The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-08
SPOKE WITHOUT A TREMOR
AND CARRIED HIS WONDERFUL
NERVE INTO MURDERERs' HADEs.
Scenes mt the Execution Of Probably
the Greatest Criminal and Ananias
This Country Has Produced.

PHILADELPHIA. May 7.-Herman w.
Mudgett, alias III. II. Holmes, was hanged in
Moyamensing prison this mroning. The
drop fell at 1012:30. 1t was fully half hour
later before he was officially pronounced
dead. A half minute before he was shot
into eternity he made this declaration to the
solemn assemblage gathered about the scat
fold:
Gentlemen. have very few words to say.
In fact. would make no remarks at this
time except that by not speaking would
appear to acquiesce 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 opera
no chance OF misunderstanding, that / am
not guilty of taking the lives OF any of the
Pitezel family-the three children and Ben
convicted, and for which am to-day to be
hanged. That is all / have to say"
The words were well chosen and distinctly
enunciated. The voice OF the condemned
man never quavered; the lands, clasped on
the dark railing OF the scaffold, did not
tremble. The nerve which had all along
characterized this most marvellous of as
sassins did not desert 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 shoulders,
and. gazing up into his eyes, said in loud
voice. Goodbye" Then he carefully but
toned his coat, nodded TO the sheriff, and
an instant later he was shot up into the air.
he was undoubtedly the most stolid of any
In that assemblage of more than fifty men.
The pallor Of his face was no deeper than
the ordinary prison bleach. and he stood
axir1 zfo 70
the horrible black cap shut out his last look
at earthly scenes
Holmes spent his last day OF life uneyent-
fully. During part OF yesterday. Father
Daily. of the Church OF the Annunciafion.
visited him and said prayers. In the after
noon his lawyer. Samuel p. Rotan, spent
short 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 farewell until midnight. 1t is understood
mat these communications were addressed
to his wife in Gilmanton, N. H.. and Georgi-
ana Yoke, OF Franklin, Ind, the so-called
third wife. whose testimony did much to
bring about to-day's execution. lie also
penned letter of instruction to Mr.. Rotan
his counsel Absolute secrecy is maintained
regarding the contents OF these letters.
SLEPT LIKE A BABE.
AT IL o'clock Holmes undressed and went
to bed under the watchful eye of Keeper
Weaver, who was fearful lest the man in
the cell might commit suicide But. appar-
emily. nothing was further from the abnor-
NAL mind OF his charge. Holmes slept like
an innocent babe, and at o'clock in the
morning 1t required two calls TO awaken him
At o'clock Fathers Daily and McPeak ar
rived. Holmes received them silently and
knelt with them while they went over the
communion service According to the rites
OF the Catholic Church. to which he had been
converted during the past 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 priest left. Am I nervous?" he de-
manded. stretching his hands to Keeper
Weaver. They were as steady as a rock
Holmes smiled and retired to the rear of his
CELL He declared that he had never felt bet
ter In his hfe Soon after this the priests re-
turned and remained with him until the end.
Meantime. nervous.y expectant crowd
had gathered outside the gates of the gloomy
medieval fortress. 4 rope had been
stretched across the entire front to the
passageway leading to the convict depart
ment and inside OF this assembled the sheriff.
city officials. jurors and newspaper report
ers, who had been invited to witness the
execution. The gates were opened at 9
o'clock and the party filed in Sherinrs So
licitor William Grew called the list of Jury
men In the superintendents office, at the
head OF the corridor containing the scaffold.
Those who responded included two ex-sher-
IFS OF this city. seven physicians and an I'M
dertaker. Sheriff Clement administered the
oath and at two minutes after 10 o'clock the
procession started to the gallKs, headed
by Prison Superintendent Perkins and As
sistant superintendent Richardson. Fifty or
more men with uncovered heads made I'D
the solemn parade and halted before the
scaffold.
The instrument OF death doomed high In
the center OF the corridor on the first floor
OF the convict side OF the prison. The plat
form, which stood eight feet above the level
OF the floor. was approached by flight OF
steps. The witnesses passed around the
structure and faced Il. Silence followed for
q moment. Then a murmur arose from the
other side of the scaffold. II was the prayers
OF the priests, who were escorting Holmes
20 the gallows. A moment later they
mounted the steps and came into view. The
priests. arrayed in their secular vestments
stood on either side of the condemned man
and chanted the psalm Miserere. Holmes
his eyes fixed on crucifix. which he clasped
In mis- hands, walked steadily between them.
He wore a sack coat and trousers Of gray
material. and a white shirt There was a
thin growth OF beard on his chin.
LAST OF A SERIES OF LIES.
There was a pause as they reached the
trap. and then Holmes stepped forward and
delivered his speech. 1t took him exactly
two minutes TO utter what nearly every man
there regarded as the last OF series of lies.
Father Daily knows. II any living man does.
whether or not Holmes went into eternity
with lie on his lips. for 10 him Holmes.
either last night or to-day. made a final con-
fession. What the murderer confided 20 the
priest Is secret Of the confessional, and
will never be made public After shaking
hands with his lawyer. who then left the
uea6oIds Holmes turned ana babe farewell