Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-23
New York's Hangman,
New York Letter in Toy Tunes

The eSecutioner who served at Balbo's
hanging is considered the most success.
lul OF his profession IN existence. He has
oeen more than n quarter OF century in
lhe business aud Is very proud Of his
skill He may claim, indeed, that no fail
ure or difficulty has occurred in any case
that came unOer his hauus This man ia
Deputy Sn,rifl Geo. W Isaacs Il is said
that The name is assumed in order To pro.
ttct the family from noturic,y, but do
not believe the statement He WAS Den.
uty lssacs before he became the hsupmAn.
ana The aforementioned service came 10
him In direct connection with his official
duly, lie did So we'll tnat he was EN-.
ploytd on the next painful occasion, snd
IN TINS manntr he has been retained until
the present day, lsaacs' first execution,
Indeed, gsvn HIM reputation. Two
river pirates (tloWlet and SsuO were to
suffer, and the case wss che OF great i'm
portauce. The prisoners were well known
despersdoes, and had, while attempting 10
rob vessel at midnight, murdered the
wstchman. They had Also bt Gu political
bullies, aud al the scene OF execution
shook hands with Tom Hyer, Bill Poole
and other Old associates.
1858, lsaacs has assisted In executing the
following murderers: James l.. Hoar,
John Dorsey, James Rogers, James
stephens, John Crummins, Nathaniel
Gordon, William Hawking, John Rev.
nolds, Bernard Friery, George Wagner,
Jerry 'Brien, John Reel, John Thomas,
VIM. Foster, M cuael Nixon, John Dolan,
and recently OK and Baibo. All of these
suffered IN The Tombs except Gordon, who
WAS taken to Bedloe's Island, Ms his crime
was punished under Federal law. Isaacs
has also been called to superintendent ex.
ecutions In other places, and one of his
most important jobs was the Oiero muir
derers He has told me some of the facts
connected with these painful scenes, each
OF which is deeply impressed on his mem
Dry. His fee is from $3.50 to $3.50, which
may seem large, but when the Sheriff re.
ceives y 800 the chief functlonary may
claim handsome fee. lie adopts the
method practiced by Marwood, the
famous London hangman, OF placing the
knot under the chin instead OF at the ear,
since Gas he clsims) ii ~ more effective,
producing death by instantaneous straLgu.
lation.
lsaacs always interviews the prisoner
In time to estimate height and weight,
and provides u rope OF corresponding
strength. His tavorite material is Italian
hemp, and the cord (Which is usually
half inch, Is saturated ina chemical fluid
prepared by himself, 1t is then slushed
80 rs TO be rs pliable as silk thread
These facts show how closely lsaacs has
applied himself TO this fearful trade. No
Jew has ever suffered the death penalty,
but lsascs once had great expectations Of
hanging Rubenslein. The latter how
ever, died in his cell few days before the
day fixed for his execution. The Jews
are not combative or murderous, an the
crimes which may be laid 10 their charge
are chiefly for the sake OF gain. Isaacs
told me that the most reckless men he
ever saw under such circumstances were
the Spsnlards Gonzales and Pellicier.
who murdered Olero in order TO obtain
his money. One Of them exclaimed as
he approached the sailors: "Me no
care" James Rogers was the youngest
person he ever hung, his age being only
iS He murdered man whom he had
never seen before In street brawl.
Among the mos. thoroughly depraved
cases that came under his hand were the
wife murderer, VIM. L. Foster, the car.
hook NJ murderer, and tho above menti oned
river thieves, Hewlett, and Saul.
o