The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-07
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Especial to Lake county Times,

Especial to Lake County Timez.)
Michigan City. Ind. Feb. 7-At )
o'clock today George williams faced
the certainty of felon's death with
far less concern than was evinced by
his guards and Warden James D. Reid,
who tonight. few moments after the
midnight hour. will destroy his life.
Williams is a great hulking. homely
negro. heavy and full of animal life,
and throughout his incarceration in
the condemned cell he has never given
any intimation OF regret for his crime
or fear OF its consequences
Lately he has been one Of four men
doomed 10 the gallows and confined in
a separate cell set aside for such
prisoners. The others are more human
than he and show the effects of suffer-
ing. He has maintained hig cheerfur-
ness. even joviality, and his greatest
pleasure day by day has been derived
from the pannikins of food brought to
him at meal time. It is the humane
! custom here as at most prisons where
executions occur to allow condemned
prisoners much latitude in the choice
OF food and Williams has exercised
this privilege to the fullest extent. He
likes the good things of the table and
plenty OF them. and demanded a whole
chicken for his last meal this even
ing.
Religious Fervor Absent.
Today the prison chaplain visited
him several times in an endeavor to
arouse him to realization of the fact
that it is time for him to place his
mind on spiritual things, but with very
little satisfaction. The chaplain will
see him again during the evening and
will accompany him to the chamber or
death and be with him when his eyes
close upon all earthly things Most
colored men who die on the gallows
become very religious at the last. but
here is a notable exception.
Today the warden has done two dis
tasteful acts imposed upon him by his
official duty He has read the death
warrant to the man. and he has in
spected the scaffold and sprung the
trap TO assure himself that all is in
order. His own voice trembled pitt
fully in reading the fatal document and
the criminal looked at him as though
| wondering what there was in the cere-
mony to affect him so.
Physician Makes Inst Call.
The prison physician made his final
call in the condemned cell at o'clock
the execution, which he must witness,
unless some emergency shall arise de-
manding his presence. williams was
in fun strength and without signs Of
a nervous break. Apparently he will
walk with a firm stride down the long
corridor and narrow stairway when
the guards conduct him 10 the gallows
room tonight after supper.
After eating his supper, and after
the convicts are all in their cells and
the quiet OF the night is settled down
upon the gloomy prison, the death
watch in the condemned cell will give
away to three officers who will cause
Williams to battle and be shaved. They
will then dress him in the new black
garments which will form his shroud
and lead him TO the dark and narrow
chamber in one end Of which the death
: machine stands. There, near the foot
of the gallows. he will be put in the
death cell to remain under watch un-
: til the hour for executing the decree
OF court shall come. At that time the
warden and deputy. the physician and a
medical friend, the chaplain. and three
guards viii enter. The guards will see
: that Williams IS properly dressed and
will strap his arms TO his side before
! leading him to the platform beneath
the swinging moose. On that elevated
! stage his legs Will be bound also. ths
black cap placed over his fsce. tbs
moose adjusted upon his neck. IN les:
than five minutes from the entranc,
z of the official party the signal will hav.
/ been given and a nfeless corpse vii
: be suspended IN the air.