The Washington times., 1928-01-11
FRANTIC FIGH 7
FOR SLAYERS
CONTINUED from Page 81

expressed deep concern over the
future of their daughter, Jane, 10.
He was disturbed when he learned
the girl has been told her father is
to be executed by the State for
killing a man in a drunken row. He
had hoped a kindlier explanation
might be made, though realizing
she would know the truth sons
day.
When his wife emerged and hur-
ried into the brothers automobile,
she displayed a stole demeanor.
They have called Judd Gray weak.
Weak he may be, but he has mo
ments.
After his mother had left him,
while she was discussing the UNI
pleasant matter Of the disposition of
his body. Judd was giving the last
money he has to the men who will
survive him for q short time in the
death house. He had $21.
The men who are to follow him to
the chair will feast on the day he
dies as judas guests He wrote
Warden Lawes that $15 of his small
account go to give them extra fare
at their dinner that day.
The remaining S. will go to a
friendless negro, also condemned to
die for murder. Judd wrote:
II request, sir, the privilege of
transferring SIS to the account Of
F. Dixie Baldwin, C.C.-79316. I
would greatly appreciate this, as
you know he hasn't anyone to help
him, and this will keep him in
cigarettes for a time at least"
1t was, in a way, Judd's last will
hnx n
another and larger viii while his
Warden Lawes believes he did.
Miller would not admit Judd
signed any papers. A clerk accom-
panied him into the prison and the
warden believed they were arrang-
ing the disposition of Judd's estate,
mostly insurance. Miller declined
to state the amount of insurance
Judd carried, but this has been es-
timated at $4,000.
How VIII Ruth Act?
DR.. c.. C. Sweet, the prison
physician, told International News
Service that spiritual consolation,
more than anything else, buoys up
condemned prisoners in their final
moments. There has been much
will act when the matron taps her
on the shoulder and tells her that
the hour when she must pay the
extreme penalty for her husbands
murder has come.
Prison attaches are unanimous In
predicting that Gray win go to the
chair stoicaIly, but some of them are
OF the opinion that Mrs. Snyder will
be carried hystericaI to the chair.
Frequently, il there il reason to ex-
pect a struggle or an outburst from
the condemned person, laudanum or
atropine is administered. This,
however. is done only as a last re-
sort. for it is the policy of the in
stitution not to administer sedatiVeS
unless they are absolutely necessary.
A prisoner who has ambraced
spiritual aid nearly always goes to
the electric chair quietly, muttering
prayers and committing his soul to
God. This may happen to Mrs.
Snyder.
"SaIIy" To Visit Ruth
Mrs. Agnes McKernan, secretary
of the salvation Army. has received
q court order, signed by Justice
James J. Dunno, of Brooklyn. to
allow her to visit the condemned
woman. Mrs McKernan presented
an affidavit to the judge to the ef-
feet that she had given spiritual
consolation to Mrs. Snyder in the
Long Island City jail and attached
the following letter she received
from the condemned woman:
my dear Mrs. McKernan:
81 have waited for months to see
Won. and in my last letter to you ]
asked you to go to Judge Hazleton
and at my request get permission
to visit me.
do try, won't you, to come up.
Write to Warden IIawes and ask
Il you may. Rules are rules and We
must abide by them"
AZ would love to see you soon.
RUTH SNYDER"
Whether Warden Lawes, even in
view of the court order, would per-
nit the Salvation Army secretary to
see Mrs. Snyder has not been de-
termined.
Invitations Accepted
Invitations to witnesses to at
tend the double execution have been
sent out by Warden Lawes and
formally accepted. Twenty-four
persons. 20 newspapermen and four
physicians, will march from the
warden's office to the execution
chamber shortly before II o'clock
tomorrow night. After Mrs. Snyder
and Gray have been put to death
the witnesses will sign a register
attesting to the fact that they wit
messed the execution.
Reporters and special writers are
arriving in Ossining in droves. Taxi
cab drivers are reaping a harvest.
The telegraph companies have In
stalled wires in hotel about two
blocks from the prison. The
warden has forbidden the use
of prison telephones and will not
allow any wires to be cut into Sing
Sing.
The people Of Ossining, used to
executions. are not as apathetic to-
ward the execution of this famous
pair OF lovers as they have been
toward others. Not since Police
Lieut.. Charles Becker was executed