Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-17
THE ITALIAN MURDERERs.
Their Execution to Take Place at
Noon Today.
The GalloWs Waiting for its Victims
Condition of the Two Doomed
Felons.
THoMAsToS, April l6.

to be hanged tomorrow. Sanatore, the older
man, speaks little English, and under
stands readily what is said to him. Confne
ment has left severe traces upon him. His
eyes are iniamed. and his face is wrinkled
and haggard, while the gray stubble of a
him look the more cadayerous. His hands
are thin and pale, and his muscles and nerves
are unsteady.
Capone, Santore's younger companion, is
in any way by his imprisonment. A broad
grin seems never to leave Capone's face. 1t
is in all Of his photographs. CaDone has man.
fested neither contrition or fear, nor any
and tobacco, since he has been in prison.
You would think him the embodiment of a
good appetite and clear conscious. He
| seems to have no religious perceptions ard
no respect for the priest
Father b niface, the confessor of the
italians, has visited the felons every day this
week, and endeavored to probe the mystery
surrounding the crime but has been unable
TO get anything new out of the men. Each
persists in LAYING the blame on the other and
claiming innocense for himself Father IN
iface believes that both of them are guilty,
and that their execution will have been de-
served
The gallows was completed today. 1t is
built in place where it can be seen only
from one side. platform connects the
third stories of the wood shop and harness
shop. Right under this platform the galows
is built. The platform is fourteen feet from
the ground, is twelve feet square, and sub
stantially built. The trap is six feet by FIVE,
and is heavily weighted. 1t is supported by
wooden pins. The catch pins are Withdrawn,
and only the catch holds. A slight touch of
the sheriff S foot frees the trap and consum-
mates the tragedy. The rope is small, but
like iron. Both men hang at once. The
fall will be eight feet. The gibbet il entirely
new except the hanging beam. which is made
OF Norway pine and thus withstood the rot.
This beam has quite history. 1t was
bought of the United States government in
1865, to hang Spencer. the convict who mur-
dered Walden Tinker. Before hanging
Spencer, it had hung Cox and Williams, the
pirates, at Auburn Since the death of Spen-
Ger, the negro Harris, Wagner, and Gordon,
have swung from it,
The prisoners will be led out of the west
ern wing of the prison, across the yard, into
the wood shop, down one flight to the base
ment. and then directly onto the platform.
Standing here, they look up to the gray
prison walls, and down to the deep quarry
pond, on tine edge of which the scaffold
stands In the rear, the steep wall OF the
quarry, reekiUg with shiny moisture, stands.
Ii is gloomy place,
The condemned men continue about the
same. Last night Cap0ne slept little or none.
and was very restless and nervous Santore
was quiet all night.
Today has been repetition of others.
Both smoke necessarily. Ssntore reads the
bible and studies the Italian dictionary. On
the approach of an officer or visitor he starts
up quickly, hastens to the grating, and cross
es his forehead reverandly. Capone is the
more ext tied of the two. He is troubled with
short breath, and is sulen and nervous. He
eyes the prison officials with frightened, re-
veugeiul looks. He is restless; moves about,
starts from his stool, throws himself on his
bed, starts up again, and walks his cell He
trembles and quivers necessarily.
Father Boniface, of Boston. and Fathers
Paterson and Harrington, of Rockland, visi,
them twice dsv. They hate each other bit
terly. They have had 10 shut them up in a
dungeon recently, to punish them for dis.
turbauce and taunting each other.
Tonight the guard visits them every hall
hour, and at last accounts was sleeping quiet
ly. Capone is sitting up, with his cap drawn
over his eyss. Capone thought until recent
! " that he was sentenced to six wears. He
was told the truth by Father Boniface.
Bolh have good appetites and eat heartily
They are well supplied with fruit and deica
cies by Italian friends in the neighbour ood
The other prisoners are little affected
| Wilkinson, the Bath policeman murderer
who hangs Nov. 20th, until recently has beer
apparently indifferent, now shows signs o.
| fear
| The execution takes place at twelve o'clock
The men will be called from work nd locked
up in their cells at halt past eleven, and pu
to work again as soon as the execution i.
over.
Sheriff Irish will be assisted by his depu.
ties and two spe ecials.
Successful SUIT.