The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-12-14
PALEAND TREMBLING
Wife Murderer Robertson's
Horrible Demeanor on
the Gal1oWs.
LAST WORDS OF MAUDLlN WARNING
Story of Brutal Usage of an Affec-
tionate Woman-ReligiOus
Professions.


was hanged here at lO:12 this forenoon.
The execution passed off without special
incident.
The scaffold was erected at point
within two feet of the vestibule door OF
the main office, and was done SO quietly
that those on the other side of the door
could hear no noise whatever
About nine O'Clock Rev. Mr.. Macdou-
gall called and was shown to the cell OF
Robertson, where he offered prayer and
shortly afterwards Rev. L. H. Coe called
for the same purpose. They found the
condemned man in mood which seem
ed to indicate to them that he was Iuiiy
prepared to face the coming ordeal. HaV-
ing confessed his sins, been forgiven by
his daughter and fully understanding
that the end must be the gallows, he
evidently, as he expressed himself, was
determined to put on a bold front 10 the
last.
His farewell statement was brief, and
somewhat different from what was eA-
peeted. There was no reference 10 the
murder save an expression OF sorrow
that it had been committed. There was
a na+betic allusion to the parting from
associations which at times were pleas
ant, and an expressed desire that those
who read the statement would take
warning from his misdeeds and untlineiy
end. if at all inclined to be reckless anu
careless in their way of living. The eVii
of rum drinking was especially o"eir
upon as being the one sin wholly answer
able for his crime and its consequences.
The whole statement seemed to be the
utterance of a man who realized 10 the
fullest extent his position and no" ne
came to be placed there. AT the last
he had almost reached the Staging stage
and shouted aloud his fervent BELIEF that
his sins had been forgiven and that ne
was going to his Maker
WOMEN IN THE CROWD.
Rv nine o'clock crowd had begun to
assemble outside the Jail on Ash and
Court streets. at the corner of which
+he Jail is situated and the number
of women in the crowd was considerable
1t vas orderly and no police 1orce was
necessary to preserve order
Deputy Sheriff Kirby was placed on
duty at the door of the main office and
the credentials of every person enter
ing were carefully examined.
AT 1890 the doors of the prison We're
closed and Sheriff Wright accompanied
by the Rev Mr.. Coe, proceeded 10 the
cell of Robertson, where the SherlH
read the death warrant and a prieI,
fervent prayer was offered by Mr.. Coe-
Then came the first sign OF a break
down by Robertson; the cold, hard 1acls
in the death warrant We're almost TOO
much for his nerves, braced up even
though they were by frequent exhorta-
tions by his spiritual advisers. Just pre-
vious to Sheriff Wright's entrance Depu-
ty Kirby conducted the witnesses inside
the cage.
At fifteen minutes of eleven O'Clock
the prisoner was conducted to the scaf-
fold, pale and trembling, his hands
pinioned before him and was placed
on the drop. The Sheriff took up his
position Immediately in front of Robert
son and said
.Daniel NJ. Robertson have you any
thing to say?''
BY this time the sweat was oozing
from Robertson's forehead and his voice
shoe kwith emotion as he answered,
Nothing; nothing"
LAST WORDS.
His pinioned hands shook as with the
ague and then he said:-'Yes, 1 want to
say to these men about here that never
went to that house intending to kill my
wife. My poor wife; 1 loved my Mary
and my child. Oh God 1 believe
have been forgiven my sins, but dc
hope that those who now see my sad
plight will take warning, and will give
: me their blessing. My poor child, may
God have pity on her, and comfort and
bless her in her future life
..Had I been the kind and loving ia
ther / know 1 ought to have been, al
this would have been saved her ant
me-
The Sheriff attempted to check him a
one time in his remarks. but Robertson
raised his hend and showed his tearfu
Aleyes in mute expostulation, and th'
Sheriff waved his hand in acquiescence
The remarks finished. the head re
NAMED bowed while the Rev. Mr.. Coz
again offered prayer from his position
close by the condemned man on th
scaffold. and asked that Gods bless
ing might rest on the soul SO soon t.
go out in darkness
THE END.
Deputy Sheriffs Brown and Spoone
then affixed the straps at the ankle
and above the knee, the moose was plac
ed over Robertson's head. the black ca
was adjusted, and Sheric Bright steppe'
back to the deadly level, which was t
release the drop. Reciting the usua
formula, the lever was thrown, an
down plunged the body five feet be
low the scacold, and swung to and fro
At exactly 1o:446 the body dropped
but not until nine minutes afterwar'
I did DR.. Hough and the prison physicial
pronounce the body ready for removal
The neck was not broken; death re
suited from strangulation. AT the en-
of five minutes there was a slight trem
or of the toes. the last visible sign Q
Hfe The body was at once taken il
charge by an undertaken and takel
away to be prepared for burial.
There was not the slightest hitch i
the proceedings. In reply to questlol
as to how he came to Coburn's. he sal
that Mr. Coburn, wanting a workman
hired him. He said that last June h
landed at Dover in vessel that wa
commanded by Captain Fickett Of Port
land. They had come from NorfolE
va, with coal. Lewis had previousi
come from Paraguay. He was not
sailor. but preferred TO work for his pas
sage rather than pay for it. He cam
direct to Mr.. Coburn's firm from Do
yer With him was a friend whom h
knew in Paraguay, Ed Gracam an
who lived in the opposite house. II
Mr. Do1,11rff anf1rf