Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-16
Tracy's Last Hours.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.

afternoon for the murder of Police Officer
John Huebner. At IL o'clock every one
was excluded from the room with Tracy
except his priest and his careful watchers,
bailiffs Rahan and Oleson, who were his
constant companions during his last night
and day. During the forenoon many Wis
itors came through the jairs iron door.
Among them was Ex-sheriff Kern. who su-
perintended the hanging of Sherry and Con-
nelly. He in company with Sheriff Mann in
spected the gallows and its working for half
an hour or more. Between 10 and II o'clock
the execution arrived separately at the
county physicians Office during the morn
ing. They were Drs. Hutchinson, Boston,
Otto Schmidt, B. Griffin, Joseph Krost,
Phillip Matthir. 1. Danforth and DR.. Haines.
chemist, of the Rush medical college.
At IL 40 Tracy's dinner was brought to him
in the corridor. 1t consisted as he had Or
dered, of nalf dozen fried eggs, toast. a
roll and a cup of coffee. He partook of
them with an appetite and relish. While
he was eating Sheriff Mann received the
following telegram:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Sept. Is. 1850 a. m.--
Sheriff Cook County: The governor refused
to interfere with Tracy's sentence. Inform
him Immediately.
The doomed man walked alone in the south
corridor, occasionally exchanging a few
words with his guard. He was without
his coat, smoking a cigar. AS the mo-
ments went by he began to show every
evidence of nervousness. His hands trem-
bled and his walk backward and forward
was unsteady. This brief season Mas the
only time during the day that he had a
chance for private thoughtr. Shortly be-
fore noon a number of sheriffs from other
counties arrived, and were shown about
the jail by sheriff Mann. The physicians
who has been invited to assist
county physician Bluthardt at
RICHARD PRENDERGAsT.
This news, which destroyed the last hope
of the prisoner and his friends for official
interference, was communicated ut once to
Tracy by Sheriff Mann. He received it
quietly, merely saying. that he had been
satisfied from the start that the governor
would do nothing for him. By noon all
preparations for the execution had been
completed. For the next hour or more
time hung somewhat heavily on the hands
of the sheriff and his men, who had been
so full of business throughout the morn
ing. Deputies Eastman, Burke, Rowley,
KeIsie, Best, Liebrandt and DietZch, be-
sides number of bailiffs, were at hand to
lend assistance to their chief in the &C
complishment of the extreme punishment
of the law upon a convicted murderer.
Crowds of curious people began to gather
about the building. Only those holding
invitations from the sheriff wers admitted
to the inner yard of the Jail, and even
these were refused admittance to the jail
itself until l O'Clock, the hour specified
upon their cards of invitations.
Tracy passed the two last hours
of his life sitting in the
| dispensary in conversation with Rev.
Father Bowling and two or three intimate
friends, whose company he desired. None
others were admitted to him. Throughout
the morning he had discoursed with vari-
Gus persons upon the crime with which he
was charged and his trial. To all no de-
clared his innocence. As Clark Bell, who
| had heard his trial, shook hands with him
in leave taking, he said: 'you know you
have Reasonable doubt Of my guilt" :! To
others he expressed belief that many of
those about him had secret doubt
| of his guilt that they would not reveal
Shortly before one o'clock the represen-
| fof of {ho Hvn o1v Tod 70
farewell to Tracy. He shook hands with
each one in turn, saying 'good bye !; do
| me justice. I die innocent before my
Maker. A few minutes more and am
| there" With the last words his eyes filled
with tears and his voice failed him. AS the
hour of. two o'clock approached the noise
was hushed. Conversation almost died
away and every one gazed intently at the
place of the corridor where Tracy was to
| first come in sight on his way to the gal
lows. The final hour of his life Tracy
passed alone with Rev. Father Bowling.
At 80 o'clock he was brought to the Of
| flee of the Jail. pale but firm, and listened
| quietly to his death warrant, which was
read to him by Sheriff Mann. At the close
of the impressive reading the procession
was formed by the sheriff and Jailer
Folz Tracy was attired for his execution
in black suit of clothes, and had a white
neck tie. His pulse was beating at the rate
of 40, and DR.. Bluchhardt expressed fear
that he would faint when led to the execu-
ton. At 1:55 the procession appeared in
the corridor and assembled to the scaffold.
Tracy was in front at the side of Sheriff
Mann, His arms were pinioned, but his
form was erect and steady. Jailer
Folz, Father Dowlings and two other
priests, Clerk Bell and Bailif Carlen
brought up the rear. As soon as the plat
form was reached the death service was
begun by the priests. Tracy made his re-
sponses in firm tone, gazing on cru
cifx which he held in his hand. At the
close of this Sheriff Mann asked the pris-
oner if he had any exception
to make to the death sentence he had
heard read; he said he had not. The sher-
| iff then told him to make his last state
| uoent If he had any To make With that