New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-12
IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
HOW CHAsI1YE cox SPENT SUNDAY THAT WAY
DE HIS LAsT-CRRTAIN THAT HE WILL DE I'VE
PRIEvED-BALBos CONDITION.
Sunday is always a sad and solemn day IN the
City Prison. No matter how bright ana gay !. n,as
he outside the sun comes in through the gratca
windows with subdued light. NO yisltoIs are an
mitted. The prisoners remain III their cciis anu
indulge in little conversation ana that IN an unue
tone and the whole place IL oDpressiVey q'lleV,
From the outside the great heaVy structure Vpss
the name IL is commonly known py Iho
ombs but inside an effort as Deem a TTy 20 large
court yards have been hlled win ocaitiIui pI'Vs
and flowers and tho littc birds MT aDout atnong
them and chirp and sing az mcrrllv a. III thcy were
near some hqppy home. instead or beng wltnln the
four walls of an abode of misery and crime. tester
day afternoon just after the hcaVJ shower, lo t
lively sparrOws were sputterlng IN ihe rah- "aiei
which had accumulated in a httlc hollow III the
pavement, Just where the scaifold mas Deeh oitei
erected and where on Friday net, unless he
nor Cornell exercises his ciemency, u WIZ NC
erected again for Chastine Cox, convicted OF the
murder OF Mrs. Hull. -. IT,, -
Among the prisoners the fate Of Cbastne Cox ana
Pietro Balbo is now notwithstanding subject OF con-
versatlon whenever they get CHANGE 10 eAcninRe
a few words, and tho two unfortunate beings are
objects of the greatest interest Inc keepers speak
of tbcm as model prisoners, who obey all the rules
act quietly and give trouble. and seem prepared
to accept the inevitable 10 matter what u may De.
Yesterday afternoon about \ o'clock Tribune
repor,er called at the TOmbs and found Cox s!ttn2
by an open but heavily grated wIndow trying 10
catch little OF the cool. grateful Dret2e tnat WIS
blowing outside He was IN his Sillrt sleeves, Witn-
ont coat waistcoat or necktie and he wore par
of low-cu. easy shoes. His linen was iuUiacuitc'
and be the picture of easy comfort; shiEH D.
side him were Deputy Sherlfs Bro1erlck ana CiarK;
Cox greeted the reporter cordially ana seennd
cheerful and almost happy. He SAID his appetite
hearty, he slept we'll and nc eit sure 'HT tIOS
T. Howe his counsel, would start for Albany TO-
day, and was TO have hearing before the u over
nor 10. morrow morning. and Cox feels confident
that By tomorrow night he will receive telegram
from Mr. Howe informing him that the Governor
has granted reprleve or q communication on sen
tence. Cox had the morning paper. on the wiadow
scat at his elbow, and said he had been reading
them all carefully. Some of them had treated him
very harshIy at first and during his trial, but OF
late they had said many kind things for HIM, Tor
which he was very grateful. lie spoke OF MS pos
sbe execution and said if the law was carried out
to the extreme he was ready to go. Hl9 clerical
friends had been very kind TO him and constant IN
their attendance. and he had prohted greatly Dy
their minisratIons but still he felt sure that the
Goyerpcr would not permit his execution, ana was
happy in that belief lie shook hands and SAID
good night to the reporter with cheerful smlie,
and expressed pleasure ut having received 'ho
visit. . -.
Balbo was in his cell, also in his shirt-sceves, but
with his waistcOat 0n and hands 1me back scarf
which was ornamented with pretty ittle g9ld pm
around his neck. He clcan-shayeu. ana not u
hair on his head was out oil place. Inc altar at INC
back his cell scrupulously clean, and the
candles and pictures were al III place. inc ltailan
| sat about midway between the altar aud the cell
| door, tanning himself vigorously. trying to Keep
cOo He greeted the reporter clviily, bnt was not III
| so GOOD spirits as Cox lie entertained the nope
not TO say positive conviction, that the Goycrnor
would certainly prevent his execution. tie SAID the
! GOOD pr sis visited him regularly and prayed with
him and If the worst came he felt that lie had maze
| bis peace with heaven Ii was pity that on snch
! a bright sunny day some poor uniortunaies were
kent in close confinement because OF their mlsleeds
while others were out ENJOYING the pure air ana
| making themselves happy but 1t was II just
punishment, and he did not complain; 1t only MADE
| him sad. HIS lawyer came to see him every Day,
and was doing all that could be done for HIM. In
| few DAYS lie would 60 TO Albany and see Governor
Cornell. and when lie nae heard the lawyer story
| the good Governor would act promptly ana save
| him from death.
| Babo did not rise while talking. aud spoke so
rapidly and earnestly that ut times his broken ut
teraucrs were scarcely Ineligible HE face lighted
up with n sad smile. he babe the reporter " Good
| davD Then he sank in his chair ana resumed his
| tanning.
" 1t Is strange" said the veteran Deputy Warden.
Mark Finley. the great gate changed behind him,
and lie walked with the reporter across the court
| yard 70 the heavy door that gives egress to the
street; IT is strange how hard 1t l9 TO convince
| the poor fellows condemned to death that there IS
much probability of their execution. We have exc,
| cuted twcnty-nine persons here since 1890, and
| none has given up hope until the last moment You
remember Barney Frery. who certainly had no
chance ut all. Well, he one OF the most hopeful
| men you On tie very morning OF MS c%-
| ecution he sent word he wanted TO see me. or
| course | went. He smiled and said Warden, you
| have shown ne many klndneSseS SINCE nave been
| here and ! want TO ask yon to do one more Good
| news is coming sOon and as soon as the Governor
reprieye arrives want you to bring 1t to ne per
| sonaly for want to receive 1t from yOur hands
Poor fellow. in less than thrce-quarters OF an hour
| he was a corpse. Ii is pity they Will not give up
hoping and prepare for the future, but they Wont,
| ard that settles IT,"