New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-15
THE MURDERER'S DOOM.


GOVERNOR IN HIS BEHALF.
| To-day is the last on earth for Chastne Cox, the
| negro convicted of the murder OF Mrs. Hull. To-
night for the last time he Will toss in uneasy SUM
Der on the narrow straw bed in the condemned cell
| Tomorrow only few hours after the sun mas
risen he will have paid the terrible penalty OF his
| crime The movements of the keepers and the gen
| eral appearance of the southern ground TIER
of the Tombs show an unusual condition OF thlngs'
and impress at once both the inmates ana the Wis
tors with the belief that something sad and solemn
is about to occur. The gate at the end OF the
clerks desk and at the entrance to the corridor,
| which is generally kept open, is now closed ana
PRISON eeper stands beside 1t day and night to see
| that none pass except those who have special
| permit. At the extreme end of the pas
sage nav be seen colorcd man IN
| his shirt sleeves, with dark trousers
and low loose shoes, sitting in an ordinary wooden
| chair before an open window. Within few ieet OF
hlm sit the death-watchers. Deputy-W arden flhley
and two deputy sheriffs. Cox is the thirteth prs-
| oner doomed to death whom Mr. Finley has
| watched and cared for during the past thirty
| years. Cox shows at last that he fully appre-
| cIares his unfortunate position, and that there
| is positively no hope His face is marked with deep
| lines Of care and mental suffering his eyes have
weary and worn expression, and his thoughts seem
| and lest with the death watch; then he Will drop
| his mead upon his hand aud relapse into revere
aoain Yet he never loses his temper and gratefully
| acknowledges any little favor that may be shown
! MIN.
On Tuesday night he sat up until midnight.
Shortly before gong bed he ate a goodslzed oeei-
steak He was restless for few hours afier re-
firing. but toward morning fell into deep sleep,
! from which be did not awake until about 3
! o'clock at he finished good break
| fast OF eggs. dry toast and coiLee, anu
| for dinner he had boiled chicken. warden
Finn saws that Cox is a curiosity to him, and the
most remarkable condemned man he ever hau III
I his charge Cox has a control over himself that rs
SIMPLY astonishing. and the Warden Is convinced
| that on Friday morning he Will walk to the
| oallows without a tremor and meet his fate like
man.
! Father Aniclatus called to Cox yesterday and
although Cox is a Methodist be welcomed the priest
earnestly stened eagerly 10 all he had to say and
! after long conversation retired with hHi to ms
cell. where they prayed together and remained for
| over hal an hour. Another visitor whom he was
! ,,ad To receive was the chaplain OF the prison,
Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Mr.. Low, who come
/ occomn,uled by lis father, . venerable clergyman
eighty six years of age Cox listened with great at
tenion 10 all they said and tears often STOOD in his
| e,cs After the ministers had offered him all tie
! consolation they could, the three men went into
! C.x,s cell. where they engaged in prayer. After
! thev went away Cox seemed in better spirits, al
! thouqh serious and thought III. He requested the
Warden not to admit strangers or newspaper men
during the dav.as he tired Of having people whom
! he had never seen before. and who only visited him
! rhroneh curiosity, come to ask How
do Won feel to-day 7" During much of the time he
sal with his back to he door % hat ordinary VS.
| ,ulI
that Coxs wishes should he respected, ana refused
! of men WHO were intimate f1ends OF the deputy
| shpr 1S on watch. d who must see them on pusl-
| ness was something marvellous. ,
Miss Gilffin. who IS III qnent VISITOR 10 the
! Tonibs aud greatly esteemed hy Cox. called and
| gave III some peaches, cherries ard other fruits.
| which he accepted CRATE ully, and seemed TO enjoy
'' BENNY Warden Finley who is in personal at
! tendance on Cox, SAID to lHG TRIBUNE reporter;
! Cox holds ND wonderfully well. Dut nave seen
| others DO the same thing. Ii IS nara TO make con-
| demned men reaHze tue immediate presence OF
| Geatb Rut wait untl Friday morning; il he does
not weaken then, l VIII Say "e Is 'oiS p'u0NS
| Warden Finn saws the preparations for erecting
! fine ral,nws are all made, and the wolkmen VIII
! begin operations tins morning IL VIII be pht
! M IN "A part of the woneD'S prison., ana an
| awning will be stretched along the brldge OF
| Sl.hs" which leads from the l"mOs COURTROOM 10
the nrsCu so That curious persons can SEE nothing
from tbe windows OF ihe railroad freight building
| on tie opposite side of The street.
| Pletro Balbo. who Is sentenced 10 DC han9ed on
August for the murder OF ms wlte' ana whose cei
IS next to Cexs i'll the conGeinued row, j. Tue ony
ono nri,-iieprd to walk around the Incosed corridor
He walks uervnuSly up and down. swinging MS rms
| and occasionally stamping ms foot. when spoken
40 he is ouIck to rcpiy. He evidently enjoys telling
| visitors Of his perfect trust IN Goo, and how tie
nrave0 TO Him nearly all tie time; but he has faith
! also IN the ROoCness o. Governor Cornell" me
cool Govern whom pray for three tlWes every
IA v,-aud Is confident That lie wall not he hanged.
! When William +. KiBtzlg. his counsel who ie-
tnrnea from hrarl ~ before the Governor Tues
| i 70 tSp pll Il
| day morn ug, BllOO rushed toward him win cry
| of dengnt AID thrusting three fingers thr"ngn
| the bars of the cell door, tired 10
shake hands with him, Charles ". Panely. au
Italian interpreter accompanied the lawyer SO tnat
BaDo would surely understand an az was san 20
| him. few moments after Warde" finn came aud
ordered the cell door tn be opened Ba'DO ran out.
AID stizine Mr.. Kmtzlngs hands, kissed them pas
| s,ouafely saving almost deilrouslf Oh, am %
| Glad IN s-e vOu-so q ad To YOU" Tue LAWYER
fold MN that he had sren the Governor. anu from
the interest he took III the case, ana the ATTENTION
| he paid TO all hat was SAID or read 10 hlIh Mr..
Knizing felt sure he would do Baho Jnshce and DO
| mercIiui hun. ihe Governor ""uin ho' give
| his decision however,.i0r about week, ana dur
ing that time BalOO must Keep IN MS cell ana not
talk ca strangers. out lac should be c0urteon" to
every body anu grateful TO everybody VINO TOOK an
interest in hIm. Bab0 was v0inininous ~ ms
Thanks and promises Of Ohedlence, aud went back
10 ms cell losing the door afie HIM. with hap
per smile taan he mas worn Tor weeks.
Mr. Kntzug said that the committee. consisting
OF Fltner RoardOn j. X. Coudcrt tine Italian Con-
sui and huseif was received bY the Governor AMI
the members grafiied tN ~ po-aioic W
MAKE theIr ordinations The Governor remained
win them tor over two hours. aud listened pa
tent, 10 al, they Tad to say.
C,arrei Hail. 10 West Iwehty -siXtb-st., was hed
10 lis utwOsi capacity last evening ~ crowd OF
we-dre sol and well behaved negroes. and a very
few wnite people, who came together To express their
,nnignaton at the action OF Governor Cornell in
refusing 10 hear counsel III behalf OF CnastIne Cox.
Every seat WAS taken and the aisios We're packed.
The meeting was called order by }. Is. Freeuan
who said they hid not met TO dcelde uuOn
Coxsguilt iunocsnce but TO express their indie
naIIon Lpwari tioyernor Cornell. had commit
ted an onirage winch Zaiu cbiefIaln would not
dare la do. Cox was "a burglar 10y intention and a
murderer by accident. ana II tins jury had hot been
blaSed ne wOulG not hlye been found guilty.
w L il.LXI. saIl LLnt Whom GONernOr GOrnell