The Evening Standard from Uniontown, Pennsylvania • Page 1

0 MORNING UNIONTOWN, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. TwojCehS MINERS Execution of Harris Is Execution to Take lice A Kf ARE KILLED in the County of execution of John Harris on t.h« nmrntncr This morning John Harris passed the ordeal" of death and never faltered. With step as firm and steady as his bound arms would permit he walked to the foot of the scaffold between IJeputy Sheriffs ('itmeron LaClair 1 and mounted the steps." took his place on the fatal "trap doors and nodded that he was ready, without so much as a quiver of his lips. It was the most remarkable display of icarlessness of death ever witnessed in 'the layette county jail. John Han-is faced death and met death, but he did not fear death--he too faith in his ultimate salvation.

Shortly before 10 o'clock Deputy Sheriffs Cameron LaClair and W. Wilson entered the death cell, which was the first cell on the right, and the condemned man farewell adjusted the broad leather strap's'o''that his arms were bound behind his back, the strap holdin? the arms close together a elbows. The three then filed out of the coll and the death march begun. It was just 10 steps from the cell door the lowest step of the stairs leading up to the scaffold, and Rev P. H.

Thompson, who had spiritual advisor, accompanied tho little party from the cell'to the foot of the scaffold. Rev. Thompson stopped at the lowest step, but Harris and the uiies continued their way, slowly mounting, the 10 steps to where Joseph G. from Pittsburgh, was waiting to adjust the noose In the dead silence of the bull pen the doomed man took his place upon the trap doors. This required .5 steps' more.

There was no haste but it seemed as though.he wanted to give the officers as little trouble'as possible. Harris nodded that he was rendy. Mr. Watt stepped forward and adjusted the black'cap and the noose, while the deputies bound legs together by a single, broad strap.at the ankles. i At that, time'Sheriff Kiefer.

and Chief Deputy Martin Murphy were standing at one side of the scaffold near the trigger rope. Mr. Watt of Pittsburgh LaClair and Wilson were "on the scaffold with Harris, and the Sheriff's jury was sitting on benches directly in front of the scaffold. Rev. Peter H.

Thomas H. Ford, Rev. Jacob Moon, the pastors of three of the colored churches in Uniontown, and James Powell, who were present at the special request of Harris, the newspaper reporters and the few others present were in various parts of the bull pen. A seconds.longer, and the death knell of John Harris began-to sound. I was the clock the court house tower striking the hour of Even before the last stroke of the hour the trap doors gave way" with a bang and.

clatter that sounded terrific within the confines of the bull pen, and the the negro murderer, which had been silhouetted ari Instant before the'barred 'window set high in the oast wall of the jail through the The body shot clear through to tlie floor but was and left hanging. later death throes, had set in. The body swayed the endVf Uie rope in "struggle for life. 'The anus and legs bound aud the brain was unconscious, but the physical being Avas Slower and slower, became the convulsive move'ments and then-ther'ceased A a i minute later Coroner Harry J. Bell pronounced John Harris dead.

The b'bdy was then cut immediately placed in the casket prepared for it. I was viewed jury, and then it was turned over to-Undertaker J. Harry Johnston Son. The body was immediately taken Clearview cemetery and buried. The Sheriff's Jury.

The jury as empaneled "by Sheriff Kiefer was composed.of teamster, South Union township. W. farmer, Jefferson township. George Wilhe'Jm. yard boss, South Brownsville.

Harry- officer, Brier Hill. Daniel yarndell, farmer, North Union township. Matt Walker; superintendent, Jones Ross, merchant, High House. Mahloii Farr. railroader.

Uniontown. Allen' Beeson, chauffeur. Uniontowu. Ben Seese, railroader, Uniontown. G.

Teed, hotel proprietor. Uniontown. MOV. Jackson, constable, Obionyle. The Execution Strictly Private.

Thc execution was strictly private, there'not being more than -to per sons altogether who witnessed the infliction nf the death penalty. Everything connected with it moved with swiftness and precision. The officials had planned it well, for there not. a single hitch from the time the dep- death cell until Harris dropped through the trap doons now OBe Cilll csrapo irm addition to Coroner Harry J. Bell, Dr.

L'. R. Rnsely, Dr. S. L.

Dr. and Dr. Charles Biercr. all of Unioniown. wore present.

Among the visitors-present were Sheriff Steele. Deputy Sheriff Cope- himl and; Jail Warden John Nichols, all of Westmoreland county. Last 2 4 Hours. Shortly before noon on Wednesday all the prisoners in the jail were lined 1 up'to bid farewell'to Harris, and then there was enacted the most pathetic'scene ever witnessed in the Fayette county jail. With the majority of the prisoners it was the usual scene farewell, but wh-n John Payne, Isaiah Luigi DeLeo and Frank Wells, all of whom have been convicted of first degree murder, approached the doomed man, they literally tell on his neck and wept They broke down completely.

Htirris was the coolest man in the jail and the only one who did not have tears in his eyes. With great composure he led the four others to thc cell of John Payne and made them kneel in an attitude of prayer while he prayed that their souls might be saved. Harris never seemed more cheerful than he did "just previous to Ins death. 'Rev. H.

M. Hail of the Central Christian church visited him on Wednesday evening anS when HC left the death cell be" remarked that belief in his salvation was the greatest demonstration of Christian faith that he hud ever witnessed. Charles Tvl. Fee, also called upon him and Harris' farewell letter to Uts mother. Tac condemned man spent a very quiet night, waking only once during thc entire time.

He was awake when called at 6 o'clock on Thursday morning and he seemed ns cheerful a.s ever. He'ate a hearty breakfast consioling of ham and eggs, buttered tonst, fried potatoes, lea and dessert. Shortly after o'clock Rev. P. H.

Thompson, who had been the condemned man's adviser, arrived, and a little later Rev. Ford, Rev. Moon KIXI James Powell came. They spent the remainder of the time in the cell with Harris. From 7:25 until o'clock Harris walked around the.

bull pen, and then he entered his cell and prayed for all the other jail inmates. Shortly 1 afterward the four that Harris had requested and Captain and another member of the Salvation Army held services i the doomed negro. John Harris' Statement. Just prior to his execution the condemned man, who all along bad refused to make any statement in regard to himself or the crime, mado tlie following statement to a reporter for the Xews Standard "1'am prepared to meet my God. a no fear of death, for have thc consolation that I am net guilty of wilful murder.

1 shot Tom Jones, hut I shot with the intention of maiming his arm to prevent him from shooting me, which he would have done had not been "quicker than he was. I am sorry for Tom and I have prayed that God might be merciful to him. I hope to meet him in the better world. "1 made a great mistake when 1 shot. at.

the officers in my attempt to escape. If I had come in and given myself up it might have been different I have no ill feeling, toward anyone. I am at peace with all thc and I have a kind feeling for all mankind, everyone has been verv kind to me and I am very thankful to all of them, but'especially to and Charles M. Fee, who did all that thev could make' things as pleasant as possible Jor me. Of course, I feol grieved ubout tho sorrow that my death will bring to my mother and brothers Mr.

Patterson, my attorney, put up a great fight to save me from tho lul Lllc ue a mver uonso'iwated Coad and Coke 1 wish to publicly thank the church people for the interest thev h-ive akeii.111 my spmtual welfare, and 1 wish to say that I am fullv Inverted spirit is with- me to comfort me in this mv hour of Heed I i Mr. Shelby did his duty as the prosecuting attorney and Mr. Smith did ns as the county detective. Both of them did their dutv as they saw it have no i toward them or toward anyone else connected with the A I the prison ofliclals have been very kind to me and 1 shall lo- vo world with a kind feeling toward all." The Scaffold Erected and Tested. On Momlay the Various parts of the have lain in tho 'basement of court house since execution ot Wilbur Minnev -o, 1J07.

were gathered together and the scaffold was temporarily erected in the uaseinent On Wednesday morning the parts were the jail shortly a ter noon on Wednesday all the prisoners were locked in their" where they remained i noon on Thursdav. As soon all i (prisoners had been loc 1 the jail IW1 It required about two im the execuuon. Tins work was in charge of B. F. contnS- i Heretofore the scaffold has been erected in the extreme east lawj-k was eVecL Pe in' tr' Ha is ee .1 closure.

exact center ot the During tho erection of the scaffold and after it had been of people, who could not attend the execution on Thursdav 3a in der t0 the instr of death that was to remove Harris from the land of the living. i I On Wednesday evening bags of sand weighing a little raorp rh-m pounds were attached to the rope and the trap tval Ev rvthh pvorked to perfection. As soon as the iron bar had been relied SS ol sand shot through the trap doors and stopped short as suddenly tense. The test promised a swift execution on Thursday! The- Last Sunday. fe 2 vhich was Prisoner's last Sunday on earth, is took an active part the religious services conducted by Captain PI He in0d le 'task's ofevery hvmn ahS close of the service he made short talk to the other prisoners irao-ment Cd a tliat he WaS i)repare to die'at.

any For the first time since he heard that the pardon board had refused commute the death sentence to life imprisonment he seemed affected During the parts of the service when he was merely a listener he seemed nervous and'ill at ease, crossing and recrossing his legs aud lowing i irequently. There were also times when tears appeared in hH eves mi lie quickly brushed them away with his handkerchief. The soemed be manifestations of sorrow rather a fear of death. Asked i Clothes. As soon as Harris heard that he must die on April 2-1 he requested that he ho allowed to die in his own clothes.

When he was arrested if pvlncn were just new. were taken from him. and he was ven other" 7o wear while jail. Warden Newcomer told him that his tisT wo Ud be er Cl e(I aml press ed was given 1 Sunday, and seemed Blast in Pit at Courtney, Pa, TRAPS MEN Rescuers force Way Into the' I Wrecked Workings CAUSE OF DISASTER NOTKNOWN the movnl this county are; fh I' executed-''March 7, 1795, for the murder" 1. Richard Thairwell, executed October I 1SCC 71 lirsi execution.

Hanged for the murder 'of TM ik han attorney and C. C. Sterling sheriff. 4. Frank Morris, hanged September for the SEESH! 17 children.

xecu on and Related iiy Survivors Courtney, April hundred men are 'believed to 1 be dead in Cincinnati mine of Monongahela River Consolidated Good and Coke tho district attbmw. Ocorgo MeCormicfc i zs Ham at Dunbar on July 4, 1S99: -He I was of dark blue sergo with a very mall stripe of black in it was; well nttmg and showed his powerful figure to advantage Varris i "li TV' 101 a we hcd fa nowAood of 1D5 Bounds. muscular development made him'proportionately broad. The Life of Harris. wn.s born near SpottsylvaniaCourt House.

Virginia, in Sep- His parents were poor. ftn so he attended school very little. 10n hC ,) VJlSr2 Gars Of ase he workctl on the surrounding mills oi that section of Virginia. Shortly after he troubli- at lember, The estimate of missing men Is not official, but is made from the statements of mine foremen aud their as- who said 178 men entered the mine. Only 78 came out, they say, and -many of these were injured.

Removal of the bodies from the mine begun morning. Two box cars were run onto the railroad siding at Courtney entrance and--were held in readiness to carry the -bodies to Monongahela. The rescue-work is being conducted William Carter, superintendent oi jtiie mine. The superintendent has a among the missing. Another of his boys escaped from, the mine, seriously injured.

The Reported Known Dead. I John Green, aged ot Courtney. Thomas Carter, sou ol William Carter, superintendent the'mine. Robert Anderson, machine boss, Courtney. Charles Hager, Courtney.

John Lake, motorman, Courtney. William McNeil, thirty-one, a mine foreman, Granville. The detonation explosion was terrific, the farce of concussion breaking windows in- houses a considerable distance 'from the -Courtney entrance of the mine. Before lue reverberations had died away a ihurrying procession was on its- way the mine entrance. The alarm, was sonded ail up and down the river valley and on foot, in special trains, by wagon and automobile came scores of workers from other mines, volunteering for places on the rescue parties which were organized i all possible speed A.

E. Jones th 3 district attorney' and 9. John Jackson, colored, hanged July 28, 1904 for Irl 01 65 at Ni HI in Connellsyille WnshIp -'oi-jTine -J9 1 --iStt-- TM mis farms Chester eo.mty where stayed umi, lVo 4 Shortly after the explosion word was on The Crime. The crime of which John Harris was convicted was tho wilful deliberate on MayTmf nmnler TIl0maS JOneS aIS the afternoon of Saturday, May n. 1.0 12 John Harris, alias "Buffalo- in al Isahelhi works with a Colt automatic pistol he hilI WJIS a i threats to kil1 a11 tlie negroes on LI! 6 ay Wei in of two negroes in also Harrisburg, April longer will the Senate ask leave of the Hotise tc adjourn from Wednesday' to Monday, and suTaject' itself to the liumiliatior a rejection of its request, "as 'Hva-- done.last week.

The decision 'of th- president pro tern, of the Senate, tha that body can make such adjournmeh without consulting the House, 'ha: been- recognized as final, and mer( motion for such adjournment 'is that is necessary. Acting under this, when the Senat'. met Wednesday; Senator Crow moved Senate adjournec telegraphed to the United States bureau of mines in Pittsburg and Rescue Car No. 6, in charge of Daniel Davis, foreman miner, and six or seven assistants, was rushed, here. On their iirst entrance into the! Tvorkings the rescuers were driven na when the oeuaie aajournec back by the smoke and fumes which Wedn be meet Mon- filled the nf ICL day night, and this was adnnteri with- filled the passages.

The force of the explosion had seriously damaged the fans at -Che Mingo entrance to the mine and. added the menace of asphyxiation, to the dangers of The Cincinnati mine is one of largest and best owned by the River i Coal company. The operation of the thP a the house ot Harris Coleman. of beer, just to show that ther areed. Jo staned ont Qf lfcc the automatic pistol at this time, with Jones and they had some After a time the quarrel was seem- is house to have a were no hard feelings." Harris Jones did so Karris stepped from his nockot and day night, and this was adopted without discussion.

mine is "THE BREAD A I A sensational drama four parts. A factory was burned to the ground operaon ro now under the supervision of! 10 ct a re scene in this drama! i "FOR LOVE OF FOR LOVE OF I An absorbing drama of stage life 03 Havey. with a splendid Reli- and on his way to the hospital. Sh rtl aftCr Sh ting and thc Authorities at put a bullet through tho county do tccliv es hat Harris was fmallv a it- Jame oi faTteCT in county In" Wh ri lllm Ver was ami in The Trial. trial of John Harris began before Judge Umbel on Mond.iv.

June u. Aitorney George Patterson, who was appointed hv tho court (K'tendant said ii-iri tutu atiornov-. represented Hirris Atiornov Si, and Assistant District Attorney Miller represf-ine'ri examined. voniro ol IS had been 110 5 ad hften com 1 the, following men in tho box Harry Nedrow, farmer. Saltlick townshin Xo Theron Provance.

laborer. Xonh Union township Xo 3 hrtunrd C. Henry, clerk. Dimbar township Xo 2 Harp- Shallenberyer. clerk.

Ounbar toxvnship Xo i' K1 lg(rensmUI min Tyrone town.hip"Xo. L. Caddis; foreman. Hunb-u the Pittslnirg oal company since the purchase ol the river concern by the Pktsburg company some years ago. The Cincinnati mine runs from tbej a Monongahela river to Pinleyville, a I "WAYS OF FATE" distance of about three and one-half Strong American drama- miles.

The mine is one of the best) Good pictures and a fine musical equipped of those owned by the River Coming Monday, "Dick the death of Jones Coai company and is electrified and His Cat." magnificent throughout. The explosion occurred reel feature, near the Finleyville entrance to the (Continued on Fourth Page.) 4 2 3 4 l11 1 i MEN'S AND BOYS' SUITS The -conditions in the mine, as a Clothing at low prices. THE PAIR. as it could be penetrated, indicate a most or me men were not ktiieu ty llm but were caught by the i afterdamp, as none of the dead was found in rooms where they usually; work, but were scattered about in the entrances where they fell on way safety. i A tiieory as to the cause of the ex-1 ad-vanoed by one oi the men wTio escaped is that an old mine mn- nins parallel i the mine TODAY, TOMORROW AND SAT URDAY--positively the most stupen dous minstrel production in vaude- Of ville-GUS SUN'S FAMOUS WIN- tnrougtl STR ELS produced and managed by that "world famed" comedian, TOM gas which may have as TOMMY DONNELLY, T.

GREMER. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, through a crank in a concrete wall separating- tho mines anrf caused the explosion. EDMOND BALZ. FLOYD T.ie explosion is thought -to have S. RALTON CO.

Greatest occurred beneafh the Mingo cemetery. show over staged at the Dixie. NO which Is between the Mingo and Court- i IN PRICES. ney entrances. A farmer plowing in a I field near the eemo.lery said that he felt shock of the.

explosion and it 3000 A I SAMPLE SHOSS by Kndicott- Johnson at 1. Continued ori Fourth, Off. All styles. THE PAIR, 4 2 3 4 Peanuts soon pe ind tanbiric 7 Hie- ijy In alt tlie 4 rtfiree'special 4 iililS 'jaW scenes, cpnie an5 inother, jfie circus' i nd PopularityJneyer pys i steady hoTd'rui All tlirough.tlie ents of have been of. earti' securingno and The year will acrobats, -ortionists and athletes fifty clowns compose in addition the Cari Hagenbeck's MW1W HU animal Hundreds wili animals, lions.

leopards, tigersr jaguars, elephants, seals, will constitute that dep Performances -svill je given at i P. in; Doors to the dise will be opened- an A mile long-, street'parade the show grounds aria o'clock-We day or the exhibition and nf the principal streets. ui 7 i i i.uuiynian, I Um POWELL, including such noted ar- ECTRIC HOUSE ORESJS 00 tists TOMMV i i -r Best values in town. TfiE PAfp' BERT RENSHAW, EARL DODDs' SIMPSON, Just Retired 50 MORE SIMPLEX ADJUSTABLE PATTON DRCSSMAKlNd TO YOli LET DEMONSTR ATC COHEN'S ON BROADWAY FURNITURE AND 'HARDWARE.