St. Paul daily globe., 1891-10-17
hands behind his back and turned them
to the sheriff to be handcuffed.


to the sheriff to be handcutfed.
The noble bearing of the condemned
murderer touched every heart. He
seemed Offering himself freely. us a
sacrifice. Knowing the certain fate IN
store. he met it with heroic courage.
If guilty, Roses actions at the last were
such as to place him among the most
hardened criminals the world has
known. If innocent, he went to his
death with the heroism of a martyr of
old. And, whether innocent or guilty,
he met his death like noble man.
Rose followed the sheriff across the
narrow passage way, climbed the stairs,
and placed himself carefully upon the
trap without word or sign, or assistance
from any one. His face showed no un-
usual pallor, yet, from long confne-
ment, it looked of marble white against
the jet-black hair and mustache of the
man. He glanced at the little crowd Of
people below, looked earnestly into
their eyes, and firmly, as IL weighing
every word-as if he would bring home
to every one his truth-as if he spoke
in the very presence of God -he said:
His last Words.
"Gentlemen, you realize that [ stand
on this platform tonight as poor, un-
fortunate man, who in a few minutes
must swing. [ see a number of faces
before me which | know, and some of
you, gentlemen, will surely live to see
the day that [ shall be declared inno-
cent. 1t is not by the strong arm of God
that this is done, but by the strong arm
OF the law. l must bow to it. Gentle
men, | believe and L know that the man
who killed Lufkin was Eli Slower. re-
peat it, gentlemen, that Slower is the
guilty man. Watch that old man Slower
and see whether my words don't come
true.
Il thank you for being here and for
the kindnesSes | have received from you.
Gentlemen, l bid you good-by."
SHERIFF, do your duty" he quietly
remarked as the last words died away.
The straps were adjusted, the black
cap drawn. Mr.. Sinclair had meant to
offer an invocation, but before the first
word was uttered the sheriff pulled the
lever by his side. There was Jar
which shook the entire structure, a
snap, and the body of William Rose lay
i'll heap upon the floor, the moose
tight about his neck, and three feet or
more of the rope stretching along his
side. Imperfectly tested, the rope had
snapped in two.
The horror-stricken spectators stood
absolutely without movement, as if
carved of granite Sheriff Mead was
the one to break the spell.
"Get him up! get him upr' he said in
hoarse whisper, heard only few feet
away. Deputy Olmsted who had stood
at the right Of the prisoner, jumped
down through the trap. Another dep
uty and Coroner Pease raised the body
and carried it up the steps, where it was
laid, full length, face upwards, upon the
readjusted trap. Not word was spoken
by any one. 1t was an appalling pan
tomime as the second moose dangling
above was pulled down and placed
about the neck. Then the body slipped
slowly downward and hung suspended.
The heart beat for six and half
minutes and trace of it was felt for five
minutes longer. AT the end of twenty
three minutes the body was cut down.
When the cap was removed the face
was seen as serene as if III sleep. There
was profuse hemOrrhage from the nos
trils, however. Frightfully disfgured
as it was, the neck was not cut. AS
soon as the coroner viewed the remains
they were taken in charge by Under
taker Wardell. of Tracy, and enclosed
in burial casket, silver trimmed, with
plate bearing the inscription. ''At
Rest" The undertaken acted under
the direction OF Roses mother, and at
noon the body was taken to Tracy,
where the funeral will be held to- NOR
row.