The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-08-06
The People Of Auburn, New York.
Greatly Excited Over the
Affair.
REPORTERS ON HAND IN CROWDS.
The Warden Keeps the Time of Exc
cutiOn Carefully Con-
cealed.
He may use the Electric Battery any
Evening or Morning this
Week.

AUBURN, N. y, August 4.--This after.
a postman on his rounds of delivery,
carried into the prison a registered letter
addressed to William Kemmler. The
postmark was Philadelphia, and upon
the face Of the envelope was written the
words "from your brother, Henry Kemm-
ler." Doubtless this communication was
thought by the writer to be, and probably
would be, the last to pass between the
two brothers. The law provides that the
body of the criminal shall lie buried in
the prison cemetery unless claimed by
relatives. Aside from this rother, it is
not positively known that kemmler has
any other living relative. He himself is
under the impression that he has an
uncle or aunt living somewhere in the
west. 1t seems improbable that Kemm-
ler's body will be claimed by relatives
and the place of his burial is we'll nigh
settled.
This afternoon the Associated Press
representative asked Warden Durston if
it would be safe for the correspondent to
absent himself from the vicinity of the
prison two or three hours. "Why, Ger
:alnly," was the response, sand l will Say
to you frankly that there will be nothing
of Importance in the next "a hours"
This was said at 4 O'Clock this afternoon.
Hence the warden is authority for the
statement that the death bolt will not be
loosened at least until 4 o'clock tomor
row. Bearing upon this point is a private
dispatch received in this city from Buff
alo, stating that the invited witnesses to
the execution had been asked to be pres
emit at Auburn at Z o'clock tomorrow
evening. Reasoning from these facts,
the people are divided in opinion as to
whether Kemmler will die tomorrow
evening after work in the shops has
stopped OF upon Wednesday morning be-
fore work in the shops has begun.
Doubtless more people here are Of the
belief that Wednesday morning will be
the time of the execution. Osborne
house, the chief hotel Of the city, is
thronged with correspondents and every
nook is occupied, though none of the in
vited witnesses, so far as known, have yet
been registered there. The methods
employed by the various newspapers to
secure and transmit the first news of
Kemmler's death, If printed, would pos
sibly interest the public as much as a de-
tail of the event which all are here tc re-
port. The Western Union in the present
emergency has come forward to meet it.
Local Manager Horton has established
a sub-of1ce in the freight depot directly
opposite the prison. From it IA New
York wires are available. All day long
yesterday and today silent, curious faces
have been pressed between the heavy IN
right iron bars on the north side of the
big prison gate. Men, women and chill
den have thus been watching the win
dows behind which Kemmler is anG
where, at rare intervals, a face or hand
may be seen behind the bars and wire
net work which cover the windows.
Tonight Warden Durston has made
known 10 of the 20 persons who besides
himself may witness the execution O.
Kemmler. Two ministers are to be add
ed, bringing the number up to 81, which
leaves the warden the choice of only five
deputies, to which himself will be added
making ~ persons to be present.
There has recently been much printed
J and said about the possibility Of an In
, quiry being instituted by Gov. Hill a
Warden Durston's suggestion as to tn
sanity of Kelnmler. The Associated
Press correspondent, in view of this in
formation, is unable to accord tn
) slightest credence to such reports. /
, Kemmler Is insane, he is not we'll ant
Warden Durston is authority for
pointed and positive statement that thu
condemned man is well; that all state
ments to the contrary are not only untru'
but foolish. He says that the prisone
, has maintained himself as well, and bet
: ter, than the majority of the men unde
such circumstances. If the Warden II
mistaken. the responsibility is his.