The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-08

ing of Benjamin #. Pitezel or ANY of the
Pitezel Family.
PHILADELPHIA, May S.-Herman w.
Mudgett alias H. H. Holmes, was hanged
in Moyamensing prison shortly after 10
o'clock yesterday morning. 1t was fully
a half-hour later before be was officially
pronounced dead. A half minute before
he was shot into eternity he made this
declaration to the solemn assemblage
gathered about the scaffold:
"Gentlemen, have very few words to
say. In fact would make no remarks at
this time except that by not speaking l
would appear to acquiesce in my execu-
ton / only wish to say that the extent
of my wrong doing In taking human life
consisted in tho death of two women, they
having died at my hands as the result of
criminal operations. 1 wish to also state
here, so that there can be no chance of
misunderstanding hereafter, that 1 am
not guilty of taking the lives of any of
the Pitezel family-the three children and
Benjamin, the father, of whose death
was convicted and for which l am today |
to be hanged. That is all have to say"
CHhe two women referred to are Mrs. Ger
trude Connor and Miss Emily Cierand).
1t will be seen that the words are well |
chosen. They We're equally well pro- |
nounced. The voice never quavered, and |
the hands clasped on the dark railing of |
the soa1fold did not tremble. The nerve
which had all along characterized this
most marvellous of assassins had not de-
serted him to the very end. As the last
syllable fell from his pallid lips he turned
TO his attorney. Clasping the shaking
ri rrbt of ha
his own grasp-frm even at that terrible
moment-he laid his left on the other
mans shoulder, and, gazing straight into
his eyes, uttered in a loud voice, Good
by" Then he carefully buttoned his coat,
nodded to the sheriff, and an instant later
shot TO his death.
He was undoubtedly the most stOlid of
any in that assemblage of fifty odd 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.
He spent his last day of life unevent-
fully. During part of Wednesday Father
Daily, of the Church of tie Annunciation,
visited him and said prayers, In the after
noon his lawyer, Samuel p. Rotan, called
for a short time. The balance of the day
Holmes occupied reading his Bible and
other devotional books. Father Daily came
again early in the evening and remained
until 1915 o'clock.
After the priest left Holmes wrote let
ters of farewell until midnight 1t is un-
derstood that these communications were
addressed to his wives-the one in Gilman
ton, n. H, and Georgianna Yoke of
Franklin, Ind, the third wife, whose tes-
timony did so much to bring about his ex-
ecution. He also penned letter of in
structions to Mr.. Rotan, his counsel Alb
solute secrecy is maintained regarding the
contents of these letters.
At midnight he undressed and went to
bed, under the watchful eye of Keeper
George Weaver, who was fearful lest the
man in the cell beyond might commit sui
eide. But, apparently, nothing was fur
ther from the abnormal mind of his charge.
Holmes slept the sleep OF an innocent
babe and at o'clock in the morning it
required two calls to arouse him
Att o'clock Father Daily came, with
Father McPake, of the same church.
Holmes received them silently, and knelt
with them while they went over the COM
munion service. According to the rites of
the Catholic church, to which be had been
at least--he had been fasting since mid
night The service once over, his break
fast of eggs dry toast and coffee was
brought in and he fell to with All apparent
relish.
The only sign of defiance he made just
after the priests left.
Am l nervous?" he demanded stretch
ing his hands out to Keeper Weaver. They
were steady as rock. Holmes smiled ant
retired to the rear of his cell, declaring
that he had never in his life felt bette
than he then did. Soon after this tn;
priests returned, and remained with hin
until the end.
At two minutes after 10 o'clock the pro
cession to the gallOws was begun, headed
by Prison Superintendent Perkins anC
Assistant Superintendent Richardson
Fifty or more men, with uncovered heads
made up the solemn parade, and halteC
before the scaffold The platform, which
stood eight feet above the level of the floor
was approached by flight of steps.
The witnesses passed around the struc
ture and faced IT, An awful silence fol
lowed for a moment. Then murmur Of
sound arose from the other side of the
scaffold. 1t was the prayers of the priests
who were escorting Holmes TO the gal
lows. A moment later they mounted thC
steps and came into view. Holiness a cru
clfix clasped in both hands, upon which
his eyes were fixed, walked steadily be
tween them.
There was pause after they had reached
the deadly trap, and then Holmes stepped
forward and pronounced his valedictory
1t took him exactly two minutes to pro
nounce what nearly every man there re
garded as the last of series of lies. Fathe
Daily is the only man who knows whethe
or not the man went into eternity with
lie ON his lips, for to him Holmes, eithe
Wednesday night or yesterday, made
final confession. But that is buried in tn
! secrets of the church.
After shaking hands with his lawyer
who then left the scaffold, Holmes turne,
} and bade farewell to Superintendents PEI
kins and Richardson and the priests. Thel
he and the two clergymen knelt in silen
prayer They arose at 1919 o'clock, Il
another half minute the end had come