Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-06-24

ssry n the preparation fov hls Suicide
reie stored
The atteuioon ANA cycrins Noon
spent chatting with friends al,oct the
hotel and he Was The safest ~ al CO
them lie gave no iudicarca that the
hour was near when a. would easy
Into execution the plans he had ilaic
TO ni.,ke his name lannon's
The hour must have been late fore
Moon began his wor> of sct... 10
the guilioline. Cor ths r'ca IN th, AZ
Joining room told that the .igi. IA his
rocm was burning when thcy re,ir,1.
bat no sounds came frosn the silent
chamber. 10 Is presumed however. th0i
he employed the early part or The even
Ing IN putting the different parts 81
the guillotine together. The arm prop.
or was six feet three inches long and
was IN three separate pieces aud was
constructed out OF hard oak. Each
part was put together with screws. SO
tina; there would be no noise neccs-
sary IN erecting II.
The work OF putting this arm togcth-
or must have taken considerable time.
as each piece was thoroughly braced 10
prevent play In any direction The
arm connected with broad hinge that
fastened on one side TO the floor OF the
room aud on the other 10 the base
boarding 60 make e secure The broad
AK. which no doubt was the last TO he
attached To The guillotiue. weighed six
ty-fouc pounds ana was made secure
with Eve heavy screws. Moon made
the hroadaN NJ one of the principal
fOundrios ~ the city ana 20 throw or
suspicion sail that he was making a
special hind OF chopper for the chef
OF the I-ahr hotel"
All Of ihe PARTS OF the guinotine In
place. Moon Began his painstalling ar
rangVmcnts Tor The end. sc meas
ured distant gvon the hinge he fasten-
Cd two strap; TO the floor with screws.
ana ~ the side OF the window be
placed bracket on which be put an
orditSrv Kitchen candle From the wall
Just aSovc the candle 10 a point near
the brOadax ram two slender cords that
be had sawed throa a the side of the
candle In order that at the center they
woud practically become a part OF the
wick. Tbus the flame had some time
10 burn before il would release the In
str0ueGt or death
Moon even took the trouble TO pre-
pare Il sma. box filed with cotton to
receive his head syhen il rolled from
has body. through Il hole in each side
Of the box and beneath his chin he
passed stick. the object OF this be-
ins % prevent his head from falling
forward waen he became unconscious.
The Stick held his head SO that there
was 10 chance for the brosdax 10 miss
his ncck IN the exact spot that he had
calculated
shorter aud shorter grew the yellow
flame on thc Side of the wall. but the
man calcula,c ga coidly and deliberately.
and n hlG tiaic Tor everything. When
the candle had burned certain dis
lance he reached for a bottle OF chloro-
form that he had placed at his side.
dashed its contents on a heavy cloth
and placed IL across his nose and the
lower part OF his face; then TRUSTING
his hands beneath the strap across his
chest, the man had completed every
detail. and all that remained was for
the flame OF the candle to release the
guillotine's blade
The night had passed. and the day
came. with no one aware OF the trag-
edy that had been enacted. Surprising
that Moon was sleeping late, he was
left undlsturbed until late In the AFTER
noon. Then a cOlorcd porter was sent
TO investigate. Getting no response 10
his knock. he stood ON chair and
looked through the transom OF the
door With yell. he fled from the
building.
Then The door was forced open. and
the manner in which Jim Moon had
sought TO perpetuate his name was re-
vealed. The coroner, Or. W. ". Vim
Mcgee. was called. and jury OF prom
nent citizens WAS impancled before
the body OF Moon became cold. From
> o'clock Sunday evening untl / o'clocl;
Monday afternoon this jury remained
in continuous session. debating whefh.
or its verdict should declare the man 10
have been insane
On one side OF the big arm OF the
guillotine was printed "Haa-kara" ana /
ON the other For Sale or Rent" arim !
evidence OF the humor OF Il deranged
mind.-Indianapolis Star.