The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-21
HIS SANDS RUN LOW,
Hallinger Closely Watched
for Fear He Should
Try Suicide.
STILL A BIG, BIG DOUBT
Neither Winfield Nor Stanton
Would Order the Erection
Of the Gallows.
But 1t Is Still More Than Probable
That the Hanging Will Go
On Tomorrow I

Constable Michael Egan watched the
murderer Hallinger closely all last night.
He is one of the three Constables ap>
pointed on the death watch. Tonight
there will be two men on duty at Hallin-
gers cell. which is No. on the first floor
and in the east corridor. It is the second
cell from the Office and can be constantly
observed from there through large
peep hole.
For some reason Jailer Davis is taxing
greater precautions with HaIlinger now
than were ever taken on other occasions,
during the two or three days before the
time designated for his execution.
IS SUICIDE FEARED?
Whether this is because of fear that
Hallinger NAV again escape the gallows,
but by a auicide's death, has not been as
serted by anyone in authority, bat the
unusual precautions taken indicate that
tue authorities are by no mems satisfied
that he would not if given the opporgun-
ity Before the death watch was ap-
pointed HaIlinger had the run of the jail.
He had more freedom than any other
prisoner in it. Now he has no liberty. IL
allowed to walk iu the corridor ne is ac-
companied by keeper. When he retires
to his cell the iron crate dor is locked
after him. When ne eats his food d
keeper is with him to see that he does not
plunge Il knife or fork into himself. and
when he sleeps the vigilance OF the death
watch is not relaxed.
Hallinger has not so far shown any in
dication that ne would commit suicide il
the opportunity was granted him, but it
is not forgotten that he did try to kill
himself Immediately after he chopped to
death Mary Petersen with his latb hat
chet. Ii PeshalI does not succeed in
cheating Hangman Van Hiss out of a
job tomorrow, Hallinger will certainly be
hanged, for he Will have no chance to
take his own life.
HIS SPIRITUAL HOPE.
Hallinger IS now seeking consolation in
the Catholic faith. lie claims that he
was born in Tralee, Ireland, and was,
when child baptized according to the
rites of the Catholic Church, and that he
wants TO die in that faith. He has been
during life a Baptist exhorter and class
leader, but has renounced Professionalism
as easily as he did prize fighting and
white washing.
At nine o'clock this morning Rev.
Father -FinDigan, S. j., of ST. Peters
College called at the jail and was I'M
medIately admitted to HalliDger's cell.
No one else WAS permitted to go near it
while the priest aud murderer consulted.
Father Flnnigan renamed with Hal
lInger about three hours. During the
! time Rev. L. w. johnson. the colored
pastor of the Monmouth Street NJ.
E. Church, called at the Jail He
desired to see Ralllnger aud
1'he colored clergyman was told to wait
Until Father Finnigan left the condemned
man. Mr. johnson waited until nearly
half past eleven O'Clock, and then his
patience became exhausted and he went
away. Father Finnigan will doubtless
administer TO the spiritual wants of Hal
linger to the last.
Last night the negro slept compara-
lively well, and this morning his appetite
was good. His breakfast was specially
prepared, and was much better than that
received by the other prisoners. He ate
a juicy steak, some potatoes, and drank
his coffee as il he relished them.
VAN HIsE ON HAND.
Van Hise, the hangmau. who boasts
that Aallinger will make the thirty
eighth person ne has executed. including
two women, had q consultation today
Wild Prosecutor Winfield and Sheriff
Stanton. Van Hise said he was anxious
to erect the Scatfold this afternoon. Mr..
Winfield would not direct him to do so.
The Prosecutor told Sheriff Stanton that
the erection of the gallows had batter be
| deferred as long as possible, for he did
not know what wonId be the result of
Counsellor >Peshall's attempt to
obtain stay. He did not want to put
the county TO a useless expense. It was
finally determined that Sheriff Stanton
should telegraph Van Hise this afternoon
whether to bring his engine of death
from Newark to the Jail today or tomor-
row, or at all. The impression left by
this consultation was that Van Hisa
would not put up the gallows until to-
morrow and that the execution
would not take place until about noon.
1t had been almost decided
to execute Halliuger as soon after ten
o'clock tomorrow as possible but it is
now thought that Van Hise Will require
until ten o'clock to arrange his machine
and tnat other matters will cause delay
uutil at least twelve O'Clock. The hang
man told me he could put the scaffold III
position in two hours. The apparatus ia
in sections aud is braced by iron bars and
bolted together
If the execution takes place it will be
in ward six. on the second tier, in tine
west corridor. No prisoners will be all
lowed in that corridor tomorrow morn