Misc: Thomas Cromwell, 1902: Lebanon, Lebanon Co Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Natalie Seiwell. Instructor@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ FELON DIES Review of One of the Darkest Offences in the History of This Section.--Story of Its Commission, the Apprehension of Its Perpetrator, His Trial and Conviction, Despite His Denials, Appeal to a Higher Tribunal and Finally His Confession When It Was Sure That the Law Would Take Its Course--Last Night of the Doomed Wretch on Earth--Officials and Others Who Have Taken Prominent Parts in the Case--Other Homicides in This Region--Pains and Penalties in Other Lands for Those Who Take Human Life. Thomas Cromwell, the negro murderer of Jacob C. Schmidt, at Colebrook Furnaces, on the western Lebanon Limits, on Tuesday paid the penalty of his crime committed over a year ago. The execution took place at the county jail, the drop falling at 10.09, as stated in The Report extra, issued on Tuesday, at 10.20 o'clock. The march to the gallows was taken up promptly at 10.05. The execution was a success. Dr. E. B. Marshall, of Annville, the jail physician, arrived at the prison shortly before 9 o'clock. He visited the man twice in his cell, and said his nerve was magnificent. The clergyman in charge, Rev. J. M. Page, arrived at 9 o'clock and at once donning the vestaments of the church, he proceeded to administer to the condemned man the last rites of the church, Cromwell making the confession previous to absolution. Constable John Sohn adjusted the straps about the prisoner's arms and legs, and the noose about his neck. Rev. Mr. Page accompanied the man to the scaffold. The death march was led through the rear exit from the jail into the jail yard. Dies in Sixteen Minutes As stated, the drop fell at 10.09, and 16 minutes later, at 10.25, Dr. E. B. Marshall, of Annville, the physician in charge, pronounced the man dead. The body was cut down at 10.32. From shortly after 9 o'clock, after Cromwell's attending clergyman, the Rev. J. M. Page, had arrived, the two remained together in the condemned man's quarters. The last communion to Cromwell was administered Monday morning, and yesterday, later in the day, the Rev. Mr. Page, with the Rev. G. W. Hangen visited him. Professes Repentance The condemend man professed repentance at the last meeting today. Cromwell also spoke to his counsel, Attorney George B. Woomer, and in saying goodbye, expressed a hope for a meeting in the hereafter. He passed through the throng of spectators in the jail yard, on his way to the scaffold, and cast curious glances at the staring spectators who hemmed him in. There was no hitch in the proceedings whatever. When he mounted the scaffold his arms and legs were strapped and the hood placed over his head. His Last Words Previous to the latter operation Cromwell stepped to the edge of the platform and addressed the people assembled around the scaffold. He said: "Goodbye, gentlemen, goodbye; I wish you all a happy time in the world to come. It is the will of Him that I must go. Farewell, Farewell, Farewell." Cromwell also said goodbye to Sheriff Coppenhaver, and to the minister and the attendant. Sheriff Coppenhaver and Constable John Sohn adjusted the black cap, and the leg and arm straps were fastened at the ankle and elbows, respectively. Cromwell's wrists were menacled. He then stepped upon the centre of the trap, and in the pause that followed, the clergyman, in a clear, strong voice, prayed for a moment. The trap was sprung, and for a second, the doors of the trap--to Cromwell the gates to death--refused to open; then dropped and caught at the legs of the platform. Cromwell's body twitched convulsively, gradually less markedly, for eight or nine minutes, then the agony ceased. There was no sound from the strangling man. Neck Not Broken Cromwell died of strangulation. His neck was not broken. Gradually, as the body swung in the trap, head and shoulders above the platform, the noose slipped until the face of the man had slipped from the west to the east. The noose slipping was due to the adjustment of the rope, so that the scrofulous swelling on the side of Cromwell's throat might not be torn by the knot. The knot came under the left side of the chin, and to this fact, as well as to the high collar worn, caused the slipping of the noose. The physicians pronounced him dead sixteen minutes after the drop fell. The body was cut down by Constable Sohn at 10.32,---21 minutes after the drop fell. Dr. Marshall was in charge of the corps of physicians. Custody of the Rope The constable at once took charge of and kept, for the time being, the rope with which Cromwell was hanged. The number of persons who asked for bits of the rope, for curios or for "medicine," to be used as a charm or cure for various ailments, is surprising. Official Report The Sheriff's jury met in the prison afterward and presented their offical return of the death of Cromwell. Dr. Marshall said no autopsy would be held. The body was lowered into a black rough box from the almshouse, without removing the hood. The box was taken into the main corridor of the prison, where the Rev. Mr. Page read the funeral and burial rites of the Episcopal Church over the body, in the presence of the jury, deputies, and others. The body was then taken into charge by the almshouse steward, John Light, who packed it in ice, preparatory to shipment to Philadelphia. Crowd at the Execution The hanging was witnessed by possibly 600 persons. Nearly every physician in this city and county was present. Nearly 200 people, including jury, deputies and police force, were in the jail yard when the drop fell, and later the gates were opened to the crowd outside. Fully 300 or 400 more people were thus enabled to see the dangling corpse and the scaffold. The prisoner wore his black suit, black shoes and black tie, and a white shirt and high turnover collar. Lying in His Coffin As he lay in the improvised coffin there was no appearance of any but a natural death, the face, particularly the eyes and nearly closed lips, looking very natural. Cromwell was a stalwart, heavy-set man, with short nether limbs, long arms, and long, slender fingers, 'like a strangler's," as a spectator remarked. At 11 o'clock the jail yard was cleared and later today the gallows was taken down. None of Cromwell's relatives were here to see the execution or to claim the body. Execution a Success Credit was given Sheriff Coppenhaver and his deputies for one of the most expeditious, careful and thorough executions ever held in the county. Could See Fellow Prisoners As Washington stood on the scaffold he faced due west, almost facing the lower eastern corridor, No. 2, opposite his own, No. 4. Glancing up, he could see the other prisoners of the jail looking down on him, from a gallery along the second tier of cells, on the inside. Among the dozen or so criminals looking down upon him were four colored men. Some of the prisoners were smoking, others were talking, and all surveyed with keen interest the doings on the ground below. On the Trap Door After Cromwell was hooded, and his arms and legs strapped, he was stood midway on the platform, standing on both doors of the trap. After the last preparations were completed, the Sheriff touched the "button" at the side of the platform, beneath the edge. The touch released the iron bare running across the trap, under the doors, and it sprang from its sockets like a spring. The Trap Falls The trap doors fell, and the sickening wait was over. The murderer shot downward. The spectators, breathless, stood aghast, and watched the death. Those nearest the scaffold were alert for a chance to secure bits of the rope. The Fatal Rope The rope was a hempen cord scarcely more than half an inch in thickness and looked too frail for the hanging. It was specially made for this purpose. Sheriff's Jury Deputy Robert B. Copenhaver and former Deputy Gabriel H. Moyer, who was again sworn in for this occasion, had charge of the Sheriff's jury and the deputies sworn in for the execution. A squad of city police, constables and local detectives mingled with the officials. The Sheriff's official jurors were Harry A. Miller, of this city; William G. Heilman and W. H.Hunsicker, of Greble; Glace Merys, of Lebanon; Samuel A. Wolf, of the Seventh ward; Benjamin Longenecker of Campbelltown; William Henry, of Palmyra; D. Mason Speck, of East Hanover; H. G. Beam, of Bunker Hill; J. J. Snyder, of Lebanon; H. P. Berger, of Lebanon; Joseph Strohman, of North Lebanon. Sheriff's Deputies The Sheriff's Deputies are B. F. Lineaweaver, Israel B. Bowman, Charles F. Urban, John L. Fisher, Geo. A. Hunter, H. L. Gebhard, Riley Ringler, Harry W. Grumbine, Harrison Z. Spotts, Joseph Matthews, Elliot Nagle, O. C. Desh, Samuel Bomberger, Fred. Matt, C. Penrose Eby, George P. Jones, Constable Franklin Yost. Sheriff's Stronghold The Sheriff received many callers early today. The Sheriff retreated early yesterday morning from his office in the Court House to the jail, from the bombardment for passes with which he was assailed, leaving Deputy Robert Coppenhaver to hold the fort. The rain of applications, by mail, telephone and in person, for passes, did not end yesterday, however. The call for passes still came in, and many persons came to the jail early this morning to see the Sheriff in person. Few saw him, however, the Sheriff being very busy making preparations for the hanging. Official Guests Among the Sheriff's official guests at the hanging were invited ex-Sheriff Booser, Sheriff Reif, and Deputy Mellhenny, of Harrisburg; Sheriff of Mogel, of Reading; ex-Sheriff Reuben Stine, of Lebanon County, now of Ephrata, and others. Crowd Comes Early There was a crowd at the prison gates and about the grounds outside before and during the execution. Curiosity was the motive for their coming, not sympathy, and little pity was expressed for the double murderer. A tree north of the prison wall was full of boys and men, eager to catch a glimpse of the execution, over the high walls. From vantage points elswhere, hoped to command a view of the jail's interior, spectators were straining their eyes. Some seemed even content to watch the jail's exterior or the outer side of the high jail-yard wall. Cromwell was engaged for his last half hour or hour with the Rev. Mr. Page, in his cell. He marched to the scaffold from his cell, No. 40, the northernmost in corridor No. 3. Youth Taken Sick Samuel Zeller, the youth serving three months time on a sentence imposed at June term, is the prisoner confined in the corridor with Cromwell. He was taken very ill during the night, and suffered terribly from cramp. While Sheriff Coppenhaver was being told about it by Watchman Hare, the negro laughed in jolly fashion at the other man's misery, and he hummed a tune as he went to breakfast. From the windows of his corridor, but not from his cell, he could peer around the side of the building and see the steps of his gallows. At 6 o'clock Watchman John Hare was relieved by Watchman Daniel A. Garman. Scaffold's Location The scaffold occupies a place due south of the jail, next the south wall. It is near the southeastern corner, and was tested again last night. The Sherffi's jury stood within a space about 30 feet square, rood off about the scaffold. The jurymen were sown in at 9 o'clock by Deputy Prothon__ary J. Frank Smith, at the Court House, and proceed in a body to the jail soon after. Washington was clean shaven. He had to shave himself, since no one could be gotten to do it. He attended to this yesterday, and looked very tidy on the scaffold. His dark face wore a look of appealing humility, and his thick woolly hair was neatly brushed. Body's Disposition After the execution the body was taken in charge by Steward John Light, of the county almshouse. It was packed in ice and will be sent to the dissecting room of a Philadelphia College tonight or tomorrow, by order of the poor directors. He Rises at 4 A.M. The negro rose about 4 o'clock this morning. Watchman John Hare said he dressed at once, and then began his morning devotions. He knelt and prayed for half an hour. He dressed himself in the neat black suit in which he was to hang. The outfit was specially secured for him by Sheriff Coppenhaver, and in his sombre black suit, with stiff white shirt and black shoes, the man looked neat and clean. He was in good spirits all morning. Breakfast at 6 Breakfast was taken into him, steaming hot, shortly before six o'clock. He was in very good humor, and said to the Sheriff that he slept finely all night. "I can walk right out after the preaching and have it done," he said. "I'm feeling very good, thank you, Sheriff. Thank you for the breakfast. It's mighty good." Cromwell was walking about the corridor in which his cell is located when his breakfast was brought in. He greeted the Sheriff with a cheery "good morning," and skipped about blithely in search of his spoon, which he had mislaid. Cromwell's Menu The negro made out his own breakfast menu, asking for a last meal a repast of gluttonous size and variety. Sheriff Coppenhaver has always been kind to "George," and the prisoner's amiable temper has made Mrs. Coppenhaver equally inclined to humor the condemned man in his whims. Last evening the Sheriff asked the prisoner to say what he wanted for breakfast, and Cromwell jumped at the chance. Giving his Order "I want pork chops," he said, "to start off with, but no beef. That takes too much chewing. I want potatoes, too, with onions, enough to taste. Two or two and a half onions--Mrs. Coppenhaver'll know, she's a pretty good cook. Give me some pineapple preserves; I'm tired of strawberry jelly. I want strong coffee, not too much cream. Bring the cream separate. I want a little of your bread. Bring me three slices, and a little dry beef and bologna, about a plate full, to top it off. Couldn't get any chicken, could you? I'd like four or five good cigars flavored with Havana. Ice Cream Last Night "Bring me some ice cream tonight, about a box full." When the Sheriff appeared with the ice cream, the gluttoness wretch said "You're just in time, Sheriff, I was just going to bed." Eats a Hearty Meal The negro took breakfast, stuffing himself in a hearty fashion, about 6 o'clock, as stated. He retired some time before 10 o'clock last night and slept like a log. What his dreams were is hard to say, and the jail officials say likely as not he forgot to dream at all. He was visited by Rev. J. M. Page, his spiritual advisor, after supper, and spoke for some time with his clerical caller. Solicitous for the Future For some time past Cromwell had been "getting his mind down" to the hereafter, and had been very solicitious as to the welfare of his soul. He spent part of his time to praying and singing, and has seemed very devout. He has always been easy to handle and very tractable. The Rev. Mr. Page is about the only minister who has seen him of late. The Death Watch John Hare was the death watch last night. Mr. Hare, who lives on South Eighth street, alternated with Daniel Garman, of Chestnut street, near Seventh, in watching the accused negro day and night. There was always a guard on duty from the day, May 8, the death warrant was read to Cromwell. These two guards are both well known retired citizens of this city. It is a curious fact that they, with Warden John Reed, the three men in close and daily charge of the Sheriff's prisoner, should all have been graduates of the same profession. All were stationary or railway engineers in their time, and are elderly graduates of that mechanical following. Mr. Reed has been warden of the jail for nearly two years. Frank Coppenhaver and Police Officer Cyrus Shaeffer were the doorkeepers at the outer gate this morning. *I can not find the name of the reporter who wrote this newspaper article. It appears on the front page of The Semi-Weekly Report of Lebanon, PA, Wednesday, June 25, 1902 issue, and continues on page 4. It is not the only article in the newspaper this day concerning the topic.