Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-18
CR0NlN HANGED.
First Execution Under the New
Law in Connecticut.
Jack Croniu Pays the Penalty for Muir
dering Albert J, Skinner.
The New Automatic Gallows Works Success
Fully-Ro Sensational Features.

Hartford, CT, Dec. 1S.-John Cronin
was hanged at /. 02, this morning, and at
l.09 1-2 his pulse stopped beating. He was
snatchcd in the air 20 seconds after he
stepped on the platform. The automatic
gallows worked perfectly. There were
no sensational features.
Jack Cronin murdered Albert j. Skin
ner at South Windsor, Oct. q, 1898, and
hanged at the Connecticut state prison at
Wethcrsfleld Tho execution was in every
way successful.
1t was just before midnight when
Father John II. Lynch, assistant pastor
of St. Peters church, his spiritual advisor,
and Father Thomas W. Broderick, the
pastor of the church, reported to Warden
Woodbridge. Cronin was sleeping quietly,
not having been notified of the hour of
the execution, but knowing that IL was
only to be on Dec. IS, before sunrise.
He was aroused, looked around and sat
up in bed while outside the cage Warden
Woodbridge read the death warrant He
listened attentively with downcast eyes,
and his hands twitching ncrvously, but
without other sign OF emotion. llo looked
relieved when the warden ceased reading
the lengthy document
DR. Fox the prison surgeon, was pres
cnt to administer IN anodyne or stimu-
liant as the occasion might require, hut
Cronin did not need il, and the priests
decidedly objected TO anything of the kind.
After Woodbridge had read the death
warrant. he said: ",Iohn, if you die by
my hand. you must remember that 1t Is
in compliance with the law, and ] have
no alternative but to carry out the order
for your execution.
Cronin replied: al have no hard feel
ings against you. warden The warden
then withdrew and left Cronin with the
priests.
When led out Of the cage, Deputy War
den Baisden pinioncd Cronin's arms be
hind his back, and then the door to tho
execution room was opened. Cronin en-
tered with firm tread and never ilincbcd.
lie did not oven glance at the gallows or
the small company, but with eyes down
cast walked as directed.
The slightly raised platform on which
the murderer stands and which springs the
automatic gallows, is only 10 feet from
The door and Cronin was led directly 90
ist Before he stepped ON ii, however, the
hlack cap was adjusted by Deputy War
den Baisdcn.
Cronin then stepped upon the platform
and at once the hand on the dial showed
that the machinery Of the automatic gal
lows had begun to work. Meanwhile
Keeper Doolittlc fastened the strap about
Cronin's legs and Deputy Baisdcn adjusted
the nooso about his neck. This COM
pletcd the arrangements and only go
seconds had elapsed
The machine was set for 40 seconds be-
fore the trap would spring but there is
an arrangement by which the warden can
spring the trap at any instant, and rs the
deputy warden completed his arrange
mcnts he raised his right hand and imlnc-
diatcIy, without waiting for the shot to
run out OF the automatic spring the war
den pressed lever and Cronin's body
shot into the air.
This was at exactly 1.02. The body fell
the length of the ropo lifeless and in seven
and one half minutes no was pronounced
dead