Smyrna times., 1926-03-03
THOUSANDS ATTEND BUTLER'S
HANGING DOWN At GEORGETOWN
BUTLER, ASSAILANT ELEANOR
STEINMETZ, PAYS PENALTY
Trap Was Sprung at 1904 Friday
Morning and Crowd of 5000 Filled
Streets, House Tops and Trees


Streets, House Tops and Trees
A flood of golden sunshine stream
ed down into the little, wall-inclosed |
jailyard at Georgetown Friday morn !
ing and bathed the gruesome frame /
of the gaIlows with light when Harry |
Butler, a negro, dropped through its
trap to death, hanged for an attack
on 12-year-Old Eleanor Steinmetz, of
Bridgeville, three weeks ago. Out
side the high, whitewashed walls of
the Jail inclOsure were thousands of
curious persons from all parts of Del
aware, Maryland and Virginia, anX
ious to witness the execution. Only
those who found seats on the top of
nearby building or on the limbs of
lofty tree overlooking the Jail saw
it. The rest, after it was all over,
were permitted to file past a gate in
the wall and view the body. All
through the night the people rode
into town in automobiles and buggies.
Long before dawn the streets were
crowded. Here, there and every where
they were gathered to discuss the
coming event. The last hanging in
Sussex County was in 1897. The fu-
ture generation in this district will
know things as having happened be-
fore or after the hanging. About
forty persons saw the execution.
Among them were the members Of the
Sheriff's Jury, which is required to
witness the carrying out of the SEN
tence of the Court, in this case i'm
posed February 9 after trial of five
hours. Peace officers from outlying
districts of the county, politicians and
newspapermen made up the rest of
the group gathered around the scat
folding as the hour for the execution
| drew near.
Within a dingy cell half a dozen
yards from the gallOws Butler sat
with the Rev. Henry Y. Arnett, of
Wilmington, for an hour before he
died. They prayed together and But
Ter declared that he would soon "go
to glory, because my spirit tells me
So" The bell in the clock tower of
the old Revolutionary courthouse half
a block away struck the hour of 10.
There was a movement within the cell
and three minutes later Butler walked
out into the light, his wrists hand
cuffed behind him and with Deputy
Sheriff Bud Coy and Deputy Warden
Parkhill, of the New Castle County
Workhouse, each holding one of his
arms.
High in a treetOp nearby some one
cried down to the thousands in the
street who could not see the proceed
ings "Here he comes!' Up the steps
the trio marched. Buffers face
showed no sign of emotion. His eyes
wandered from side to side On the
fourth step he faltered for moment,
but Immediately regained control OF
himself and proceeded to the square
frame platform which formed the ia
tai drop of the gallows. He stepped
within a little black circle painted on
the planks. His feet were tied with
a canvas strap by Deputy Warden
Parkhill. Deputy Coy started to raise
the black hood, and Butler said firmly
and without a break in his voice
Goodbye all, God bless me and save
my soul"
They were his last words. The hooC
was thrown over his head and the
moose, which had been hanging in on,
|
of the supporting crossbars, was plac
ed around his neck. Coy and Park
hill stepped back to the top step, tn
executioner, stationed out of sight il
the Jail kitchen, pulled the rope, tn
trap was sprung at 1904 A. NJ, an,
? Butler fell to his death. He was pro
, nounced dead, at 1915 A. NJ. TIL
, crowds passed by the wall gate an,
. viewed the body for more than a
hour before it was cut down and sen
to his home in Bridgeville, where hi
| parentS will have If hurled