The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-07-02
HANGED A WOMAN.
Remarkable Execution Of Long Age
That viii Never Be Duplicates

On June 10 IL was exactly 100 years
since susanna Cox offered her life
upon the gallows on "Gallows Hill.
at the foot of Mt. Penn. before a
crowd OF 10000 men, women and chill
dren. who had come 10 Reading from
every hamlet in the county and adjoin-
ing counties, some distance OF 60
miles. Since then there has been no
woman executed in Berks County and
very few in the State. although Mrs.
Kate Edwards still awaits sentence in
the Berks County Jail for the killing
OF her husband. Everybody believes
now. however. that she will never
have TO offer her life on the gallows.
A hundred years have passed since
Miss Susanna Cox. the then 2iyear-old
girl. murdered her child and hid the
body between a crevice in a small one
and one-half story stone building at
Obey Line. Berks County. which is still
standing exactly as IL was century
ago. That tragic deed has never been
forgotten by Berks Countians, and
never will be.
The farm where the crime was COM
mitted has become one of tire best
marked sites in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Hundreds of persons go 10 the scene
every yeas TO view the spot where the
girl committed her cruel crime.
This farm at the time OF the crime
belonged TO Jacob Geehr. who was
married TO Esther Sny der. both repre-
sentatives OF the Oldest and most re-
spectacle citizens of the county. With
the Snyders and Geehrs Susanna Cox
had lived for more than IL years as
domestic servant. highly respected
as an honest GIRL though entirely with
out education. She not only became
attached to Mr.. Geehr's family and
his three children, but TO all the neigh
borhood.
When Susanna's murdered child was
found the authorities We're notified in
Reading. a jury was summoned and
the investigation showed that the
child's lower jaw had been broken. the
tongue torn loose and thrust back and
some fax forced into the throat.
Trials 100 years ago in Berks Coun-
~ were speedy. and on April she
was arraigned before Judge John
Spayd and pleaded not guilty Four
hours later she was found guilty. and
the following day she was sentenced.
Reading at that time had a popula-
ton OF 1000. Every one sympathized
with the unfortunate girl. The Gov
ernor. Simon Snyder. was appealed TO
10 spare her life. as the hanging OF a
woman in the keystone State was re-
pugnant to the people. Twice before
women had been executed in Berks
County for a similar offense and Gov
ernor Snyder. although it proved one
OF his most painful duties. was firm.
refused TO interfere and fixed the tenth
day OF June. 1909. as the day for the
execution. When the death warrant
was read to her she realized that
every ray OF hope had vanished. free
~ confessed her guilt and began prep
arat,ons for the fateful day.
The 10th OF June. 1909. was warm
and oppressive. and never before did
Reading behold such an assemblage
OF people. The taverns were all
crowded the evening before, and all
night wagons loaded with people pass
ed through the streets Executions
100 years ago were public events. and
this day proved the saddest Reading
had ever seen. Tears of sympathy
were noticed upon everybody's face.
The march 10 the gallows led from the
Streets (still standing) TO the foothills
OF Mt Penn. now known as City Park.
and only once did the robust. black
haired, dark-eyed woman stop to ac-
cept a cup OF water, offered TO quench
her thirst.
The girl, when the command was
given, assembled the gallows. a wagon.
and stood upon her own coffin, which
formed a kind Of platform little
later the wagon was driven from I'M
der her feet and she swung before the
weeping crowd. The hangman was
afterward cornered a. Penn and Sixth
Streets and beaten numerically by
one Of the fighters OF the day. Andrew
Mccoy He recovered. fed across the
Schuylkill River. and was never again
heard Of A month after the execu-
ton Judge Spayd. deeply moved by
the event. resigned from the bench
and resumed his law practice.