San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-23

wall. 1t could be heard at the edge of
the crowd in the streets and deputy
sheriffS finally had to clear the Jail
yard OF the morbidly curious who at
tempted to scale the bars of windows
in order that they might witness the
grief of the stricken. As the casket
mother and brother flied out OF the
Jail 10 follow it to their home. Their
screams could be heard for blocks.
Every available deputy was required
to handle the crowd in the jail and on
the outside. Chief Deputy Alphonse
Newton remained with Sheriff Tobin
on the third floor, Deputy Flores at
the main door Of the jail, while Depu-
ties Cooper. Serna, Speer, Villareal,
Cummings, Lambert and others were
stationed in various parts OF the Jail
TO keep order. Several deputies were
required to divert the crowd on the
floor after the execution, many at
| tempting to reach the corridor where
| G, W. Stephens, who must hang on
March 0, is confined. e., ,saE.
stephens Is Cheerful.
+ (. Stephens, although his hanging Is
| but n few weeks off, appeared cheer
fuI Friday morning. talking freely to
newspaper men and visitors, He
would not discuss the approaching
fate of Apolinar and requested that any
statement desired Of him should come
from his attorney. 1t is probable that
Stepbcns will now be placed in the
deoth cell on the second floor just va
Gated by Apolinar. ~
Was Killed Instantly.
The trap fell at exactly seven
minutes after II o'clock. At ten
minutes after II, Apolinar was OH
ciaIly declared dead by DR.. ID. Berry,
county health officer. At fifteen
minutes mast IL the executed man
was taken down. As he was taken
down prisoner shouted. cut MIN
down and hang the man that huhS
him." IL, .
Apolinar was almost beheaded so
tight did the moose fasten about his
neck when he dropped. Instantan'
eously as the rope pulled taut, the
mans head jerked sharply to one SIDE
| and n stream Of bload sDurted fully
six feet from the spot over which the
body hung. Both the carotid artery
and the jugular vein had been cut
Physicians stated that Apolinar
doubtless. was killed instantly as he
fell. as his neck was broken.
No cap had been placed over the
| executed mans head and his tongue
could be seen gouged from his mouth
His eyes. however, did not bulge out
Officially Declared Dead.
Blood spurted only for few
moments after the body cropped. but
after being cut down and placed in
| the basket it ran prOfusely from the
wide and deep cash in the dead mans
! neck.
Immediately after the blood stop
! ped squirting, DR.. Berry took Apolinar
by the left wrist, feeling his pulse,
and held it for three minutes, when
he officially declared the man dead
DR.. i. Stansell, assistant county
health officer, applied the stethoscOpC
over Apolinar's heart as DIR. Berry
held the wrist. Both agreed that tht
man was dead in three minutes after
falling. Blood almost covered Apolin
ar's breast, making it difficult fol
the physicians TO fold his coat ant
shirt back to apply the stethoscop'
without getting the blood upon them
DIR. Z. {. Clavin witnessed tn
execution and stated he had seen ever!
execution in Bexar county for tn,
last 20 years, and never before hat
the rope cut the neck.
Singing Outlets Down.
4 number of county and city Off
Gals werGsin the room where ApOlina
fell. DIR, T., O. Evans, also as as
siStant county health officer, wa
present and also Jerome Bsrloco,
jailer, Jack Lyons and Frank Nc
Murray of the city detective force
, and John Higgings and Buck Seffe'
city policemen. A number OF Othe
officials were also there.
There were 101 negro and Mexican
prisoners in the cells on the secon
floor where Apolinar fell. At 81
minutes TO eleven, fifteen minutes be
, fore the execution took place, thes
prisoners began singing Nearer NJ
God To Thee" This song was fO
, lowed by another hymn, lord, Al
/ Coming Home" The prisoners san
, almost until the trap fell. Ate
finishing the second song, absolut
! quiet prevailed on the second floo
! and not until the loud clang of III
! trap door broke the silence was ther
! murmur.
III Various attitudes were maintnine
by the 10i prisoners that filled q
cells on the second floor. Some ,
! them, almost until the singing begal
r kept up their talking and jokin
4 vrhiih ntbnrg mara eoipn,n all durlI