The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-05-12
HALL|NGER'S DOOM.
To Be Hanged on June 80
for the Murder of
Mary Peterson.
JUDGE KNAPP'S EMOTION.
The Negro Murderer Not Afraid to
Die, But Wants to See His
Children.

While the great bell IN the tower Of st.
Joseph's Church slowly tolied the hour
Of twelve today, Edward Hallinger was
being sentenced to die on June 80 for the
murder of Mary Petersen.
The story is familiar to everyone how
Haliinger, an ex-preacher and ex-prize-
fighter, on Sunday, April 5. in a most
brutal manner chopped to death his wife
with a lather's hatchet. He pleaded
guilty when arraigned In court, and his
sentence today was the result Of the plea
and of an examination made by the
Court.
When Judge Knapp took his seat on
the bench his face was pale and he looked
much moved. In pronouncing the death
sentence the Judge was SO overcome by
his feelings that he nearly broke down.
\ aud was only able to continue to the end
bv an effort. Judge Lippincott, who sat
beside him. looked sad and solemn as II
he heartily sympathized In his colleagues
emotion.
THE cULPRIT IN COURT.
Hallinger was brought into court oY
Constables Budden. and Boland. He was
calm and collected He smiled once and
then, boldly facing the Judge, listened in
fentiy to what was said.
hJudge Knapp nesitated moment and
said:--
Edward, w.'Hallinger, the defendant
Ia this indictment, was presented by the
Grand Jury of the present term and
charged with the murder of Mary Hallin-
ger alias Petersen, who had been living
with him as his wife. The defendant,
when arraigned. pleaded guilty. In such
cases the statute directs that an examine
tion of witnesses shall be made TO deter
mine the degree of crime. This has been
done. The statute In this State divides
murder into Two degrees.
Judge Knapp here read the sections in
the statutes defining the degrees OF muir
der and continued:-"The feature whcn
marks the degrees under our statute Is
the intent Where there is formed de-
sign to take life, and that design is exc
cuted, that is wtllfuI premeditated Kill
ing, and is murder in the first degree. Ii
II not essential that this premeditation
should be in the mind an hour
or even minute, so long
as distinctly defined and executed
ssWe have heard all the testimony, and
also we have examined 1t carefully, be-
cause we were advised to by the learned
counsel who defended the accused With
a most careful examination into the facts
as to the degree, and desiring to find the
lesser degree If possible, we have been
constrained to believe the ouense to be
murder in the first degree, the penalty OF
whichis death.
edward w. Hallinger. have you any
thing to say why death should not be i'm
{ nosed p,
Before the Judge had finished this ques-
tion Hallinger had hastily risen to his
feet 1t was the only time since he was
charged with the murder that he gave
any evidence of being excited.
NOT AFRAID.
"All want to say, /" said HallinRer. in
a quick jerky voice that denoted his ex-
cited condition, "is that want to see my
children. I'm prepared to die at any
time. Death don't scare me. Pm ready
to die now or any time, but want to see
my children
ssWhere are your childreni" asked
Judge Knapp in kindly voice.
g ! don't know, sir; some where in the
city,
1.-THE poormaster has charge of them,''
said Counsellor Collins, lone of them has
been sick and the poormaster thought 1t
better to wait for a few days before TAX
ing the children to their father"
The court directed that they be taken
to Hallinger next Sunday, If their con-
dition permitted, and Hallinger was then
sentenced to be hanged Tuesday, June 80,
between ten and three O'Clock in the
County Jail.
Hallinger never finched when told the
day that he must die, and when Constables
Budden and Boland approached him he
stepped between them deliberately and
walked to the jail where he was locked
into the cell he had been occupying.
Jailer Birdsall has placed watch over
him, and from now until June 80 Hal
linger will have the eye of some man on
him constantly.