The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-18
the sTR.yGER,s VOTE NOOK.
How they Hang People in Americn- A Trngc-
DIV in the Tonibs-Threc NeRroes IIoistcd
into Eternity The Eve Of nm Execution Ia
an Americnn Prison -EIlls's Lust LetIcr.

be admitted within the walls of the city Prison.
The crowd VS. very motley one: negroes and
white people, rough-lOoking men. and poor,
worn-out women were mixed with half dozen
clortymen, u few ladies, aud number OF gen
tlemcn. whose faces are more familiar 10 the
vicinity Of the Flfth Avenue Hotel than to that
Of the rOmbs. Mr. Quinn had a hard task to
discriminate between those who were to be ad-
mitted and those who were to be left out. In
side all was hustle and fcverish activity, and for
a moment the visitor might have quite forgot
ten that he was In prison on the eve of
an execution. People rushed about, smok-
ing, ealing apples, and few Of them
whistling. Now a gaily-painted cart would
drive a., fun Of vegetables. From one
Of the yards the sound Of the carpenters ham
mer was to be heard but unless YOU turned
around the corner into that yard aud looked at
whit the carpenters were doing you would never
have guessed that they were erecting piboet.
Presently another van would drive Ia, painted In
all the colOis Of the rainbow, with the inscrip-
tiOn OF; "Charitics and Correction" upon II. You
might have surmised that this van was engaged
In transporting medicine or food. for there was
nothing about it to indicate that In a few min
utes 1t was to take a dozen criminals. handcufed
to each others wrists, on route for Sing Sing or
Blackwcll's Island. The driver Of the van did
not I'm any way differ from an Ordinary hack
diver. and there was not even guard to the
conveyance. The door from which the van had
TO receive the prisoners was close to the female
prison, and the porily and GOOD natured Mrs.
Foster, the matron u the female ward, was
standing az the gates ~ her domain, knitting
stocking and throwing an unconcerned glance
now at the prisoners van, and now at the cart Of
vegetables.
Inside Of the male prison the wing reserved to
the condemned prisoners was crowded with
people. Under shcrns, newspaper reporters,
ministers Of various denominations, both black
and white, and two or three women sobbing
heavily, composed the assemblage. Smoxin.,
chewing, and apple eating were going on all
around. and the old Deputy Warden, Finley.
appeared perfectly abe. all by himself,
to keep the whole throng in peace
aud subj lection. There were In I've cells al DIN
ing each other 1--WE men condemned To death for
murder. one Of them had been respited In con-
sequence OF having been declared a lunatic the
four others were To- be executed on the next
day yet there was not a sentry. not bayonet
nor even revolver To be seen III the whole
establishments Had European Judge or prison
director witnessed such state Of things he
would have gone mad. A mere glance AZ the
manner In which an American jail is managed
would have shown him that I'll MS experience
ana lulE STUDY 90 prison Nfe 'ltiluc were ahsn-
lutcy worthic--. The murderer who had been
declared iusarc had the door Of bis cell locked
and converted only through the grating; tut
the ether four men h.d their doors wide orcn.
went IN and out whenever they pleased. re-
cciNed their relatives. smoked cigars. sent telc-
grams TO their friends and legal advisers. and
had more liberty nan petty thieves or drunk
ards would ever have enjoycd IN the prison OF
nny other country. Had II not been for the
grated iron door, the condemned WING of the
prison would have looked much more like
hospital than the last home OF sentenced muir
derors. A rule, prisons are supposed to be
proverbially cold places but the Tombs differs
from other prisons even ia this respect for two
bic. red hot iron stoves, bearing the inscription
Of J. /. Motifs "Scorcher,' dfuse an Internal
he { through the premises.
OF the condemned men. the negro, William
Thompson. alone seemed TO he sukv ard rc
served Al the others were as bright ~ n their
immediate proc pect was "A couple ~ months
imprisonment, instead Of the lsaliows. The white
man. Doian, anticipated n respite (which } @ &C
| tualiy got late Ia the evening", and though his
wife ma another woman accompanying her
were bitterly CRYING, he had evidently not l0st
the nope that bis life would hc spared Hlt ti'
! two no. lroes. Wc-,on and Ellis. who had not the
slightest hope e escaping the penalty Of DEAN.
! did not seem more afflicted than polan. Inc
CRIME committed by the three negroes. who
| killed AMOR r.dller fr the sake II rohntu,
! hlu ~ fourteen do,lnfs. vas Of su.h a pat,.re
th.tn ono. r,t.bt ,yn,.t ia .. In Thorn fine t,, ,
hrut A .,.,in.,n- II humantiv Yer .u,b y.,. bv
no mean. inc c,se. Under the influence II thor
ammo. ching death. Of the constant tnt.rcour.e
viii. their srlritual adviser. and If the kind
treatment Of tho iailers their brutality seemed
20 b,vc l..,,re softoned Ellis ra,eiv,.n ms ba.
trothel. a tidv.lorLirp uccro woman. and con.
versc, with her In so pcntIe and self. n,.s,..sed
n manner thnt nohodv looLinp et him ,voulI
have sutrosed him ia bc IA murderer We.ton
tho in-tiyatnr uf tho criu,o. uresent.1. II NOS.
suIe a sim NOR, interesting .tudv. since hi.
| rnncpe,ept in tho rou,hs he had ,n.r,i,d ,
v.uno white von.nu. ,vho seems to have he.r
! formerly his mistress ard To whom, lie ,ta.
,nxi,,s ia leny. soro pt,p.rt, ne u,.so...d
The woman neglected seeing him for scycra
DAYS ,lf.r the ceremony. did nor return him
some handkerchief. ne reve her +, wash and
nov. ON tho owe Of his execution. Lt. cor,pl in,
reforreo ,n,tnlv to the irrratitude OF women
Ito s,i1 that he had married. her hr,at,ac n,
cou.ilor,du his duty "n. n rentl.mnu'' to Dir
So and This was Via reward Uo ,yes Ion v.lth