Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1914 — LAUGHS AS DEATH AWAITS [ARTICLE]

LAUGHS AS DEATH AWAITS

Negro Murderer Asks Delay of Execution to Read Jokes, but Law Is InsistanL Trenton, N. J. —When Father Edward C. Griffen, the Catholic chaplain of the New Jersey State-prison, visited Williams Diamond, a negro murderer, in his cell here to tell him that everything was in readiness for his execution, Diamond demurred. He was reading a comic paper and laughing at the jokes and pictures. “What’s* the hurry?" he asked. “Can’t they wait till I finish this paper?” ■*: The priest explained that being executed did not admit of delay other than legal. “All right,” said Diamond, "but I would like to finish that paper." Diamond, known as “Black” Diamond, reluctantly dropped the paper and went to his death. He was the least concerned man who had anything to do with the execution. He had told the guards that while he was a trusty in another prison be had seen a man electrocuted, and that the operation had always interested him. He watched closely while State Electrician 'Davis strapped him in the death chair. Just before the mask was fastened be shouted, so that five condemned men in nearby cells, could bear him: "Good-by, boys!” Then, turning to the guards, he said: “All rlght| let ’em go.” 'lt took four shocks to kill the negro. "Blaek” Diamond was sent to prison for holding up an automobile party. On September 21, with another negro, he tried to escape and when lntercept-

ed by Keeper Eli B. Stetser, he shot and killed Stetser. /