New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-04
KEMMLER AWAITING DEATH
THE FATAL WEEK OPENS WITH A WEARY
DAY.
HE NOW SHOWS pIsTRUsr OF ALL THOSE WHO
DID HIM KINDNEss-wARDEN DURsToN
SUPPOSED TO WISH HIMSELF WELL
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUsE.I
)UT OF THE TASK.


OUT OF THE TASK.
- rBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUsEI
Auburn, n. Y, Aug 3.-Ths has been weary
day for Kemmler, the murderer. At midnight
his life is again in the hands of Warden Durston,
who can take it at his own sweet will at any
time within the succeeding six days. lie has
given up all hope that the courts or the Governor
will interfere in any way TO proong his existence
If he were a man of sufficient intellectually 70
understand that the sooner the electric curreno
does its work the quicker his earthly mlseres
will cease, he would beg the Warden to do his
duty Immediately. But with brute-like In
stinct he asks to live long as possible, at tho
same time knowing that there can De only one
result To-day he told for the second time
by his once favorite keeper, Daniel McNaughuon'
that the fatal week would begin at midnight.
He did not receive the news with the calmness anu
pretended satisfaction because it would soon be
over which he is credited with exhibiting oe-
fore, but muttered something under his breath
which sounded more like oath than anything
else.
Having once passed through the ordeal of listen@
ing 10 the preparations for his execution, Kemmlcr
now listens eagerly for every sound that can
reach him in his cell He knows that the chair
is in its place, and that the machinery has once
been tested, but whether or not this test was o
satisfactory one to the warden and the experts
he has not been told. This bothers him exceed
ingly and he has been worrying for fear there
may be some hitch which will cause him greau
pain and torture. There is no danger OF that
however for the last test made showed tension
of 1900 volts, which is sufficiently strong 10
take his life without inhictins the least pain.
Kemmler cannot understand why the warden
l., tor f1n lost W
lie magines that Mr. Durston does not intend to
come near him again until it is to summon him
70 the execution. A hatred as strong as MS
former reverence has sprung up in his hear6
AGAINST the warden. He longer looks upon
him as simplv an agent of the law, but believes
that the warden delights in the thought OF Killing
him For Mrs Durston, too who showed MIN
some kindness but Of late has not been near MS
cell Kemmler has little love. lie has also turheo
against his favorite keeper, Daniel McNaugh'on'
and barely replies TO the old mans ques'iohs'
This keeper used TO explain easy passages III ,he
bible 10 him, but Ke'nnlcr has become something
Of q cynic and has ceased to delight in the siinpis
stories. -,
All this is believed 10 mean that he has proAeh
down now that no hope remains III Is generanS
understood and believed in Auburn that hemunlet
knew when the week had been named Ill aprn
last in which he was to die. had The Ia" oett
carried into effect, that a motion for stay "oui"
bc made. and that upon the points then raised he
would be kent from Death long time. Roger
Sherman the New-Nork attorney VINO sotalneu
the STAY them says that he telegraphed WARDEN
| Durston of his intention on the Saturday before
! fine death-week began, but the warden stouty
! denies this This afternoon letter from e. L.
| Hatch Kemmlers Buff 10 lawyer, was received az
| the iail IL was directed 10 the condemned man,
| and contained farewell missiye. 1t was READ
to Kemmler but he did not show any signs thaa
| he opucciated the lawyers remembrance OF him.
Every one in Auburn has been wondering over
the haSty flight of the warden from the
ail on Friday night. 1t is said that ne. too'
is weakening, and Is as anxious 10 escape dolhs
his duty as kemmer is to evade the penaIty' He
has nut on a bold front heretofore ana declared
that he was ready NJ any time to perform the acts
which the law required Of him. lie is not thouGhb
,o be an exceedingly courageous man by the
people here. and tonight the general impression
is that he tried to find the Governor in New-lorS
ON Saturday. to get rid of his task. by having the
! Governor appoint commission TO inquire into
the prisoners sanity Another reason given Tor
his departure is that he wanted the volt metres
,..ted oncw. so that there would he no mistake
s ~ tro number of volts generated. AT any rate,
tb, machine when last tested did not work To
]
his entire satisfaction. What the trouble was. or
! what called him away from Auburn III such d
hreotble>s HURRY, no one in Auburn will know by
asking him. one of the massive stones OF the
nrson walls is as apt 10 tell as he Is IL
is known that he kept his going as Sc
| crrt rs possible II is sad tnat ne goO
| back here the train this morning, puo ic
| must have been disguised and hidden IN the
| baagage-car and hurried to the prison by some
back way. Al the prison gates tle Heeger u aS
silent As the warden Al OF the war zen 1oI ,~hS
ments in the last few days have been shiouded
| in the deepest mystery. ,,
Iiy some means the impression has got aDroat
that the hour of the execution VIII De @ earn Oh Oh
Tuesday morning, but the warden has gwen no
s,n that this il true. This rumor served 10 oriIS
hundreds of people to the prison gates through
which they pccpcd with eager curiosity, aHhougn
tbev couIi not sec ANYTHING except an lvy-coNered
wall. with barred window showing here ana
there and a number of iower-hcds, around "hicn
n couple of cunVicts were sweeping. ne 9reatesb
crowd WAS then, this morning. when the religious
services were held. Then The strains oi solemn
! music noated ont upon the air anu To The murderer
in his cell SiX weeks ago he would have knelt
aud tried 10 pray, but now he sat silently on the
edgc of his cot apparently wrapped In deep
thought. The invitations 10 those VINO are 70
| attend the execution have not Yet been received
bv most of those for whom they are intended
II is said that they must have three days notice
of the execution. and if this is 50, 1t cannot take
place until Thursday. >,
Kemler passcd n quiet day in his cell, eating
little and answering only when spoken TO- lie
has given up writing his name on cards and Try
ing to read passages in the Testament.
THE WARDEN DID NOT VISIT TIE GOVERNOR.
Albany Aug. 3 (Speciap.-Contrary 10 expectation
Warden Durston OF Auburn Prison, did not stop IN
this city last night Neither has he been here today
Governor Hi says that application for stly OF
execution for Kemmler has been received by him, or
al the Executive Chamber. There Is behef mere
that the electrical companies. having failed I'D te
tIe
bv electricity. have cOntrved ia some manner 70 TX
M the execution apparatus that II VIII not worry
Governor IIil does not believe that there Will be any
rr1ucSt for a commission to examine into hemmefs
| sanity.
THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS FIGHTING.
Kalamazoo, Mich. Aug. (speclaD.-ihe stainon
| Anteo 2l61-A hafbrother 10 Palo Ato anu nea"