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

The eXecutioner who served al
Balbos hanging is considered tho
most successful of his profession
in existerce. He has been more
than i quarter Of a century in tho
business, and is very proud Of his
skill. He may claim, indeed, that
DO failure or difficulty has oc.
Cured in any case that came IN.
| der bis 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 | do not be.
lieve the statement. He was
Deputy Isaacs before he becam c
the hangman, and the last-men-
toned service came to him in d.
rect connection with his official
duty. He did it so we'll that be was
employed on the next painful oc-
casion, and in this manner be has
been retained until the present
day. Isaac's first execution in
deed gave him 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 a 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 1853, Isaacs has 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 Thomas, William
Foster, Michael Nixon, John Doe
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.
Lsaacs has also been called to su-
perintend executions in other
places, and one Of his most i'm
portant JOBS was the Otero mur-
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 tunctionary may claim a
handsome fee. He adopts the
method practlced by Marwood,
the famous London hangman, of
placing the knot under the chin
instead of at the ear, since (as he
claims) it is more effective, pro-
ducing death BY instantaneous
strangulation.
Isaacs always interviews the
prisoner in time to estimate !
height and weight, and provides a
rope of corresponding strength.
His favorite material is Italian
hemp, and the cord (Which is
usually halfinch) is saturated in
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 bis cell few
DAYS before the day fixed for exc
cution. The Jews are not COM
batiye 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 to |
obtain his money. One Of them |
exclaimed, as he approached the
gallows: Me no care James
Rogers was the youngest person
be ever hung: bis age being only |
eighteen. He murdered a man
whom be had never seen before in
q street brawl. Among the most
thoroughly depravcd cases that
came under bis hand were the
wife murderer, William E. Foster,
the car-hook murderer, and the