The record-union., 1893-05-17
STRANGLED TO DEATH.
BUNGLING EXECUTION AT CON-
CORD, N. II.
George II. Abbott Hanged for the MUIR
der of Christie Warden-A Grim
inal From Childhood.
Special to the RECoRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECORD-UNIoN.
CONCORD On. H., May I6.-George H.
Abbott, alias Frank S. Almy, was hanged
here this morning for the murder of
Christie Warden.
The crime for which Abbott, better
known under his alias of AImy, was
hanged was one which stirred New Eng
land to its depths. The story Of the mans
life was one of lawlessness from his
childhood.
He came Of old, welI-known families
on both sides. but heredity seemed mega
tived in his case.
Abbott was a thief when a scholar
while in school at 10 years of age. in Sa-
lem, where he was born. At II years he
was burglar, with cave in which to
store his plumber. At II he was SEN
fenced to the State Prison for burglary.
his disgrace driving his father to suicide.
After serving term he appeared to re-
form, but was in reality the director of
the operations of large band of burg
lars and highwaymen who created a
reign of terror in North Thetford. He
was arrested after fight and sentenced
to fifteen years in the penitentiary. but
managed to escape.
Then he went South for while. but re-
turned and, under the name Of Almy, en-
gagged to work as farm hand on the farm
of Andrew Warden, near Hanover.
Here he met and became infatuated with
Warden's eldest daughter, Christie, who
did not reciprocate his affection.
His time expired April l, 1891, and he.
not re-engaged, was unable to get other
work, he finally went in hiding in War
denis barn. On the night of July Is. 1891.
as Mrs. Warden, her two daughters and
neighbor, woman, were returning home
along lonely road, Almy appeared sud
denly before them with a cooked re-
volVer, seized Christie, terrified the others
with the weapon, except the younger
sister, who risked her life and stood her
ground, though shot at several times. but
Almy finally managed to draw his victim
into the woods. where he shot her TO
death. Then he hid in the barn and re-
manned there month before discovery.
A posse surrounded the barn, and after
ten-hour siege, during which he was
wounded, he surrendered. After trial.
oChISASC ahA ehO AoN OSldyS, u6 mas
finally paid the penalty for his crime.
The execution was a bungling one.
When the straps were put on Almy's
limbs he asked the Sheriff if he could
speak. The Sheriff shook his head. Almv
even then appeared 10 want to speak. but
the cap was hastily put over his face. and
he said nothing. Sheriff Hurlburt, after
the cap was fixed, placed the knot under
the left ear, and at 1915 touched the
spring. The drop fell heavily and AImv's
body went through the trap. To the
horror OF the spectators lis feet struck
the floor below, his knees being under
him. The rope was evidently too long.
as it did not stretch any. The body bent
to the right and slightly forward. Inside
of minute the officers on the platform
swung the rope and pulled the body IN
several feet.
Another feature of the execution that
caused the witnesses to shudder was the
position Of the rope and knot. The former
was pulled over the left ear, while the
knot was fully one foot above the neck.
1t was evident the condemned man
strangled to death. However. only one
or two twitching motions could be seen,
and then an entire absence Of struggling.
at 1880 Almy was pronounced dead.