The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-08-26
'JACK KETCH.,,
new FORKS EXecutiOner-- Who lie Is
"A List Of His .'suhtects,'' Etc.
New York Correspondence Troy Times.

"A List Of His .'ssuhtects,'' Etc.
New York Correspondence Troy Times.
The executioner who served at Balbo's
hanging is considered the most success
1ul OF his profession in existence. He
has been more than !: quarter of {: cen
fury in the business, and is very proud
OF his skill. He may claim, indeed that
no failure or difficulty has occurred in
any case that came under his hands.
This man is Deputy Sheriff George w.
lsaacs. 1t is said that the name is as
sumed, in order to protect the family
from notoriety, but I do not believe the
statement. He was Deputy Isaacs be-
fore he became the hangman, and the
last mentioned service came to him in
in direct connection with his official
duty. He did it 50 well that he was en-
ployed on the next painful occasion, and
in this manner he has been retained
until the present day. Isaac's first ex-
ecution indeed gave him reputation.
Two river pirates (lIowlet and SauD
were to suffer, and the case was one of
great importance. The prisoners were
well-known desperadoes, and had, while
attempting to rob Il vessel at midnight,
murdered the Waterman. They had
also been political DULLES, and at the
scene Of execution shook hands with
Tom Hyer, Bill Poole and other :ssoci-
ates.
\ FEARFUL. LIST.
Beginning with Howlet and Saul III
1858, Is:eacs has assisted in executing
the following murders: James l.. Hoar,
1r1, tn,
Stephens, John Crummins, Nathaniel
Gordon, William Hawkins, John
Reynolds, Bernard Fricry, George Wag
ner, Jerry O'Brien, John Real. John
Thomas, William Foster, Michael Nix
on, John Dolan, and recently Cox and
Balbo. All of these suffered in the
Tombs except Gordon, who was taken
to Bedloe's Island, as his crime was
punished under Federal law. Isaacs
has also been called to superintend
executions in other places, and one
Of his most important jobs was the
Otero murdercrs. He has told me
some Of the facts connected with these
painful scenes. each of which is deeply
impressed on his memory. His fee is
from $3.50 to $3.50, which may seem
large, but when the sheriff receives
81 800 the chief functionary may claim
q handsome fec. He adopts the method
practiced by Marwood, the famous
London hangman. of placing the knot
under the chin instead of ut the ear,
since las he clains) it is most effective,
producing death by instantaneous
strangulation.
DATAIIs OF EXECUTION.
Isaacs always interviews the prisoner
in time to estimate height and weight,
and provides Il rope of corresponding
strength. His favorite material is
Italian hemp, and the cord (which is
usually half-inch) is saturated in a
chemical fluid prepared by himself 1t
IS then slushed SO as to be as plieble as
a silk thread. These facts show how
closely Isaacs has applied himself to
this fearful trade. No Jew has ever |
suffered the death penalty, but Isaacs
once had great expectations of hanging !
Rubenstein. The latter, however, died |
in his cell Il few days before the day
combative or murderous, and the
crimes which may be laid to their
charge are chiefly for the sake of gain.
1saacs told me that the most reckless !
men he ever saw under such circum-
stances were the Spaniards Gonzales
and Pellicier, who murdered Otero in
order to obtain his money. One of
them exclaimed as he approached the
gallows: "Me no care" Jamas Rogers |
was the youngest person he ever hung,
his age being only Is. He murdered a |
man whom he had never seen before in !
a street brawl. Among the most
thoroughly depraved cases that came
under his hand were the wife-murder-
er, VIM. E. Foster, the car-hook mur-
derer, and the above mentioned river
thieves, Hewlett and Saul.
L Sure Mosquito Killer.
Harpers Bazaar.