The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-09-01
New Ynrk's Hangman.


The execut1oner VINO served at Balbo's
hanging is considered the most success
full Of his profession in existence. he
has been more than a quarter OF a 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.
Isaacs. 1t is said that the name is as
sumed in order to protect the family
from notoriety, hut I do not believe the
statement. He was Deputy 1saacs be-
fore he became the hangman, and the
aforementioned service came to him in
direct connection with his official duty.
He did it so well that he was employed
on the next painful occasion, and in
this manner he has been retained until
the present day. 1saac's first execution
indeed gave him a reputation. Two
river pirates Howlet and SauD were to
suffer, and the case was one OF great i'm
portance. The prisoners were well
known desperaLoes, and had, while at
tempting to rob q vessel at midnight,
murdered the watchman. They had
also been political DULLES, and at the
scene of execution shook hands with
Tom Hayer, Bill Poole and other old
associates.
Beginning with Howlet and Saul in
1853, Isaacs has assisted in executing
the following murderers: James L.
Hoar, John Dorsey, James Rogers,
James Stephens, John Crummins,
Nathaniel Gordon, William Hawkins,
John Reynolds, Bernard Friery, George
Wagner, Jerry O'Brien. John Real,
John Thomas, William Foster, Michae,
Nixon, 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 execu-
tions in other places, and one Of his
most important jobs was the Otero muir
derers. He has told me some Of the
facts connected with these. painful
scenes, each of which is deeply i'm
pressed on his memory. His fee is from
$3.50 to $3.50, which may seem large, but
when the sheriff receives 1880 the
chief ~functionary may claim a hand
some fee. He adopts the method prac-
ticed by Marwood, the famous London
hangman, of placing the knot under the
chin instead of at the ear, since Gas he
claims) it is more effective, producing
death by instantaneous strangulation.
Isaacs always interviews the prisoner
in time to estimate height and weight,
and provides q rope of corresponding
strength. His favorite material is Ital-
ian 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 pliable 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
expectation of hanging Rubenstein. The
latter, however. died in his cell a few
days before the day fixed for execution.
The Jews are not combative or murder
Gus, and the crimes which may be laid
to their charge are chiefly for the sake
of gain. Isaacs told me that the mos
reckless men he ever saw under such
circumstances were the Spaniards Con-
zales and Pellicier, who murdered Otero
in order to obtain his money. One OF
them exclaimed, as he approached the
gallows: "Meno care" James Rogers
was the youngest person he ever hung,
his age being only eight en-. He MUIR
dered 3 man whom he had never seen
before in Il street brawl. Among the
most thoroughly depraved cases that
came under his hand were the wife
murderer, William f. Foster, the car
hook murderer, and the aboVe-men-
toned river thieves, Hewlett and Saul.
New York Correspondent Troy Times.