The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-17

HE is dead" linen the WardenS
turned away to carry the story back to
the mother on the Hanover farm, who
was fearful, as Christie's uncle had told,
that Almy might yet escape.
All told, the behavior of the man now
dead did much in the last hours to raise
him in the respect of the prison officers,
at least. In all their experience they
had never seen man walk to his fate
with so springy step. Deputy Robin
inson, the grimmest of all the prison Of
icers, said kind word for the ''boy''
as he hung dying under his feet.
Almy was awake early this morning
He slept fitfully during the night and at
5 o'clock sharp this morning he arose
and after cheerily greeting the watch
dressed himself and made his toilet. He
asked for cigar, which he lighted and
smoked, seeming to enjoy it greatly.
Then he read for while.
At 6.45 o'clock, the warden appeared
at his cell, opened it and said, Come
this way Almy obeyed, and under es-
cort of the deputy warden and death
watch walked to the matron's room,
which is in the south wing, few feet
from the warden's Office
He walked steadily, and although he
endeavored to appear to be the most un-
conce1 ned man in the party, it was i'm
possible for him to conceal the terrible
mental strain by which he was affected.
By neither word nor action did he init
mate that this was
The Closing Day of His Life.
At this hour he was apparently less ner-
vous and uneasy than he had been for
several days, his manner now seeming to
be one of unconcern.
By direction of the warden, the stew
ard asked Almy what he wanted foi his
breakfast and at his request furnished
him with steak, eggs, rolls and coffee.
Almy ate heartily and with evident rel
ish.
Messrs. Norris, Ray, Blunt and Moul-
ton of the executive council took car
riage at O. clock and drove to the prison
for the purpose Of determining, so far as
their duty required, that everything was
in readiness for the hanging. They saw
Almy, who, as he called each by name,
shook hands with them very cordially.
He said he was feeling as well as man
could under the circumstances. No al
lusion was made to the hanging.
Chaplain Wilkins went to the prison
early and he was with Almy until the
end.
Spectators were admitted at 9.45
O'Clock, and the doors closed when they
had been assigned to their places. Almy
was in charge of the prison officials until
a few minutes after 10 o'clock. when the
warden surrendered him to Sheriff Hurl-
burt.
From s to 10 O'Clock Chaplain Wilkins
and the death watch were Almy's only
visitors in the matron's room in the
prison. Almy said but little and paid no
special attention to the chaplain's final
Instructions to turn his thoughts to eter-
nal things. In fact, he declined abso-
lutely to hear anything about religion.
He looked about the room and admired
the flowers that were there and express
ed great pleasure at again being able to
see the beautiful landscape stretching
away to the east.
Warden Goliath went to see him at
$50. He again greeted the official kind
ly;.
SIS there anything I can do for you,
Frank?" asked Mr.. Goliath.
'sThere is but one thing" said he.
''What is that?''
'Please allow me to have the ring l
wore when I came here"
The warden, after briefly considering
the request, said: Eyes, Frank, you
may"
''Thank you: thank you, warden. I
shall place it on the finger where Christie
placed it long ago."
The ring is heavy, plain gold one,
and he placed it upon the second finger
Of his left hand.
The visitors showed their curiosity by
looking through the windows of the
matron's room which seemed to annoy
Inv frroof1xr q nd al h
displeasure at it several times, he asked
and obtained permission of the guards
to draw the curtains. He breathed
easier when he knew that he was tempor-
arily shielded from outside intrusion.
The exhibition of curiosity, or some
other unaccountable reason, caused him
to become restless, impatient and in a
measure cross, so much SO that the Off
oers feared he might resist them at the
last moment and compel them to carry
him to the scafford by force. This fear
was groundless, however, as he did not
show any resistance.
At 10 o'clock sharp Sheriff Hurlburt
and Deputy Sheriffs Davis, Coburn and
Leonard, under escort of the warden, en-
tered the matron's room, and the
warden, with the death watch as wit
nesses, formerly delivered Almy to the
sheriff. The latter informed Almy that
he might say anything he wished before
going to the scaffold, but would not be
allowed to speak on the gallows. Almy
said he had nothing to say.
DIR. Mary Walker Claims the Body.
CONCORD, N. H., May 16.-Dr. Mary
Walker arrived in town this afternoon
for the purpose, she says, of claiming
Almy's body and of having an interview
with the governor. She characterizes
the hanging of Almy and the refusal of
| the sheriff to allow him to speak on the
gallows as outrageous.
The only written request made by Al
my was to the warden Of the prison, that
his body be buried in some Concord
cemetery. He wrote it yesterday, and
the chaplain delivered it to Mr.. Goliath
last evening.
TRIED TO BLOW THE SAFE,