The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-07-03
NEGROES CONFESS
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D.. A. p Rinenar- OF NcNechen. D-.
ID. AcCreror. OF the Ohio Valley Cen
eral hospital. DR.. -. y. Ealy. Mounds
vile. DR.. =. y. Plant. OF this city. and
Medical Students Baird Roberts. OF
Johns-dopkins Institute. and Fillmore
Compton OF the West Virginia Univer-
sity. visited the men In the cells BE-
fore they we're removed Both were
bearing up well. although Il was said
that Stewards heart action vas rather
weak
As soon a. the spectators were con
gregated In the death chamber the
doomed men were brought from their
cells In charge OF Captain OF the
Guards ]. A. Bloyd and Deputy Can
tain A l. Boggs They mounted the
stairs 10 the scaffold with a nru stem
all the while singing and mutterinx
prayers. Rev. b. NJ Spur, superin-
tendent OF the Reynolds Memorial
hospital and an arch deacon in the
Episcopal church: Rev. a. s. Arnett.
Rev Fountain. pastor OF a local col
ored congregation. and Warden NJ. z
White followed the doomed men onto
the platform. where three guards were
stationed.
Trap Refuses 70 Drop.
The condemned men stepped upon
the scaffold at 5:ll O'Clock Their
legs were strapped. their arms were
pinioned behind them. the moose was
adjusted about their necks. the cap
was drown over their eyes. and tho
signal for the drop given.
Three buttons were pressed. but the
trap refused TO fly. Something had
happened. After several unsuccessful
attempts. the men were unstrapped.
the spectators were asked TO with
draw. and an examination made OF the
trap.
Is was found that in some manner
the electric apparatus had refused TO
answer the buttons. and the motor
was spinning round instead OF the cog
wheels taking hold.
As the men were taken from the
scaffold. both negroes cried out: ION.
God. few more seconds. and II would
have all been over
As they went back TO their cells.
they dropped on their knees sending
up applications for their souls. The
prison carpenter and mechanician.
John Long. examined the electric mot
or, maze a test and pronounced II 10
be working properly. The spectators
were again summoned. and the men
were brought back onto the scaffold.
Thomas standing on the right and
Stewart on the left traps. The straps
and moose were readjusted.
Second Attempt Successful.
Or. Spur then delivered a short
prayer. and the prison quartet start
ed singing Nearer. My God. to Thee
DIT. Spur repeated the words Into
Thy hands We commit these souls o
God; have mercy on them for Christs
sake" With a touch of an electric
button the bolts let go. and two
bodies swung az the ends Of two
bempen ropes. The drop came at
5:26. less than one minute after the
second ascension to the scaffold
Doctors Immediately opened the
mems clothing and placed stetho-
scopes at their backs and chests. At
5:33i5 the physicians pronounced
William Stewart dead. and at 5:34
the words Dead. Dead" were said
over the form of William Thomas.
One ligament was torn loose in the
neck OF William Stewart and death
was pronounced due TO crepitation
The neck was dislocated. Thomas
strangled to death, his neck remain
ing unbroken.
The bodies were then lowered. Stew
arts first. HIS body was carried out
by attendants. Immediately after the
rope was taken from the neck OF Viii
liam Thomas. Their bodies will be
removed to the Toms run cemetery
this evening and there buried. unless
relatives claim them.
Seatfold Tested Thoroughly.
Warden White stated after the ex-
-
the scaffold Thursday and two yes
terday. and each time the traps
worked perfectly.
The refusal OF the traps 10 answer
the touch OF the electric button. yes
terday Is the first time in the history
OF the penitentiary. 10 was a deplor
able incident for which no one can
be held accountable OF be criticized.
Warden White had said in his office
shortly before the execution III any
thing happens TO cause the slightest
hitch in the execution. accept all
responsibility. All that Is possible 10
make the execution as humane as pos
sible. has been done"
The incident unnerved Warden
White 10 such an extent that he was
the subject OF sympathy by all who
witnessed the mishap. This was his
first execution.
Prisoners Ate Heartily.
The men were dressed in the black
garb OF the prison. Each OF them
wore white shirts. collars and ties
Stewart wore tan shoes and Thomas
black. They had dined shortly be-
fore time for the execution. and each
OF them ate heartily. They talked TO
the guards.
The statement OF Stewart was made
10 Death Guard MONTAGUE. and the
statement OF Thomas was made 10
Arthur Harden. who talked 10 news.
papermen after tho execution. War
Zen White accepted the statement Of
Thomas 10 Harden az official This
statement wipes from the minds of
any person In Ohio county. any suspi.
cion that they may nave had that the
shooting Of Mrs. Thomas was unin.
territorial
At no time since Thomas was ar.
rested has be denied the shooting Of .
his wife. but he always claimed up I