Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-23
THE DEATH PENALTY.
I8E HURDLE OF HES KAULKNE8,
GAlDI: rAB CS.N:DB.ASZD .lA.r
RSePaFatfens fer Ms kXeeutfsn Tes

Tomorrow, ahould ths Executive decline to
intervene, james Grady will be executed on
the gsllows In the north yard Of the jail in this
District, in which he is confined, for the killing
of Mrs. Faulkner, aged "a years, whose death
resulted from an outrage uPen her person COM
mediate friends have given up ali ' hope &c Of IN
pardon or Communication Of sentence, altho- =. ,,s
council. Mr.. A. X. Browne, still has sn, lie
that he will obtain reprieve TO- y .oPe
nsisonnen no sor ,ise. stimulation to I'm.
NV ais preparations for the worst, and
Si Wednesday received the visits Of Rev.
Father Walter, Of st. Patrick's Church, who
lation. Rev. Father Wiget, OF st. Joseph's
Church, Was called in ~ his spiritual adviser on
Wednesday, and has since visited him once at
has been continually engaged win his PRAYER
book. His counsel, MIR. A. X. Browne, visits
him almost daily, as also his aged father, (who
has the sympsthfes of nearly the entire commu-
nifty In this trying hOur) Some or his iHlmedi-
ate friends have been admitted to see HIM, and
yesterday several personal acquaintance were
admitted to his cell, At the door OF which a qua
has been continually stationed for days pat.
They found him in good spirits, cheerful and
tslkative. He stated that he was fully prepare d
to meet his fate. Shortly after q representative
Of THE STAR visited him in company with
warden Crocker, and found him in the center
cell on the right corridor OF the second floor.
He was dressed in checkered pants, brown vest
and coat, and was standing up against the
grated door. Warden Crocker asked il he could
do anything for him, and the prisoner replied,
81 have got everything 1 wish" Gen. Croker
Informed him that if he knew of anything he
would Ike to have to make his wishes known,
and be replied by thanking him, and saying
that he would do 50. The reporter said to him
that he Was glad to see him in good spirits
under the circumstances. and the prisoner
replied that he might rs well be cheerful as
otherwise. The crime Of which he was con-
viced was not alluded to during the interview.
Should the execution take place it will be en-
tirety private, and but few will be admitted to
the yard. The preparations for it have been
made mostly under the direction of the acting
deputy warden.
is now complete. 1t is in the north yard of the
Jail, which is surrounded BY q wall about IA
feet in height. The gallows is about Is feet
from the north wall OF the building, and the
same distance from the east wall Of the yard.
The platform double foored) is feet wide and
10 long, at height of feet from the ground,
reached by IL steps rising from the pavement,
platform q beam of by inch timber rest on
two uprights Of the same size reaching to height
Of 1G1 feet above the ground. The rope-s <
by two half bitches, with a drop of about feet,
which allows the feet Of a man Of average size to
be about feet from the ground after the fan of
the drop. The trap, feet square, lie exactly in
the center of the platform, and falls outwsrds
when the rope is pulled-an iron catch prevent
ing 1t from rebounding, and bumper OF saw
dust placed against the timbers on the front
line OF the gallows will deaden the sound.
The trap is supported by q trap stick about i've
feet long, with rounded ends, resting on trus-
sic, to the lower end OF which il attached a
small rope, the end OF which passes into the
center window of the right corridor on the
lower floor, and which, at the given signal, will
be jerked by some unseen hand.
Yesterday trial was made of the rope, bag
Of sand $50 pounds weight being used. and il
worked satisfactorily. This weight is about 80
pound. more than the weight Of the condemned
M