The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-18
JOHN CRONIN HANGED
NEW METHOD OF EXECUTION TEST
ED IN CONNECTICUT.
Automatic Machine Successfully Test
cd the Murderer of Albert
Skinner-HOw Ii Operates.

HARTFORD, Conn.,, Dec. 17.-John Cro-
min was hanged at 1:O1 this morning at the
State prison in Weathersfield and was pro-
nouneed dead nine minutes later The au-
tomatic gallows worked perfectly. His
body was taken down at 1:40 o'clock and
inferred at Blue Hills cemetery at O'Clock.
The execution of Cronin was especially
interesting, being the first hanging in this
State under the law passed by the last
General Assembly and the first trial of an
automatic gallows in the East This last
is the idea of Warden Woodbridge. Aided
by James II. Rabbett, forger, now serv-
ing two and a half years sentence, the
warden evolved what he considers an i'm
provement on the hanging machine in use
I'm Colorado. Small shot has been substi-
tuted for water in the operation of the
lever which releases the weight and an
arrangement made whereby the execution
may be stayed at any moment. The CON-
partment in which the shot are confined
resembles an hour-glass, and the mechan-
ism employed is thoroughly under the war
denis control. The shot was started in mo-
ton by the movement of lever, and an
other lever would have enabled the warden
to have stopped it at any time. The progress
of the shot and the approaching
moment when the weight would be re-
leased is indicated on a dial resembling
clock. There was also arrangement by
which the execution could be effected at
once. When Cronin had been seated in the
chair and made fast signal from the ex-
ecutioner Indicated to the man who had
charge of the lever that he was ready.
The machinery was then set in motion.
The adjustment of the machine was made
perfect that the weight of 500
pounds made no perceptble noise as
it was released and fell to the ground be-
meath. Instantaneously the victim was
jerked into the air, falling backward to
within two feet of the floor The rope was
five-eighths Of an inch in size. of hemp
and tested to sustain weight of four
thousand pounds. The machine was first
tested July 81. when a bag of sand weigh
ing 103 pounds, was used with entire sue
cess Other tests were made at various
times. One OF the principal improvements
over the Colorado appliance Is the fact that
the prisoner Is not his own executioner.
With the original machine, when the pris-
oner was placed on the chair it released a
lever which started the mechanism, and,
In this way, the man was practically
forced to commit suicide.
The scene was a wierd one. Got alone for
the novelty Of the hanging, occurring at
such an hour of the night but for the
complete military discipline displayed by
the warden in conducting the men to the
execution house. Every detail was car
ried out with strict precision such as
characterizes execution at a court
martial. Within the execution room was
aQbther uncanny scene. At the center of
the room hung the moose and on the walls
was the dial which was to tell the storm
OF the progress of the automatic movement
tremor. His arms were bound when he
left the cage and was marched into tn
room with. keeper Doolittle and Perkins
off hoy cid q ho Cta na1 he x,lof
form he trembled slightly and stood with
his head bent forward. The fine shot in the
laii bridge by We" putting his foot % on lever lever
Deputy Warden Baisden placed a black
hood over Cronins head and the keepers
bound his legs at the knee and ankles.
Dr. f. G.. Fox. the prison physician,
adjuscted the moose SO that -he large knot
in the five-eight MANILA rope was placed
directly under the left ear. The .liaI on
the wall showed that the shot had been
running in the machine for twenty sec
onds. Surgeon Fox turned away ard as
the deputy warden raised his hand toward
the warden. signify.ng all was ready. the
warden did not wait for the shos 10 run
slowly out. which would require iwcnty
seconds more. He at once pressed his foot
on a second lever and jumped tie shot
at once Cronin's body shot up into the air
five feet at an angle Of about g degrees
eighteen inches from the noor. The body
was motionless for about ten seconds when
a perceptible tSitching of the whole frame
was noticeable for few seconds. His
hands became very firmly clenched, growing
tighter and tighter. until rigor mortis set
in Just nine minutes after the fatal trap
was sprung Successful" said the warden.
and nearly every one present stepped cp
TO him and shook hands with him The
whole affair vas perfectly noiseless, the
dull thud of the heavy weight il struck
the ground not being noticeable in the ex-
citement OF the moment.
John Cronin's crime was the murder of
Albert Skinner at South Wins1or Oct. s,
1893 He was prompted by revenge for some
faneisd grievance. He had been boarding