The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1889-08-30
ON ONE SCAFF0LD
OF NUMBER
ERS IN A NEW YORK JAIL.

Packenlam, Nolan, Lcwls, and CAROLYN
Suffer the Laws Severest PenaItyA
Sickening Scene on One of the Glib
bets-Blaspheming in Deaths Awful
Shade
At New York, four condemned murder
ers-Patrick P%ackenham, Jack Lewis
(colored,, James Nolan, n Ferd!n-
mud Carolin-were hanged in the yard
of the Tombs prison Friday morning.
There were two scaffolds and two men
were hanged on each. Peckenham and
Nolan were first executed On the scatfold
which had been erected OH the Franklin
street side of the prison. The drop fell at
G:55 o'clock. Eight minutes laten Lewis
and Carolin were hanged from the gallows
near Leonard street.
Sheriff Flack and Under Sheriff Sexton
entered the prison at $3.50 o'clock. They
vera followed by twenty deputy sheriffs.
At t:d6 Carolin and Lewis were removed
to the boys Jail, on the Leonard street
side. The last rites of the church were then
administered At G:4U two of the con-
demned men, Packenham and Nolan,
emerged from the jail. Father Fendergast
supported Packenham and Father Gelinas
walked by Nolan's side. Father Van Rem
sellear followed. Packenham's face was
ghastly pale, but his step was firm. Nolan
hardly appeared to realize his position.
Reaching their places under the ropes
both men turned and grasped the priests
by the hands. In n twinkling the black
caps were a djusted, and Atkinson raped
three times in rapid succession on the side
of the box, wherein a third assistant stood
with a Ratchet. The third rap had hardly
been given when the bodies of the MUIR
derers were swinging in the dir. At the
expiration of four minutes a mighty throe
passed through both of the suspended men.
At 40 O'Clock both men we're pronounced
dead, but We're permitted to hang fifteen
minutes longer.
While this scene was being enacted
preparations were being made for what
proved to be the most shocking spectacle
that has ever lecn witnessed within the
walls Of the Tombs prison.
At 6:45 the two murderers received
their last spiritual consolation. At 7:O2
CAROLYN and Lewis, accompanied by the
priests. came through the door. Lewis
walked unsteadily Tor the first dozen
PAGES, but quickly recovered himself. He
was smiling and looked feurlessly around
him..
Carolin's face was pale and the scowl
upon it almost demonaical. He glared at
the priests as he turned around and felt
the rope touch his shoulder. Then he
broke out into blasphemy that Mortified
the spectators. Looking sullenly at the
priests the doomed man suddenly ex-
claimed:
81 die an innocent man, -----
I dldn't do this thing"
Lewis half turned his lead and said:
"What's the matter with you, anyway?
Why don't you die like a man"
81 will die like u man, !" shrieked Caro-
lin, his face turning perfectly liyid. 81
will die like a man-an innocent man."
The words were scarcely out of his mouth
when the black cap was clapped over the
murderer's face, tho signal was given and
the weight fell. Instead of bounding up-
ward as FatEenlam-and Nolan had done.
the wretched men went into the air with
such little force that there was scarcely
any spring al all. Lewis Immediately be-
gan to struggle in the most sickening'
manner. He threw his legs about so vio-
iently us to kick off his slippers. Then
he began to .urgln and choke, The rasp-
ing. vince Y sound same from under the
cap for fully ten seconds. His body turned
and swayed, and the contortions were SO
painful that the spectators turned away
their head The man was slowly
strangled. Carolin's body also underwent
violent Contortions, but lie uttered no
sound. The weight fell at 1903 o'clock
and at I:lO both men were dead.