The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-24
WIFBSLAYER HANGED
Negro Murderer Burge Exc
cuted in Local Jail.
CONDEMNED MAN HOPEFUL
Trials for Crime, Committed over
Two Years Ago, Delayed SO often
Accused Believed He Would Es-
cape Death PenaIty-Makes Strange
Remark-Few witness Execution.

William Burge, the negro wife muir
derer, who. for more than two years, has
been battling for his life against the
stern demands OF the law, expiated his
crime on the scanold at the United States
Jail yesterday at noon. The doomed man
stood silently while his executors adjusted
the moose and cap. and Rev. John Rob
erts. the negro evangelist, who had been
the prisoners spiritual adviser for many
weeks, ehanted the hymn, This is My
story, This is Ny Song" The drop fell
and for twenty-three minutes the limp
form swung and twirled from the moose
Death came by strangulation.
The execution was witnessed only by a
little knot of officials. physicians, and
newspaper men. The scaffold vas placed
In the northeast corridor Of the building
near the cell where the condemned man
spent his last night The prisoner march
ed to the gallows with shutting. tremu-
lous steps. He was supported on one side
by Rev Roberts, and on the other by a
Jail guard, The minister sang softly the
minor strains of consoling hymns, chang
ing to prayer as the scaffold was reached
Makes Strange Remark.
Burge was silent His one remark,
made when the death warrant was read
TO him in his cell earlier in the morning,
was indicative of a peculiar condition Of
mind. believed by Rev. Roberts and
Burgess counsel to be insanity. At the
conclusion OF the reading Burge chuckled
vacuously. and saio: That's funny"
At other times the negro seemed in per
feet possession Of his faculties. His con-
versation with the guards and Rev.
Roberts were rational, and his declaration
Of Monday night, that he was prepared
10 die, aud knew his troubles would soon
be over, suggested nothing but the work
ings Of a normal mind But at other
times his actions and words were those
of an insane man, although it has ever
been the contention Of the prosecution
that Burge was shamming insanity.
Burge was tried three times, twice for
his life. and once TO ascertain his mental
condition. On seven occasions the case
was delayed, and Burge had become 50
accustomed to these respites that il was
not until Monday. when his petition for
executive clemenCy had ben denied, that
the prisoner lost hope OF his life being
spared.
Murdered His wife.
Burge murdered his wife, Daisy. Janu-
airy q. 1905. The woman had been COM
PEELED TO leave him because Of i'll treat
ment, and was working for her living as
a domestic. The murder took place at
the rear entrance of the house OF Comm0-
dore williamson. 2006 r street northwest,
where the woman was employed Burge
shot her because she refused TO go home
with him that night. After shooting his
wife he ran to the home of his mother-in-
law, Mrs. Jordon. and tried To kin her
and the members of her family. He then
tried to commit suicide by shooting him
self in tine head, but the bullet glanced
and only inflicted a scalp wound and
slight fracture of the skull.
Burge was taken TO the Homeopathic
Hospital for treatment and escaped one
night In his night clothes. wandering
about the streets IN the snow IN bare feet
He sought refuge IN the house OF a col
ored family near the hospital and was
found there and arrested by officer J. T.
Owens. coIored. lie was given two trials
and his efforts to appear insane brought
about a lunacy commission which found
him of sound mind.
Il was principally due % the unfiagging
efforts OF Attorneys James O'Shea and
". W. Bride, appointed by the court TO
act as Burgess counsel, that The penalty
OF the law has been SO long delayed.