The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-07
leave only to tread upon the fatal trap and


to feel the hangman's moose fitted about
their necks. In spite of this, however,
they all bear up well, and though they say
they have given up all hope, their de-
meanor is at times almost cheerful.
The men who will die tomorrow at the
laws behest are Patrick J. Collins, Emilio
Garcia and Anthony Azoff. So far as ap-
pearances go they are very ordinary men,
and in not one is noticeable any partic-
ularly vicious traits.
Of the three Azoff easily takes first place
in public interest. He is understood, with
slight though powerful frame, clear blue
eyes, dark hair and a brown mustache,
which to-day was waxed into two long
needle-like points. His courage in the
last extremity is undoubted, as to-day he
stood erect behind the bars, slapped his
strong chest and intimated that he was
not afraid The terrible nervous strain
to which this waiting for death has sub
jected him is, however, observable in his
face, but his nerves are like iron and the
hand with which he wrote his autograph
tremb led not bit.
He is under sentence of death for the
murder of Detective Len Harris near Boul-
der Greek more than a year ago. But he
stoutly maintains his innocence and will
doubtless reiterate with his last breath
upon the gallows the statement that he is
not guilty.
ssI am not afraid to die" he said to
knot of reporters tonight, but l did not
want to be hung. I was going to commit
suicide on the 23d of last month, but they
were too quick for me and brought me
here. / had a dagger with which / was
going to stab myself. I made it out of
wire. Where did get the wire2 Oh, that
was easy enough. If 1 was going to be in
prison for another year I would have
whole blacksmith shop at the end of that
time. I had drill, too. with which 1
drilled holes through the sixteen-inch
walls of the old cell, so I could talk with
the other condemned men,"
member of the death watch approached
the cell at this juncture, and Azoff sang
out to him. When the guard came nearer
the condemned man introduced him as
one of his best friends, adding, 81 am
going to get him to hang me tomorrow"
The remark was made with the utmost
nonchalance and without any attempt at
bravado, so far as could be seen but it's
impression on the bystanders and on the
guard was shocking and painful.
Azoff claims now to have given up all
hope of suicide and to be perfectly recon-
ciled to death on the gallows. He spent
the afternoon in writing letters of farewell
and thanks to all who had befriended him,
including long one to Belle Dormer of
the CALL staff, in which he speaks at
length of his former intentions of suicide.
Azoff's body will be inferred in Noun
tain View Cemetery, Oakland.
Lawyer Frank Stone has obtained the
granting of this last wish of the con-
demned man, and letter from the attor-
ney containing this assurance is one Of
Azoff's most cherished possessions. 1t
was received to-day, and reads as follows:
AT HOME, June $, 1885,
Mr.. Anthony Azof: received your request,
as conveyed in your letter, this morning upon
my return from the country. cannot comply
with your wish to be buried at sea, as l know
of no way of obtaining the necessary authority,
but of this rest assured, that failing in this par
ticular have done the best / could under the
unfortunate circumstances. have purchased
q lot for you in Mountain View Cemetery Oak
land, and there your remains shall rest in &C.
cord with your wishes. have also communi-
Gated by telephone with the prison authorities,
and they will grant me the privilege of having
your remains inferred in compliance with your
request. can add little to what said to Won
in my last letter, and your answer thereto was
what expected.
You will die as brave man should, without
fear, declaring your innocence. In the belief
that you did not fire the shot which killed
Harris; that you did not originate the scheme
by which the Southern Pacific Company was
enabled to become a party to what has been
decided to be murder, and that others more
guilty than yourself do not stand even accused
of crime, can but once more add-Gooo-by.
FRANK NJ. STONE.
His execution is to be the first of the
three, and it will take place precisely at
$3.50 o'clock.
His crime was the murder of French.
man near San Bernardino.
Emilio Garcia. who occupies the cell adj