Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-12-20
THE GALLONS.
John Cronln Hanged for Murder.
Ing Albert Skinner,
AN AUTOMATIC HANGING MACHINE.
A Negroes Under Arrest on the Charge Of
Committing Perjury to Secure tho
t0n,lcii0n Of Two Men for
Murder.

HARTFORD, Conn, Dee. ls.--John
Crouin was hanged here at l;Oo o'clock
thismorning, lhec execution of Cronin
was especially interesting, being the
first hanging in this state under the
law passed by the last general assembly
and the tlrst trial Of an automatic gal
lows in the east. This last Is the
idea Of Warden Woodbridge. Aided by
James II. Rabbctt, n forger, now serv-
ing a two and one half years sentence,
the warden evolved what he considers
an improvement on the hanging ma
chine in use In Colorado. Small shot
has been substituted for water in the
operation of the lever which re-
leases the weight and an arrange
mcnt made whereby the eyecu-
tlon may be stayed at any mo-
mcnt The compartment in which the
shot are confined resembles an hour
glass and the mechanism is thoroughly
under the wardens control. The shot
was started in motion by the movement
Of lever, and another lever would
have enabled the warden to have
stopped IL at any time. The progress
Of the shot and the approaching mo-
ment when the weight would be re-
leased Is indicated on dial resembling
a clock,
When Cronin had been seated In the
chair and made fast, signal from the
eAeoutloner Indicated to the man who
had charge Of the lever that he was
ready. The machinery was then set in
motion, there being no visible evidence
Of anything unusual. The adjustment
of the machine was made SO perfect
that the weight Of 3o6 pounds made no
perceptiblc noise as il was released
and fell back to the
ground beneath. lnstantancously the
victim was icrlScd into the air, falling
backward TO within feet of the floor
One of the principal improvements
over the Colorado appliance is the fact
that the prisoner is not his own cxecu-
toner with the original machine,
when the prisoner was placed on the
chair II released lever which started
the mechanism and in this way the
man was practically forced to commit
suicide.
John Cronn' crime was the murder
of Albert Skinner, at South Windsor,
October IT, ls0a. lie was prompted by
revenge for some fancicd grievance,
He had been boarding with Skinner for
several months, but finally was ordered
away \ fight ensucd at the time and
Cronin then went ON u protracted de-
bauch. The morning OF the murder he
went to Skinncr's house and meeting
Skinner IN the yard Immediately shot
him, inilicting fatal wound.
new bernard aciiy stricken.
TOPEKA, kau., Dee. Is, Rev. BERNARD
Kelly, politician, minister and ex.pcn-
sion agent, was stricken with hemor-
rhagc If the brain yesterday and for
some hours his life was despaircd of,
but he is better this morning, although
not yet out Of danger The attacl,
came with little warning. lie was ap.
-arcntly in his usual health saturday,
except somewhat run down by his work
during the recent canpaivn
\ lire at the railroad station in War.
saw Russia, has done enormous dam
age, Several stcrehoases, illled with
mer'arels' and large number o.
freight cars have been destroyed.