Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-06
The Signal That Will Bring Death
to Four Murderers.
MAKING READY FOR THE EXECUTION.
The Warden Refuses to Admit
Newspaper Representatives.
UNACCOUNTABLE DELAYS,
AWAITING THE EXECUTION,
scenes at the State Prison at Sing Sing Pric
to the Electrocution.

SING SING, July 6.-Although il was gem
orally understood that no one would be allowed
inside the prison hundreds Of persons visited
Prison Hill yesterday and gazed at the blank
walls of the building as if they would read
what was trauspiring inside. Even after mid
night people visited the spot, but were ordered
on oy the armed guards, who have been placed
on all the approaches to the prison. No one
was allowed to pass this guard.
During the night the village was agitated as
TO the question whether the four condemned
men would suffer the penalty of their crime dur
ing the hours between midnight and dawn. The
most conflicting and absurd reports were
spread about Standing on the hill overlook
ing the prison il was seen that there was much
activity In the prison. The building itself was
Illuminated and the frequent rumble OF wheels
announced the arrival of visitors. The cabs
continued to arrive until long after midnight
and the opinion was that their occupants were
the jury and the doctors who we're to be wit
nesses of the tragedy.
The prison officials did everything that they
could TO make the time pass pleasantly. A gem
erous supply of coffee which had been made for
the guard was put in general circulation. Moth
Ing was seen of the warden or any OF the wit
nesses nuring the night At midnight the war
den son advised the watchers to go away and
get four or five hours sleep. but they would not
take his advice. and so he sat up to keep them
company. Every one abou. the prison pro-
b
1t was general belief that he was OFF some
where getting together his witnesses and the
river front was patrolled until a late hour for
the possible landing of special boat with the
execution party on board As the gray dawn
crept up In the east the weary watchers gave up
the idea OF special boat or special train, and
most OF them went away to catch q few hours
Sleep The warden was expected on the 5:21
train from Albany. 1t isAn express, which does
not stop at Sing Sing, but it was thought that it
might nave received special orders to stop for
the warden The train swept through the
town, however, at Its usual rate of speed.
THE WARDEN ARRIVES.
At twelve minutes before o'clock the buck-
board Of the warden appeared coming down
the road to the prison, the warden's son driv-
ing and the warden sitting beside The warden
looked as though he had not had much sleep in
the last twenty-four hours. His face was pale
and there were deep rings around his eyes. He
greeted the little group of newspaper reporters
cordially and passed on to his Office. The first
thing he did was to issue order to the guard
to keep every one away from the Office and the
walk in front of it.
I've got to keep you people away now," he
said to one of the correspondents. "rve
treated you as cordially as 1 know how and
given you every facility possible but today
must have my house to myself. have big
job ahead and must have a chance to rest and
anything like that will come out and give it
to you
The warden declined to say where he was last
night. He would not deny the statement that
he had been at Albany, but he would not con-
firm it. To the question whether there was
any chance of the execution occurring today
he would only reply: You must Use your own
judgment about that"
DOUBT OF AN EXECUTION TO-DAY.
statement was made from o semi-offcial
source, however, that there would be no exscu-
ton today-that it would occur in all hksli-
hood at daybreak tomorrow.
THE CONDEMNED MEN
The condemned men spent q quiet. restful
night When Head Keeper Connaughton
visited their cells at o'clock this morning all
said that they had slept well all through the
night 1t was O'Clock when the first signs of
awakening came to them. By $50 they had
dressed themselves. made their beds and tidied
up their rooms. All of them seemed to be in
as good spirits as on yesterday. Breakfast was
served to them from the hospital kitchen at
$40. All Of them ate well and seemed to enjoy
the meal.
The first arrival of any interest was ex-
Warden Brush, Mr.. Browns predecessor He
drove up to the prison entrance at $50 and
carried big yellow travelling bag into the
from his old subordinates. Twenty minutes
later Warden Durston Of Auburn, the man who
executed kemmler, was seen walking down the
road and the newspaper reporters who were
sitting on the grass across the road from the
prison entrance went down in BODY to greet
him. He shook hands with all Of them, but in
response to questions said, however. that be
expected to 60 on to New York tonight or to-
morrow and to return to Auburn on Wednes-
day. He said that the warden Of Dannemora
would not be here.
There we're three departures from the prison
during the morning. The two priests, Father
Creeden and Father Lynch, who had been in
the condemned cells for nearly an hour went
away in q carriage at $50. Warden Brush took
his yellow travelling bag and duster and went
away at II 06 Before his departure he paid .
visit to the newspaper colony on the roadside
and announced that he had not come to Sing
Sing to attend the execution, that he had come
on other business and did not know ct the
time of his coming that the execution was to
take place today.
witnesses during the morning that they were
on their way to the prison and that they would
be here this afternoon. Ii is known that all Of
the witnesses will be here this afternoon and it
is altogether likely that the executions or one
Of them will take place before sundown today.
Some Of them may be postponed until tomor-
row morning.
ooNDEMNED BEARING Up WELL
Chaplain EdRerton emerged from the prison
about IL o'clock. He said he had talked with
each of the men. $50 far as could see," he
said, .'they are bearing up bravely. The
japanese is inclined to be sullen and Slocum Il
q trife nervous. None Of them wanted to talk.
and no questions were asked me-"
Asked IL he would be present at the execu.
ton, he said: 'It is my duty to be there" He
refused to say what time il would take place.
but said he was going for Q drive and would not
be back until afternoon.
Ex-warden Brush went to the village. but
said he would be back later in the day Warden
Durston was still in the prison, a. was DR.. Car
los Mcdonald. No other witnesses had arrived
up to - o'clock.
dressed to DR.. Mcdonald ssking him 10 come
out and speak to the reporters, but Warden
Brown refused to give il to him and returned
it unopened. About noon an elderly man A.
rived and alighted in front of the prison On N.
public highway. The reporters sttempted 10
approach the carriage, but the euard drovs
them back, threatening 70 shoot Il thev aid mot
leave the highway.
THE DEATH cHAn.
The chair in which the condemned msu viu
suffer the death penalty iss substantial % we'll
as comfortable looking piece Of woodworksr's
mechanism, and with the concessions with the
dynamo was designed by Capt Hilbert, the
prison machinist, under whose supervision Il
was built It u constructed In Q very WORK
manlike manner and differs very materially
from the chair used in the exscutioa Of Ks0H-
ler at Auburn prison. The chair b locaSod tn
q room iuat aoufh of that ooeuuind hv ~ IN