San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-22
Condemned Man Eats
Hearty Breakfast and
Talks Cheerfully.
WILL HANG FRIDAY
Smiles Slightly at Request
That He Be Photo
graphed.

than 81 hours must pay the supreme
penalty for the murder of Theodore
Bernhard. 14-year-old San Antonio
youth, awaited death in his cell at
the Bexar county Jail Thurs
day as though he were expecting
freedom instead of the hangman's
moose. Jail attendants maryelled at
the calmness with which he discussed
his impending doom.
Father Il. ]. Crane and Louis Lopez,
the one his spiritual adviser and the
other his barber met in the condemned
mans cell. Father Crane, after spend
ing several hours with Apolinar. de-
clarcd that the man is ready to meet
his fate, "philosophically, making the
best Of it, as every man should do"
The barber shaved the man and gave
him a haircut Apolinar eonyerscd
cheerfully with lin while he did his
work. But for the iron bars, chance
visitor might have imagined himself
in barber shop. Jail attendants be-
lieye that slpolinar viii maintain This
same calsi semean0r until the trap is
sprung az " ,0s Friday morning.
Eats q hearty Breakfast.
ApOlinar. after n good nights rest,
ate his usual hearty breakfast Thurs
day morning. In addition he was Civ
en- six big red apples and six juicy
oranges, several Of which he con-
sumed with relish. And he smoked
only the usual number of cigarettes.
Shortly afterwards, Father Crane, of
st. LeO's Church, Harlandale, ac-
companied by Father Soriano, en-
tered his cell. Apolinar conversed
with them freely and maintained that
he \ IS ready TO go. He seemed TO
have absolutely no fear of death.
Even when Deputy Sheriff +. n.
Flores. accompanied by Lopez, carry
ing small black kit containing his
barber tools. entero. the cell the man
showed no surprise. He seemed glad
to see the deputy and greeted him
cheerfully. He stood immOvable as
the deputy handcuffed his hands be-
hind him.
Although he showed no signs Of
becoming violent. the deputy deemed
il best to at least confine his hands
shears and razor. For condemned
men, officers say, often attempt TO
cheat the gallowS.
Neither did the nearness Of his
death seem to rob Apolinar of his
sense of humor. a request that nc
permit himself 10 be photographed
brought an, almost imperceptible smile
to his ordinarily immobile face.
What good would picture do me,
can't see it after / am dcad:' the
condemned man remarked. He final
ly consented, however, with the pro-
vision that one be furnished his
mother.
Gets No Food From the Outside.
According 10 Jailer John WiatRek.
the only request ApOlinar made
Thursday was for some tomatoes and
hot peppers" These were purchased
at the market house and given TO him.
An elaborate Mexican dinner. sent to
the Jail Wednesday for Apolinar was
not given to him. II is strictly
against the rules TO give a condemned
man food prepared on the outside, so
Jailer Wiatrek reluctantly turned II
back. While he expressed the opinion
that it was offered in absolutely good
faith. the food of n prisoner so near
death must be carefully guarded.
Under instructions from Sheriff
TObin," the jailer said. Il furnish
ApOlinar anything he wants. l have
box of oranges and a box Of apples
here for him. But he has less than
n hours to live. He wont want all
of them. But am not allowed TO let
him have any food, even cigar or
cigarette, brought from outside the
Jail. u
Watches Watch Tick Off the Hours.
Apolinar, the iailer said. shows alb
solutely no fear of death. He appears
the same as he did when he was
placed in Jail months ago. But those
who are in close attendance upon him
have observed furtive glanceS cast at
a dollar watch. hanging in one of the
two windows which allow a dim light
TO filter into his cell. The watch is
audibly ticking off the minutes until
the hour when the man must die
Preparations for the hanging are
complete and with clock-likc regular
ity. each deputy assigned to a certain
task. the execution will take place
ing. In a steel locker on the first
floor Of the county Jail. in a burlap
bag. repOses the rope with which the
mans neck is to be broken. The rope
is soft and pliablc and heavily Soapcd
50 that the moose will draw taWt
quickly when the weight OF the body
falls upon il. In the moose is a knot.
almost the size of a mans leg. This