Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-20
MIDNIGHT HANGING.
Murderer Bulow Executed HurriedIy an
in Darkness.

Murderer Bulow Executed HurriedIy and
in Darkness.
LITTLE FALLS (Minn), July 19th.-Such
vengeance as the law can infiict has fallen
upon albert Bulow, and the murder of
Franklin Eich has been requitted. Pre-
cisely at 1890 o'clock Sheriff Raaicot threw
the lever. There was plunge the sudden
chung OF the rope as it reached its length;
a slight crack of the gibbet, then a spas
modic quiver of the struggling form and
Bulow was corpse.
This was the first execution in the State
under the law passed by the last Legisla-
ture, the provisions OF which are of doubt
full constitutionality. The Act provides
that all executions shall take place between
the hours of midnight and sunrise that no
person representing a newspaper shall be
present and that no details of such execu-
ton beyond the statement that such con-
vict was duly executed according to law
shall be published in any newspaper. The
violation of this law is made a misde-
meanor.
Shortly after midnight the Sheriff, ac-
companied by his deputy, visited the con-
demned mans cell, where he was found
fully dressed in the plain suit which was to
serve for his shroud, and praying fervidly
by the side of Father Donovan, who had
been attending him.
BY CANDLE-LIGHT.
By the dim light of the single candle al
lowed the prisoner the death warrant was
read. Bulow's face assumed an ashy hue,
but he preserved his calmness during the
trying ordeal, standing with bowed head
and his hands clasped before him.
The Sheriff placed himself at the prison.
e1's right arm and the deputy at his left
and the march to the gallows was begun
The condemned man stepped lightly from
his cell into the main corridor of the Jail
which was dimly lighted by single flick
ering gas jet. His eyes fell upon the
shadows on the wall, and he sank back in
fear and trembling. The muttered prayer
of the priest broke the silence, and, reas-
sured, the condemned man marched on
toward his doom. They crossed the hall
and out into the inclosure.
When the engine of death first met the
prisoners eyes he started and trembled
violently, but the Sheriff's clasp on his
arm tightened visibly and steadily. They
ascended the stairs and crossed to the drop
NEARLY SCARED To DEATH.
Bulow appeared entirely unconscious of
his surroundings. He stood on the trap as
pale as death itself beneath the single flick
ering light which lit the scene. He paid
no heed to the rope which dangled by his
side or the serpentine shadows it cast at his
feet. His eyes were fixed upon the dark
ness beyond the scaffold, where the nine
spectators were huddled together, but he
did not even recognize his bosom friend,
who was among them. A dead calm had
settled upon him, and q spectator whis-
pered, He is really dead now" As the
Sheriff quickly adjusted the straps the
mans gaze fell upon the coffin, which sat
IN one corner awaiting him. He half
smiled at the gleam of the silver handles,
then fixed his eyes upon the crucifx car
ried by the priest.
The black cap was then drawn closely
down and the moose circled about his neck.
The Sheriff's hand had scarcely left the
moose to straighten out and adjust the rope
when with quick movement it touched
the lever. The prisoners voice seemed to
be family heard; then, without prayer or
confession, adieu or penitence, the bolts
were shot back and the drop swung away.
THE CRIME ExPIATED.
The body fell into the semi-darkness be-
meath the trap, and swayed to and fro,
casting gruesome shadows at the feet of the
awe-stricken spectators. A convulsive
shudder ran through the frame, and then
it hung with quivering motion.
The brother of the man whose murder
had just been expiated stepped forward.
with head uncovered, touched the swing
ing body, muttered an imprecation, and
then stepped to one side.
Coroner Fortier and DR.. Lonsdaie then
stepped forward and made the customary
pulse examination. Twelve minutes elapsed
and Albert Bulow was pronounced dead.
The body was cut down, placed in the
coffin and carried to the Office OF the Cor
oner.
The execution was witnessed but by the
nine men permitted by the law to be pres
ent and the officials OF the Jail, no newspa-
per representative being present.
The spectators were completely overcome
by the ghastly scene, and describe it as be,
ing most appalling.