The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-11
Goes
TO DEATH
SMILING
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
this time. I am dying a very happy
boy. love you, mother, with all
my heart, and will pray to God for
you. Goodby, mother dear, May God
bless you.
your loving son, WALTER"
Just before he began his death
march" to the gallows Muir had a
heart to heart talk with Father
Aumais.
Blames Bad Company.
bad company, Father, is the
cause Of my downfall" he said.
Muir told the priest that before
he died he would like to see and
talk with Edward Carroll, who was
with Muir when the fatal shot was
fired during the drunken brawl. By
a strange quirk Of fate Muir and
Carroll were in the same Jail.
Carroll is serving a sentence Of
eighteen months for completely in
the shooting.
II want to set him on the right
path, Father" Muir said.
But the Jail authorities would not
permit Muir to see Carroll-the
regulations forbade.
Before Mrs. Muir went to see her
son for the last precious minutes
with him, she went to see the rela-
tives Of Laviellete, the slain man.
She pleaded with relatives of Mrs.
Laviellete, just as she had been for
days pleading with the authorities,
to do something to save her boy.
Cold To Her Plea.
Hrrk &Ha ,o1ao IaR& -.
well as the widow cold. She de-
clined to intercede in any way.
IA husband is dearer than a son"
the widow said simply and with
fnality. "All the money in the
world couldn't repay me for the
loss Of my husband-a better man
than whom never lived. I loved
him as much as you love your boy"
While the execution was taking
place, Mrs. Laviellete. dressed in
black, was in her home with rela-
tives-the mark Of suffering on her
face. She has been inconsoIable
since her husbands death.
Although obviously courageous
and unafraid to die, Muir thought
up to the very last minute that
he would be granted a reprieve.
The strenuous efforts in his behalf,
Of which he was well aware, had
given him high hope.
Hopeful Till End.
When he left Bordeaux Jail and
was driven off to West Mount sta
ton, he called out to prison
guard:
"I'll get those reprieve papers.
But If l don't I'm ready to die,
anyway"
At Valley Field, where the hang
ing took place, Muir's arrival was
awaited by Sheriff M. o. Thisdale
and a great crowd Of people.
Some people, in fact, had crowded
themselves on top of a building
overlooking the prison yard in the
hope they would be able to get a
glimpse Of the hanging.
TremOr Shakes Frame.
AS Muir's eyes took on this scene
he instantly comprehended and a
tremor shook his frame.
But he Strengthened up quickly
and held his head ENTHUSIASTICALLY
even smiling during conversation
with guards-as he was taken the
rest Of the way to the jail.
Hangman In Full Dress.
Ellis, the hangman, was attired
in a full dress suit. He began his
grim work at S:32. He gave brief
instructions to those authorized to
witness the execution.
1t was Ellis who gave the signal
for the start Of the death march,"
Then, headed by Sheriff Thisdale
in gown of office, Chief of Police
Lorrain in uniform, Coroner Besner,
jurors and officers of the crown
the procession from the death cell
to the gallows began.
Shortly before he went to the
gallows, Muir drank a CUP OF tea