The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-21
A BUNGLED EXECUTION.
THE ROPE BROK WITH JdMhS
FITZGERfLD IN ST. LOUIS.
The Victim Suffered Much Agony Before
Another Rope Could he sccured-in
Torture for Nearly an Hour.

ST. LOUIS. MO. Feb. 2o.-Misman-
agement. incompetency. and torture OIL
ciated at the hanging Of James Fitzgerald
I'm the -Four Courts jail-yard this morning
Two reprieves hal heightened out the
misery OF the condemned. Al Il O'Clock
midnight Governor Stone teiegraphcd
from Jefferson city that the hanging
should not take place before 10 a. NJ
When the tower clock struck 10 Sheriff
Troll still hesitated. At this moment the
sheriff received the following telegram:
henry Troll. Sheriff: =, ~.
II decline to further interfere In the
case OF jan Fitzgerald. You can thete-
fore, only discharge your uuy .ro~1,
(Signed) W. o.. = ~ -, p,
Then the solemn procession from me
condemned mans cell began. fathet NC
Erlane, reading the prayers Tor the uyl,,s,
supported FITZGERALD TO the loot or tne
Scaffold Sheriff Troll led HIM 10 tnc
trap. and adjusted the rope and hood,
and the concealed hangman saia'
"All right"
THE ROPE BROKE.
At exactly 1917 o'clock the. trap was
sprung. titzgerald's body shot down
ward. Instead OF stopping Wneh We
ropes end was reached, there was Il
sharp snap, a wall from Tie unfortunate
Wretch. and Fitzgeralds body lay with
ing on the ground The rope had broken
Ofiicers at once rushed 10 me SPOT anu
found Fitzgerald was stu awe ana con.
sclOus MY Cod My Cod MY throat
he groancd. Before the norror-stricken
watchers could touch him he arose
Standing uD. with the Dlack-cap over MS
/ face. ana the broken instrument OF death
dangling from his neck, he walked INTO
i the morgue where he was given stimu-
lants. lie was more anxious IMAM M
cxecutioners tor death, ana begged tha'
Z the end come quickly.
When n second rope was called FOR
none was TO be had, and Fitzgerald lay
moaning on slab IN the moisue WINE a
I messenger was sent distance OF h'he
squares for new rope
Gather NcErlane bent over the body OF
I FITZGERALD and recited PRAYERS. once
I Fitzgerald raised his hand ana pulled
whispered earnestly for a hall minute
What that communication was VIII never
be known but the face OF tho priest
then ashy pale, turned scarlet, ana tears
fell from his eyes.
LONG TORTURE.
AT 1O:i5 the messenger arrived with 2
! new rope. which was quickly adjusted
/ and ~ zgera.d was carried 10 the Scaftold
/ Is was necessary for two deputy ehefht
/ 20 hold him up while the moose was placed
| on. Fitzgerald's only words were giea'
AZ il.O2 the trap was again sprung. Al
1f:i5 the attending physicians pronounce,
/ life extinct. and the corpse was gwen u
| relatives III
10 say that the community - mag
/ naut at the sheriff and his assistants 1
| putting IL mildly. Sheriff Troll says az
| the usual tests were applied 10 the uehti
! apuaratus before the hanging, and tina
| tie horrible scene at the first attempt "a'
| wholly due TO some defect IN the rop'
! that could not be tore5een. 49,.
on the night OF september -, 49,
! rifzrarald killed his sweetheart, Annie
Naessens ara attempted suicide, but onis
Injured himself slightly. The two nae
been lovers for year, and t.tzgeraiu
j aiousy caused The trouhe. AL the cyl
dence was circumstantial.