The Washington times., 1905-01-20
CHILD AND MOTHER
IN DEATH CELL
Mrs. Edwards Preparing
for the Gallows.
FOR KILLING HER HUSBAND
Her Little Daughter, Born n Prison,
VIII Be Sent te a Good
FOR KILLING HER HUSBAND

tSE<A UNI IA Jan ZU--tTS- kata
Edwards is preparing for death IN the
county jail here.
She win be hanged on Thursday. Feb.
ruary Is. for the murder of her husband.
John Edwards, three and a half yearn
ago.
TIE gallows is stored in the basement
of the prison. and Mrs. Edwards and her
associate in crime, Samuel G.eason. win
be hanged together.
To See the Hanging.
AZ conference of prison inspectors
and Sheriff Sassaman il was decided
70 admit no one but the Jury OF inouess
provided by -dw, reporter from each
Reading newspaper and represertattyeS
from the Associated Press and Publishs
ers' Press
The scaffold viii be erected in the ian
yard and Mrs. Edwards VIII have to
walk about fifty feet
While under a terrible mental strain.
she bears up well. She was greatly dis.
appointed when the Pennsylvania State
Federation OF Women's Clubs. through,
its president, Mrs Kate Mcknight, OF
Pittsburg. refused to make an appeal In
her behalf. Her greatest concern Is foe
her child, Alma, three and q half years
Oit, DOll III leT cell, WHO mas never oee1
out Of prison and has positively never
seen the outside world
A Pathetic Case
This makes It a most pathetic case.
Alma viii be taken from her motfer In
two weeks and sent to Southern
State, where she will be placed in good
home Mrs. Edwards five other chill
dren have been sent to the West
Twice a week the Rev. Stephen
Sehweitzer, the Reformed Church pas
tor OF Ephtata, visits Mrs Edwards as
her spiritual adviser Last week he
gave her a little book entitled -.As.dr-
ances Of Faith, y which she reads. This
afternoon he spent considerable time in
the condemned wornan's cell. preparing
her thoughts for the world 20 come, but
ne finds ii hard work When both kreIt
IN prayer today little Alma kneit bv her
mothers side, awed by the clergyman's
earnest voice Mr. Schweitzer received
Mrs. Edwards into his church by con-
nrmatior when she was thirteen years
old and married her TO John Edwards
when she was seventeen.
Visited IN Cell.
When visited in the prison today the
little prison Child had taken a seat on
stool in the cell She looked at her
weeping mother in wonder, her dark
eyes mutely asking why does mother
cry so much2''
She got up from her seat and going
TO her mother tried TO comfort her. She
stFeked one Of her hands and lsaned lev
ingly against her mother Then the
mother ciaSped the child IN her arms.
Alma is a pretty child Sne has long
black hair, the curiS falling down 10
her shoulders She was attired in a
nicely made and neatly trimmed cream
eolored cashmere dress Her conduct
could be patterned after by children who
have been reared with all the refine
ments of good home.
A Changed Woman
Kate Edwards now and the Kate Ed
wards OF three and a half years ego ap-
pear TO be two different women Her
complexion IS now clear, and the years
OF worriment have softened her eyes and
! the regular life OF the prison oolfIerated
the hard lines from her countenance.
She now weighs possibly 145 pounds.
She weighed 1s9 when first committed.
Meek and resigned. she spends the long
days and weary nights alone with her
child and her thoughts
When the child is taken away from
her forever II is feared the mother may
collapse From then on will come the
most miserable period Of her existence.
TURN RULE FOR FOLLOW