The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-22

oners that Hallinger had refused 10 taste
his supper, many expressions of sympathy
were heard.
,.sa WEIRD HAPPENING.
At haIr-past eight O'CLOCK the female
prisoners in the jail were allo wed the
freedom Of their ward rs usual. The re-
porters and the jail officials were seated
in the front office awaiting news from the
cell of the coudem ed man. Everything
was silent, aud the silence was beginning
to get oppressive when the strains of that
hymn, Nearer My God TO Thee" sung
hy the entire chorus of the women,
foated through the walls of the jail. IL
was strangely weird, and must have
been a fearful shock to Hallinger. for he
asked the watch to have the singing dis
continued, and Henry Hanley saw that
the condemned mans wishes were OBJ
served
ooh. can't sleep tonight" said Mrs.
jackson, an old colored woman and one
of the prisoners.
"Why can't you slesp?" asked the
matron.
"Oh, can't sleep. There's no use in
me trying. Ther're going to hang poor
Ed Hallinger tomorrow. Oh. poor, poor.
Ed"
And SO it was with many of the prison
ers. They could not sleep, knowing that
one of their number was to die on the
morrow.
A SPIRITUAL COMFORTER.
At ten minutes to nine o'clock the bell
of the door leading to the dining room of
the Jail rang, aud clerical looking gen.
tleman passed inside. He handed his card
to Deputy Jailer Hanley. He was the
Father Finnegan, whose efforts on be-
half of the condemned man, has brought
forth the greatest praise. He had spent
almost the entire morning with the pris-
oner. and had come prepared to stay all
night.
"a man whose heart does not fail him
at the approach of death is not brave
man," said the Father. He is not sub
oles at the approach of death, Is in nine
cases out of ten brave man. l will re-
main with the doomed man all night"
Deputy Jailer Ranley took the priest
to the prisoners cage. Hallinger was
walking up and down. When the Negro
caught sight of the priest his black face
frightened and he underwent a great
change. After the cell door had been un-
locked and the priest admitted. he warm
IY shook his hand and they sat down side
by side. This is the position in which
the Deputy Jailer left them when he
locked the cell door.
BETTER HEART, BETTER STOMACH,
The presence OF the priest seemed to
buoy the murderer's dropping spirits aud
the matron was little surprised when
Halllnger sent word that he would like
to eat the supper which he had refused
at six o'clock. The supper was sent up
to him. 1t consisted of cold ham, cold
chicken. pickles. preserved peas, lemon
pie, cake and Il cup of tsa. The murder
er ate heartily and the tray came back
empty.
FAREWELL LETTER.
At ten o'clock Hallinger began to write
letter to his son in Philadelphia. The
writing of this letter, although brief, oc-
cupied some time, as the murderer's
hand trembied and the tears blotted the
paper. Then he wrote another and more
lengthy letter than the first. This letter
Hallinger gave to Father Finnegan.
Father Finnegan said that it gave him
power to have Hallinger's Two young
children placed in a Catholic home for
colored children.
PEsHALL DISCUSSED.
While Hallinger was writing the letters
several interested persons discussed the
possibility of q stay Of some kind in the
Jail office ald wondered just what
Peshall was doing. Although everything
looked as though the hanging would
take place. there was nothing positive
about it. Many remembered now on
previous occasion Peshall had dashed up
TO the door OF the Jail at one O'Clock in
the morning with legal papers to prevent
the execution.
Sheriff Stanton left the Court House
early and went to Hoboken to his home.
After supper he went to the HoEoken City
Hall, where he was met by Hangman
Van Hlse. Van Hise waited in Hoboken
until ten o'clock to see if any paper would
be served on the Sheriff. AT teu o'clock
nothing had appeared and Van Hise
embarked on the 1O:15 train over the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
Railroad for Newark to get his apparatus
In order, and be on hand at the jail early.
ORANGES AND TURKEY.
AT eleven O'Clock, Hallinger said he
would like to eat some oranges. Deputy
Jafler Hanley went out and brought in
goodly number in a basket, and the
prisoner ate them with a great deal of
gusto. Shortly afGerward, Hallinger said
he was hungry again. Evidently he was
Tegaining his appetite. Some cold turkey
was sent up to him and he ate it all.
After eleven o'clock the watch was
increased. Constable James Donovan
were detailed. They were TO remain On
duty until the murderer was brought to
the gallows.
NEVER THOUGHT IT OF PEsHALL.
Nothing worthy OF incident occurred
until shortly after one O'Clock. Then
Hallinger inquired anxiously if Peshall
had been heard from. When told that
ne nad not ne SAID sadly
"Well l guess iu's all over. 1 never
believed that Peshall was going to let
ME hang. If Thought that he was only
putting 1t off. would have told him to
let them go ahead and hang me. 1t would
be all over now"
t'Father. want to ask one request of
you and hope you will grant it,' said
HallinRer TO his spiritual adviser, little
later.
''If it lies in my power. / WILL" said the
priest. "Wnat is it2"
Il do not want my body cut up. I
don't want them physicians 10 cut out
my heart and mutilate my body. II 1t is
necessary for them to examine my neck
to see how the hanging took effect, all
right, but don't let them cut me up."
Father Finnegan promised TO do all he
could topreyent such u proceeding and
Hallinger appeared partly relieved.
RECONCIL1D By PRAYER.
At one O'Clock Hallinger and his spirit
ual adviser knelt down together and
prayed. HallInger repeated the litanies
after the priest with aNgreat deal of fer
yor. AT quarter past one O'Clock Hal
linger said he felt sleepy and stretched
himself on the cot
II am recouciled to my fate" said he to
the priest. II do not care if never see
anyons's face again. Pm sorry for wnat
l have done, and L hope God will forgive
me-"
He then fell asleep.
AT quarter to two o'clock, Hallin ger
was last asleep, and Father Finnegan n
went into Jailer Davis private office 20
take nap and asked to be called aG three