The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-12-09
THE sCAFFoLp

Was similar in construction to the one on which
Mann, ohr and sammett were executed and was
built by the same man, Mr.. Asa Mattloe OF CleYe-
land. The rope was the same one used to hang
John sammett and was kindly loaned by Sheriff
Altekruse Of this county, who assisted Sheriff
Coulter Atten o'clock Sheriff Coulter read The
DEATH WARRANT
To Callahan In presence OF Sheriff Allekruse and
the priest When he had finished Father Ankley
said, John, that Is the document, by which the
Governor authorizes Sheriff Coulter to hang you"
Callahan sobbed bitterly aud said Il understand
IT," At 1890 dinner was taken to him by Mrs.
Coulter but he simply drank cupOf tea.
THE EXECUTION.
Attn O'Clock about thirty reporters, eight sher.
ifs, doctors, assistants and spectators, numbering
about one hundred In all, assembled above and
below the scaffold. At 1lA5 Callahan, dressed In
black, was brought In by the sheriff, attended BY
Father Anhley, who stood beside Callahan until
ihe moose was adjusted The rope had been pre-.
viously rubbed With pulverzed sORpstone BY
Sheriff Altekruse to facilitate It's working, Gala.
han stood pale and moItOnless, steadiastly casing
on the crucihx In the hands Of the priest. In re-
sponse to the question "Have you anything to
say r he answered in plain, low tone; "r be-
lieve not" He then kiSsed the cruciax. The
black cap was adjusted and his hands and feet
bound by assistant Richard Powell, OF Mahsillon.
In a moRlent later John Callahan had passed into
eternity and the murder Of John Tormie was
avenged. He had previously been sprinkled with
holy water, and as the black cap was being
placed over his head Father Ankley knelt and
fselingly repeated the Lords prayer and a SEN
tence OF the liturgy The drop was six and a half
fest. After he dropped he remained perfectly
moiionless, the knot having caught him immedi'
ste!y below the chin. IBIS pulse and heart beats
were recorded and kept growing weaker and
weaker until after twenty inmates and thirty
seconds both ceased entirely. The neck was bro
ken by the fall. He was cut down at the end Of
twenty seven minutes and the remains placed in
a coffin and taken away by a hesrse which was
IN attendance to the family residence. Over five
thousand people surrounded the Jail, but were
kept outside of the jail yard by guards In the
afternoon and on Saturday the scafold was open
to public inspection.
Shortly after II o'clock a young man named
George Warren was srreGeS for trying to pick
the pockets of Sheriff Gonsery Of Holmes county.
He was placed In a cell in view Of the hanging.
A regular old fashioned Irish wake was held
over Callahan's body, which lasted until late
Saturday morning.
The funeral took place Saturday morning at IL
o'clock at the st. Msry's Catholic Church, Rev.
Father Ankly officiating. An immense crowd
was In attendance, the aisle being filed with
chairs and benches, and even then the seating
capacity ives inadequate, Many Of the most
prominent citizens were present. The funeral
cOrtege to the grave was conspicuous by It's great
length, there being mere than atty carriages in
line beside THAI part OF the procession composed
Of pedestrians.
The DEMOCRAT representative herebT tenders
his thanks to Sheriff Coulter and family for many
faVoEs extended to him.