The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-11-10
Nelson Charles Execution Performed on Sthed-
 uIe at Jail Here
"INN0(ENT" IS LAST
 WORD OF MURDERER
Kefthikdn Man Pays for Brutal Killing of His
 Mother -in-LdW

Nelson Charles died on the gallows here this morning for the murder of his mother-in- The trap was sprung at 8:46 o'clock and doctors pronounced the Ketchikan Native dead at 3:52 o'clock.
 Last words of the condemned man, as he stood at the edge of the trap and was asked by U. s. Marshal Will liam T. Mahoney, Nelson, have you anything to say?', were:
 T will say I am innocent of the crime of my mother-in in-law, and l still say I'm innocent"
 Charles, shivering but erect, his eyes closed, spoke very softly so that witnesses seated only Is feet away had difficulty in hearing. The only word enunciated clearly was the first innocent His voice trailed off in the final half dozen words and became barely whisper.
 Walks to GaIIows
 The Indian walked unaided to the gallows, built under porch at the northwest end of the Federal Jail Building. A white web belt strapped his arms to his side as he walked in between Mahoney and Deputy Marshal Walter Hellan. Spiritual advisors, the Rev. w. G. LeVasseur and Capt Stanley Jackson, had en- tered the execution chamber mo- ment before.
 After Charles spoke his final words, his ankles were strapped to- gether by another white belt. With the two officers supporting him, he then shuffled inch-by inch to the center of the trap Some difficulty was experienced in pulling the black cap over his abundant black hair. Ma honey lifted the moose from a peg at the side of the scaffold and pulled it snugly around Charles neck. The hangman's knot was adjusted just back of his right ear. The Deputy's hand on his shoulder supported fhe erect prisoner, who clasped his brown hands before him.
 Signal to Executioner
 At a signal from Mahoney, Hellan Tipped switch at his side, evident ly to turn on light as signal to a Deputy in another room who actu- ally sprung the trap
 Charles fell and swung at the end of the rope, without a sound and without motion. He must have died instantly. The floor of the platform partially hid from the witnesses the upper part of the dead mans body
 Fifteen feet below, a plank stand was set up so that the doctors could examine the body. Dr. E. F Vollert made the first examination. Then Dr. w. w. Council pronounced the single word, dead at 852.
 A Deputy telephoned to the under taker, and by the time witnesses left, a hearse was backing into the courtyard.
 The execution was carrleQ out smoothly and expertly, although it was the first ever held in Juneau.
 Remained Calm
 Nelson Charles was calm through out the night, jailers said, and ate hearty breakfast He slept about an hour and a half. Both the Rev Le- Vasseur and Capt. Jackson had in- teryieWs with him as the witnesses gathered at the jail and presented their blue invitation cards On a rack at one side of the jail office hung a double breasted blue serge coat bearing tag which read Nelson Charles" On the wall was the blackboard tally of prisoners in the various cells. Witnesses knew that one of the figures would be erased within an hour
 After signing the official papers, witnesses were ushered by the Mar shal around the side of the build ing and into small cubicle adjoin-