The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-06-29
SHAVING MURDERERs.
The TOmbs Barber and His
Strange Customers.


Strange Customers.
Among the visitors admitted to the
Tombs each morning at ten o'clock may
De noticed young, unassuming man
carrying small-siZed morocco leather
case. This is Frank De CaniO, the prison
barber. De CaniO has now been pursu-
Ing his business for number Of years
past. Keepers and Wardens always when
going into one of the condemned cells
ma ke 1t point to be in possession of no
instrument or weapon that might be
snatched from them and used by the in
mate IN committing suicide so as to es-
cape the gallOws. But De CaniO has
stepped in among some of New YOrk's
worst mQrderers and passed the cold
steel OF his keen-edged TazOrs over their
necks, and yet not one has ever succeed
ed in taking possession of his tools. Not
all the inmates of the Tombs are allowed
the services of De CaniO, for he is not in
the common sense of the term the prison
barber. De CaniO can only be employed
under privilege, and when he is sum-
mOned 1t Is only to be employed by those
who can afford his special and fixed
rates. Criminals who are to suffer the
penalty of imprisonment either in the
TOmbs or State prisons for their Offenses
are not always the kind of customers
that prove lucrative. Sometimes upon
court day one of this class will take a
notion to appear neat and clean, and
then the presence of the barber is de-
sired. But those who are of the greatest
profit to De CaniO's trade are men
AWAITING DEATH,
and who must prepare themselves for
the ordeal. From his experience with
these criminals De CaniO has found them
to be more anxious about their appear
ance during their last days on earth
and before being taken out to the gal
lows, than while awaiting trial and
having a possible chance of escape.
Yesterday Mercury reporter while in
the TOmbs had his attention attract to
the cell in which young McGlOin, who
shot and killed the French saloon pro-
prietOr in West Twenty-sixth street
some weeks ago, is confined. De CaniO
was there doing his best to please the
young fellow. After the tOnsOTial artist
withdrew from the cell he observed to
the scribe who had been watching him
work: We'll, McGlOin is quiet chap to
be fixing up and raising a mustache,
but he will find things comfortable any
how, although there won't be many to
admire his upper lip yet" When ques-
toned as to the dangers of his follow
ing, and the curious taste his customers
displayed for improving themselves
with death so near, he said: "Well, that
is one of the strange fancies they get
As to whether one of them might seize
my razor and kill himself so as to cheat
the Sheriff, | am not afraid of that. |
always become suspicious after learn
he expects to be hung, because Of course
there is no telling what one might do
If he got the chance. You see when
this time comes l never hold my razor
but one way-in such a manner that he
cannot get it from me without cutting
his hands. AS to cutting his throat
while am shaving, this he cannot do,
because the way hold the razor would
not in any way cause death. To cause
death while l am shaving he would have
to sink the
BLADE so FAR INTO THE NECK
as to sever the windpipe, and as am on
the lookout for such possible attempt
| am not afraid. Then up to almost the
last day many of the condemned are in
hopes of a pardon or reprieve, so that
TO the last they keep up hopes for the
best"
How do you find your customers that
are condemned to death?" asked the re-
porter. Every odd PbOut their tastes
and as particular about their toilets as
the most careful man walking Broad
way. Now, there is young McGlOin.
Since he has been in here and stood his
trial, he is beginning to raise a little
mustache and keep himself in IgOOd
trim. The time these men that are to
be hung begin to take the most care
about their toilet is just after they have
been found guilty Of murder. Then if
their Offense has been of the worst kind
they are written a good deal about in
the newspapers. This has the effect of
bringing them into notice, and in going
to court and receiving visitors at their
cells they get so used to being seen by
visitors that they feel they should look
their best. Chastine Cox, the murderer
of Mrs. DR.. Hull, was particular GUS
toner of mine. He always wanted his
head kept well and hair short, so as he
could just part it on one side. / was
never afraid of him attempting anything
wrong because he grew so resigned in
his way and given to reading the Bible
and praying, knew he thought it would
be the best way to die on the gallOWs.
He was rather careful
ABOUT HIS LAST SHAVE,
and asked me to just trim his hair, so as
when he was to be seen after death he
might look little as he wanted to in
life. Poor BalbO was a cOuntTyman of
mine. De CaniO is an Italian. He was
very neat about his appearance. He had
head of dark, curly hair and a mus
tache that he kept well trimmed. Just
two days before he was hung l went
into his cell. He remarked it would be
his last shave, but kept up his feelings
the best | could, and told him perhaps
the priest and others who had gone to
see the Governor at almost the last hour
would succeed in securing a reprieve,
but they did not, for shortly after my
work was done one of them came in and
told him all hope was gone. He called
me back then and got me to write a last