The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-24
THE HANGNAN'S SCHEME
Van Hise Wants All Executions
to Take Place at Trenton
on Thursdays.
Special to the .Jerseu Citv News.

TRENTON, Aug. "a, 1S94.-Messrs.
Curran & Lynch started yesterday to
I build a gallows for the Koccis execu-
ton according to the plan of the Cam
dem County gallows. When finished,
the instrument of death will be about
eighteen feet high with an eight feet
drop. 1t will be wide enough to accom-
modate three at a time, and to this End
three holes will be placed in the cross
beam from which the rope is to swing.
The gallows will be portable, and when
not in use will be locked up in a special
box and laid away in the store room at
the Court House.
The condemned Koccis has given up
all hope now. He spends his time writ
ing letters to the old country, reading
his Bible and taking spiritual consolation
Erom Father Lehner, who attended
Wallwitz during his confinement. koccls
has repented and frequently speaks OF
his wife and children, expressing great
sorrow about the manner he treated
them.
HANGMAN VAN HISE.
Two men besides Koccis will be hang
ed on September 6. Their victims were
women they were supposed to love.
Two, Altenberger, to be hanged at Jer-
Mount Holly, killed their sweethearts.
Koccis killed his mistress.
James Van ,Hise, of Newark. who
was a bidder for the jobs of carrying
out the mandate of the law. Mr.. Van
Hise, with a keen eye to business-Mr
t~hirty-ive years-would like to have the
triple job, but not being able to divide
himself into three parts, had to be con
tent with one. He will officiate at the
execution of Altenberger.
LAS soon. as the bill is passed giving
all the hangings to Trenton" said Mr..
Van Hise to a reporter, the business
will not be split up so much.
ut takes an expert to properly hang
a man." he continued. Now, I'll show
/ you"
diving after his treasures he did not
look his sixty years.
He is a short, stocky ms with a
shoulders RouH His face is rugged and fur
rowed and weather beaten, and a
bristling red moustache conceals his
mouth, but does not prevent him from
HIS OWN IDEA.
This gallows,'' he said. taking out a
short, heavy piece of wood with an ar
my own idea. l use a stout hemp rope,
which is attached to this lever. AT the
end of the rope are four or five iron
weights of 100 pounds each. A cord
reaches to the ground from the lever,
and when l pull this cord the lever re-
leases the rope with the weights and
the man loOeSn KNOW what Happen
ed" m
Mr.. Van Hise reached down in the
bottom of the big chest and pulled out a
bundle. He tenderly opened it and dis
/ closed half a dozen loops made of a
light colored rope about the thickness OF
a man's little finger. -.
This rope costs me $3.50 a pound
said Mr.. al Hise.
A little figuring showed that each
moose vas worth about seventy-five
cents.
The loop was ready for service.
Hise, lis to hook the eye splice in the
sister hooks and put it over the fellows
When asked if the State of New Jer-
sey would ever introduce electricity into
its executions, Mr.. Van Hise pooh
| poohed the idea.
Cost too much" he said. why, il
would cost SIS, 600 or $20,0 600 to put in q
plant; The good old-fashioned hanging
is better"
Mr.. Van Hise. said that he received
$3.50 to $500 for hanging a man.
The hanging of Wailwitz cost the
county nearly 81. 900, not counting in the
expenses of the trial. OF this amount
Sheriff Eye received $500 for the execu-
ton, of which he paid Hangman Var
IHise $3.50. Most of the remaining
amount was for the special guards, who
watched WallWitz day and night.