Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-12-31
TORTURED TO Death.
Hallinger's Execution a Hangman's
Butohery.
A Low Life Murder That Made Cele-
hratad Case.

Edward Wilmington Hallinger, the color
ed and Irish ex-preacher and ex-pugilist,
who murdered his paramour, May Paterson,
in Jersey City, n J., on April 1891, and
was therefor four times sentenced to death,
was hanged in tn Hudson county jill. The
drop fe at 1906 o'clock.
The knot slipped On the condem ell mans
throat, and death resulted from slow stran-
gulation Even ter Hallinger's tody had
teen lowered TO the floor Of the corridor it
was question whether or not life was goae
beyond the poss b lily of resuscitatioa. DIR.
McGilI was heard to say after his examine
ton of the DO " that in his opinion Hallin-
ger could have bee brought back to life by
applying some of the metho4 Is known to
science. DR.. McGil said: sThe execution
wa an outrage on modern sci me-, and
bungle from beginning to end"
Atexactly at 1905 o'clock Van Hise gave
a sharp tug at the line and Hallinger's body
shot up in 0 the air on level with the gal
lery running along the north side of the
corr idor. Then it dropped back nearly three
fee and Strengthened out. 1t was seen at
orce that the moose had not been properly
adjusted The knot had slipped from under
Hal inger's right ear around under the angle
of his W. The great shoulders heaved
spasmodica " and the air Wits led and
gurgled from between the negro's lisps.
The noi.e of hi labored breathing could
be heard the whole length of the corridor,
and any Of the witnesses turned away
with pallid faces aud expressions of dissatis-
faction with The bungling manner in which
the execu ion was being conducted.
Two minutes after the body had left the
floor DIS McGll, Chambert and Converse
closed around it, and each took turns stem
ing . the pulsatiops of Hallinger's heart
At 1917. alter the body had hung II minutes
Dr. McGil announced that there was faint
puss and the heart showed about two beats
m mute. At 0.2l there was still a pereep-
tible quiverin of The heart, but at 10 % it
was cfi iaIly announced that Hal niger was
dead he physicians found on examinat'o on
that the neck had not teen broken.
On April 6, 1891 Hallinger killed his wife
and afterward said he was glad of it. To
Chief of Police Benjamin Murphy, Captain
Kelv, Detective Clark an Patrolman Barry
Hallinger mads a co 1fession and signed it.
When arrai yned he p cad guilty, and was
examined without a jury before the late
Judge Manning NJ KNAPP, who fentenced
him on May 5 to be hanged on June 81, 1891.
After the blows had been erecte on June
90 Lawyer Charles j. Pershali secured stay
from Judge Gre n, of,the United State Dis
trict Court, Trenton, pending an appeal.
Pershal held that a trial without a jury
was unlawful because the constitution guar
ante I'd jury trial, and that an essential and
fundamental right could notbe waive l.
Three times since Peishall ha5 stayed tie
execution Haliipger's second sentence was
pronounce by Judge Knapp in November,
1891 and Judge Nerlz since ascending the
bench twice sentenced Hallinger to death
The Iast1ime was On December 5. PershalI
forget for Hallinst to tn last.
Haliinger, a though negro claimed to
have been born in rralee Ireland, and his al.
legged British citizenship was made use IF by
Persia /. who invoked the interference of
tie Br fish minist r at Washington. He
was Baptist eShorter and then prize-
fighter 1t is said that the woman he liill-d
had a husband In Conn ciicut. The coupe
had two children who are uoW in Virginia.
Thu eldest il 3 Y, ars oil