St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-05-08


made this declaration to the solemn assem-
blage gathered about the scaffold
"I have very few words to say; IN fact,
would make no remarks at this time. except
that by not speaking l would appear to acqui-
esce in my execution. only wish to say
that the extent of my wrong doing in taking
human life consisted in the death Of two
women, they having died at my hands as the
result of criminal operations. wish to state
here, so there can be chance OF mis-
understanding, that / am not guilty of TAX
ing the lives of any of the Pitzel family-the
three children, and Benjamin, the father-of
whose death / was convicted and for which
/ am today to be hanged. That is all have
to say
The words were well chosen and distinctly
enunciated. The voice of the condemned man
never quayered the hands, clasped on the
dark railing of the scaffod, did not tremble.
The nerve which had all along characterized
this most marvellous Of assassins did not de-
sert him at the end. AS the last syllable
fell from his lips, he turned to his attorney,
Mr. Rotan. Clasping the right hand Of the
young lawyer, Holmes placed his left on the
other mans shoulder, and gazing into his
eyes, said, in a loud voice: Goodbye"
Then he carefully buttoned his coat, nodded
to the sheriff. and an instant later was shot
up into the air.
Holmes was undoubtedly the most stolid Of
any one in the assemblage of more than fifty
men. The pallor of his face was no deeper
than the ordinary prison bleach. and he stood
erect, gazing steadfastly before him until the
horrible black cap shut out his last look at
earthly things.
Holmes spent his last day OF life unevent-
fully. During part of yesterday. Father Daily,
OF the Church of the Annunciation, visited
him and said prayers. In the afternoon, MS
lawyer, Samuel P. Rotan, spent snort time
with him. The rest Of the day Holmes spent
in reading his Bible, and other devotional
books. Father DAILY came again early In the
evening. and remained until 1915 o'clock
After he left Holmes wrote letters OF fare
well until midnight. It is understood that
these communications were addressed 10 MS
wife in Giimanton, n. H., and Georgiana
Yoke. of Franklin Ind, the so-cailed third
wife, whose testimony did much to bring
about today's execution. lie also penned
letter of instruction to Mr.. Rotan, MS coun-
sci. Absolute secrecy is maintained regard
ing the contents of these letters.
At IL o'clock Holmes undressed and went
to bed. under the watchfuI eye OF Keeper
Weaver, who was fearful lest the man in the
cell might commit suicide. But apparently
nothing was further from the abnormal mind
of his charge. Holmes slept like an innocent
babe, and at o'clock in the morning 1t re-
ouired two calls to awaken him. At O'CLOCK
Fathers DAILY and MacPeak arrived. Homes
received them silently, and knet with them
while they went over the communion service,
according to the rites Of the Catholic cnurcn,
to which he had been converted during the
last week, in form at least. He had been
fasting since midnight. The service once
over. his breakfast Of eggs, dry toast and
coffee was brought in, and he ate 1t with an
apparent relish. The only sign OF defiance
that he made was just after the priests left.
Am l neryous? he demanded. stretching
his hands out to Keeper Weaver. They were
steady as a rock Holmes smiled and re-
tired TO the rear of his cell. He declared that
he had never felt better in his life. Soon
after this, the priests returned and remained
with him to the end. Meantime . nervous
crowd had gathered outside the gates OF the
gloomy old prison. A rope had been
stretched across the entrance to the passage
way leading to the convict department, and
inside of this were assembled the sheriff, city
officials, jurors and newspaper reporters. whs
had been admitted to witness the execution.
The gates were opened at o'clock. and the
party filed in. Sherin's Solicitor Wagrew
called the list OF 3urymen In tho superinten-