Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-14
PRONoUNCES HIM ENTIRELY SANE
Comes from Cell to the Gallows
Smoking Cigar,
DECLARES THAT HE IS INNOCENT
Bids All Goodbye aud Asks Mother to
Pray for Him as His Last words ON
Eartb-NO UntOwRrd Inci-
dent at Execution.
fFrom a STAR Correspondent.J


Clarke was hanged at the state penitentieTy
yesterday afternoon. The drop fell at 2;W
O'Clock and nine minutes later he was pEo-
nounced dead by the physicians.
Clarke's composure did not desert him
at any time He smoked a cigar as he
walked from the death cell to the large
storeroom In the east end OF the broom fac
tory, in which the scaffold was erected.
He smoked his cigar after he was on tins
scaffold and took a final pun before throw
ing Il away TO allow his hands to be
strapped behind him.
ClarSes fate was uncertain Up to twenty
minutes before the execution took place
Benton Bell Of Omaha called at the peni-
tentiary in the morning and then went up
TO the city to ile an afidavit which he had
signed, alleging that Clarke was insane
Warden Beemer had set 1870 as the hour
for the execution. Just ave minutes before
then a telephone message was received
from Judge Cornish Of the district court
stating that he had granted hearing on
the affidavit setting forth that Clarke was
insane He asked thatN the man who had
sat in the death chamber with Clarke dur
ing the night should appear IN court and
testify. Those who had assembled for the
execution waited in the chapel OF reception
rooms. while Clarke played his guitar in
his cell. The waiting crowd could hear tue
notes. weird and gruesome, from the fact
that they were being played by man who
might be dead IN another hour.
DR.. ]. NJ. Birkner insanity commissioner,
arrived at the penitentiary soon after the
men left for Judge Cornishs court. he
had been sent by Judge Cornish TO examine
| Clarke. with several other physicians he
went to the cell. Clarke knew what their
object was and the opinion OF the doctors
was unanimous 10 the effect that he had
! tried to bluff" DE-. Birkner asked him
where his friends and relatives were.
'They died last night and went to
heaven" said Clarke.
Declares Clarke IL Sane. ENa
After Ave minutes examination Dr. Bsrk>
ner was satisfied and teieproned Judge
| Cornish that he believed Clarke to be per-
fectly sane.
The testimony OF the death watch ard
! Chaplain johnson before Judge Cornish
was also to tho effect that Clarke was sane.
Shortly after o'clock Warden Beemer
telephoned Judge Cornish that he must
/ have a decision one way or the other be-
| fore 2:SO o'clock. The sentence had to be
/ executed between the hours Of 10 q. m.
and D. m. and half an hour must be al
/ lowed for preliminary arrangements.
At 2:sO O'Clock telephone message was
Are ceived from Judge Cornish saying he had
taecIded not TO interfere. This was Clarke's
last hope. The warden notified Governor
4 Sheldon and then steps were taken quickly
/ for the execution. About seventy people
/ we're admitted to the large room where the
scaffold was erected. Among them were
Joseph Fiury. brother of Conductor Flury,
and Mrs Neff his sister. Mrs. Men was
the only woman present at the execution.
] MI W read by CnleE
| Clerk Fairfield at the cell Of the con-
| demned man. He had been smoking a
Ncigar and playing his guitar when the death
| party entered He laid THE guitar down and
| watched the chief clerk with scowling eyes
| while he read. When the reading was over
he stepped jauntily out OF his cell and
walked between Guards Green and Nc
Corkle the 300 feet across the yard to the
room where the scaffold was. He smoked
cigar which he handled somewhat nerv-
| ously. He wore a black suit. black hat and
| patent leather shoes.
The party entered the rom and walked
directly to the scaffoid and up the steps
Rev. John Marshall. pastor Of the Gospel
Tabernacleh Lincoln. followed UP the steps
and asked Clarke II he might offer prayer.
Clarke hooded his head, threw away hia
cigar and held his hat in his hand. Every
body stood uncovered while an eloquent
prayer was offered.
When Il was finished the guards began
strapping his feet and knees. Clarke looked
down and, stammering slightly, said:
Cant l have something for my feetf
want a bag with something heavy "a
put on my feet"
Evidently he wanted a weight fastened.
fearing his neck might not break. The
guards shok their heads IN answer to hia
request At that moment Warden BeemeF
appeared at the door. Clarke shouted q
him:
warden. can't have something 20 pa,
on my feet2"
The warden made no answer ana Clarke
shouted again. The warden shook his head
and Clarke said more. After the black
cap had been drawn over his face and while
the moose was being adjusted Clarke called
out:
GO0dbye 20 BveryO0ly.
Goodbye everybody. You're hanging an
innocent man for crime he never com
mitted." After moment he added; Tell
my mother TO pray for me-"
Then the trap was sprung. The neck
was broken and nine minutes later he was
, pronounced dead.
Instructions will be awaited from his
mother regarding the disposition Of the
body.
Clsrkes manner had changed consider
ably. from what It was Thursday. Then he
was jolly and talked and 1oked with every
body who came 20 his cell Friday morn
ing ne had changed He played his Guifas
nearly all the time and often sang, accom-
panying himself on the instrument
He slept well during the nlsht an date 4
hearty breakfast. He was left IN the cell
; he has occupied during hih Imprisonment
until Friday morning, when he was re-
moved 10 the death cell In tire hospital
building, which stands IN the middle Of
the yard.
His wife visited him there during the
morring but even 10 her he would say
D but little Rev. w. r. BiggerB pastor OF
D the African Methodist church, went In ID
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