The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-01


ciaIly with the sisters who manifested strong
attachment for John during the trial
| Some time was spent alone with his spiritual
advisersand after they left Inspectors Chandler,
Keichline and Others called to say few parting
words. To one of the Prison officials who re-
ferred to the few remaining hours of life left
him, he said he did not fear to die, and when
the hour arrived it would find him ready. But
he talked verv little about the occurrence, and
it was avoided by others.
By little persstency the reporter of THR
TELEGRAPH managed to learn that Hanlon par
took of no breakfast this morning. He was
visited by the prison officials this morning and
repeated his remarks that he wished them to
forgive him If they had conceived that he had
treated them harshly. He bade them an affec-
tionate good-by.
Fathers Barry and Mooney called on him at
an early hour and remained with him until the
execution. None of his relatives or friends have
been with him this morning, they having babe
him farewell yesterday.
HnDIOn Denies Duun's Statement
In conversation on Monday last Hanlon
alluded freely to the murder, and denied posi-
lively that he had ever made the statement
which Michael Dunn swore to in Court. All
efforts to get him to admit or deny his guilt
proved fruitless. He stated that he prays for
Detectives Smith and Taggart and Dunn because
his religion teaches him SO to do. 1t is said that
he has left an important statement, which will
be revealed after the execution.
HanIou in His Cell.
Hanlon manifested the utmost composure
during the entire morning, aud joined ear
nestly with the clergymen in the devotional
exercises connected with the preliminary cere-
mony to the hanging. His cell is the same as
that occupied by Eaton, Probst, and other muir
derers.
Mrs. Steinmeyer, a sister of Hanlon, remained
with him last evening until IL o'clock. Their
parting is described Of very affecting nature.
lie then INDUCED in prayers until 2 o'clock this
morning, when he retired and slept soundly
until o'clock, when he arose apparently very
much refreshed from a long fast of seventeen
days, during which time nothing has crossed his
| lips except a trite of bread and water.
HauIon Leaves HIS Cell.
At II o'clock Sheriff Leeds proceeded to the
| cell and notified Hanlon that the time had come
for the carrying into effect the provisions of
| the law.
Hanlon signifed his readiness to accompany
| the Sheriff and arose for that purpose.
| He Proceeds to the scaHoid.
Superintendent Perkins then appeared and
| together the above-named and the clergy pro-
ceeded to the scaffold, Hanlon walking between
| the priests. On reaching the corridor the
| Sheriffs deputies and other witnesses joined in
| the procession. He walked firmly and exhibited
no signs OF any eTcitement; He mounted the
whatever. His clothing was the same as worn
| by him during the trial.
| On the Platform.
On reaching the platform the priests and Han
| Ion bowed down and went through a long cere-
mony, in which Hanlon participated earnestly
his voice being distinctly audible above that of
Father Barry, who officiate6 on the OCCASION
He gave evidence of having O very retentiye
memory, the responses being made by him in
the usually rapid manner incident to the
| Catholic Church, without single Interruption
! The ceremony through, Father Barry said to
those assembled that the prisoner had nothing
| to make public, but wished to return his thanks
| to the prison officers, keepers and inspectors.
| His Last Words.
Hanlon then stepped to the front of the plat
form, and in a firm and distinct voice said:-
"'To those who have ever injured me or have ever
| done me any wrong, forgive them and ask God to
way whatsoever, against whom have had any
Ill feeling, ask their forgiveness and God to for.
Final Preparations.
| The rope was placed around his neck, the cap
| over his head and his hands pinioned, the clergy
leaving the scaffold during this ceremony.
Hung mt HIS O'Clock A. M.
Sheriff Leeds then left and proceeded to the
front of the stand, and at Ills A. NJ, the prop
was disjointed, and John Hanlon's body was
stretched to its full length. The only
DisngreeabIe Feature
in the whole affair was the dropping of one of
| the props which upheld the platform while the
Sheriff was engaged in placing the cap over the
head of Hanlon, the noise of which was enough
| to disturb the equanimity of those present, let
alone the man who was SO shortly to be launched
| The Body Cut Down.
The body was allowed to hang the usual time,
| when examination was made, and life being
pronounced extinct it was lowered down and
| placed in a coffin prepared for the occasion.
| 1t will be handed over to the friends of Han
| lon during the afternoon, his family having
made a request to that effect, which the Prison
| Inspectors granted.
After the Execution.
At twelve minutes of ~ o'clock the body was
| lowered from the scatfOld and carried tn n cell
near the entrance to the corridor. Here an ex-
animation was made by the physicians. The
neck had not been broken, and Hanlon died of
strangulation. The body, before being taken
| down, was but slightly contOrted, the left leg
being drawn up. By request of the family, no
scientific post mortenl examination was made.
| The Sheriff ordered the body to be delivered to
| the friends of the deceased at 3 o'clock this
| afternoon.
The Crowd and scenes Outside the Prison.
What was a matter quite unusual during ex-
! ecutions at the prison, very large crowd of
curious people assembled in the street before
the front of the forbidding-looking structure.
| There was not one but knew he could by no
means obtain view of the tragic scene for
the strategems resorted to in the past, when the
| execution took place in the prison yard, in
| climbing trees that stood back of the rear wall,
| and in clambeTing on to high roofs on the street
opposite, from which just the tOpof the scaffold
could be seen, were all rendered futile by the
change of the customary location OF the instru-
ment of death from the yard to the northern
| corridor.
The Precautions Taken.
The Mayor ordered large detail of police
to the scene 10 prevent any disturbance OF the
peace. Lieutenant Smith, of the Seventeenth
district, was in command aud had out his entire
force of fifty men, in addition to details from
ether districts, making the aggregate force 20.
This great number was far from being actually
| needed, but was in compliance with for
mality which custom had established. The CEN