Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-18

sympathy was felt for Santore, whom they
believed to have been an unwilling rather
than voluntary participant in the murder,
and a number of them unavailingly inter
ceded with the Governor in his behalf.
Public interest in the double execution has
been much excited, because, after the alb
sence of capital punishment from the State
for ten years, its restoration has found sew
ersl victims awaiting the gallows, of whom
Santore and Capone are the first.
Death Drawing Near.
THoMAsToN, April II.
At III o'clock there was no unusual hustle
in and around the prison. Father Boniface
was alone with the condemned men. There
were only few people in the prison. besides
the officers and newspaper reporters and There
was no crowd on the outside.
The hanging was the topic talked about BY
all people on street corners. 1t is very dis
tasteful to Thomaston citizens to have the
execution take place here.
they refer to the town as a slaughter house
of the State, and express many wishes that
there might even be place where the hang
ing will occur very quietly and solemnly, and
with an entire absence of those demonstra-
tiOns which have been made on some of these
occasions.
1t is now quarter past eleven o'clock Faith
er Boniface has just come from the murder
ers' cells. He says that his last interview
with them was very unsatisfactory.
Said he, Il asked Santore to forgive his
enemie., aud he said he would forgive all
but Capone." asked Capone to forgive his
The priest shook his held and sighed.
He and the other priests who have called
on the prisoners, have been greatly grieved
at their conduct. Father Peterson of Rock.
land, and Father harrington of Thomaston
called on them, thursday, for a few hours
conversation. Father Peterson Exclaimed
'What ale We He,e Fo,!''
~An hour before the hanging, Capone re-
iterated his assertion that he would not be
hung; he declared he was to die in Italy
They work here by local time, and do their
hanging by standard time. Although it is
but % minutes of II o'clock the noon
bell is ringing, and the prisoners are now
filing from their workshop into their cells,
receiving their dinners in tin dishes
The sheriff and his deputies and Father
Boniface have just proceeded to the murder
ers' cells, where the warrant will be read to
them with the aid of an interpreter. In half
an hour more they will be dead on the scaf-
fold. Four men are now kicking their heels
are now laughing heartily at some joke, with
the shadow OF the hanging beam upon them
At five minutes before II o'clock the pro-
cession started from the prison and marched
through the carnage shop to the gallows. 1t
was led by Sheriff Irish. Deputies Morton
and Peabody had Capone in charge, and
Deputies Wadsworth and Mandell were with
Sentore.
small group of men then was gathered in
front of the gallows. All talk became hushed
as the sound of the procession tramping
through the wood-shop was heard
At four minutes before - the doomed men
wert standing on the trap. rhey were dressed
in a suit of black alpaca consisting of blouse
and pants, with row of little black buttons
down the front of the blouse. 4 rosary was
tied around Capone's left wrist, the mems
arms and hands were tied close To their sides
by small cord which passed around the
gallows.
Santore was very pale and had the same
earnest expression he has worn ever since his
confinement. He began to talk rapidly as
soon as he appeared on the scaffold, and
talked nearly all the time until the black cap
was pulled over his face. Capone preserved
always stolia demeanor Not a word passed
his lips, save when he repeated al prayer after
Father Boniface His face had lost the ROSY
color which it retained during all bis impris-
Dnmont and he was very pale while the sheriff
and his deputies were
Tying the Legs of the Men
together. which was done very expedifiously
Fathers Boniface, Peterson and Harrington
stood on the platform leading to the scaffold,
from the carriage shop. Father Boniface
a. II Il.