Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-29
LIFE FOR LIFE.
ANDREW BoRJESSoN HANGED AT
uTcHFIELD THIS MORNING.


He Made No Scene and Death Came
without a struggIe-scenes During the
Closing Hours Story of the Murderer
Awful Crime.
LITCHFIELD, Jan 29.-Justice is salts
fed. Andrew Borjesson, the murderer
of Emma Anderson expiated his crime
on the gallows here to-day.
The sun was shining over the Litchfield
hills this morning, but the air was cold
and raw and everything outside the Jail
was as dreary as it was inside. The event
attracted large concourse of people, and
teams from the surrounding country came
struggling as early as 5 o'clock. The
| United States hotel was so crowded last
night that many had to go to Torrington
to put up. The Jail was locked last night
after the crowd had been gotten out and
was not opened again until 8 o'clock this
morning. 1t was evident this morning
that Sheriff Allen had been very generous
in the distribution of his invitations to
the hanging and some 800 or 400 solemn
eyed bailiffs and extemporized deputy
| sheriffs were to be seen On every hand this
morning. The Jail building was the object
of much attention on the part of the NOR
bidly curious sight see-s from the sur
rounding towns. 1t is q low, square,
Rreenish brown structure, facing the pub
lie square. The gallows on which Bor-
lesson was hanged was set in position yes
terday in a temporar.~ wooden building,
or rather an enclosed shed, where the
execution took pace. This shed will be
torn down this afternoon.
1t was o'clock before breakfast was
served, but notwithstanding the rather
tempting spread, he showed no appetite
for his last earthly meal. He said he did
not feel as we'll as usual. His breakfast
consisted of boiled eggs and coffee, cakes,
and good beefsteak. After he had eaten
lightly, the murderer, who now stood in
the shadow of the gallows, called for his
spi itual advisor and expressed the wish
to the deputy sheriff outside, that he did
not want to be disturbed again until the
dreadful moment arrived. He had given
himself up entirely to the comforting com
partnership of the Rev Mr. Erickson. After
fifteen or twenty minutes had been passed
in reading from the scriptures, the minis
ter spoke comforting words to the con-
demned man and succeeded in brighten
ing him somewhat. When Borjesson had
somewhat recovered his composure, the
Rev Mr. Erickson asked him for the last
! time not to make scene on the gallows
| or trouble of any kind after the final pre-
parations for the hanging were begun.
Again Boriesson placed his hand on the
bible and looking his good friend squarely
in the eyes said: 81 will walk to the gal
lows like brave man."
At 1915 at least $50 people were in at
tendance. The twenty-five prisoners in
the Jail were locked in their cells Bor-
jessen's cell was on the farther side of the
| Jail. The processic n formed after reading
of the warrant at just 1925, and passed
through the corr dor and by the cells
of eighteen prisoners, all of whom looked
at the doomed man piteously as he
marched along to the gallows. There
was nothing for the prisoners to do but to
sit and wait for the sound of the falling
drop. Sheriff Allen had promised to be
prompt and only waited for the stage
from East Litchfeld which arrived at
1922. The procession then appeared in
the doorway. Sheriff Allen led, followed
| by Jailer Edward Sedgwick, then came
the condemned mans spiritual adviser
and Deputy Sheriffs Marble of New Hart
ford, and Richardson of New Milford
These were followed by the other thirteen
deputies belonging in the county. Dor
lessen trotted along ahead of the squad of
sheriffs with a firm step and apparently
calm. He mounted the stairs of the scat
fold without any assistance aud Sheriff
|
| tai anguish than any one else present.
B ,riess n wore an old black cutaway coat,
white shirt, dark trousers and black tie,
was closely shaver aud his hair was
cropped short.
Considerable time was consumed on the
scaffold. Sheriff Allen and Jailer Sedg-
J wick took up their positions in front, the
| clergyman stood by the prisoners side
and Deputy Sheriffs Marble and Richard
son stood in the rear.
When asked if he had snything to say,
Borgesson said:
"This being my last day on earth 1
want to speak u few words to you.
admit killed Emma Anderson and am
sorry for it. think am going to good
place, but am feeling kind of bad to-day
and want to pray little" The wretched
man then stammered and stumbled
through a short prayer, the words of which
were unintelligible to ose who stood
nearest him. When he had concluded he
hung his head and seemed about to break
down. He recovered however, and word
from his spiritual adviser seemed to en-
courage him to bear up. Borjesson after
thinking a minute made an appeal to God
for mercy and to save him and concluded
by expressing the hope of living with the
Almighty forever. While praying, Bor
lesson had stepped to the front of the
platform unConsclously, put Wnen ne was
through he stepped back and turning tc
Sheriff Allen said, "That's ALL"
Here an unnecessary delay took place, &
minute slipping by without anything be
ing accomplished. Contrary to the usua
custom, the murderer did not address the
spectators with the fatal moose around hi!
neck. The deputies, at a signal from
Sheriff Allen, then completed pinioning o.
the condemned, who was fast weakening
Borjesson told Sheriff Allen that he wanted
to shake hands with him before he diet
and the sheriff followed by Jailer Sedg
wick, Rev Mr. Erickson, and the TIVE
deputies, clasped the pinioned hands o
the murderer and babe him good bye. Dor
lesson clasped the hands of all hearth!
and said lfeEvently to each Good bye,
adjusted by Deputy Sheriff Marble anC
De uty Sheriff Richmond drew the blacl
cap over BorjessonIs face. The murders
was then placed in the center of the trap
| ANT 4 hou NJ