The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-11-19
TRAP SPRUNG At 1890
O'CLOCK THIS MORNING
Neck Broken In Fall and Life
Was Extinct In Twenty
Minutes
tn.1 . -



Perry, Okla. Nov. 19.-At 10
O'Clock this morning Sheriff Nice
wander and Jailor Thomas Phillips
went to the cell OF Henry T. Arm
strong and asked him If he was ready
for the execution He answered, I
am" in a firm voice, and at 1880
O'Clock the sheriff and his deputy led
the doomed man through the inclos-
ure made for the occasion TO the
scaffold, where the sheriff asked
Armstrong If he had anything to say
Looking calmly about him, with
firm voice and without the culver oil
a muscle. he answered No.
Father Winibosd recited the relig-
inns service and the black cap was
donned, limbs strapped, the moose ad-
1nsted
Sheriff Nicewander sprung the
trap lhe body shot downward. the
neck being broken by the fall. Life
was extinct In twenty minutes, ae.
cordlng 10 the physicians present.
Visiting sheriffs.
SherIffs Pumroy OF Pawnee, Mar
lin of Lincoln BYRD of Usage, Walk
er Of Grant. / Campbell OF Gar
field counties were witnesses 10 the
execution.
Immediately after the body had
been cut down and sent to the un-
dertakers. Sheriff Nlcewander order
ed workmen to tear down the instrh-
ment of death and shortly after noon
the last semblance of the scaffold
had been removed from the yard.
Catholic Church Burial
Father Willibord for the Roman
Catholic church took charge OF the
remains and interment viii be made
In the Catholic cemetery tomorrow
morning.
Widow Witnessed Hanging.
Mrs. Fell. wife Of the murdered
man, was at the execution She
journeyed here from Caldwell. Kas.,
and obtained permission from the
sheriff TO witness the hanging When
the physicians pronounced Arm
strong dead Mrs. Fell declared she
would return to her home satisfied.
The Last Day.
Notwithstanding he knew yester-
day was the last time he would live
for the sun 10 sink behind the west
ern hills and that he was dying 10
leave no friend to mourn, Henry T.
Armstrong, oneslxteenth red, the
balance white, went through the or
deal as one who had steeled himself
for The trial OF death on the gal0ws.
For DAYS numerous visitors had been
passing through the Noble county
iail. TO some whom he knew he
acknowledged their presence; to
others he whs stole seeing or
hearing no person. r s. Winn, The
local attorney who had moved every
legal chip possible TO save the lie
of his client, returned from Guthrie
with the news that Governor Haskell
would not interfere with the sent
ence Of the court and verdict OF a
Jury OF Afmstrong's peers To Winn
The prisoner expressed his thanks
saving. "Winn you have done all
any man could 10. Tomorrow ! must
die.
Rutter Refused Body.
Armstrong asked that his body b.
delivered 10 Mark Rutter, a Pawnee
Indian residing near Pawnee. Whe
had adopted Armstrong when he was
hoy. lie declared Rutter ought ic
bury him in the Pawnee cemetery
nearby that beautiful little capital OF
PaWmee county, but Rutter IS III am
refused 10 have anything to do witt
the hsdy, because Pawnee Indians
claim that Armstrong neglected hi
fullblood wife and left her TO be
come demented and al the mercy o
charity. The sheriff intereeded witi
Rutter through a local banker but 1
Pawnee never forgives or f0rgeti
those who misifeat and the law OF tn
tribe Is seldom violated relative 4
burial stes.
SLEPT Like Babe.
AS the night shadows crepi through
re Perry jail Armstrong asked th1
Joseph Kern be allowed to keep III
deaih watch and Sheriff Nicewande
granted the request Hardly had tn
pr soner reached his pallet than h
was asi b and throughout the greal
or part OF the night he slept as
care and woe We're not his awfu
portion.
Father confessor Was Kind.
A good f1tipr was found in the I
eai Ca..so..1 ssszT - - re~s'yn
Armsl rone in That church. receive
his confession and minisiefed 10 hiF
the lasi absolusion mortal could giyl
AT 7:2b O'Clock this morning q
priest called On Armstrong TO admit
faf.e tha Ia4I a4rf1mauf