The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-09-06
DAY OF DOOM.
Bernard lAltenberger Dies
on the GalloWs for
the Murder of
Katie Rupp.
WITH AN AIR OF BRAyADo
Miserable Display of Morbid
Vanity By the Dying
Wretch.
His Confession and Letters Home
Corresponds With Annie
Kampf.
MURDERERs DIE ELSEWHERE
Wesley Warner Executed at Mt. Holly
and Noel Maisson at Pnttsburg
Both Slew Women.

Both Slew Women.
With the same air of bravado that
has characterized his actions ever since
his arrest, Bernard Altenberger walked
doom. and the brutal murder ofcontid-
ing Katie Rupp was avenged.
Up TO the last moment the youthful
murderer maintained a stolid demeanor
ard betrayed no emotion whatever. When
bidding final good-by tc Constable
';eere- S,:laaff, to whom the prisoner
had taken quite fancy, his yes dm,ncd
and he became slightly ners Gus, but he
shook it off, and throwing his head back,
r'surner his usual phlegmAie appear
ance
At 9.ss o'clock the jury appointed by
Judge Lippincott to see that the sem
tenee cf the Court was fully carried cut,
assembled in the Grand Jury room, and
after taking the oath administ 3-e5 by
Deputy County Clerk John G. Fisher,
marched over to the Jail, headed by
Chief Clerk Higgins, of Sheriff Toffey's
office, and took up their positions in the
corridor, on the third floor of the Jail
where the gallows were located. Hang
man Van Hise, in his shirt sleeves, as
sisted by his son and Constable Jor-
aepIrn. Was adjusting the we:En. and
in a few minutes the hangman announc-
ed that everything was ready. The
Sherih, jury and Representatives of the
IN ALTENBERGER's CELL.
In the, condemned mans cell Were
assembled Sheriff Toffey, Court Inter
.li.l 'ceistable sel.aaff, Wise, Ec,vey and
Stepping forward, Sheriff Toffey said
for me to Garry out the sentence of the
Court. Are you ready?"
This was Interpreted to the condemned
He then shook hands with all hands,
bidding them good-by. He threw both
arms around the neck of Constable
Schaoff, and kissed him in fervent
manner, and then bade Pastor Meury an
affectionate< farewell. The executioner
then stepped forward and placed the
moose in position and after strapping
Altenberger's arms behind his back and
placing the black cap on his head, the
ira Il 70 the gallows began.
Pressler, walking together. followed by
Van Hise. Then came the prisoner, with
I'astor Meury on his left and Constable
them were Constable Locke and Jor-
;ii-;nul. ons,a'le Wise pr -tst lg mp tie
rear.
the little procession. Altenberger shout
irg sGood-by' to his fellow prisoners in
a firm voice. In the hallway he met
he bid u CHEEKY goed-by in passing.
Into the death chamber the march pro
ceeded, down through the aisle formed
BY tie witnesses to the execution. TO the
further end, where the gallows was
WALK TO THE GALLONS.
Tho prisoner was deathly pale, but
with his form erect. shoulders thrown
back and head high in the air., he
walked with firm step to the scaffold,
looking neither to the right nor left
He was dressed in a neat suit of dark
gray tweed and wore a white shirt,
white turn down collar and a white four
in-hand tie.
A circle had been marked on the floor
with chalk where the doomed man was to
stand. and after he had been placed in
position, Sheriff Toffey asked him if he
had anything to say In firm voice
mo. SIR
The executioner then pinioned his legs,
adjusted the moose, and then pulled the
black cap over his face. Stepping aside,
he waited for the signal, which was
given by Sheriff Toffey and at 1904 IL
o'clock Van Hise released the weight
and Altenberger's body was launched
seven and one-half feet in the air. Not
a sound was emitted by the murderer
who knew nothing after the drop fell
One long drawn gasp was heard, and
then all was still. AT 1904 3-4 the body
shook eonvuisively, and the arms We're
or three times.
THE BODY TAKEN DOWN
At 1906 the body was partially lowered
and surrounded by the physicians. The
pulse was beating at the rate of so pull
sations to the minute. Thirty seconds
later it went down to so. At l0:0S the
heart was beating at the rate of $780, and
at 1908 1-2 recorded 140. Both heart and
pulse were very irregular until 1913,
when they were hardly pereeptible.
At 1920 O'Clock the physicians pro-
nounced the man dead, but the body was
left hanging until 1927, when it was low
erred.
I5ise is very unpopular, it was conceded
by all that the execution, from a scien-
tifie point of view, was very successful
one. The physicians differed somewhat
as TO whether the neck had been broken
by the fall or not. None of them believed
that it had. although most thought that
1t had been partially dislocated.
DR.. George W: King, Superintendent
of the Snake Hill Asylum, examined the
body Afterwards, and said that the neck
had not been broken.
The body OF the dead murderer will
remain in the drug room at the County
Jail until tomorrow morning, when I'm
Pond. Ii. where it will be cremated.
Pastor Meury promised Altenberger to
do this and bear the expense himself,
but Sheriff Toffey and several others
have raised subscription to help de-
A'aS - Outside THE JAIL.
After Altenberger was dressed for the
execution he and Mr.. Aeury held re-
ligiouss ceremonies in the cell, and then
ne murderer placed himself in front Of
lhe window so that the people could look
1T him He appeared to enjoy this no.
Ioriety, and for at least one-half hour
gratifed the curiosity of those who We're
sdmitted within the police lines by ex-
hibitine himself to them,
Inspector Lange had charge of the
police, about seventy in number, and he
was assisted by Captain Newton and six
Sergeants The police prohibited all peo-
pie from standing on the street near the
Jail and made all vehicles keep moving.
strong Gordon of men surrounded the
Jail sand the same care was taken to
exclude people from Pavonia avenue and
The Court House grounds that was ex-
srcised concerning Newark avenue,
At about half-past nine o'clock Assem-