The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-08
End OF H. H. HOLMES
The Murderer of Many People Drops
to the End of a Rope.
HE SAYS HE is INNOCENT
On the Fatal Platform He Declares,
Cody and Deliberately. That
He Never Killed Any
one-Not a Finch.

Philadelphia, May HI II. Holmes
was hanged at the Moyamsing prison
this morning. The drop fell at 10:12:30
O'Clock. Half an hour later he was
pronounced dead. His neck was broken
by the fall. Even on the scaffold he
was probably the coolest person in the
solemn assemblage. In a few we'll
chosen words he proclaimed his inno-
cence of any murder. including that for
which he was convicted and hanged.
he declared the only wrong doing IN
taking human life. for which he could
be held responsible consisted of the
death or two women who died as the
result of criminal operations at his
hands. He did not name these victims.
Holmes spent the greater part of his
last night writing letters. AT midnight
he went to bed and slept soundly until
O'Clock this morning. 1t took two
calls to awaken him. Promptly aris-
ing. he received a visit from his spirit
ual advisers, Fathers DAILY and Mac
Peak OF the Church Of the Annuncia-
ton. They administered the last sac
rament and did not leave him until
nearly 8 o'clock. During their absence
he ate a breakfast of eggs, dry toast
and coffee. At 1902 o'clock the sheriff
called together the official jury, and
after each man had answered 10 his
name and subscribed to the certificate,
the march to the gallows was begun.
AS the gathering stood in silence be-
fore the scaffold a murmuring sound
came from behind the partition erected
Immediately back of il. 1t was the
dolorous chant Of the two priests ac-
companying the doomed man 10 the
scaffold They were uttering a psalm
OF miserere. At 10:oS O'Clock they
mounted the fatal platform. A moment
of prayer elapsed Then Holmes
stepped 10 the front OF the scaffoid and.
resting his hands on the rail before
him, made his statement of innocence.
1t was received in absolute silence.
Two minutes later he had finished his
valedictory. Then. at a silent signal
from the priests. he bent to his knees.
his eyes fixed on the cruclfix clasped
in his thin hands. Until 1912 O'Clock
the prayer continued Immediately
afterwards. he arose, shook hands with
the priests and lawyers, and in firm
voice bade them goodbye"
without an instant's delay his hands
were bound behind him and the black
cap adjusted Sheriff Clement placed
the moose about his neck and after
an instant OF terrible stiffness. the
crack of the bolt rang out like a pistol
shot. and the murderer had fallen to
his doom. Consciousness left him In
stantly, said the doctors. although his
heart continued to feebly beat Is or 20
minutes.
Holmes speech on the scaffold was
as follows: "Gentlemen-I have a very
few words TO say. In fact, I would
make no remarks at this time, except
that by not speaking I would appear
to acquiesce in my execution. only
wish TO say the extent of my wrong do
ing 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 no chance OF mis-
understanding. that / am not guilty
of taking the lives of any OF the Petzel
family, the three children and Benja-
man, the father. of whose death / was
convicted and for which / am to-day 10
be hanged. That Is all have to say"