New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-20
STRANGLED TO DEATH.
HOW LEIGHTON MET HIS FATE.
THE MOOSE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AND THE Mu

were the closing words of long speech
which Augustus ID. Leighton made last
March when appealing for n new trial.
Nevertheless. he hanged yesterday morn
ing in the Tombs No newspaper reporters
were allowed to remain in the prison to keep the
death watch during the last night In the warden's
room however. reporter of THE TRIBUNE and
three other men remained until morning. Leighton
went to bed about a. M, and slept soundly until
$50, when he awoke and asked the time.
When told. he arose and dressed. The reporter was
allowed to see the sleeping man about o'clock for
a moment only. Leighton lay on his right side.
One of the deputy sat in the cell and the
other in the corridor. Leighton was dressed in q
new suit OF black clothing sent to him on Wednes-
day by friend, when at o'clock. the Rev. DIR.
Parker Morgan. of the Church of the Heavenly
Rest, arrived. The clergyman remained with him
until the death sentence had been executed.
breakfast of boiled eggs, rolls and coffee was eaten
by the murderer with relish. Under-Sherif stevens
arrived at the Tombs soon after the clergyman and
saw the rope to which the moose was fastened put
in position on the gallows. The weight attached TO
the rope of iron, weighing 800 pounds, while
that which was used when Slndram was hanged
weighed only $50 pounds.
large crowd gathered around the Tombs early
in the morning but they were kept back by force
of policemen under Inspector Murray, who admit
ted only those having been duly appointed by Sher
i'll Bowe special deputy -sherifs In the court
around the gallows hundred persons werc
gathered at o'clock. The undertaker's wagon had
been driven in the yard and stood in front of a low
window at the end of the prison where Leighton
WAS wa; walking, and where r.o.s he was sns
down the corridor. An inexpensive
coffin was taken from the wagon and
carried into the womens prison, near which the
IN ed n
crowd hanging novelty, and numeroui
conjeotuTes were made as TO the probable nerve,
craved the death to which he had been sentenced
as his friend Sndram did for months. IL
would attempt to speak when under the gallows;
The entrance of sheriff Bowe, Under Sheriff
Stevens and ,thirty-fve deputy sheriffs
black suit, silk hat and badge and carryinga
baton, caused all conversation to cease. Tho
gallows and opposite the rough box which con-
cealed the hangInan. The depnty-sherIffs were in
two files, extending from the Bridge OF signs" TO
the gallows, between which the procession must
pass. The physicians were near the gallows, and
the other spectators were at some distance from 1t.
At s: 40 the death warrant was read 10 Leighton
in his cell He had hidden McGlOin farewell aud
given him good advice should he ever succeed in
securing his freedom. The then put about
Leightons neck, and the black cap placed over his
head. His arms were pinioned, and the march to
the gallows began. Dr. Morgan read the service for
the dead while the procession was passing from the
a
manned when Leighton stood under the fatal cross
bar. In appearance the murderer was not prepos-
sessng. His height was about five feet ten inches,
aud he weighed $50 pounds His face was winter
than that Of the ordinary mulatto, and he had
brown moustache. The prison barber had shaved
him on Thursday: Below the moose were seen
standing col aud black tie. His white shirt bosom
was partly visible, and his Congress CATERS were
neatly polished. AS he walked toward the gallows
pear to notice the people about hin.
and scarcely raised his eyes from the ground,
prison doors but his eyes instantly dropped to their
former position and as he stood alone waiting for
the moose TO be fastened TO the rope which dangled
above his head 1t seemed as II his nervousness
would overcome his decision to follow SiDdram's
example; but IL did not.
The moose and the rope quickly united aud
Leighton stood facing the crowd. HIS body and
feet did not move but his hands trembled slightly
Under-Shenf Stevens was about to giye
| the signal TO an attendant 10 lower
the cap when a bystander, misunderstanding
| the motion said, excltedly: The cap
isn't down yet" Instead oflproceeding, the Under
Sheriff turned and rebuked the man for interfering.
Then the cloth pulled over the murereT's face
Leighton was not asked if he had anything to say.
The handkerchief fell at S:47. Within q second the
| heavy weight dropped the body OF the negro was
| raised four feet from the ground, bat fell back
| about foot AS soon as the reaction had taken
| place a suppressed murmur ran through that
| part of the crowd nearest the victim, as Is
| was discovered that another bunglng hanging had
| taken place The hands were first seen to shake
and then they clenched as If the man was suf-
| fering intense pain. Heavy groans followed the
movements OF the Lands, and the body swung back
| ward and forward impeled by the desperate kick
| ing of the criminal. ." He Is being stranged 70
| death worse than Slndram was" said person who
| had witnessed both hangngs Ia three minutes
LeightOns hands moved again, and his groans, low
| but nearrending, were distinctly heard. Ills chest
| heaved aud his legs contracted and relapsed
several times. Tne BODY was Vas lowered irT tys
| i'll order that the doctors might watch his death
| struggles more closely One unbuttoned Lelghtons
coat and placed his ear the heart, and several
holu of As ls
| touched the body the bystanders seemed to think
| the dead, as they rushed toward the gal.
| lows and stood about IL. Tho heart ceased
| to beat two minutes alter the body was lowered,
| and Dr. Buttles, the official physician, SAID that
| death occurred at 9O2. fifteen minutes after tho
| hanging. DR. Mitchell, who had been handling the
| body for ten minutes, gave It as his opinion that
| life was not exlinct until three minutes later.
Several other physicians examined the body, aud lt
was concluded unsafe to take II down until S:ls.
The body thus laid III tae coiin. and the shces,
| moose aud cap were taken OIL lhe certificate gave
| as the cause ot death a dIslocatlon OF the neck
| and rupture OF the medulla oblongata." Tho
cause of The strangulation and the suffering Incl
| dent to 1t was explained as follows: The Knot or
! tue is placed directly under tae chin because
| when the body Is raised it usually moves TO ono
| side the proper place. In this case 1t remained
| where 1t was placed and 80 did not cause Instant
death.
| Leighton's body was taken from the Tombs to
| Evergreen Cemetery and placed in a receiving
vault where II will remain until tomorrow, when
! he Rev. DR.. Morgan will read the Protestant
Episcopal burial service and the body will be in
| TERED. The exercises will be private. The burial
| expenses are borne by Mrs. COriOva and Dr. Nor
gan, both having assured Leighton that lac should
have proper burial.
| The crime for which Leighton was hanged
committed on June l3, 1880, at Ne. l3s West
| Iwenty-sxth-st., where he had been living for
| about two years with Mary Dean, a young wousn
not his wife, she had been married but had parted
| from her husband and Leighton was engaged 10 bo
married 10 another girl. Mary Dean had tired OF
| Legbton. ana in "a lit OF anger lie cut her throat
| WIN a razor, causing immediate death. Leighton
was twenTy-eIght years old
| A WyFE-M URDERER HANGED.