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%Pays Penalty for Killing Grace Stidfole in the Lycoming County Jail.Special to the Express.Williamsport-, Feb. 3 —Just as the clock pointed to the noon hoar today John Erble Btepped into eternity in expiation tor his crime in killing Grace Stidfole at a house of ill-fame in Wil* liamsport. Seventeen minutes later his body was taken down from the gallows in the Lycoming county jail yard, life was pronounced extinct, and the last chapter of a sordid story of crime and disgrace was ended.Only 25 persons were admitted to the jail yard, including the official witnesses, physicians and a single newspaper man from each of the Williamsport newspapers. The scaffold was hiddau from view, so that the only time that the morbidly curious crowds on the roofs of the buildings surrounding the prison obtained a glimpse of the condemned man was when lie stepped from the jail out-into the yard. Even the lower part of the scaffold was so carefully screened that the witnesses in the jail yard did not see the condemned man after the trap was sprung and were spared the sight of his death struggles.Erble Makes Final Statement. Erblo ascended the scaffold bravely and before the cap was adjusted made a brief statement in which he blamed liquor for his crime. He prayed for his friends, those, who had interested themselves in his behalf and all others and declared chat he was ready to die.-Before Erble delivered his last message, Sheriff Tomlinson addressed the spectators, declaring that Erble was a model prisoner and expressing the hope that “when iny time comes to go I will be as well prepared as John Erble.” Curious crowds gathered abont the jail daring the morning, but all seemed impressed with the gravity of the situation. Men spoke in lowered tones, as though realizing that they stood practically in the presence of death. The tragic event did not' attract nearly the crowd of curiosity seekers generally to be found in evidence oh such occasionsErbly’s sister bffi farewell to the prisoner in the jail, and the scene was a pa thetic one. She will return to her home at Syracuse tomorrow morning, taking with her the dead body of her brothe: for burial.Governor Remains Firm.In an effort to obtain a stay of exe eution, Clarence L. Peaslee ant Charles J. Reilly, two prominent Wil liamsport attorneys, on .Monday had £ conference with Governor Tener a1 Tyrone, while the latter was enroutc from Pittsburgh to Bellefonte to at tend1 the funeral of ex-Governor Beaver. The condemned man’s advocates made a strong appeal to the governor hut were unable to persuade him tc interfere in the carrying out of the law.Governor Tener stated that he hat read all the testimony in the cast carefully; that the condemned mac had received a fair trial in the courl below; that lie had there been ablj defended; that the case had beer twice before the Board of Pardons ,and twice the application to commute the death sentence had been refused; that he had been enlightened by nu rnerous interviews; both Unitec States senators from Pennsylvanii had earnestly urged mercy, as like wise Senator McCumber from Nortl Dakota; the large petitions from Wil liamsport and vicinity and from Wash ington, D. C., had been presented, to gether with large numbers of letters and telegrams from persons of dis interested motives and of influence that he had discussed the entire mat ter with ministers, evangelists anlt; publicists, as well as with his own im mediate advisers; that under the lav he could find no moving grounds the exercise of his power to stay death warrant for further action.
Newspaper Details
Lock Haven Express
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Feb 03, 1914
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 26 Apr 2019
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