The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-28
of Sneriff's 6rewsOme Lesson
Against Crime OF Murder.
AWED BY DEATH SCENE

Foreign Element Witness Execution Of
Felix Radius at Pettsvnle, Pa As
Warning to the Lswless - Met
Death Calmly.
Pottsviile. Pa. Nay -. In order
that they may 20 among their country
men and Impress upon them the en-
oruity oi the crime % murder and the
punishment that the law OF this coun-
tr, calls for. sec Slavs. Hungarians.
Poles. Italians. Russians. IlthuGniaus
and other foreigners were invited TO
attend the execution here of Felix
Radius. young Pole convicted OF the
murder of q woman and her Chili st
shenandoah six months ago.
The hanging took place in the ward
OF the Schuylkin county prison Thc
execution was rot a public one IN the
sense that every one who went TO the
Jail was admitted. but the sheriff was
cutie liberal in the distribu ion Of
tickets. and the foreigners. who were
all eager 20 see the hanging. took all
they could get. and long before the
time set Tor the opening OF the Jail
gates. they swarmed about the place
The idea OF having present repre-
scntativcs OF the various foreign ele-
uents m this section OF the coal regicn
originated with sheriff Clay Evans.
who thought the story OF the execu-
tio9 as told from the lips OF the fore
iencrs. would have a salutary effect IN
curhins the murierous tendency Of
some oi tht lawlcss element
Jrst before the march 20 the scat
fold Radius made a complete confes-
sion OF the Shenandoah murders and
confirmed tho information the police
had that Pc had been guilty of com
hitting 4 murder in Russian Poland.
Radius said he killed a man in his
old home thpee years ago and that be
hed to This country 20 avoid arrest
lie appeared 90 bc greatly relieved
after admitting his crimes and walked
with a firm step between two priests
% his death
As tine prisoner stepped into the
yard there was a stir and a bazz OF
taif taat made him start slightly and
De eiaucod hurr.cdly over the biz
thrcrr that hemmed him IN. He gave
no sign of recognition 90 any. however.
rs De walked through walls ~ hu
malitv I'd the gaiiows
ka t1irs scanned the crowd as he
took his stand On the trap but his at
tention was soon occupied by the min
istratious OF the clergyman aad the
sheriff as the latter arranged the dc.
tails ~ the execution.
ln tho meantime the big crowd in
-ently WATCHED every move OF She pris-
aner and officials. and as the black
cap was puiiei over The face of the
condemned there was a low mu-mur
which was soon hushea by warning
7irnals from the guards
When the gailows drop was sprung
ant the prisoner swung ia the Ceath
throcs there was a perceptible move
ment but this. TOO. quickly subsidized
and as the doctors hnstencd 10 the
side Of the condemned ana pronounced
tle man dead absolute silence prevail
"a
The execution had certainly awed
those who Witnessed it. no matter
what other effect il might have pro.
duced
The hanging VAS IN every way what
IS usually termed "a success AS the
big prison gates were thrown open and
tie 500 invited" filed our few had
anything 90 say. but ten minutes later
The streets in ,he vicinity were like al
babel while the men OF the several |
nationallues went their way in groups. |
discussing the days grusomo event