Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-12
HARRY HAYWARD HANGED
Gay and Debunair, He Goes to His
Death on the Gallons.
PULL HER TIGHT; I'LL STAND PAT"
This Was His Flippant Fare
well Remark.
WlTHACOLD SMILE HE FACED ETERNITY

Went to Is Death With Guy and Thought
less Badinage Upon HIS Lips.
Associated Peass DisDtt;n ny Sosiiat Wires.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Dec. II. With
a gamblers phrase on his lips and a
cold smile upon his face, Harry Hay
ward faced the eternal this morning.
Pull her tight, I'll stand pat y
These wero the last words he uttered,
as the deputy, with banched face and
trembling hands, pulled the wel-soaped
moose as tightly about the murderer's
neck as he could in order that death
might come the more quickly and the
more surely.
II was u minutes past o. o'clock when
Sheriff Holmberg pulled the lever and
thus released the trap on which Hay
ward stood. In just 10 minutes County
Physician Frank Burton declared that
the swinging figure was that of dead
man.
Tho coolest man at his own execution
was Harry Hayward. Debonair as ever,
what had seemed mere affrohtery dur
ing his Jail days now became in the
great dimly lighted gallows room the
courage and Indifference of man who
was at least not afraid TO die. The
prisoner had been made ready in the
cell room his black silk robe had been
put on and the black cap adjusted.
Suddenly the door was thrown wide
open and the sound of an iuarticulate
yell floated Ia from the cell room where
the prisoners comrades were taking
their farewell: then three hoarse cheers
for the sheriff, Holmberg led by Hay
ward himself and ending with Hes
all right
1t was awful. Such demonstration
led by man on his way to meet death |!
As its echoes died away the sheriff ap-
pered followed by the prisoner between
deputies Bright and Anderson and
Deputy Megarden bringing up the
rear. Hayward entered the cath cham
Der with the same easy stride that
marked his promenades when he was
swager youth in society.
Good evening gentlemen said he
in clear tones us he bowed his way into
the room. AS he made his way up the
stairs to the scaffold he tripped on the
robe no wore This amused him and
he laughed at the first step. As he
strode upon the trap the deputies looked
more like frightened children hanging
to parent than officers Of law.
Carefully placing his feet on the
marked spots on the scaffold HAYWARD
drew his splendid figure to its greatest
height and GLANCED about with calm
face occasionally frightened by smile
Of recognition as he espied some friend
in the crowd.
On being asked If be had anything
to say he replied in a careless drawing
tone: -
swell, yes. F" He mostened his lips
with his tongue. "Well. TO you ALL"
he began "there has been a good deal
of curiosity and wonder at my action,
and some of you think that am very
devil''-with as peculiar accent on the
first syllable of that word--"and if you
all know my whole life you would
think so all the more. / have dictated
the full statement to day of all my life
to Mr., Edward Goodsell, Mr.. }. T.
Mannix and a stenographer-let see
what's that stenographer's name?"--
and Hayward peered down over the
edge of the scaffold as If expecting
some one to answer
Where's Uline" he went on some
what disconnectedly "Ulne here, |
promised to take his dog with me
under my arm to make him record
1t would be good thing for the dog. "
Hayward continued this badinage
for several minutes. Then he said;
Il guess that's all. Now Phil Me
garden go ahead.
The straps were quickly adjusted.
AS the moose settled down over his head
he eaid:
Lets zee where does the knot 60
under the right ear? No it's the left
isn't it? Please pull it tight That's
good. Keep your courage up gentle
men,"
The prisoners face purpled slightly
as the moose tightcned and the visor Of
the black cap was turned down. 1t
was Harry's last glimpse of earth.
Pull her tight; Ill stand pat" he
said.
Megarden stepped back raised his
hand in the fatal signal and like a shot
the body dropped through the opened
trap. There was not tremor or strug-
glo and the spectators waited breath
lessly while the doctor listened to tho
huttering heart. Thirteen long min.
utes passed. DIR. Burton stepped back
and the snectators began to file out.
a deputy loosened the straps that bound
the hunds They fell inert at the side
of the body Harry Hayward was dead.