The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-08-24
MURDERERs OF WOMEN.
Four Men meet a Horrible Fate In the
Tombs Prison.

-Four Men Meet a IN ths
Tombs Prison.
NEw YORK, Aug. 2S.-Four murderers
of women. Patrick Packenhsu, Jack
Lewis, (colored,l james Nolan and Fred
Csrolin, were hanged IN the yards Of the
Tombs prison this morning. There were
two scaffOIds and two men were hung on
each. Peckenham and Nolan were the
first executed, on q scaffold which was
erected on the Franklin street side of the
prison. The drop fell at 6:55 O'Clock.
Eight minutes later, Lewis and Carolin
were hanging from the scaffold on the
Leonard street side.
Sheriff Black and Under Sheriff Sexton
entered the prison at 6:l5, followed by
twenty deputy sherltfs, ell in black clothes
and wearing silk hats Zach official wore
his badge of Office and carried a stat. They
marched into the corridor, ten of them tax
ing their places at Leonard street and the
others at the Franklin wall. The first jury
OF twelve men and ali the newspaper rep
resentatives entered the prison yard, and
two minutes later the second set of jurors
fled in and marched TO their places. The
last rites of the church were administered
to PackenhRm and Nolan. and AZ $40 they
emerged from the jail, accompanied by
three priests. the arms of the con-
demned men were pInioDed and over the
shoulders of each hung a black cap. Pack
6nham's face was of a CHASTITY pallOr, but
his step was firm and he looked unhinch-
ingly into the faces around him. Nolan
hardly appeared to realize his position.
There was a half defiant look on his coun-
tenance.
After the men hsd taken their places on
the scaffold they both grasped the hands
OF the priest, wriDging them fervently.
Then Hangman Atkinson tied a Awhile cord
about the legs o. y lau j1st above the
ankles His assistant d'I ike Sefvice
for Packenham. In a tSInAiiig < tuv black
caps were adjusted, and at a signal from
Atkinson both bodies were jerked into the
air. At 7:10 Nolan and Psc kenham were
prOnouAced dead, but their bodies were
permitted to hang for fifteen minutes
longer
While this scene was being enacted prep
srAtions were being made for what proved
10 be the most shocking spectacle that had
ever taken place within tne walls of the
TOmbs prison.
BY many persons, CaroIin, who was a
German, was not believed to be of sound
mind, although the experts at his trial de-
clared him sane. There seemed 70 be q
screw loose somewhere. and every prison
keeper or deputy sheriff who ever had 20
watch him said so. He murdered a wuman
who passed as his wife, in a small back
room in Stanton street tenement The
murder grew out of q drunken quarrel
Lewis and Nolan. like Carolin, had each
murdered his mistress. Like CarOlin also
victim was his wife. He, too, was a hard
drinker.
The hanging Of Carolin and Lewis in
several aspects is probably unparalleled.
A gaunt, s4llow-faced man had come
around from where Psckeahem and Nolan
were hanging and made a brief examina-
ton of the instrument Of death. Then he
disappeared, and minute later Haneman
Atkinson, Immediately after finishing his
first job came around back OF the prison
and stood behind the box. Now CaTOlin
and Lewis, with the priests, came through
the door. Lewis, the negro, walked un-
steadily for the first ten OF dozen PAGES,
but quickly recovered himself. He was
smiling, and as he caught sight of
deputy who had been especially kind 10
him he walked over and seized his hand
Then he shook hands with two more.
Father Gelinas gently urged him toward
the rope that was to strangle him. He
smiled and looked fearlessly around him.
CaroIin had the butt of q cigar between
his lips and was putting vigorously, blow
ing great clouds of smoke into the faces OF
the priests. His face was as pale rs the
face of the dead and scowI upon it almost
He glared at the priests as he
turned around and felt the rope touch his
shoulders. Splitting the cigar stub from
his mouth be broke into blasphemy that
Mortified the spectators. Atkinson had
just pinioned his legs when he spoke.
Looking sullenly at tie priests he suddenly
exclaimed. Il die an innocent man. God
damn II, didn't do this thing"
Lewis, who had been piniOned, half
turned his head. and addressing his COM
psnion, said:
Whats the matter with you, anyway
Why don't you die like a man ?''
81 will die like a man." shrieked Caro-
lin, his face turningtperfectly livid. Il will
die like an innocent man."
The words were scarcely out of his
mouth before Atkinson had clapped the |
black cap over the murderer's face The
assistant hsngman covered Lewis face at
the same time. Atkinson gave the signal
and the weight fell. Instead Of bounding
up as Packenham and Nolan had done,
the miserable wretches went into the air
with so little force that there was scarcely
any rebound at all.
Lewis Immediately began to struggle in
4 most sickening manner. He threw his
legs about so violently as TO kick of his
slippers Then he began to gurgle and
choke, the rasping. wheezy sound coming
from under the horrible cap for fully ten
seconds His body turned and swsyed,
and the sight was SO painful that half a
dozen men turned away their heads. The
wretched creature was slowly strangled.
CarOlin's body WAS violently cOnvulsed,
but he uttered not a sound.
The weight fell at 7.03 O'Clock and at 7:1O
both men were dead. The four bodies
hung for half an hour and were then cut
down and placed in plain coffins.
SAN ANTONIO. Texas, Aug. 22-Jim
Mccoy, q noted despsrado. was hanged
here to-day. The crime for which he snf-
fered was the killing of Sheriff Mckinney.