The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-29
ChiyaIry Up to Date The new
Woman and the Hangman.

woman and the Hangman.
Chicago, within the past week, has mao
the lively sensation of convicting a wom-
an OF murder. A discriminating jury,
furthermore, attached the death penalty
to its verdict. The murder was one OF
uncommonly cold-blooded w~ickedness, and
the tigress who committed it-Maggie
Tiller by name-would assuredly be hang
ed in any sane and civilized community
When the verdict was announced to
her, however, she crouched upon the
floor and walled after the manner OF
women. "Oh, don't let them hang me,
she "moaned" to the Matron of the jail.
We quote the word moan" from the in
teIligent Chicago reporter. Her means
have struck a sympathetic chord in the
Chicago editors hearts. These gentlemen
are not remarkable for knowledge or
discretion, and on the present occasion
the little brains they possess seem to
have melted into whey at the moan
of the convicted murderess.
Among other bracing experiences that
Cook county lacks is that of hanging
a woman. This is the point the Chicago
editor cannot get over. His conception
OF chivalry and his idea of progress are
jumbled up in some queer way, and he
INDUCES a queer notion that to begin
hanging women in the year 1895 partakes
of the nature of an anachronism-espe-
cially in Chicago.
The editor OF the Record" a large
and influential sheet, made up of dull
York papers, is kind enough in it's COM
ments on the case to forgive the bad
taste of the jury in condemning the
woman to the galiows. He says
We regard the finding of the jury as
expressive of a belief that as the murder
was in the extreme degree of crime so
the liability Of the criminal is to the
extreme vengeance of the law. Regard
to censure the jurors as having done
more or less than their duty.
BUT this amnesty is extended only be-
cause the EDITOR understands the verdict
In a Pickwickian sense. This is explained
by what follows:-
But we do not believe that the Jurors
expect that Their finding will be carried
to execution. We opine that they ex-
pect the people of the county to unite
in a petition for such executive Glenn
ency as la the punishment
of the guilty woman to imprisonment
for life. We are quite sure that the
(2nv6rnnr will .ha ,apftrinnnA IN thfc a =
feet, and we do not believe thai the
County of Cook will be disgraced in this
year of Christianity and civilization by
the first hanging of a woman within its
limits.
Now, where does the disgrace come in =?
It seems to us that the hanging of wo-
mentor wilful murder, of course-is
right in line with the present civilization,
and Cook County is simply behind the
age in never having accorded the new
woman her rights in this particular. So
far from %reprieving Maggie Tiller, we
trust Governor Altgeld will fully utilize
the occasion to place the State of Illinois
in the very van of progress. Unfortun-
ately the present Sheriff of Cook County
is of the male persuasion, so that the
execution of the law cannot be made IN
all its particulars a practical display of
woman's rights fully conceded by tyrant
man. But a very close approximation
can be made to the ideal.
We suggest that all the deputy sheriffs
IA the jury of witnesses be selected
from among the advanced women of
Chicago. Their will be no trouble in
finding two or three lady physicians" to
do the scientific part of the work, ana
the services of the Rev.. Phoebe Hama
secured to conduct the religious exer-
cises. Above all, the services of a hang
woman must be secured. Inside a month
or so, the had accounts of
a new woman who applied for the post
of public executioner in the City of Buda-
pesth. Hungary. If Chicago has not yet
ean no doubt be imported for the occa-
sioa. No doubt, Secretary Carlisle would
suspend the operation of the CONTRACT
lahor law on the ground of the introduce
ton of a new industry.
We hope this project will commend
Itself to Governor AItgeld and the lead
ing men-and women-of Illinois. The
occasion ought to he a most memorable
one. The secondary performers will par
ticipate with feelings Of cxultation az
the triumph Of their sex. The last mo-
rnents of the -protagonistic will be cheer
ed and soothed by the gentle presence Of
the other women. and BY the reflection
that in her death the cause Of weman'