The Washington herald., 1908-02-15
Slayer of Policeman Exc
cuted in Alexandria.
DECLARES HE IS INNOCENT
CoIored Man Walks BraveIy to the
GaIIows-When Trap Is Sprung His
Feet Touch the Ground and Neck
Is Not BrOken-Reauest of IneOr-
poratiOn of Town of Potomac.
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU.


fore God and his fellow-man that he was
innocent Of the crime for which he was
convicted. George AIidgets, alias William
Johnson, colored, convicted of the murder
of Charles f. Smith. son Of Lieut. James
Smith, of the Alexandra police depart
ment was hanged at the city jail yard at
6:45 o'clock this morning, and at 6;57 life
was pronounced extinct
The body was cut down at 7:29, and an
examination made by Drs. s. B. Moore.
Thomas Gibson, Walter A. Warfeld, and
Julian T. Miller disclosed that the neck
had not been broken, death being due 10
strangulation. This afternoon the body
was sent to the Richmond Medical Col
lege, Richmond, Va, whore 1t viii be
used for dissecting purposes.
Nearly 200 people assembled in the jail
yard to witness the execution, among
them being nearly every member of the
police force. Midgets walked 70 his death
without a tremble. and appeared to be
the coolest and most collected man pres
ent. He was accompanied by Warden
Gambler and Deputy Warden Edgar
Padgett The condemned man needed no
assistance. He was followed by his spir-
itual adviser, Rev. Alexander Truatt
coloreG, pastor of the Baptist church.
Upon ascending the scaffold he was
asked by Warden Gambler If he had any
thing to say. Midgets in a very distinct
voice replied that he had. He then stated
that his life was about to end adding
thai ba fYiGT =, ~ the nagufa ~
Alexandria that he did not commit the
crime. bat had failed to do So. The pris-
oner then said the hanging was an un-
just one, and concluded his brief remarks
by saying: May the Lord have mercy
on my soul
Feet TOuch the Ground.
The black cap was adjusted over his
head and the moose was also quickly
placed IN position. and with a wave OF
handkerchief the trap was sprung. Mid
gets shot into space, a distance Of eight
feet, and rebounded, his feet touching the
trench. two feet in depth. which had
been dug under the scaff0ld Several OF
the spectators and a policeman seeing
that the rope should be made taut i'm
mediately adb'S.ed it 10 the cleat on
the 8caffOd. raising the spinning form
from the ground. The spectators were
horror stricken at the occurrence. It
was evident that a slight miscalculation
for slack had occurred.
Midgets spent last night in prayer and
In conversing with his death watch Mr.
Edgar Padgett. During the night he
told Mr. PadBett he was innocent Of the
crime for which he would be hanged,
calling upon God on his bended knees.
with right hand lifted heavenward. 10
witness his innocence. II was 3 o'clock
this morning before he went 10 sleep.
Midgets arose at 4;30 o'clock. and shortly
thereafter ate a big breakfast. consisting
Of ham. eggs. toast. and pot Of coffee.
few minutes before o'clock he called
for two colored women, inmates OF the
Jail, 10 sing for him. His request was
granted, they rendering several Gospel
hymns, among them his favorite, This
Is Ny Story At 6:35 o'clock the death
warrant was read 10 Mi6gets by Warden
Gambler, and the warden asked him II he
was ready, and Midgets replied that he
was. He was then manacled and con-
veyed TO the scaffold.
Many people expected that Mldgets
would confess the crime on the scaff0Id.
In this they were. however. disappointed.
ne 4lFoNAblt dS u HIS = 4t4A VI alAilkitlilE
was freely discussed to-day.
Crime Committed October 20, 1906.
The crime for which Mldgets paid the
death penalty was committed October %.
1906, on King street. opposite the Fair
Grounds. where a circus was in progress.
At O'Clock that evening murderous
assault was committed on Policeman A.
]. Nicholson, and Mdgets was suspected
of being implicated. At o'clock Police
man Garvey accompanied by Mr.. Smith,
saw Midgets, and he was taken in Gus
tody for identification. As soon as they
proceeded toward the Hotel Jackson.
near by. Midgets whipped out his revol-
yer and fred, killing Smith instantly. In
the scUffle Policeman Garvey dropped his
pistol and Midgets made his escape.
Midgeis was captured in Harrisburg,
Pa, about March ], 1907, and on March 10
ne was lodged in the jail at Fredericks-
burg, Va, for safe-keeping. Midgets was
placed on trial March q, and after a
trial, lasting three days, he was convicted
of the murder and sentenced TO be
hanged May "a All during his trial he
was guarded by a military company. A
few days prior to the date set for the ex-
ecUtion the counsel for the condemned
man secured a writ Of error and super
sedess in the case which was subsequent
ly dismissed by the Court of Appeals.
Midgets was again sentenced TO be
hanged January II. 1908. His counsel made
another effort to save his neck, and Gov
Swanson respited the condemned man for
thirty days In order to investigate the
case A few days ago he announced he
would not extend executive clemency.
AS Midgets was making his farewell re-
marks on the scaffold this morning a
well-dressed man, whose name could not
be learned, tainted from the effects of
the sight. He was quickly removed and
soon revived.
Midgets. q few days ago, admitted hav-
ing killed a gypsy who was in wagon
near NOrristown, Pa. The hanging to-
day was the first legal execution that has
occurred here since 1873