The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-17
Bungling Execution OF the Fiend
Who Murdered Pretty
Christie Warden.
Els Case Was One Which Mega
tives the Laws of Hered-
ity Completely.
Thief At 10, Burglar At IL, Convict 1t ~
Life Of Crime That Ended on
tho Gallows.

CONCORD. N. H., May lG.- George Fl.
Abbott. alias Frank G. Almy. was hanged
hefe this morning for the murder OF Chris-
tie Warden. Tho crime for which Abbott,
better known under his alias of Almy was
hanged was ono which stirred Now England
to its depths. The story of the mans life is
ono oflnwlessness from childhood. He came
OF an old. we'll known family on both sides
OF tho house. but heredity seemed neQs-
tived in his case. He was a thief as q
scholar in school at 10 years. in Salem,
where he was born. At IL years he was .
burglar, with a cave in which to store his
plundsr. At II he was sentenced to states
prison for burglary, his disgrace driving
his father to snicide. After serving his
term he appeared TO reform, but WAS in
reality the director Of operations Of large
gang Of burglars and highwaymen, who
created reign Of terror in North Tnet-
ford.
He was onuRht after . fight. sentenced to
nfteen years in the penitentiary, bat man
aged to escape. Then he went south for q
while. but returned and, under the name Of
Almy, engaged in work as q farm hand on
tho farm OF Andrew Warden. near Hanover.
Here he met and became infatuated with
Warden's eldest daughter. Christie, who
did not ,eoiprocats his affections. His
time expired April l, 1891, and he was not
re-engaRed. Unable to got other work, he
finally went in hiding In Warden's barn.
don. her two daughters and a nsiQhbos
woman were returning home along q lonely
road Almy appeared suddenly before them
with a cooked revolver, seized Christie, tor
rifisd the others with the weapon, except
the younger sister, who risked her life and
stood her ground, though shot at several
times. Almy finally managed to drag his
victim into the woods. where he shot her to
death. Then he hid in the barn and re-
| mained there for month before discovery.
| Then posse surrounded the barn and
after siege Of ten hours. during which he
was wounded, he surrendered. After trial,
sentence and the laws delay, he finally
paid the penalty to-day.
When the straps were nut ON Almy's
limbs he asked the sheriff if he could speak.
Ths sheriff shook his head; Almy even then
appeared to want to speak, bus the cap was
hastily put over his face and he said moth
ing. Sheriff Hurlburt, after the cap was
fixed, placed knot under the left ear and
at 1916 touched the spring. The drop fell
heavily and Almy's body went through the
trap. To the horror of the spectators his
feet struck the floor below. his knees being
under him. Tho rope evidently was too
long. as II did not stretch any. The body
bent to the right and slightly forward.
Inside Of a minute the officers on the plat
form swung the rope and pulled the body
up several feet.
Another feature OF the execution that
caused the witness TO shudder was the 90
sition of rope and knot. The former pulled
over the left car while the knot was fully
ono foot above the neck. II was evident
tho condemned man was strangled 10
death. However, only one or two twitch-
ing motions could be seen. and then an
entire absence of strugglinR. Al 1890
Alny was pronounced dead.