Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-08-08
wILCHER EXECUTED
Hanged Friday for the Murder of
Henry ]. Smith

Henry J. Smith
The execution Of William E
Wilcher for the murder of Henry
j. Smith took place in the real
yard of the Lexington Jail early
last Friday morning, August 3rd
Twenty-Five or thirty witnesses
were present, including officers Of
the court, minister, newspaper
representatives and others. This
was the first hanging Of a white
man ever to occur in Rockbridge,
and the execution was impressive
and awful beyond the power of
description. Brave men stood
with bated breath and witnessed
the tragic ending of a young life
in expiration of crime. The most
selfpossessed and least affected
person in the entire group was the
victim himself, who met his doom
with a smile on his face aud with
composure that challenged ad-
miratlon.
Sheriff R. L. Morrison admitted
several newspaper men to the
prisoners cell at 6 O'Clock. Wilcher
greeted his visitors with pleasant
salutation, and appeared cheerful
and hopeful. He spoke without
emotion CT his impending doom,
and expressed his utmost con
fdence In the prospect of happi-
ness of the life beyond. Sheriff
Morrison and Jailor Jackson soon
entered and the former at once
read the death warrant to the
prisoner, who listened without
visible emotion 10 the stern words
of his awful fate. The steel cage
was "a once unlocked, the prisoners
hands were bound to his side and
he was led to the gallows. Rev.
Dr.. Charles Manly, pastor OF the
Lexington Baptist church, Will
cher's spiritual advisor, joined
them at the Jail door and together
they ascerded the scaffVld at o;lO
O'Clock. Wilcher walked with a
steady tread, appeared calm and
unafraid. DR.. Manly read several
selections from the Scripture and
offered an earnest and sympathetic
PRAYER in behalf of the condemned
man. While this service was be-
ing held WiIcher stood facing the
northeast, and within the range of
his vision there lay spread out
landscape of surprising beauty,
hill and valley clothed in the rich
verdure of midsummer, and encir-
cled in the distance by the blue
mountains. SeveEal times the un-
fortunate man raised his eyes and
his attitude implied that ne was
praying.
The four mon stsnding on the
elevated platform, which was ten
feet square and fifteen feet high,
presented a tabeau that will not
soon be forgotten by those who
witnessed it. Wilchet was the
central figure. He was q young
10 an, just entered his 23rd year,
about five feet seven inches tall
and weighed about 175 pounds.
He appeared strong, muscular and
full of vitality. He wore a new suit
of black clothes, which we're the gift
of sympathetic friends.
When Sheriff Morrison asked
the prisoner if he had any state
ment he wished to make, he rep led
in steady and distinct voice that
he had not. DR.. Manly then said
that Wilcher had made statement
to him the previous afternoon, in
the presence of Jailor jackson,
which Dr.. Manly then read. Fol-
lowing this Mr.. Morrison placed
the black cap on the prisoners
head and the rope around his mech.
The trap was sprung by Deputy
Sheriff j. l.. Barger. AS the heavy
body shot through the trap door at
e:22 O'Clock Wilcher's neck was
broken, and not muscle moved,
not a tremor of the body. Drs.
Reid White and J.H. Laird sxamin-
ed the body, and pronounced life
extinct at IA minutes after the
drop, but the body was left hang
ing until 7 o'clock, when it was
taken down and removed to the
undertaking establishment of
Warner, Pole & Co., where it was
prepared for burial, which took
place at the old Methodist church
at Rockbridge Baths, Saturday
afternoon. A song service was
held at the grave by the ladies of
that community, followed by prayer
by Rev. WE. Miller, pastor of the
Methodist church.
Wilcher rested we'll the night
previous to his execution. A
number of his friends and relatives
visited the cell and babe him good
bye, and song service was held
for his benefit. He went to bed
shortly after IL o'clock and got up
Friday morning about B O'Clock.
Just before his execution he ate
breakfast with relish, and after