The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-22
HALLINGER PLACID.
A Sunday Night Visit to the Mur-
derer in HIS Cell.

"Cell No. 5, Murderers' Row, Hudson
County JAIL" is the present address OF
Hallinger, the burly negro. who has
pleaded guilty to numbering the woman
with whom he was living. His next door
neighbors are four other men who, like
him, will leave their quarters only to
meet death by the rope.
Hallinger still persists In admitting his
guilt, and declares that he will do moth
ing TO save his life. He told me so, posi-
lively, when l called upon him on SUM-
day evening. He has as companion in
his cell Peterson, the negro VINO jumped
off the Palisade cliffs, after being chased
is charged, he WIS attempting to com-
nit burglary a couple Of weeks ago.
The two colored men get along together
very nicely. although bath complain that
they are cramped for room.
QUITE COMFORTABLE
When / entered cell No. 3, Hallinger
sat In a chair with his feet resting upon
his cot, a candle between his feet fas-
tened with a little melted tallow to the
rim of the bed. Peterson, who occupies
the upper bunk, sat in his sleeping place /,
his legs dangling in the air like the sails
of windmill. Both men were smoking
corncob pipes.
Cell No. is on the first tier of the lower
floor of the jail, where important crimin-
ais are confined. It is Just beyond the
cage" or barred space in which visitors
are permitted to stand while they talk to
prisoners, and is the third cell from the
entrance door. 1t is always kept in a
cleanly condition, rs, IN fact. are all the
cells in the Hudson County Jail, and Is
regarded with an air of reverence bv the
| prisoners of other quarters. The cell Is OF
| the same dimensions as are the others on
the same tier, and it has no particular
| feature 70 distinguish it save that II Is
| looked upon as tue death lock" 1t is
whitewashed, has few pictures, chair,
| two bunks-and its inmates.
When called upon Hallinger, pris-
ouer who has charge Of the door took me
| to the grating which divides the mur
| derer from the corridor. Hallinger took
his corncob pipe from his mouth. and
smiling pleasantly said:-"How 'dgeW
"How do you feel. Hallinger?" | asked.
Fairly comfortable. fer sech uuahtas," +"
| the negro answered, while Peterson
chuckled and sent his legs spinning about
| like wind mill sails in a gale. "Bct dey
| had anything ter complain about |
wouldn't make nome"
He resumed his pipe and after taking
a few whiffs, added:-"Oncet In while
| I gets hold OF papah and some terback-
er, and SO passes the time away"
I
.Do you still adhere to the plea you
! made to the Court, that you are guilty Of
| murder in the first degreef
''Of cou'se do. What else is they fob
me to do. l done It. Dey wasn't any.
one else done IL. What else can l do?
| done it and dey Knows done IL. Y
! "But do you understand the meaning
of the term, murder in the first degree9 :,
| "Jest as well as anybody livin' does.
| knows what it means fer me, an | aint
goin' back on it, I done It, an l amt de-
nyin' it, What's the user"
How do they treat you heres"
| "Nice enough. / can't complain. Only
sometimes | runs short on the terbackeI
| an few cents helps me out on that and
papers. like to read the papers when
| can get 'em, an find out what's goin' on
in the world"
shave you considered the real meaning
Of yonr plea of guilty, and the prospect
| before your
:" know what you mean,n Hallinger
1 said. looking up seriously. "You mean
that Pm TO be hanged. Well. | can tell
you that have thought It over. killed
| that woman, and I expect to hang for it.
| If was TO say / didn't kill her I'd lie,
and / ain't goin' to do that"
| Hallipger once more placed his pipe be-
| tween his lips. and nodding courtesly, in
| timated that the interview was over. A
moment later he blew out the candle,
placed his pipe on the chair. removed his
outer garments, and turned into his bunk.
| There was no appearance of worrimen
| on the mans countenance as he tucked
| the quilt with which each cot is provided
| over his stalwart shoulders, and he show
ed no dread OF the future as he curled
comfortably over with his face against
| the whitewashed wall.
Peterson. who may go to State Prison If
| he Is convicted, had nothing to say,
| shiyered little as If his cell-mate's cool
| ness gave the atmosphere a chill, and
rolled back into his bunk, looking as Il
| he was the man in danger of the rope.