The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-09-14
MisceIIaneous.
%
NEW YORK'S HANGMAN.

l0e cXccutlODer VINO ScrVeQ al
Balbo's hanging is considered the
most successful Of bis profession
in existerce. He has been more
than a quarter Of a century in the
business, and is very proud of his
skill. He may claim, indeed, that
no failure or difficulty has oc-
Cured in any case that came un-
der his hands. This man is Dep
uty Sheriff George ". Isaacs. 1t
is said that the name is assumed
in order to protect the family
from notoriety, but I do not be-
lieve the statement. He was
Deputy Isaacs before be became
the hapgman, and the !ast-men-
toned service came to him in d.
rect connection with bis official
duty. He did it so we'll that be was
employed on the next painful oc-
casiou, and 10 this manner be has
been retained until the present
day. lsaac's first execution in,
deed gave him 2 reputation. Two
river pirates (Howlet and SauD
were to suffer, and the case was
one Of great Importance. The
prisoners were well.knowu despe-
radoes, and had, while attempting
to rob vessel at midnight, mur.
dered the watchman. They had
also been political bullies, and at
the scene Of execution shook
hands With Tom Hayer, Bill
Poole and other old associates.
Beginning with Howlet and
Saul in 1858, Isaacs hes assisted in
executing the following mur.
derers: James L. Hoar, John
Dorsey, James Rogers, James
Stephens, John Crummins, Ma
tbaniel Gordon, William Hawkins,
John Reynolds, Bernard Friery,
George Wagner, Jerry O'Brien,
John Real, John ."homas, William
Foster, Michael Nixon, John Doc
Ian 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 su-
perintend executions in other
places, and one of his most i'm
portant jobs was the Otero MUIR
derers. He has told me some Of
the facts connected with these
painful scenes, each of which is
deeply impressed on his memory.
His fee is from $3.50 to $3.50.
which may seem large, but when
the sheriff receives $1,000 the
chief functionary may claim a
handsome fee. He adopts the
method practlced by Marwood,
the famous London bangman, of
placing the knot under the chin
instead of at the ear, since Gas be
cIaims) it is more effective, pro-
ducing death BY instantaneous
strangulatioD.
Isaacs always interviews the
prisoner in time 10 estimate
height and weight, and provides a
rope of corresponding strength.
His favorite material is Italian
hemp, and the cord (Which is
usually half-inch) is saturated in
a chemical fluid prepared by him
self. 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 lat
ter, however, died in his cell few
DAYS before the day fixed for exc
cution. The Jews are not com,
balive or murderous, and the
crimes which may be laid to 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
spaniards Gonzales and Pellicier
who murdered Otero in order tc
obtain his money. One Of them
exclaimed, as he approached the
gaIlows: Me no care James
Rogers was the youngest person
be ever hung: his age being only
eighteen. He murdered a man
whom be had never seen before in
a street brawl. Among the most
thoroughly depraved cases that
came under his hand were the
wife murderer, William E. Foster
the car-hook murderer, and The