The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-07-09
HANGED a WOMAN.
Remarkable Execution Of Long Age
That viii Never Be Duplicated.

That VIII Never Be duplicated.
On June 10 IL was exactly 100 years
since Susanna Cox offered her life
upon the gallows on "GallOws Hill.
al the foot OF Mt Penn. before
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 90
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. Every body believes
now. however. that she will never
have 10 offer her life on the gallows.
A hundred years have passed since
Miss Susanna Cox. the then 2i-year-old
girl murdered her child and hid the
body between a creyice in small one
and one-half story stone building at
Oley 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 the best
marked sites in Eastern Pennsylvania.
/ Hundreds OF persons go TO the scene
every year 10 view the spot where the
girl committed her cruel crime.
This farm at the time Of the crime
/ belonged 10 Jacob Geehr, who was
married TO Esther Snyder. both repre-
I sentatlves 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
/ a domestic servant. highly respected
as an honest girl. though entirely with
out education. She not only became
attached 10 Mr.. Geehrs family and
his three children, but 10 all the neigh
borhood.
When Susanna's murdered child was
found the authorities were 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-
IS were speedy, and on April : she
was arraigned before Judge John
Suayd and pleaded not guilty Four
hours later she was found guilty, and
the following day she was sentenced
Reading al that time had a popula.
ton OF 1000 Every one sympathized
with the unfortunate girl. The Gov
ernor. Simon Snyder. was appealed "a
10 spare her life. as the hanging Of a
woman in the Keystone State was re
pugnant 10 the people. Twice before
women had been executed in Berks
County for a similar offense and Gov
ernor Snyder. although il proved one
OF his most painful duties was firm
refused TO interfere and fixed the tenth
day OF June. 1909. as the day for tht
execution. When the death warrant
was read 10 her she realized tha
every ray OF hope had vanished, free
Is confessed her guilt and began prep
arations for the fateful day.
The 10th Of June. 1909. was warn
and oppressive. and never before die
Reading behold such an assemblag'
OF people The tayerns were al
crowded the evening before. and al
night wagons loaded with people pass
ed through the streets. Executions
100 years ago were public events. am
this day proved the saddest Readins
had ever seen. Tears Of sympathy
were noticed upon eyerybOGy's face
The march TO the gallows led from tn
old Jail at Fifth and Washington
Streets Cstill standing) 10 the foothill
OF Mt. Penn. now known as City Park
and only once did the robust. black
haired. dark-eyed woman stop TO &C
cept a cup Of water. offered TO quencl
her thirst.
/, The girl. when the command wa
given. ascended the gallows. a wagon
and stood upon her own coffin. whic
I IL. IL sFr.r-r
later the wagon was driven from M
= der her feet and she swung before III
: weeping crowd The hangman wa
afterward cornered al Penn and Sixt
a Streets and beaten numerically b
: one Of the fighters Of the day Andre'
= Mccoy. He recovered, fed across IN
Schuylkill River. and was never agai
+, heard Of A Month after the exec
i ton Judge Spayd. deeply moved b
= the event. resigned from the benc
and resumed his law practice.