The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-11
(PRICE, $40 A YEAR. I
s CENTS A COPY. I
MAXWELL ON THE GIBBET
he BECAME ALMOST AN OLD MAN
IN his LAST FEW HOURS.

His Will Power Barely Sufficient to
Keep Him from Collapsing Entirely
His Companion on the Gallows
Somewhat Firmer-The Necks OF
Both Broken by the Fall.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 10.-Maxwell was hanged
at 8:56lS o'clock this morning.
At $40 o'clock Lawyer Martin, counsel
for Maxwell, received from his colleague,
Mr.. Fauntleroy, who was in Jefferson City,
the following telegram, which was deiv-
cred to Maxwell: 1.-THE governor has re-.
ceived telegram from M mister West,
but he persists in the same position.
Hold as long as possible, as we may hear in
time. My heartfelt sympathy to the ac-
cuSed and his loved ones. Wire his father"
The receipt of this telegram created quite
a sensation, as 1t was the general opinion
in and about the Jail that the governor
would grant at least a brief stay. Maxwell
received the news indifRerently, the ashen
hue on his face growing deeper.
READING THE DEATH WARRANT.
At SAT o'clock Sheriff Harrington, pre-
ceded by detail of police, entered the inner
yard of the jail, and the sheriff entered
hAWbii > Ctll, Whtl hc
been placed together, and announced
that the final moment hal
arrived. Maxwell paled, and pulled
his fingers nervously His was the first
death warrant read, and he stood up and
heard his doom calmly, though be wa;
plainly growing weaker all the time,
While his arms were being pinioned, Max.
well bit his lower lip and gulped several
times.
JapdcroF tcra ,,Y, updar tha raadino ~
the warrant and the pinioning as stolidly
as man we'll could.
MARCHING TO THE GIBBET.
The procession to the scaffold was then
formed, with Father THAN between Max,
well and Landgraf, preceded by Sheriff
Harrington aud the deputies, and fol,
lowed by the police reporters and
witnesses. As Maxwell passed through
the inner yard he walked firmly,
but slowly. There was a wonderful
change from the apparently unconcerned
to his death. His face looked pinched and
drawn, was of an ashen hue and his eyei
were swollen. He glanced about him
piteously.
TOUCHED EVERY HEART.
His lips twitched and his appearance
was calculated to awaken the pity of even
those who were firmly convinced that hs
ought to die.
Landgraf looked and moved like log,
with half smile and a half sneer on hi}
face.
There was no time lost in reaching the
scaffold which the condemned men ascended
without assistance. Maxwell was placed
under the moose next TO Twelfth street.
Father Than read prayers.
Maxwell was then asked if he had any
thing TO say, and In AN almost inaudibls
tone responded, No"
Landgraf merely shook his head.
The black caps were being drawn when
Landgraf slipped backward but promptly
recovered. There was an awful look of de
spair on Maxwell's face as the cap hid 1t
from view, and his knees showed weakness.
The nooses were adjusted quickly, and at
$3.50 O'clock the drop fell.
Landgraf never moved, nor did a muscle
twitch.
HAilp pEATH
1t was not SO with Maxwell. When ha
fell his breast heaved convulsively aud his
limbs were drawn upward, while the spec
tators were shocked by a stream of blood
pouring down the righ breast of his coat,
which was afterward found to have been
caused by cut on the nose, inflicted by the
rope in some mysterious way.
Landgraf was pronounced dead in eleven
and half minutes.
MaxwelPs struggles continued for four
teen minutes, when he too was pronounced
dead by the attending physicians
Landgraf was cut down at 9:l2 o'clock
and Maxwell at 9:15.
BOTH NECKs BROKEN.
The bodies were removed TO the morgue
office and photographed, after which post
mortem was held. 1t showed that the necks
of both men were broken.
Max ellis nose was broken, and it is pre-
sumed that he struck some part of the gal
lows in the fall. Several of the smaller
bonss of his neck were also fractured.
The morgue officials state that Maxwellis
body was the filthiest corpse handled in the
morgue for many day. His undercloth-
ing was vile. and he evidently had not
bathed in months.
LANDGRAF's CRIME.
Landgraf murdered his sweetheart on
March s. 1895. He was sentenced to hang
on April 20 Of last year, but he, like Max
well, has b zen making desperate effort to
save himself, and has had the benefit of ap-
peals, stays Of execution and respites The
execution was postponed two hours from
the original time set this morning, on Max
vyalps account T,andoraf sha ring i'm tba A.