The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-12-18

after having spent the evening in read Ing Roman Catholic religious books. He was as taciturn as usual and moved about his cage slowly with the air of a preoccupied man. He rose early Mon day morning and put on prison clothes In preference to the black suit of clothes which was given him Sunday in which to have a picture taken for his mother. After eating good breakfast. furnish ed from the warden's table, he made his bed. udied up the cage and settled down to read until Father Lynch, his spiritual adviser. came to give him the last religious consolation previous to ad- ministering the solemn ceremony of ex- treme unction, just before being hang ed.
 Cronln denied himself to all visitors, as he has done ever since he was sen- fenced, except that on Sunday after noon he gave an interview to the rep resentative of the New England Associ- ated Press. In that interview Cronin denied having any recollection of the deed, his subsequent threats and the foul language he used when told Skin ner was dead. He also declared that he could not remember previous quarrel with Skinner, when he loaded a revol- yer in the house and Skinner choked him into submission. He attributed his lapse of memory to whiskey and ci- der drinking, and to the fact that he had taken large doses of qunine to al- leviate pain. He was injured while getting on a train about three years ago.
 Cronin ate a light meal at noon, but | hearty supper. After Father Lynch's ministrations in the morning he seemed more cheerful and told the day watch that he was prepared to die and would not care to live a term of years in pris- on. He would, he said, like to live if he could in some way befriend those he had wronged in life.
 Late in the afternoon Mrs. Wood- bridge, the warden's wife, took Cronin bouquet of roses and g. box of candy, for which he thanked her. Mrs. Wood bridge was the last female he saw
 His half-sister, Mrs. George Somers of this city, and her husband called to see Cronin in the afternoon, but did not see him, as he had expressly desir- ed that none of his friends or relatives be admitted. It has been evident all through that there were no ties of af- lection existing between Cronin and his relatives, and whatever interest they have shown in him has been more in the line of curiosity. ', Hro UTon 1rtH. lrtv ness Cronin sent her by one of the guards hand-painted card with the words May God Bless You" He was not notified of the hour of execution, and about 10 o'clock, retired for the night. The watch had strict orders not to disturb him until the warden ar rived to read the death warrant after midnight.
 He expressed much pleasure, when shown the proofs of the picture taken Sunday, and selected one to be printed for his mother.
 A curious crowd gathered about out side the prison during tfie evening and congregated in that part where the ex- ecution house is situated. The earliest arrivals came about 8 o'clock and from then on during the night the number increased. Every one in the crowd was discussing the approaching tragedy, which was to take place within the lit tie building adjoining the main prison. The conduct of some in the crowd was disgraceful, and the unfortunate vic tim of the gallows was made the tar get for a joke by many in the curious assemblage outside.
 The entire force of prison guards were on duty all day, and this evening number of the guards were stationed along outside the prison. The members of the board of prison directors arrived at the prison at 8 o'clock and immedi- ately organized in the warden's private office. All of the members were pres ent-Charles F. Bollmann of New Ha- ven, president, Frank c. Sumner of Hartford, Michael w. Lawron of Mid dletown, Frederick A. Spencer of Wa terbury and John N. Chittenden of Madison Marvin H. Sanford of Sims bury and Edward M. Chapin, secretary of the board from Pine Meadow, were not present. The latter sent word to the warden this evening that he was i'll and would not be able to be present at the execution.
 In addition to these there were pres ent in the death chamber the Rev. Father Lynch and an assistant curata the prison physician, Dr. Edward S. Fox of Wethersfield, Sheriff Preston of Hartford county, representatives of the four newspapers in this city and in the county, with 8 number of guards who assisted the warden in the execution. There were also present Officers Doo- little, Perkins, Knight and Fuller of the Hartford police force.
 THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
 The crime for which Cronin paid the death penalty was for the murder of Albert Skinner, a prominent farmer, who lived in what is known as the "Black House" on the road between Windsor and Mapping, and the tragedy took place on the morning of October 6, 1893. It appeared that Cronin, who was formerly in the employ of the murdered man, had owed Skinner a board bill amounting to about $40. Skinner had spoken to Cronin several times about it, and tried to secure the money from him, but Cronin always de- layed settlement by promising to come around to Skinner's house and paying