The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-16
Ligs Halford Arrangss With : Con-
dsmned Murderer for Post
humous Information.
Unfortunately tho Mans Neck
Was Disjointed and Oommu-
uicatiou Interrupted.
Ana % This nay the Qusstton RsrnAins
U~uanswsrsd, Doss ~ Hurt 70 Es
Hangsdf

WAsHlNorox, june 14.-Ligs Halford, ne
presidents private secretary, has peen
Known. ones II ! while, 70 sxprssa aurpf'ss
% 1ho pointed nstuss of some q mo ques-
tiona pus 70 him Ia his official cspacity ~
a9ew Or ths correspondents. Nis fair 20
suppose that At suoh times he forRets z
question wAich, whom 10 was : reporter
On the Indianapolis Sentinel. he pus
o. 1 fellow creature In distress
II was told to-day at the WHITE
house By an old friend Of HalfoTd. II was
whom Halford was new In the profession OF
Journalism. and his soul thirsted fof
scoops aud Ill that sort Of thing. A muir
dersr was about to b hanged AMI Halford
was assigned to report tho hanging. y VA
only IA ordinary hanging. and to maks u
interesting he scratched his head Tor new
ideas. Tho Afst TO suggest itsslf was 70
settle The question; Does Il hurt Y be
hAngedf
He we'll knew how important the question
wss, especially 70 the m~urdsrously Inclined.
or course the most interested individual -
the hanging Was tho only one who could
give "a absolutely trustworthy answer TO
the question, and TO him young Halford
went, Some might think the question .
rather delicate one to put toa man At such
q crisis in his life. Not 10 young Halford.
Besides he had . duty to the public TO per-
form, and, py the great born spoon. be Was
bound 70 perform i. Moreover ne nag one
the murderer . favor or two, and Why
shouldn't he ask for one in return? Why,
indeed? He did ask for one, aud this u the
II say, old chap" no began whom he had
gained audience with the man VINO was to
30 hanged within the hour: II say. I wish
lie is very DESTROYS of knowing whether II
hutts to got hanged. Now-er--you 500
er-it is-er-well, IL 10 just this way. !
can't. of course, interview you when the
trap falls. / wouldn't like to, Of course, but
s%eall!y-er-l don't suppose y1u could talk
Though she murderer was = cold FLOODED
customer the question feazed him for Q
minute. But seeing in young halford's
earnest face only an honest. disinterested
desire to lean the truth, he entered into
TIE thing with a proper spirit and doubt
less inspired, too. to let his last voluntary
act be in the interest Of his fellowman, ne
aNo, / don't suppose I could. But yon
know I would do ANYTHING to oblige you"
II know it,. said Halford. And ] have
. scheme. which ! think will work. You
cant speak, Dub YOU WALL VI COuES0 10 nDAo
TO tell yourself whether it hurts or not"
eyes," the condemned replied, with just
Atinge Of sadness in his tone. "YeR. / sup
pose / will. But II l can't speak what good
will that do?"
Just wait d moment and I'll tell you."
"Wait a thousand years il the sheriff will
let me-"
Nov listen." continued Halford. too
serious to smile. even at the last effort OF a
would o funny man. You keep your vita
about you whom you get onto the scafold
and don't let anything drive. the question.
Does is hurt TO get hangedr ont Of your
head. When the trap falls n the rope
tightens around your neck it il hurts you
wiggle your little finger; and il it doesn't
hut you wiggle your middle finger. Can
You remember that?'
.'just say IL again." said the murderer,
''and / think I'll have II pat"
Halford rspsxtsd the instructions and
bidding the murderer adieu hurried to gel
a front seat to better see his experiment.
The murderer winked at him % the cap Wal
being drawn over his eyes. just to reassurt
him, and with bated breath Halford waited
Chug! Click! Chug! The hatohst Ont thu
trap look rope the bolt left its socket, anc
the condemned man dropped the length Of
the o p and stopped. Halford leaned for
ward, the body swung round; but though
the hands we're exposed to view, not
finger, big or little, moved. The fall ha(
broken the murderer's neck. "@