The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-08-26
MORTON HANGED TODAY
Camden's Co1ored Murderer
Goes Cheerful1y to
the Scaffold.
FEARFUL FAREWELLs LAST MIGHT
The Execution Well Conducted
How the Death Warrant
Was Signed.
speciol to the Jerseu c1tv Ne,r..

! CAMDEN, N. j., Aug. 26, 1s92.-James
| r. Morton, the colored murderer, was
| hanged this morning in the Camden
County Jail. ut this place. in the presence
| of about thirty witnesses, including the
Sheriff's Jury, newspaper reporters,
priests and physicians.
Morton slept we'll from midnight and
got up at six o'clock this morning and
| carefully dressed himself In a new black
suit, furnished to him by the county.
He then TOOK hearty breakfast con-
sisting of coffee, rolls and fish. He seemed
less nervous than last night. He greeted
Sheriff West and his spiritual adviser,
Father Kelly, in cheerful manner when
| they visited his cell.
The condemned man and the priest
were left alone and engaged in prayer for
over an hour.
When everything was in readiness the
hangman entered Morton's cell, bound his
hands and then placed the black cap on
wards the gallows. Sheriff West leading
the way. closely followed by the con-
| demned man and Father Kelly.
Morton held crncifix in his hand and
| muttered prayers after the priest.
When they reached the gallows no time
was LOST. The moose was quickly adjusted,
aud precisely at 10:35 Sheriff West sprung
the trap.
Morton's body bounded into the air,
| and then fell distance Of several feet.
Sheriff West Immediately after spring.
Ing the trap fell over and wept like u
child.
HIS LAST NIGHT.
Morton spent IL very restless night, He
slept but three hours during Wednesday
night. The reading of his death warrant
by Sheriff West completely unneryed
him, and the officials began to fear that
he would break down when the march
was made to the scaffold. He made re-
quest to be accompanied by his death
watch, Constable Hunt, and also asked
the Sheriff yesterday to adjust the rope
IN such a way that no mistake would be
made and that his neck would be broken
III the fall.
During the afternoon he was presented
with suit of black clothes by the Sheriff.
Last night he was visited BY his three
daughters. The youngest, about twelve
years old, wept continually while bidding
her father the last farewell at midnight.
Several people who knew him called at
the Jail and were permitted to see him.
Among these were Councilman Rankin
and Coroner Jeffers.
When left alone Morton read the
Psalms of David" and knelt often In
prayer. He seemed to realize his position
and was apparently contrite
Morton was a refined looking co1ored
man, sllmlY built and having an intslli-
gent face. Previous to his arrest for the
serious crime he was held high In the
estimation of his neighbors, being an ex-
horter In church and private watchman
for store properties. He declared that his
mind Was clouded by his use of strong
drink.
The scaffold was erected in the old
Board OF Freeholders' room in the south
east corner of the Jail Sheriff West
County Physician Iszard, Coroner Jefferis
and others were present when iU was
tested. and all expressed the opinion that
no blunders would be made, as was the
cast at the hanging of Hunter.
Coroner Jefferis yesterday signed bond
in accordance with the State law to allow
no one to view the body after the hang
ing. He will have charge OF the BODY
which will be buried in a lot in st. Pat
rick's Cemetery, near Merchantville.
SIGNING THE DEATH WARRANT.
Samuel Gordon, the Governors mes
senger, had lively chase for the Cover
nor on Tuesday night and Wednesday
morning. The Governor had gone on his
vacation and was somewhere in the New
London bay, and it became necessary to
obtain his signature TO the death warrant
of Thomas Morton, now in the Camden
county Jail for the murder of an aged
colored woman.
Morton was reprieved thirty days ago
by the Court of Pardous. and it was
necessary for the Governor to issue q war
rant of execution and serve it tomorrow.
the time fixed for the execution.
The warrant being prepared by Private
Secretary Leon Albeit, j., he sent for
Messenger Gordon and dispatched him to
find the Governor ii he could
Samuel Travelled all night, and arriving
in New London Bay, he secured a boat
aud spent four hours trying to locate the
Governors boat. After ram bling around
he found the Governor quietly sitting on
the porch of the Pequas House
The warrant was signed without any
further delay, and Samuel turned his
face homewards. He travelled both night
ana day and reached the executive cham
Der yesterday afternoon ut Two O'Clock,
Eddie Fox then took the death warrant.
caught the Nellie Bly, and Atlantic City
express and went to Camden and served
it upon Sheriff West. He reached there
just thtrty-six hours before the execu-
ton.