The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-17
FRANK ALNY is EXECUTED.
The Murder of Christie Warden
Avenged by the Law.
BUNGLING EXECUTION.
A Peculiar and Unprecedented Feature
in His Case.
The Story of AImy's Life Is One of Law
lessness from Childhood--A Thief
in School-A Burglar
at IL Years.

CONCORD, N. H., May 16.-George H.
Abbott, alias Frank G. Almy, was hanged
here this morning for the murder of
Christie Warden. The crime for which
Abbott, better known under his alias of
Almy, was one which stirred New Eng
land to its depths. The story of the mans
life, one of lawlessness from childhood,
is as follows: He came of an old and
well known family on both sides of the
house, but heredity seemed negatived in
his case. He was thief as scholar in
school at 10 years, in Salem where he was
born. At12 years he was burglar, with
a cave in which to store his plumber. At
IL he was sentenced to the states prison
for burglary, his disgrace driving his
father to suicide.
After serving his term he appeared to
reform, but was in reality director of the
operations of q large gang of burglars
and highWaymen who created reign OF
terror in north Thetford. He was caught
after fight, and sentenced to fifteen
years in the penitentiary, but managed
to escape. He then went south for a
while but returned, and, under the name
of Airy engaged to work as farm hand
on farm of Andrew Warden, near Han
over. There he met and become infatu-
ated with Warden's elder daughter,
Christie, who did not return his affection.
His time expired ADrit L, 1891 and he
was not reengaged. 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 a neigh
Dor woman, were returning home along a
lonely road, Amy appeared suddenly be-
fore them with a cooked revolver, seized
Christie, terrified the others with his
weapon, except the younger sister, who
risked her life and stood her ground,
though shot at several times, but Almy
finally managed to drag his victim into
the woods, where he shot her to death.
Then he hid in barn and remained
there for month before being discovered.
Then after a siege of ten hours, during
which he was wounded, he surrendered.
After his trial and sentence, and the law S
delays, he finally paid the penalty today.
An unprecedented feature in the case
arose. Directly after Almy's resentence
at Plymouth, in May last, the death war
rant was committed to Silas FL. Brigham,
of Lisbon, high sheriff OF Grafton county,
directing him to execute Frank @. Amy
on the third Tuesday in May, 1893. He
has had the paper in his possession ever
since. Mr.. Brigham was a candidate for
reelection as sheriff last November, but
was defeated by his Republican cornpeti-
tor, Charles o. Hurlbut, of Lebanon, who
entered upon his duties on April l.
1t has been supposed generally that the
hanging of Almy devolved upon Mr..
Hurlbut, but section 8, chapter 212. OF
the public statutes, places that duty upon
Mr.. Brigham. That section is as follows:
upon the resignation or removal from
office, or upon expiration of the term of
Office of sheriff, he shall execute all pre-
cepts in his hands. complete all official
business previously committed to him,
and deliver to his successor all prisoners
in his CUSTODY
Sheriff Brigham had the precept in his
possession and today executed it accord
ing to law.
When the straps were put on Almy's
limbs he asked the sheriff if he could
speak. The sheriff shook his head. Amy
even then appeared to want to speak, but
the cap was hastily put over his face and
he said nothing. The sheriff, after the
cap was fixed, placed the knot under the
left ear and at 1915 touched the spring.
The trap 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.
The rope evidently was too long, as it did
not stretch any. The body bent to right
and slightly forward. Inside of minute
the officers on the platform swung the
rope and pulled the body up several feet.
Another feature of the execution that
caused the witnesses to shudder was the
position of the rope and knot. The for
mer was pulled over the left ear, while
the knot was fully one foot above the
neck. 1t was evident the condemned man
strangied to death. However, only one
or two of the twitching motions could be
seen and then the entire absence of strug-
Cling. At 1880 Almy was pronounced
dead.