Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-05-22

matron's room guarded, but as mat
ter of precaution, and at the sugges
ton of the state officials, who wer'
afraid of possible escape, Almy wa
kept in his cell. At o'clock thi
morning he arose, smoked cigar ant
read for an hour. At 6:45 the warde1
opened his cell and said, "Come this
way" Under escort Almy walked te
the matron's room, endeavoring tc
appear the most unconcerned man in
the party. 1t was impossible for him,
however, to conceal the terrible men
tai strain by which he was affected.
He breakfasted heartily. After the
deputies who had gone to the prison
yard to erect the gallows had returned
Almy shook hands with them and said
he was feeling as we'll as could be ex-
pected under the circumstances.
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 were 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 Hurlburt.
From to 10 o'clock Chaplain Will
kins and the death watch were Almy's
only visitors in the matron's room.
AlmY said but little and paid no at
tention to the chaplain's final in
structions to turn his thoughts to
eternal things. In fact, he declined
absolutely to hear anything about re-
igion.
The murderer was soon afterward
dressed in a suit of black clothes
which the sheriff had presented. Almy
knew he was to be delivered to
the sheriff about 10 O'Clock and as the
hour drew near he became percepti-
bly, nervous, getting up und pacing
the room.
At 10 o'clock Sheriff Hurlburt in
formed Almy that he might say any
thing he wished before going to the
scaffold, but would not be allowed to
speak on the scaffold. Almy said he
had nothing to say.
At 1913 O'Clock the death march
was taken up from the matron's
room, Almy being in charge of the
sheriff and deputies, and accompanied
by the chaplain. In half a minute
the scaffold was reached. The still
ness was at that time painful.
The officers quickly strapped his
arms at the elbows and then pinioned
his lower limbs. When Almy came
on the scaffold he looked first to the
right and then to the left and later to
the floor, seeming to be minutely ex-
the gallows- Once he looked
directly over his head and saw the
rope which was to end his life. He
became very nervous, swaying slight
ly in either direction, but the support
of the officers helped him to keep in
place. His complexion changed so
that his face was ashen pale. AS the
sheriff Strengthened up Almy looked
into the officers face and said twice
in an almost inaudible tone, "May
speak?" The sheriff shook his head. |
The officer then reached up, and, even
as he was adjusting the moose, Almy's
lips moved and the same imploring
look came into his eyes. 1t is custom
ary to place the black cap over the
mans face before the rope
is hauled down, but this was not
lone.
After the moose was placed around |
MS neck and tightened, Almy even
hen appeared to want to speak, but
,he cap was hastily put over his face
ind he said nothing. Sheriff Hurlburt,
lfter the cap was fixed, placed the
knot under the left ear.
lie then stepped to the front and CEN
er of the scaffold, and without MAX
ng the usual proclamation, said, ssI
low proceed to execute the sentence
If the law, and may God have mercy
IN your SOUL"
At 1910 he touched the spring. The
rop fell heavily and Almy's body
vent through the trap. To the hor-
or of the spectators, his feet struck
he floor below, his knees bending
nder him. The rope was evidently
90 long, as it did not stretch any.
he body went to the right and slight
7 forward. Inside of a minute Of
GERS on the platform of the scaffold
wung the rope and pulled the body
p several feet.
Another feature of the execution
hat caused the witnesses to shudder
vas the position of the rope and the
not. The former pulled over the
If ear while the knot was fully one