The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-12-18
HIS NECK WAS BROKEN.
The New Automatic Gallows At WetherSfield Is A
 Success.
PRISON WARDEN PLEASED.
EXECUTION OF JOBS GROWN WAS 4
 MOST SUCCEsSFUL ONE.


 The Condemned Man sound Asleep When
 He was Awakened by Warden wood-
 bridge About Midnight Who Head the
 Death Warrant to Him-During Its Read-
 ing His Hands Watched kefvously-
 There Were No Religious Ceremonies Tho Condemned Man Never Finch sd and
 D!d Not Even Glance at the Gsliows.
 Hartford, Dec. 18-Cronin met his fate like a man at 1:0z this morning, showing no sign of weakening at any time during the ordeal.
 It was just before midnight this morning when Father John T. Lynch, assistant pastor of St. Peters church, his spiritual adviser, and Father Thomas W. Frederick, the pastor of the church. reported to Warden Wood- bridge. In few minutes Warden Wood bridge was ready. and Deputy Warden Baisden and Surgeon Fox escorted the clergymen to the cage.
 Cronln was sleeping quietly, not hav- ing been informed of the hour of execu- ton, knowing only that 1t was to be on December IS before sunrise. The night watch, Keepers Frederick Knight and T. A. Fuller, were on duty when Warden Woodbridge unlocked the door of the cage room and ushered the clergy men in.
 Cronin was aroused, looked around and sat up in bed, while outside the Cage Warden Woodbridge read the death warrant. The condemned prison- CT listened attentively with downcast eyes and his hands twdtching nervously but without other sign of emotion. He looked relieved when the warden ceased reading the lengthy document.
 The prison surgeon, Dr. Fox, was present to administer an anodyne or a stimulant as occasion might require, but Cronin dfd not need it, and the priests decidedly objected to anything of the kind.
 After Warden Woodbridge had read the, death warrant he said:
 John, if you die by my hand you must remember that 1t is in compliance with law and have no alternative but to carry out the order for your execu- tion."
 Cronin replied: T have no hard feelings against you, warden"
 The warden then withdrew and left Cronin with the priests.
 At 8 few minutes to 1 o'clock the priests sigdifed they were ready for the execution and Cronin was led out of the cage. He was then asked if he had anything to say. He replied in the negative. but expressed sorrow for his crime.
 During this time Deputy Warden Baisden pinioned Cronin's arms behind his back, and then the door to the exc cution, room was opened. Cronin en- tered firmly and never f1inched. He did not even glance at the gallows or the small company, but with eyes downcast walked as directed. The slightly raised platform on which the murderer stands and which springs the automatic gallows is only ten feet from the door and Cronin was led di- rectly to it. 7,
 Before Cronin stepped on it, how ever. the black cap was adjusted by Deputy Warden Baisden.
 Cronin then stepped upon the plat form and at once the hand on the dial showed that the machinery of the automatic gallows had begun to work. Meanwhile Keeper Doolittle fastened the strap about Cronin's legs and Deputy Warden Baisden adjusted the moose about his neck. This com pleted the arrangements and only twenty seconds had elapsed. The ma chine was set for forty seconds before the trap would spring, but there is an arrangement by which the warden can spring the trap at any instant and as the deputy warden completed his ar engagements he raised his right hand and immediately without waiting for the shot to run oltt of the automatic spring the warden pressed lever and Cronin's body shot into the air. This was at exactly 102. The body fell the length of the rope lifeless and in seven and one-haf min utes the man was pronounced dead. Warden Woodbridge pronounced the execution successful in every way. As soon as Cronin was pronounced dead and the spectators of the hanging had retired, his body was taken charge of by an undertaken and placed in a l neat casket. It was then placed in the morgue. At daylight this morning it l will be conveyed under charge of ! Deputy Warden Baisden and buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery at Blue Hills
 There were no religious ceremonies, ] such being forbidden for murderers by the tepefs of the church.
 But little if any change was noticea-