The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-06-07
John Hix Pays the
Penalty With His
Life On Scaffold

Without speaking a word or utter
ing sound that would denote mental
anguish and with a smile upon his
face that bespoke the great peace
TINT he had made with his Maker. John
Hix marched steadily upon the plat
form OF the scaffold in the Mounds
Vile penitentiary at 5:02 o'clock yes
terday and was dropped into enternity.
paying the penalty for one of the
most horrible crimes ever committed
in the state. Just fifteen and one
quarter minutes later he was pro-
nOunced dead by the prison physician,
DIR. J. {. Beck and Dr. J. A Baker. OF
Shirley. Life remained longer follow
ing execution than any OF the other
men executed this year.
At noon yesterday and again at 3
O'Clock in the afternoon Warden
Brown. OF the penitentiary, communi-
Gated with Governor Hatfield, inquir-
ing II there were any hopes for Hix
10 receive a pardon, but both mes
sages were answered in the negative
In spite Of these negative answers.
the execution was postponed until the
last minute. both the telephones and
the telegraph Office being closely
watched. and the hanging was actual
ly delayed two minutes after the ap-
pointed hour.
Shortly before . o'clock the small
group OF physicians. newspaper men
and others. just twenty.four in num-
Der. who had gathered 10 witness the
hanging, silently began their march
through the long line Of guards, past
the death cell and into the execution
room Every nerve and every muscle
was tense and the weird. yet beautiful
singing Of Wen Never Say Boodby
I'm Heaven" by picked chorus OF ne
Ero life prisoners. added sorrow TO the
situation.
Trap Sprung.
At just one minute after 3 o'clock
Hix appeared upon the platform with
Archdeacon ID. VI Spur and surround
ed by guards Not faltering for an
instant. he marched steadily TO the
trap door and placed his feet sauarelv
In the center Of the door. In an In.
tant his legs we're strapped together.
his hands were secured behind him
and tho black cap was drawn over
his head. The condemned man bowed
bis head while. In a brief prayer. Rev.
spur committed his soul to the
Maker. Captain BlOyd. of the prison
guards. pressed the signal button. the
traps were sprung and John Hix had.
with bis life. paid the penalty FOR the
murder Of Mrs Mollie Thompson. OF
Mcdowell county
For fully two minutes the body Of
iiN was shaken as with convulsions
and then swung Idly az the end Of the
rope For fifteen and one-quarter
minutoF. however. life remained in
his body. and 70 was not until the ter.
mination of this time that he was pro
nounced dead The body was then cut
Gown aud carried into the court yard
OF the prison. where 20 was placed in
an oak casket u was then removed
10 The undertaking pariors of Griscu
a Son. where ~ VIII b. prepared for
burial and shipped to the IIix family
IN Gates city. Va. for lnterment.
last Day or Earth.
According % the death guards.
Hixs last day on earth was spent IN
2 remarkably quiet manner lie aros.
from bed AZ daylight and spent tho
intire morning in reading letter
from bis wife and ansV ering 70.
The letter and answers follows.
Dear Husband-i Will write YOU
20 let you know that am we'll
and truly hope that In q short
CoOntinusd on Pags rAirts.Al