Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-07-19

The atrocioos murder he committe d
has been avenged, and Cape May
county has experienced It's first hang.
ing.
This correspondence this morning
carried the story of the execution to
time when Pierce entered the Court
House tuilding. 1t was then but
about half past nine o'clock. Pierce,
smiling, jauntily bearing, was taken
to the Grand Jury room on the second
floor, where he was left In charge of
two fficers There were In the room
beside him his aged father, his mother
two brothers, his sister and sister-in-
law.
1t was sad party, everybody fee,-
i"g the solemnity of the occasion !;
Pierce alone remained unmo we'd. His
conduct was remarkable. His mother
broke down completely. Tears were
In his father g eyes, but the condemned
man. with remarkable fortitude gave
them all words Of encouragement. He
stopped the tears, declaring that every.
thing was all right. and he was ready
to die. His words were like the coun-
sci OF a minister, and not word was
misplaced. 1t was most remarkable.
His exhe rtations to his father cannot
soon be forgotten, by these who heard
them. Rev. ]. 8. Thompson of. Bridge
ton, said that Pierce's conduct In this
meeting was the most remarkable he
had ever known.
In the meantime the thirty more
witnesses of the execution were gath
ering. Jonas 8. Miller, the Prosecut-
ing Attorney, was the last to arrive,
getting at the Court House about II
o'clock.
ALI over the town people were out.
Visitors were present from all ever the
country, and many from Cumberland.
About the Court House building
there was perfect jam, and a big
crowd almost fought to see through
the cracks of the temporary enclosure.
Pierce and his relatives remained In
the Grand Jury room until after 10
O'Clock, when the last sorrowful fare
we'll was taken. The members of the
condemned mans family broke down
when they parted from him, but Pierce
remained unmoved and perfectly COM
posed.
Just before Pierce was brought from
the Court House, the officials tried the
gallows and rope with a dummy, and
it worked splendidly.
Sheriff johnson, of Atlantic county,
who has conducted two hangings,
looked after the details. When all
was ready, Sheriff Shinn, of Bridgeton,
and DIR. ]. R. @. Thompson, also of
Bridgetop, went In the Court House
after the murderer. He was brought
down stairs to the Judges room,
where he stopped and re equested Rev.
J. s. Thompson to offsr prayer. Pierce
himself did not pray audibly. Then
Sher If Shinn handcuffed him with his
hands behind him, and he walked out
of the Court House into the enclosure
about the gallows.
Not sigh of tremor. He had a
smile on his face, and he glanced about
the crowd. He recognized Sheriff
johnson, of Atlantic, and spoke to
him. Sheriff Shinn led Pierce to the
platform, and he stepped upon 1t
bravely. He was then turned with his
face to the Court House. He looked
somewhat curieusly at the moose dang
ling near him, but did not shudder.
Sheriff johnson, of Atlantic, then
quickly pinioned Pierce's legs, one
above and one below the knee. Then
he adjusted the moose. As he did SO,
he trembled perceptibly. This caused
Pierce to say:
Don't shake Sheriff, don't get ner
vous. Do this job right" Sheriff
johnson then pulled down the black
cap, and stood holding the knot in the
moose just back of the ear. Then he
raised his hand. Instantly Sheriff
Hand cut the rope which kept the
weight suspended. The weight fell
with crash. The rope quickly tight.
er ed up, and Pierce's body shot up
high In the air, his head coming with
in foot Of the crossbar. Then the
dropping of its own weight six feet and
it hung suspended.
There sec med to be three slight con-
fractions of the uscles and the bedy
was still. It was just 12. so when the
weight dropped, and in seven minutes
he was dead. DR.. McCray attended the
heart beat and found life extinct at
that moment.
After short time the body was cut