Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-10
Telegrams to The Star.
HANGING OF HUNTER.
a Bungling Execution.
INDIAN PRISONERS ESCAPE.
Sharp Running Fight.
FIRE IN CINCINNATI,
THE HANGING OF HUNTER.
The Execution in Carndcn

IHlLADELffiA, Jan. l0.-Atan early hour this
morning crowd began to assemble before the
courthouse in Camden to witness what could
oe seen or the preparations for the execution of
nl nuhler, the murderer of John NJ. Armstrong
Inc place selected for the execution was inside
oi tle courthouse at the intersection ,f the
Two main corridors, which run in the shane of a
ctoSS. on lhe nrst floor. There was no scaffold.
hothlng being visible OF the machinery for eve
cujlon except long noosed rope hanging anna
Iehtly from the ceiling. This rope passes nm
through the ceiling and the floor of the COM,
room above, running over the pulleys: thence
again through the corridor again 10 the base
nent, where 1t was attached TO a large weight
Welgling about $50 pounds This weight was
elevated about ~ feet and held in position by a
second rope, the cutting OF which would permit
II 10 fall. thus drawing up the moose on the
other extremity OF the rope a distance from rhp
iloCr corresponding TO the fall of the weight
below. In the narrow corridors of the court
room ABOUT 200 persons, comprising the Sherlf's
posse comitatus, members OF the press and
others. were tightly packed together. Hunter
up 10 the past few days, has maintained de-
meanor of sluggish Indifference. but was this
morning In an extremely despOndent state OF
mind. He arose at O'Clock, refusing to partakt
OF any breakfast. At l0;30 Hunters pulse was
about 100
HIS ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.
by cutting an artery in his leg, is confirmed by
the county physician, and he was very weak
from loss OF blood resulting from the wound
After this attempt at suicide he made another
py refusing to eat, but was kept alive. however
by injections His pulse, at various times has
been as high as ls0, and this morning he was
very nervous. At l1:02 a. m. the county pnysi si3
clan proceeded TO the cage-room OF the con-
demned. Hunter was very weak His brother
Son-in-law, and the Rev. Dr. kunkleman. of
Philadelphia. were with him. At ILLS Hunter
falling TO gain strength, and being unable to
walk, was carried down stairs. AT 1l:24 a. M.
The Wretched man was carried down stairs and
INTO the enclosure in the corridor in an utterly
helpless condition. The white cap was quickly
ADJUSTED over his face and the rope around his
neck, while four men held him on his feet, the
condemned criminal being seemingly obliviouS
TO all tie surroundings. The sheriff put the
usual question to him as to whether he had
anything to say why his execution should not
take place, but he made no response. At 11:25
a. m. the sheriff cut the auxiliary rope, and
here occurred
sICKENING SPEt'TACLE
1he rope either had too much slack or gave
way so much that it lifted the culprlt barely
;ill,, lrom the floor, when he fell back, and was
caught Dy tie assistants. Sheriff Calhoun
SelZed the rope leading to the basement and
hoisted Hunter into the air, and he was hung
Only 1y number of persons holding to the
suspended The physicians said at once thai
ms neck was not broken, and although he died
by strangulation, lie gave no outward evidence
OF pam; hanglng I quietly, as though he had died
instantly. Three minutes after hanging his
pulse peat at 64 one minute later at 102, and at
LII Ii;3I IL oeat l44, the maximum. At 1887 the
aAd at ll:4o IL had ceased altogether.
THE BODY.
At 1905 the rope was cut and b 2 dead body was
NitNtu ny d jury, AFTER WHICH the county ply
slclan, DR.. Morgan, gave a certificate The
body was then delivered to John c. Hunter, the
brother who has all along been so devoted i'm
his efforts TO secure a mitigation OF the SEN
tence He viii take it to the family in Phila-
delphla, where it viii be buried from the de-
ceaseds late residence.
DID HUNTER CONFESS?
1he SherlffS attaches deny that Hunter left
any formal confession. but 1t is generally be-
lieved that either by admissions OF his own Or
voluntary statement he has admitted the truth
OF tie chain OF evidence so ingeniOuSly woven
around him. Whatever this confession NAV be-
the state authorities are deSfrouS of keeping il
from general publication as they intend to use
the Facts, II any. against Thomas Graham in
his Forthcoming trial.
HUNTERS ACCoMPLICE
This man Graham the cOnspirator in the
Armstrong assassination and upon whose vol
untary statement and subsequent testimony
Hunter was convicted. is confined in cell on
Where the execution has just taken place To
MN the tramping of feet, the noise OF the fall
ing OF the SherifS axe as he cut the rope and
Hunters body shooting up into the air must
must nave been plainly audible and painfully
realistic. An indictment has already been
found against him, and he will be tried during
the ensuing term OF court. The public prose.
cutOf Will ask for verdict OF willful murder
against MN, but II is generally believed that he
VIII escape capital punishment by pleading
guilty to murder i'll the second degree and
Delng sentenced TO imprisonment for life -Four
OF i've thousand people nlled the streets around
the courthouse, and IL was necessary to inclosc
the entire square with rope. in addition to a
strong force OF police.
TINE crime for which Hunter was executed
was one of peculiar atrOcity. and as it was
wrapped IN mystery for some time, and public
opinion WAS so much divided with regard to his
the country. A detailed account OF it will be
iCuhd on the third page OF this paper.l