The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-07-09
PATHETIC SCENES ENACTED AT
PENiTENTiARY LAST
NIGHT
Matt Jarrett. Who Is To Be Hanged
Today. Breaks Down When
Truest and Best FRIEND
Arrives

Mother.
My bow"
And then they embraced. Their
mufied cries-weeping from the heart
while the floodgate of grief was opened
Wide. Their sobbing could be heard
through the death chamber of the Nest
virginia penitentiary at Moundsville
her boy who is to be hanged today be
fore the sun shall have gone down.
The boy" is the condemned man.
Matt FARRELL. His mother came from
ner home In Charleston yesterday that
she might be with her boy" who shall
die today. unless the Governor com
mutes his sentence. That thin thread
OF hope seems TO have broken.
The mother arrived last night IN
Moundsyille at 1924 o'clock. She was
met at the train by some attaches or
me penitentiary and went to a hotel
Tor supper. But she ate little. for she
was anxious TO see her boy Upon
her arrival at the prison she was re-
ceived by Warden White. who per
sonally conducted her to the cell or
ner son, where he sat awaiting his
mother. She had sent word she was
coming to be with him in his last
hours on earth. and he knew that the
love OF mother would not fail him.
IL was the most pathetic, heart
touching and saddest scene | ever ex-
den White. in speaking of the meeting
OF the mother and son last night.
Matt did not break down at first. but
when his poor. old mother-who is 20
years old-laid her head on her sons
big. broad shoulders and wept-ner
Ispeak,-he. too broke down. They did
not talk much. Their hearts were too
full TO utter words I permitted her
TO be with him an hour. and that hour
was the most distressing I ever saw.
IL was true love of a mother being
manifested for ner son.
Mothers Heart Broken.
Mrs. FARRELL Is somewhat stopped
with care and age; she has rather a
motherly face and appeared last night
tnat the sand OF life was nearly run
out for her. She seemed that she is
slowly dying OF broken heart When
she was told that her hour was up
with her son for the night, she was re
luctant in leaving him. In quitting the
cell she would tell him goodbye with a
loving kiss: then leave him. come back
and embrace him and together they
would weep. IL was a pathetic depar-
ture, but when she was told by the
kind hearted warden that he would per-
init her to spend two hours with her
son this morning-the last two hours
she shall ever be with her boy in this
world. unless the Governor shall stay
the execution or commute his sentence
W ille imprisonment poor little
woman seemed TO raise her weeping
eyes to the imaginary star of hope.
Then she went slowly back to the
hotel. not to sleep. but to pray that
her boy may be spared. This morn
ing she will see her son for the last
| time. Il granted her that special
privilege OF two hours" said Warden
White, last night. because I felt that
IL will be the last time she will ever
| see her son in life. Oh. this Is awful. -
| incidentally exlaimed the warden.
"Of course the mother cannot be per
mitted TO attend the execution. but |
shall accord her all the comfort I can
in her sad hours" said Mr.. White.
| The condemned man said last night
that he was glad his mother had come
1 to him. That sincere love OF a moth
er prompted her. spurred her on 10
make the trip from Charleston 10
come to her boy" that she might be
"a near as possible 10 him when II
seemed that all the world was against
him.