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SPRINCJFIELI), O., FRIDAY E\A MIDNiCIIT HANGING.Josiab Terrill, the Meigs Count* Murderer, Hanged by Warden Cofiin at the Pen.lirophl* IV'srrlplloinnrhrs Heartily - Wsr-n springs Ih • Trap.DellWillwell.mure llie I•Hcgi of « n-im. and IpaidCoi.immis. Sept- i The warden'a of-,sw at llie penitentiary presented an nn-lt;lilted appearance last night. The doors, were thrown wide open, all the gas was burning and an awesmitlrn crowd ttoul mind the isirridors and rooma convening subdued whispers, the approaching elocution of .Install Terrill, the Meigs countv munlerer. had oast a shadow over Hie ln*ti ■Utiim. ami none of the resident officers oi llielr families could sleep. Warden faffin'* dauglitef. nervous and pale, sat in the ■- office unable to rest, and even the «!eady and reliable warden himself wandered around In a restless manner. The death of a human being under such cireum--tatn-es. no matter how depraved tin may he. Is an aw ful thing, and there was no one ••senl who was not perceptibly atferteiL In accordance with Terrill's r•-.ptest he was awakened al II o'clock and a bouillons lunch, consisting of chicken, sited •uiltnes. frld potatoes, dried beef, ham sandwiches and butter, plr and o ufee. was sent in and tin* murderer sat down to It an evident relish, remarking that lie ) splendid appetite. At ll«l the menders of Hie press startrsl for the eieru-rooni. Instead of resorting to the vler.I -Ionking lanterns and nerve-shaking I 7“', •neak slmes. and the shadowy palh wind-! . .”1around the buildings in the yard. j ., Warden Coffin hail had sawdust spread 1 ...• Isos al... w..fti.I.ir. I.sa.liti.r • five. antuit I *alley,andtlpetltl.plant Inga prope That ivlong llie corridors leading to the annex the ll»ir of which was also covered with ' sawdust, thus deadening all sounds. The | iinall s.piad of newspaper men was re-ln ■- 11 on-e.1 at intervals by detachment* ol I Hr' rlous and inlerest.sl |esiple. until the1 mils were orowiled. I A flAl U.yr o'clock l!«v. Hinton was called came: out the eveculp.ni rmun and fuuiid Terrill : -r|lur, dlting hi front of his cell awaiting the be-1 g,lining of religious sevices. The mut- l,ow derer was eialsirately dressed. Ills new and w black suit rted lilni very well, and a clean Abu dm I ami ai and a black necktie I ».ke,l « siljust bee.a his smotliiy shaved chin. ’•1 Ills buttoli-hole Was a tsnnplet of ini- j ’ .•rtellea and n tuberose, with a geranium tile eh al a* a background, The tuberose fell -son is mu its place, and he handed It, with a Sprini smile, to a repoi ler who has shown him . uincli kinduess. Warded Coffin also ,p irled a tuberose in his button-liole. t'teisThe entire crowd passed In behind the | Secon minister, who knelt bv a chair, while the the c. sp, clators barevt their heads. Terrill city h km rle*l and c ivcrxsj his face with hi' h md outski fervent prayer was offer,-.!, discs.v.............. of the ev -rcises He straight- to t»'‘tied himself up. took a chew of tobai-vu Her and bghled a cigar, sef.leil InuisHf in a tlie al: chair. Tuere was an eiiibarrassing pause, cine li luting winch tlie munlerer never tlirvchrd a had el hair's breadth, despite the curious eyes Onen tliat were peering at linn ar.mnd the corner : la a* I of the stair' leading to tlie scaffold. ; about Tiieu Warden Coffin stepped forward and balf a real the death warrant. At tlie close he holes said. This rei|Uire me to hang vou bmighl. ' terribl rernll. bid wren li o'clock ami daylight. of tlie Tend I u. sided his head as if io my that bo * that was all right, and then, in answer to a •be ■■ luestlnn, remarked carelessly. 1 believe 1 pound nave nothing to say Just now. ined tlTlie witnesses filed into the rot m where I be kdl •loisl tlie scaffold, and two minutes later bandit the murderer, accompanied by Warden |Coffin. Deputy Cheirington. Assistant I Deputy Patton. Captain McHenry and K»v. Wlllul Hint,hi stepped out on the death balcony I'ernl! was perlectly cisil and collwlesl and Ills face was tlie usual color. A' he stepped • to tlie trap. Warden Coffiti asked tiiin if be (Than nail anything to-say. With an awkward acaip gesture, like that of a seh.ml boy declaim- „ttw, mg Kxeebior. lie answereil: I say 1ain't guilty of this here charge. wore'Vou say you are guilty. ipiericd the brig In wantrn. who. with others, misunderstood ; llie bt I say I ain't guilty of Ibis here charge. atory ■ lelteratisl Terrill, to*! is heaven knows the gr 1 ain't guilty. There are some people and feet, lawvers in Puuiemy Hunk they have gut receivi •alisfartion on ineiinw. That's all I've got was ci to say board!Warden Coffin stepped over and s'lrg.k him. hauilB wilti lilm. bidding him good-bye. Mr. but th Uiiitou gravely followed hi* example. *a - .i |»is' mg in a solemn tone: Jdali. put your and In confidence and trust in the l.ord.I hare, piped Josiali.He was pla-ed over the traps and stand- IVol ing as if being iiicasureii tor a suit of «di„ i chillies, permuted Deputy Cherringion. wlui is an old hand at tlie busiue-». to . adjust the ropes. There was some dlffi-culty In fastening a strap and lie consider- lr 1,1 ately moved hi- feet to facilitate opera- could. Hons. The black cap—a rude bag was ,killfu plac'd over nis head and the uonse adjusted im| .,, at Ti:33. Tlie collar and necki.e were f(1 f,.., kept on but did not interfere with llie rope. rtluri.| whlrh was tightened as much as possible vr„ before llie drop At lT.iH. before the y,jrrr audience realized tliat II liail happened. I prlnP, Warden Coffin sluit the lever from north to y,rg south. Hattie went th* [rap against the mu,|j| side lit tlie room and with a bi.uu tlie Issly of the murderer shot down seven |It)W, feet, osi-lllatist a eoilple of times and then t||p et bei-ame -fiiiet. Tliere was not a twitch of ehurct a muscle »ir a movement of the b*ly. f..,Instantly a plank was thrown across two „i| |s Chairs on tlie platforms at each side of the hanging man. and Drs. Clemmer and Nor- |)n,wl ns sprang on it to take notes of the pulse and respiration. Tlie heart brats were very rapid at first, but after si* minutes be- The g»n to lessen. In twelve minute- he »*-dead.The r vpe was lowereil so that the bslv could tie plsri-d on the plank, the knot was burial out and the noose loosened and then the try, ai black e-vp was taken off, exposing the swol- Metal leu ami blackened face His neck hid been was e broken by the fall hut the rope had not cut ent bi the llesh. iliveniThe Issly was placed ill a gieid coffin and the at at 7:4.i this Illuming wa* sli'PfMsl on the ing Hi llia-kiiic Valiev Irani Io P.unrrov. where 11 talom will be buried by the dead man's luotbrr their i Strange to say. lie expressed no desire Io made, meet this agist woman before death. On W the contrary, he remarked at siipp-r that ebarg tlie only pernm lie cared much to see was ca'ke Ins illegiliuiate child. whrnDEATH OF MRS. U. A. CONNER.
Newspaper Details
Springfield Daily Republic
Springfield, Ohio, US
Fri, Sep 02, 1887
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Linda R.
USA 06 Aug 2024
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