The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-14
VOL. 13. NO. 8.
A TENDER HANGMAN.

Maledon, the United States hangman at Fort Smith, Ark, has "turned of " larger number of victims than any other man in the country. It is rare Friday afternoon in Fort Smith when the government authorities fail to strangle a murderous Indian, brutal half breed or fiendish white man. Ropes, in the slaughter-pen, are al- ways dangling in revengetul readiness. The trigger of the trap-door is never out of working order. The beam over- head is old, and wasps alight on it and scrape up the material for their nests, but, without tremor, it can still sustain the sudden weight of some half-dozen wretches who have mor- tally offended our national uncle in striped pantaloons.
 Maledon, during long term of years, has administered national ven- geance. Being of tender and sympa- thetic nature, he has become much at tached to his. business. He believes that he is especially fitted for the work. He looks upon an ordinary state hanging with sort of pitiable contempt, feeling sorry that the vic- tim has not been "worked over" by a higher authority. Maledon has never been known to commit but one error. On that occasion he hanged man who had committed several murders. The day was extremely hot. Maledon, after adjusting the moose, turned to take glass of lemonade. The pa- tiently waiting victim, somehow slipped the knot of the moose around too far. When the trap fell the alert eye of the hangman discovered the error.
 "Excuse me, sir" said Maledon, ad- dressing the strangling man, "there has been a slight error committed. But, however, see that it was your own fault. Had you observed the proper ethics of this occasion you would have been freed from ungrace- ful contortions. You must under stand, sir, that this ceremony is for nal. However, please pardon me for calling your attention to so slight & breach of politeness during time when your mind must have been ab- sorbed by other matters"
 A few weeks ago I visited the United States prison in Fort Smith. When I had come within hailing dis- tance of the cells, lithe- looking fel- low, with pale blue eyes and colorless face, climbed up the bars and shouted i:
 "Here, cap'n, give me seegyah an' some chawin' terbacker, won't you2 Say, cap'n, unload, for you don't know how soon you may be in here your self"
 'I will show you the most interest ing and thorough prisoners" said Maledon, lowing with a courtliness that Queen Elizabeth might have com- plimented. "Come," he added, "don't fool away your time bn those petty thieves. Twill show you some gen. tlemen of the old and distinguished school.o
 He conducted me into a dimly- lighted hallway. On each side I saw pale and eager faces pressed against the bars. I stopped and began to talk to a man.
 "Come," said Maledon, "don't waste your time on him. A few days ago I respected him, but hold him in con- tempt now"
 "What has he done to deserve your adverse change of opinion2" I asked.
 Maledon looked at me. A waver- ing light of contemptuous pity shone in his eyes. AWhat has he done !" the haDgman exclaimed. ~Why, sir, he was sentenced to be hanged, but they have commuted his sentence to im- prisonment for long term of years. A man who would submit to such an outrage is not deserving of pity. Step this way, and Pll ahow you beauty. See that tall fellow with the bushy head of hair3 am going to hang him one week from tomorrow, unless