The San Francisco call., 1896-02-21
1t Is Thought He Will Utterly
Collapse Before Reaching
the Trap.
CLAMOR TO SEE THE HANGING.
Warden Aull Says He Has Never
Before Been So Flooded With
Applications.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Feb. 20.-Ivan
Kovalev's last day on earth has ended
and tonight he lies tossing in uneasy
slumber, broken by intervals of wakefuI-
ness, during which he springs from his
cot and PAGES to and fro like trapped
wild beast in its cage, only to again throS
himself on his cot, cover his face with his
blanket and toss and tumble and groan in
troubled sleep.
All day long he has been in a state of
nervous unrest and has refused to eat a
mouthful, but seems to be overcome with
fever, as he necessarily demands water,
which he fairly gulps down. He has
again turned sullen, and has all Gay long
utterly refused to utter a single syllable,
either in reply to questions or of his own
volition, with the exception of the demand
for water. His cell companion, fellow
countryman, who, in addition to the death
watch, has been keeping him company
since his removal from the solitary cell,
where he was placed upon his first arrival
at the prison, has been unable to extract
anything further of the crime for which
his life has been declared forfeited, nor
has he admitted that he personally, as is
suspected, acknowledged that he took the
life OF his companion in crime at San Jose
to prevent him from exposing him as the
perpetrator.
1t is now thought that the criminal will
utterly collapse before he reaches the trap
tomorrow morning, as he has been iii
such state OF nervous excitement all day,
refusing any and all nourishment. He Is
visibly weaker and his snatches of sum-
ber are so brief that they impart no rest
or strength.
Warden Aull when interviewed this
evening by CALL representative said: 'I
cannot, Of course, state with any certainty
how kovalev will behave when led to the
gallows tomorrow morning. All l can
say is that he will go there somehow.
There is no doubt but what he is visibIy
weaker and he absolutely refuses nourish-
ment of any kind. My preparations are
complete and l am sure that no blunders
can possibly occur on the part of the men
whom have chosen to perform the de-
tails OF the execution, as they are guards
of tried nerve. There will not be a very
large crowd in attendance-probably forty
or fifty all told.
II have been simply flooded with appli-
cations to witness the death of this man,
but owing to the fact that the apartment
where the execution is to take place is
very small l have been compelled to re-
fuse admittaDce to all save officials and
representatives of the press''
Perhaps never in the annals of criminal
history OF this city since the death of Troy
Dye has so much anxiety been expressed
by the citizens OF Sacramento to witness
the death of any criminal on the gallows
as there has been to obtain admission 20
the execution of Ivan Kovalev. The cow
ardly attack upon the two aged and re-
spected citizens and the brutal method by
which the crime was committee have
aroused such spirit of enmity and hatred
toward this son of far-away Russia as has
has served to totally overcome the natural
of all to witness the death and
last struggles OF fellow-mortal
Even Governor Budd has been besieged
with petitions for admission to witness
the execution, and there are few, if any.
OF the Prison Directors but have received
repeated entreaties through personal
friends for cards of admission and it is evi.
dent that spirit of satisfaction is abroad
IN the community at the thought that
within few brief hours Ivan Kovaley will
explate that crime with his life.