The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-01
Harry Cunnlins' Slayer
Executed at 1'29 A. M,
WclIsviIlc Man Declares He
is Happy to Be Going to
Meet His Maker - Sends
Prayer Book to Mother
Recognizes Lawyer and
Acquaintance IN Death
Cell

Waiter Wright. OF We!isr!ile, ONO
went calmly 10 his death in the ONO
t;atu Icu!t"at;ary at Columbus '"'S
morning FOR the murder Of l4arr!
"N!,k" Cumm!Ns, Steubenyjllc automo-
bile .a!c@man. last July.
W-r!Eht Was cIcctNOCutcd at A:-'
r'r,o,k this morning. Columbus uH'e'
which Is l:@9 Il. M, Wheeling Time
lie WAS prcnounccd dead one minute
after Warden Thomas ordered the cur
rent shot through his body.
Warden Thomas and veteran newsPa-
rcrmCn who have witnessed many
executions IN the Ohio state prison.
according TO long distance telephoh'
message from The Intel.!gcncers cor
RESPONDENT. Robert French. just after
h, came from the death cell. declared
,hat Wright went TO his death with
m. most Wonderful display of grit and
nerve th.v have ever seen shown ny
q man ro.ng TO his death In that In
Ft!tutiON.
As Wright entered the room ana pc
held the chair IN which he waste die
NE glanced around and smiled
Recognizes Attorney.
He recognized his attorney James l..
O'Grady. Of Wellsv!lle, who defended
Ii
puty. 4 WeilSville business man. ana
" l.; Casuebury. Wellsv!lle police
man. who were among the spectators
udrll,ted TO witness the clectrocuion,
WRIGHT walked 10 the chair, stopped
I'm front Of il turned 10 "aroeh
Thomas and asked Il he might make
few r.marks The permission was
GRANTED. Wright faced the Witnesses
and. IN n clear. calm voice, said;
There IS no doubt many OF you feel
tha, am leaving this world with NAL
jce IN nv heart Fellows, @ant TO tell
yuu-- s"V"l., Years ago. my sister was
converted at Billy Sunday revival
meeting she coaXed me to join church,
and ! laughed ut her. want 10 te.!
,ou tonight that l have found Chrlsi
in this pcnItcMt!ary. and l am happy
10 meet Him.
"reu Mothsr I'm Ready"
Smiling. n" sLrpUcd 10 Attorney
O'Grady and handed him small pray
cr hn,.k which ne had keEt with him
continually IN the death cell. Jim
yive this 10 my mother, and tell her
was ready 20 meet my Maker" lie
smiled, as he spoke these words, steI
rrI 10 the chair. muttercd Il prayer as
the cap was slipped over his head. and
in II moment ~ had paid with hts life
for the murder Of Harry Cummins.
Wrishi's mother. Mrs Eliza beth Nc
Powell of W-I!syille. and his sister,
we're with him early yesterday morn
ing. ard stayed with htm all day. They
left him in the evening. and rs they
departed! Wright said Goodbye" With
Il smile.
Hoped Till the Last
Efforts q! The mother and sister 10
have Governor Harry Davis grant a
reprIeve were continued until late IN
the afternoon. both relatives still cling
ing TO the hope that their son ana
brother. IS years of age. might be
saved.
The crimo for which Wright paid the
capital reualty was one OF the most
brutal in the history ot Jefferson
county. Inst July the body OF Harry
Cumm,ns. prominent young Steuben-
y!,lc ex-serviCc man. was found lying
undor IN rmhnnkmcnt along tho Le-
matre road. 1t was learned that he
had sumc out with an automobile 10
give n dr;ronstrati0 OF the car. The
automobile was later returned to the
garaEe by the person with whom Cum
MINIS had gone out. Blood was found
m the "a" after CumminS' murdered
body WAS found.
Execute Pomeroy MAN.
Sevcra! weeks later Wright WAS ar
rested hy constable near Cad!z. and
after n bitter legal battle in the court
at Sieuhcnv!lio was found guilty OF the
murder and sentenced to die this morn
Ing.
Wrigh,s execution followed the exc
cut!on Of Harry bland. Of Pomeroy
Ohio, who was e.ectrocutcd fortMurder