.
As soon as the body was remov
ed from the scaffOld workmen be
gan taking down that structur,
and packing it away in the jai
cellar to await the possibility o
future use. The enclosed tent wa
quickly taken down, rolled up anC
hauled away. BY u O'Clock al
traces of the affair at the Jail haC
disappeared, and that institution
had resumed its normal aspect.
\ number of officers and other
from neighboring counties an,
cities were present and expresse,
themselves in the highest term