The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-01
THE sTRANcEsT TRIAL.
MUrderers in the Tombs Amused
Themselves with Mock Court.
IHrnrn IN Mon. Nnrl, I1rnss


From the New York Press
The most singular trial in the annals
of jurisprudence was that held in the
Tombs few years ago. 1t was a trial
jury in which the court and the counsel
were composed of men under sentence of
death and literally living in the shadow
of the gallows,
After the attempted escape of Danny
Lyons and Danny Driscou had
been frustrated, Warden Osborne
conceived and carried into eXccu-
ton q scheme which made like
attempts out Of the question. Murderers'
row in the old building was vacated, and
the ground floor of the left corridor in the
new ten day house fitted up for the re
ception and safe keeping of those doomed
to death according to law. The warden's
idea was novel one.
He had a screen Of strong wire built
from between each cell s door to the Win
dows on the opposite side of the corridor,
This gave each convict a separate space
to walk in for exercise. The death watch
occupied chairs between each screen and
the men were constantly in their sight. 1t
also allowed them to see each other and
their visiting friends and to converse
when they felt in that mood.
SIX MURDERERs At ONCE,
The first to occupy the cells were six
men convicted of murder in the first de-
gree and sentenced to be hanged in the
Tombs They were Giblih, Packeuham,
CarOlin, Lewis, Nolan and Carleton. They
We're all executed excepting Giblin, who
killed a baker named Getz, whose sentence
was committed to Imprisonment for life.
Carleton, who was known By the sObriquet
of Handsome Harry who shot and
killed Ohicer Brennan, was the last to be
hanged and was the last one executed in
the Tombs.
Sunday is always the dullest day in the
Tombs, for no visitors are admitted, and
the condemned we're left to their own sad
thoughts.
Giblin sproposed that they try ono
of their number by jury, and Carolin,
who chopped his unfortunate wife to
death with a Ratchet was singled out to
be tried. Old man Packenham, who
killed his wife with a pair of scissors,
was made Judge; Giblin, district attorney;
Carleton, counsel for the defense, and
Lewis and Nolan, the jury After the
consent Of Deputy Sheriff Caraher was
given the trial proceeded, every part of
the judicial programme being minutely
| carried out, even putting Carolin on the
stand to testify in his own behalf But
despite the argumentof Carleton that it
could only be mauslaughter and not muir
der, the jury found him guilty without
quitting their seats.
BROKE CAROLYN DOWN
The effect on Carolin, the deputy
| sheriff said, was painful and pitiful to
! witness. He never raised his eyes while
| old man Packcnham sentenced him to die
on Goth Aug, 1889. From that
/ day he seemed to weaken and the
| authorities were afraid he would break
| down completely. Fathers Pendcrgast
! Galcnas, with the sisters, who were daily
| in attendance, tried to comfort and rally
! him, but without avail. The verdict of
! his fellows had almost killed him.
As Giblin had been committed and Car
! Teton was awaiting appeal, only Lewis,
/ Packenham, CarOlin and Nolan were to
die; and the men drew lots to see who
would be companions on the gallows.
/ None of them wanted to die with "Nigger"
Lewis and hence the drawing. Caroln
broke down completely when he found he
| had to 80 with Lewis although the latter
up to the very last moment tried his best
to awaken some manly feeling in the
breast of the trembling wretch, and even
crossing the yard to the scaffold Lewis
several times asked him to die like man
and not be a eur. But he was almost
dead when the rope was adjusted about
/ his neck.
So ended the most extraordinary trial
y jury ever held.