Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-09
HARRY HILL IS EXECUTED
Extreme Demand of the Law Has
Been Satisfied.
Akesoa Murderer Pays the Penaity-He
walked Ia the scafYold With -
smile ON His Face-Death
Was instantaneous.

plattsmouth, Neb., March 2-ilarry
Hill paid the last penalty Tor the muir
der of Farmer Akeson at just six MIN
utes after 3 o'clock Friday morning.
He met his fate without a single mai
cation of emotion. and apparently well
coined the end OF his long suspense.
This was the first legal execution that
has been performed I'm Cass county. hut
IL proceeded without a hitch. ana nv"
minutes from the time the prisoner lett
his cell his neck was broken.
The prisoner passed the latter hours
of the night in much the same
as those which preceded 1T. After VI"
retired at midnight he slept soundly
until 4:30, when he got up and talked Tor
a few minutes with his jailer. He IN
quired what time IL was. and then said
he guessed he would have time 10 take
another nap. He knelt down by the
side Of his cot and said his prayers, n
then went to sleep and slept until o.
when he arose and dressed.
Father Carney arrived with his
breakfast soon after. and ilill ate
a fairly heavy meal of eggs. toast and
coffee. During the mex o his spir-
itual advisers. Father Carney, Father
Nugent of Louisville. Neb., and Father
Cook Of Hamburg. la. were constantly
with him. Mrs Clark and Mrs. Tighe.
who have taken a good lea of Interest
in the prisoner during his confinement.
were also admitted and spoke with him
for a few minutes. During this time
Hill retained The same demeanor that
he had assumed on the previous even
ing. He chatted pleasantly with his
visitors and assured them that he was
satisfied 10 die. lie listened readily Ia
the priests and joined In he last
prayers that they offered before he left
his cell. Outside of those mentioned,
sheriff E~ikenbery permitted no one TO
see him and his last hour was passed in
devotion and conversation with the
priests.
There Was no crowd.
II had been purposely given out that
the execution would not occur until
about | o'clock, and this prevented the
congregation Of the Grove that was eX-
pected. At no time during the morn
ing was there more han 200 people in
the neighborhood of the Jail, and these
were mostly those who had been pro-
vided with tickets Of admission and az a
tip as to the real hour of the execu-
ton. Sheriff Eikenbery had sworn in
twenty special deputies from the mem
bers Of the g.. A. r.. and these We're
armed with militia rifles and patrolled
the street adjacent TO the Jail. Their
presence was not necessary as far as
preserving order was concerned. for
the crowd was very quiet and there was
no sign OF demonstration at any time.
A number of visiting officers. as well
as a dozen or SO Of Plattsmouth citi-
zens were admitted to the Jail at an
early hour. but it was nearly 3 o'clock
before the representatives of the press
were allowed admission. The reporters
were then assured by the sheriff that
" they attempted To Dob toward the
cell I'm which the prisoner was con
fined. or to ask questions of the sheriff
or his deputies. they would be immedi-
ately elected.
A few minutes before . o'clock the
outside door OF the enclosure was
opened and such of the crowd as had
tickets We're allowed to enter. There
were over 200 tickets issued. but as most
Of the holders did not know that the
hour was set so early not more than
half that number witnessed the exc
cution.
Walked Smiling tn the scaffold
The town clock was just striking 3
when a deputy sheriff brought out a
cooling board, which he deposited In
the space under the scaffold. A few
seconds after this suggestive proceed
Ing ex-Sherif Tighe entering. assembled
the scaffold. He was followed by Sher-
IN E~ikenbery with the other deputies,
n behind them walked the prisoner,
attended by Fathers Nugent and Cook.
Father Carney had been compelled to
leave on account OF Illness. The pris-
oner walked steadily with his hands
crossed upon his breast. AS he ascend
ed the scaffold he turned partially to-
ward the crowd and smiled with the air
OF a man h vas about to receive a
degree of honor. He placed himself on
the trap without assistance and bowed
his head while the priests read the final
absolution. Then he kissed the cruel
ix The priests retreated to the back
OF the scaffold and Deputy Sheriff Hol-
loway came forward and bound his
hands n limbs. All this time the vic
tim maintained his calm and uncon-
cerned appearance. The smile never
left his lips and not the slightest tre-
MOI gave evidence OF internal fear. His
face was no paler than usual and those
who stood silently around the scaffold
could scarcely realize that this man
knew that he had but a few seconds
more to live.
According to his own request he was
not asked to speak, and as soon as the
straps were adjusted the black cap was
pulled tightly over his head and the
moose dropped around his neck.
Plunged Through the Trap.
1t was just five minutes from the time
he mounted the scaffold when the depu-
ties stepped Jack and all was ready for
the signal. The prisoner was mmova-
BILE as a marble statue and he stood
firmly under the shadow OF the awful
retribution. Deputy Tighe raised his
hand. Sheriff Eikenbery instantly
moved the lever behind him and almost
before the spectators could realize what
was coming the trap was sprung. Hill
shot suddenly downward. The body
bounded once or twice as the elasticity
of the rope was tested, and then swung
quietly part way around. With the ex-
ception of the slightest possible draw
ing up of the feet as the rope frightened
the victim did not move a muscle. His
neck was broken by the fall and II In
supposed that consciousness lasted only
for an instant after the trap fell from
under him.