The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-25
TOM BLANCK'S PERIL.
The Warrant for His Execution
Not Yet Withdrawn.
THE HANGING WILL BE PUBLIC.
Despite His Appeal. Blanck's sesnoid Is
Being Prepared-Friedrlch HAD
. Narrow Escape.

Unless Thomas Blanck's lawyers take
action within few days he stands good
chance Of having his neck stretched De-
cember !. the original time set Tor the exc
cution. Ii is true that an appeal has been
taken, but the only person that has official
cognixancs Of this is Prosecuting Attorney
John f. Miller. Sheriff Woolery has no
more Official know dge of such a proceed
ing than if it had never taken place. All
he knows is that death warrant is in his
possession, and unless he is stopped oy
process of law Thomas Blanek vail hang
on the appointed day and at the appo'ntea
time. OF course, there is time Tor the
hanging bee TO be stopped. but until the
notice of the withdrawal of the death war;
rant is in the hands Of the sheriff blane1
life il not any safer from the hemp than IL
was before an appeal vas taken.
Sheriff Woolery's plans are eli perfected,
and the exact spot where Thomas BiancK
will drop into space selected. The execu-
ton, as planned, will be public, and all
the curious people who make it a practice
to attend murder trials can attend and see
il. Anyone who will take the trouble 10
visit the courthouse and walk around TO
the east side will see a small square made
Enclosed and will not be. Within that
square, in good view of the surrounding
high ground and sheds, the scatiold will
be erected. Only few feet to the north
is the window. in close proximity to
Blanck's cell. Unless he is changed when
the death watch goes on he will have the
pleasure of hearing the sound OF the car
penters' hammers as they drive nails into
- -. Of has
that is TO assist in breaking his neck.
AT present Blanck's case is similar to
that of Friedrich, who murdered julius
Scherbring on the Grant street bridge In
l577. lie was under sentence of death and
an appeal MAS taken. The time for the
execution drew near, and Sheriff Woolery
gave public notice that the execution
would take place. The people could not
see how an execution could take place
when an appeal had been taken. Wooiery
simply said he had a death warrant and
was bound to carry its intentions out. Ii
an appeal had been taken it was not known
to him. The morning of the day for the
hanging came. and Woolery was asked
again If be meant to so on with the hang
ing.
"Of course l do" he replied. "If the
as a door nail before O'Clock. F"
Attorney Tyler was in charge of the
case for the condemned man and his
friends rushed 10 him in great consterna-
ton. He could not believe that Woolery
was in earnest. bat jumped out of bed
and rushed TO Prosecuting Attorney
Miller's office.
at don't make any difference TO me-"
said Miller. it is not my business TO stop
him from hanging the man."
'.But il is, insisted Tyler.
But it isn't" replied Miller, "if any
oae gets notice from the court withdraw
ing the death warrant it will be you"
~ won't do 1t, said Tyler.
well. don't care" replied Miller.
Then Tyler rushed up TO the courthouse
and found Woolery getting ready to rig up
a temporary scaffold in the halfway that
runs from the basement up to his private
Office. TYLER was wild with excitement
and asked Woolery what was going to be
done.
'.Going to hang Friedrich" was the
reply. Then he called out in a loud voice:
Bring along that rope"
Inside the north corridor OF the jail the
racket sounded distinctly. and Friedrich
was pacing up and down the steel tank
like Gagged tiger. He could hear the talk
Of ropes ami planks, and it did not take
much OF an effort for him to picture the
Iest. Outside his attorney was talking to
WooleFy about such hanging being a muir
der. II had no effect on the sheriff, who said
he had a duty 20 perform and intended to
do Il Then Tvler rushed back 10 Prose
cutting Attorney Miller and declared that
snch a hanging would be an outrage Mil
Ter told him TO stop it himself then by get
ting the proper order from court. Tyler
did not wish TO do this. hut when be saw
that the hour Of doom was approaching.
he hustled MP 3 stenogFapher and soon
had the proper papers IN shape for pre-
sentstion 10 court. Judge Humes ordered
the death warrant Withdrawn and that is
how near Friedrich came 10 hanging.