Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-01
HANGED AT HANGTOWN.
Murderer Myers Miserable
Taking Off.
HE DIES A CRAvEN'S DEATH
Abject Weakness of the Culprit on
the ScaffOld-His Cries and
Lamentations.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
PLAcERvILLE, CAL, November 30.-A
/ IA this afternoon another scene such a
gave this place its early-day name 0
"Hangtown" occurred here when Johl
Henry Myers expiated upon the scaffol'
his criminal participation in the murde
of John Lowell on the oath day of Marcl
last.
The final refusal of Governor Water
man to commute the death sentence o
John Olsen and William Drager, whc
were convicted with Myers, to that o
life imprisonment, created the genera
belief that the trio must hang to-day
but the right of appeal to the Supreme
Court had not yet been exercised, ane
10 this right G. j. Carpenter and G. F
Irwin finally resorted to save their clients
Olsen and Drager, from the scaffold to
DAY. Consequently Myers alone suffered
the penalty of his crime.
Throughout the forenoon Myers lay on
the couch of his cell in an apparently
unconscious state, while in the adjoining
cells Drager and Olsen cheerfully con.
versed with the death watch and visitors
Their conduct has not materially changed
since they received the news that they
were not to be executed to-day, for the,
had previously made up their minds that
hope was useless and that they would
face their death bravely in the Catholic
faith, which each has espoused.
BENT ON GOING TO HE'LL.
When it was evident this morning tina,
Myers would have to be carried to the
place of execution, Drager said: l have
said from the beginning that Myers
would have to be carried out and would
not meet death like man. and Olsen
had determined to die bravely, and We
asked Myers to read the Bible and dc
something for his soul and be brave; but
he threw away German Bible that was
given him, with the words damn it
everything goes to hell, and l might as
we'll go to hell with it,
Myers had refused to eat anything
since Tuesday evening. Wednesday
night he spent in writing something in
the way of a confession, which was but a
repetition of the facts stated in his affi-
davit used upon the hearing of a motion
for new trial in the cases of Drager and
Olsen. Yesterday morning he arose
early and in a light frame of mind
When the cells of the three condemned
men we're opened to be cleaned, Myers
talked in happy strain. Shortly he be-
4an to sob and reclined on his couch ex-
claiming, 'My wife, my child!"
HE RFcs EopoJyENEss
Drager and Olsen went to his side,
when he took Drager's hand between his
and asked him to forgive him for getting
him into trouble and for all the lies he
had told about him. This done, he re-
peated this entreaty with Olsen. He
then sank into a state of apparent uncon
sciousness until 12:15 o'clock to-day
when he aronsed himself, called the
wstchman, and asked for some milk
which was given him. Upon seeing
Prentiss Carpenter, one of the attorneys
in the case, he asked sis this Friday p
Upon being told that it was, he asked
Must 1 be hanged to-day?"
Carpenter replied: eyes; and every
one predicts that you will not die
bravely. Now, show them that you can
You have not an hour longer to live."
Hanging his head meditatively for an
instant he replied that he would, and
commenced at once to arrange his toilet
Many thought that his condition was
feigned and that he only arose from il
when he saw Carpenter, in hope of re-
ceiving news of relief. Disappointed in
this it would be useless to further feigr
insensibility.
HIS ABJECT WEAKNESS.
At 12 :55 O'Clock the officers entered
the Jail and Deputy-sheriff Mitchell com
menced reading the death warrant. Dur
ing the reading Myers groaned audibly
At five minutes past one two officers
took Myers by the arms to support him
while walking TO the gallows, which was
erected in the Jail yard. Myers sobbed
while they walked to the outer door oi
the jail, but when this was reached be
commenced to groan and bawl, which he
continued to do up to the time that the
black cap was drawn over his head.
From the outer door he had to be car
ried to the gallows.. There his ankles
and knees had to be pinioned while he
was lying on the platform.
SUPPORTED ON THE sCAFFoLD.
Two strong men then raised and
held him in an erect position while the
body and arm straps were being ad
justed. Before the moose was placed
about his neck his chin was raised by the
executioner. who admonished him tc
n, and be man and asked him if he
had anything to say.
Between his loud cries he managed tc
say: ''No."
The Moose was then tightly drawn
about his neck which choked his cries
The black cap was drawn over his face
and to the relief of the men supporting
him the trap was sprung at l IA O'Clock
His body was allowed to hang seven.
teen minutes, when life was pronounced
extinct by the physicians. His neck was
broken by the fall.
Fully 400 people witnessed the scene
from the jail yard, while hundreds O
others viewed it from neighboring roof
.Dps and hillsides.
HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
For some days past infamed spots
we're noticeable on Myers neck immedi
ately in front of the larynx. The cause
of this was explained by the finding O.
slip-noose among his bed clothing this
afternoon by the officers, after his exc.
eution. 1t was made of strong strips
torn from a cotton shirt belonging te
him. He had evidently made an at
tempt at self-strangulation, but his cour
age failed.
THE IMPROVED NAVY.