Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-14
EXECUTION OF MIDGETS.

SSHSC ~ TIC Lust Odlu tiC was
Ready When Death Warrant Was
Read to Hlm--Marched to the Scat
fold with a Firm Step, Where He
Reasserted His Innocence.
George MidgetV, alias William John
son, colored, who had been convicted of
the murder of Charles T. Smith in this
city on Saturday night, October 20,
1906, was executed 10 the jail yard a!
CAT O'Clock this morning before an
assemblage Of about one bundled persons,
including nearly all the members of
the police force, some Westinghouse
and number Of persons from Alexsu-
dria county.
Midgets, who had all along asserted
his innocence of the crime for which be
was convicted and who hsd manifested
indifference to death, broke down at an
early hour this morning and wept and
prayed. While engaged in his deVo-
lions he raised his right haOd and called
upon heaven to bear testimony 10 bis
innocence of the murder attributed to
him.
The condemned man slept soundly
during the night. He arose shortly
after 4 O'Clock and later ate a hearty
breakfast, consuming four eggs, four
slices of hsm, Eve or six slices Of toast
ed bread and quart Of coffee.
Rev. Alexander Trustt, pastor of the
Alfred street Baptist Church, reached
the Jail at 5:1O O'Clock, and offered
spiritual consolation. "Nesrer, My
God, 10 Thee" "Js.us, Lover Of Ny
SOUL" and other hymns were sung.
After prayers by his spiritual adviser,
Midgets broke down completely and
wept piteously, msnifesting every sym.
tom Of true peniteDce. The minister
then told him the time had come when
he should pray for bimself. NUGGETS
obeyed, and, while engaged 10 his plead
ings for mercy, raised his hand to
heaven and called upon the Almighty
to witness the truth of bis assertions of
innocence. He then joined in singing
"Steal Away 10 Jesus" exclaining at
times GOOD. bye"
Shortly before six o'clock number
OF inmates of the Jail gathered 10 the
corridor and sang several hymns fron
Gospel hymn book. The condemned
man was smoking cigarettes most of the
time, but there were at times manifesto
tions of uneasiness.
At $50 o'clock Warden Gambler en-
tered tie corridor and read the death
warrant to Midgets. The latter made
no reply, and the warden asked the con-
demned man If be was ready. He re-
piled, "Resdy goodbye"
Midgels was then taken from the cell
and at $40 the march 10 The scaffold
began. Midgets by this time had re-
covered his nerve and BIS Co1Iness was
marvellous. he, attended by Warden
Gambler and Rev. Alexander Trustt,
walked with a firm step from the south
door of the Jail and sscended the scsffold
without the slightest indication of Der-
vousness.
After Midge.s WAS placed on The trap
door he was asked If he had anything to
say, when the condemned man, after
bo~ipg to he al windows and TO The
sudience, and smiling at some one in
the crowd, 10 6'm voice, said: III have
tried to prove before the court my in
nocence, but / have failed. | did not
Q immit the murder. May God have
mercy upon my poor soul"
Rev. rrustt then tilsred brief, suit
able aud impressive prayer, after which
the moose was placed around Midgets'
neck.
The time for the last set hsd arrived
and Warden Gambler tied Midgets' feet,
his hands having been tied while he was
in the cell, and slipped the black cap over
the condemned mau's head. A signal
was given and the trap was sprung from
the south window near the front door Of
the Jail.
Midgets shot through the trap, his
feet touching the ground, and rs
quickly as possible several attendants
hoisted him few inches, or enough to
allow him to hang between heaven snd
earth. The body of the condemned man
twitched and turned around at times and
the motion Of his legs caused his slippers
10 come off. After he had hung twelve
minutes, the body wss examined by DIS.
Moore, Gibson, WarGeld and Miller, and
life was pronounced extinct.
The body was allowed to hang until
1880 o'clock, when it was lowered,
placed upon stretcher upon which s.
mattress bad been placed and borne into
the all building. Midgets had died
from strangulstion, his neck not having
been broken.
The body was later taken 10 charge
by Domaine & Son, uudertakers, and re-
moved to their place Of business. 1t
wss found upon examination that the
neck had not been broken, nor was there
anything to indicate that the man had
been hanged. There was no bleeding
from the nose or eyes, as is generally the
case, nor did the tongue ptotrude or
eyes expand.
Sergeant Cox recently wrote to the
professor of anatomy at the University
of Virginia, sskiug what disposition
should be made OF the body. He re-
ceiyed q reply advising him to commune
cate with DR.. J. F. Bright, secretary OF
the board of distribution of dead humin
bodies. This morning Sergeant Cox re-
ceived a telegram from DR.. Bright re-
questing him to forward the body 10 the
University College Of Medicine at Rich
mond.
Midgets' case is most remarkable.
He oyotaated hia innocanca of the cvine