The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-08

he confessed the truth, could not have been found
first day was brought TO jail, that not guilty
OF this murder, and also that knew nothing OF IL
until came TO Altoona; and so will have TO say |
stu at the last morning when will be taken down
into the yard TO be hung" |
The Jail.
The jail in which the prisoners are confined Is
miserably arranged and rickety structure
The front of the b ilding is occupied by the
Sheriff and his family and un.css you enter at
the side gate, leading to the prison yard, there
is no way of getting into the institution except
through the Sheriffs apartments. Passing
through the dwelling house, and thence up
pair of stairs, you are ushered into an anti
corridor running off from the stairway, and in
adjoining cells, fronting on this little space, are
the cells of the murderers. From Bodenberg's
cell view of the new scaffold can be obtained,
and this man watches II with intense interest.
Bohner stiff and sore from the effects of his ter
rife fight of Friday, lies in bed most of the time,
and appears to be completely lost to every
thin surrounding him. The Sheriff, as well
as the citizens generally, complain of the un-
safe condition of the prisoners, and the meagre
accommodations. If half be true that hear
the expenditure of four thousand dollars for a
new, more sec ure, and commodous institution
would be money most judiclously expended.
The scnHoId.
In little cramped and cluttered-up space of
ground in the rear and adjoining the prison,
which is called the ''prison yard" and which is
surrounded by high stone wlll, the scaffold is
erected. 1t is composed of four upright posts
over twenty feet high, planted firmly in the
ground, with a platform on which the trap or
drop is arranged about ten feet below the beam,
which holds the scaffold together at the top and
serves to fasten the halters to- The drop" will
have fall of eighteen inches.
The reason assigned for building the scaffold
so much higher than is usual Is that 1t is the
desire of the authorities that those who are
unable to gain admission to the yard shall have
an opportunity to see all that is going on from
| the outside. The object has most certainly been
attained. Looming up over the prison walls,
and standing out in bold relief against the
sombre sides of the prison, can be seen the naked
| white timbers of the instrument of death In
| itself this is nothing but when the attendant
circumstances are considered and brought before
the minds eye, with that force which nething
save Imagination can lend, the sight is truly
horrifying.
How the Prisoners Fare.
Sheriff Nicely and his deputy are indefat-
| gable in their efforts to have everything as it
should be. The prisoners are provided with
| the best that the prison Affords and thus far
| they have eaten most heartily.
The Excitement Among the People.
| The execution of these two men will be the
third affair of the kind that ever took place in
| this county. The last execution took place
about thirty years ago. To person who has
| not been here and moved around among the
people, the condition of the public mind cannot
be imagined. The most intense feeling exists
in every quarrer against the men, and l verify
believe that should any accident occur which
| would prevent the execution of these men at
| the time set the people would rise en- naaSse
| and hang the prisoners to the first tree. The
execution has been the staple topic of CONVEX
| sation for the past two weeks in every circle,
and those who reside in the back country have
deferred their usual visits to town until We'd
| nesday, that they may have an opportunity Ito
be in at the DEATH"
| The Arrangements for the Execution.
The arrangements for the execution are almost
perfected. A strong guard will be on hand at
the prison TO prevent any disorder and to pre-
vent the escape of the prisoners should either
one make an effort in that direction. Arrange
ments have also been made to accommodate as
many persons as possible within the prison yard
On the day of the execution, and jam may be
confidently looked for. The disciples of Mr.
Bovee are rather scarce in this section, for am
informed by Judge Taylor, who has held the
position of law judge for this judicial district
for the past twenty-one years, that it is very
| seldom he finds man who comes before
him as a juryman who has any scruples as tc
capital punishment. INDEX.
WINES AND LIQUORS..