Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 27, 1995 TAG: 9509270078
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DENNIS STOCKTON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``But I had nearly lost confidence; my faith was almost gone because I was jealous of the proud when I saw that things go well for the wicked.'' Psalm 73, 2-3.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 26 - After another night on bits and pieces of sleep, I woke up this morning to find a breakfast tray filled with diced raw potatoes with a smattering of gravy. The fancy menu they show the news media would describe it as hash-brown potatoes and creamed beef. I slung the tray and its contents out into the hallway in front of the cell.
Within a few minutes, an officer and his superior, Capt. Gibbons, showed up. Gibbons is head of Virginia's legal killing squad. On the morning Lem Tuggle got his stay last week, Gibbons and three others played poker all night around a table outside Tug's cell. I told him it was remarkable the taxpayers of Virginia were paying him and three other officers to play poker all night. Then I said, ``I know I'll be seeing you again.''
Seeing that breakfast, then Gibbons, was a tipoff that this wasn't going to be one of my better days.
The killing team, a group of between six and eight officers, has been marching by, looking real mean, scowling. I saw them go into the death chamber and heard them turn the power to the electric chair off and on - even though I have chosen to die by lethal injection.
My attorneys met with Gov. Allen at noon today about my clemency petition, and one of them, Steve Rosenfield, is coming down to see me tonight. I'm expecting two other visitors today: Russ Ford and Ron Smith, the executor of my estate.
At 12:05 p.m., I looked up and the Rev. Henry Garrard from Richmond was at my door. He drug up a chair and I drug up mine. The time with him flew by. He's been ministering to prisoners since forever. It's a blessing to have someone like him as a brother and friend. We talked about the Lord and how he tends to help people in my situation in times such as this. He remarked on how well I had been taking things.
At 12:30 p.m., I was still waiting to hear about a request I put in on one of the countless forms they use here. I want a typewriter to type one page of my will. The form came back with a box checked that said it wasn't an emergency - even though it's my will and they're planning to kill me tomorrow. I wonder what they consider an emergency?
I don't know if its a good sign or not, but I didn't see any of the death squad for several hours after seeing Officer Sharp at 9:40 a.m. But that could be because the hit team is resting, getting ready for action.
Just after lunch, Russ and Ron showed up. They pulled their chairs up to the door and we had a pleasant visit. While we were talking, here came the hit team again.
I called my lawyer Steve's office at 4 p.m. His secretary patched me through to Richmond, where he and my other lawyer, Tony King, were meeting with the governor. When Steve left to come here, Tony headed for Washington on the chance he has to file something with the U.S. Supreme Court. This has been a hectic day for everybody.
Late this evening I got the word that a federal appeals court overturned a stay of execution that a judge had issued just yesterday.
After the news reached here, the first member of the hit team arrived about 8:45 p.m. His name was Lynch. At 9, the second member arrived. His name was Healey. They're eyeing me now like a dog eating dinner; by the time my visitors leave, they will all be replaced by the state's hired killers.
by CNB