Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-02-27
THE VICTIM ARISES AND WALKS
AWAY FROM THE GALLOWS,
SUFFERING INTENSE
AGONY.
Awful Blunder at st. Louis in the Ex-
ecution of James Fitzgerald
The Sheriff Sends Nine
Blocks for New
Rope.

ment, incompetency ana torture OHIO
lated at the hanging OF James Fitz-
gerald in the Four Courts jail yard
this morning. Two reprieves had
heightened out the misery of the con-
demned. At IL O'Clock, midnicc1t,
Governor Stone teiegraphed from JEFF
ferson City that the hanging should
not take place before 10 a. m. This
gave everyone but Fitzgerald hope OF
Communication, as the parents OF the
murdered girl had wired strong pleas
to the governor for the condemned.
Father McErlane labored assiduously
to comfort his charge, but Fitzgerald
was Indifferent. The 200 spectators in
the jail yard were tar more impressed d
than he as they counted the minutes
of life. that still remained for him.
When the tower clock struck 10 Sheriff
Troll still hesitated.
At this moment the Sheriff received
the following telegram:
'Feb. 20, s:4O-Henry Troll, Sheriff.
I decline to further interfere In the
case of James Fitzgerald. You can,
therefore, only discharge your duty.
W. j. STONE, Governor"
Then the solemn procession from
the condemned mans cell began.
Father McErlane, reading the prayers
of the church for the dying, support
ed Fitzgerald to the foot of the scat
fold.
Sheriff Troll led him to the trap and
adjusted the rope and hood, and the
concealed hangman said, call right
At exactly 1917 O'Clock the trap was
sprung.
Fitzgerald's body shot downward.
Instead of stopping when the ropes
end was reached there was sharl
snap, a wall from the unfortunate
wretch, and Fitzgerald's body lay
writhing on the ground.
The rope had broken. Officers a
once rushed to the spot and foun'
Fitzgerald was still alive and con
scious.
"My God! My God! My throat!" h
groaned.
Before the horror stricken watcher
could touch him he. arose. Standin
, I'D with the black cap over his fac
, and the broken instrument of deaf
! dangling from his neck he walked int
|, the morgue, where he was given stim
! ulants. He was more anxious than b
executioners for death, and begge
that the end come quickly.
When a second rope was called fe
none was to be had, and Fitzgerald la
= moaning on a slab in the morgu
r while a messenger was sent distant
q of nine squares for new rope.
a Father McErlane bent over the ms
: and said a prayer. Once the ms
e pulled the priests head to his face al
: whispered earnestly for half a minut
What that communication was WI
F never be known, but the face OF Il
}. priest, then ashy pale, turned scarf
j. and tears fell from his eyes.
oi At 1O:45 the messenger arrived wi
ic a new rope which was quickly adJus
" ed and Fitzgerald was carried to t
"a scaffold. 1t was necessary for "
" deputy sheriffs to hold him up VIII
m the moose was placed. Fitzgerai'
h only words were pleas for haste.
~ At 11:02 q. m. the trap was ags
T. sprung. At 11:15 the attending ph
,d sicians pronounced life extinct a
a. the corpse was given to relatives.
le To say that the community is ind
ga nant at the sheriff and his assistant
g. putting it mildly. Sheriff Troll 81
Mt all usual tests were applied to
,ir death apparatus before the hangil
n and that the terrible scene at the d
all attempt was wholly due to some def
ne in the rope that could not be forese
ry In the Daily and Weekly LEDo
a will be found the announcement OF
ter M. Hendrix, candidate for Assessor
las Audrain county; subject to the II
wn and usages of the Democratic part!