Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-01

ton. The arm connected with n broad
hinge that fastened on one side TO
the floor OF the room and on the 9th
or to tho base boarding to make It
secure The broadax, which no doubt
was the last to DO attached to the
guillotine, weighed sixty-four pounds,
and was made secure with Ave heavy
screws. Moon made the broadax at
one Of the principal foundries OF the
city. and, TO throw Off suspicion said
that he was making special kind
OF chopper for the chef of the Lair
Hotel" s;gl Nls
Took Great Pains.
All Of the parts Of the guillotIne IN
place, Moon began his painstaklng
arrangements for the end At n meas
ured distance from The hinge he fast
ened two straps to the floor with
screws. and at the side OF the window
he placed n bracket, on which he put
an ordinary kitchen candle From the
wall just above the candle to 4 point
noar the hroadnx ran two slender
cords that he had sawed through tho
side of the candle in order that at tho
center they would practically become
part of the wick. Thus the flame
had some time to burn before II would
release the instrument OF death.
Moon even took the trouble to pro-
pare n small box filled with cotton TO
receive his head when it rolled from
his body. Through hole in each
aide of tho box and beneath his chin
he passed stick. the object of this
being TO prevent his head from falling
forward when he became unconscious.
The stlck held his head so that there
was no chance for the broadax to miss
his neck In the exact spot that he had
calculated.
Chloroform Final Precautlon.
Shorter and shorter grew the yell
low flame on the side of the wall. but
tho man calculated colby and DELHI
erately, and he had time for every
thing. When the candle had burned
certain distance he reached for n
bottle OF chloroform that he had
placed Mt his side. and dashlng Its
contcnts on n heavy cloth. placed Il
across his nose and the lower part
of his face Then thrustlng his hands
beneath the strap ncross his chest
tho man had competed every detail
and all that remained was for the
flame of the candle to release the
gullollne's blade.
The night nad passed. and The day
came with no one aware OF the trag-
edy that had been enacted. Suppos-
Ing that Moon was sleeping late, he
was LOFT undlsturbed until late in the
afternoon. Then Il colored porter was
sent to investigate. Getting no re-
| sDonse 10 his knock, he stood on 4
chair and looked through the transom
of the door. With yell he fed from
i the Building.
| A Grim Revelation.
| Then the door was forced open and
the manner In which Jim" Moon had
sought to perpetuate his name was
revealed. Tho coroner, DIR. w. w
Vinnegge. who Is still a practicing
| physician in Lafayette. wa5 called and
IA jury of prominent citizens was I'M
paneled before the body OF Moon be-
come cold From o'clock Sunday
evening until o'clock Monday after
noon this jury remained In continu-
Gus session. debating whether it's YER
diet should declare the man to have
been insane.
On one side of the big arm of the
guillotlne was printed, "Hara-kara
and on the other. For sale or rent"
grim evidence for the humor OF de-
ranged mind.
ranged mind: Star.
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