The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-16

OUT OF DEATHS JAWS
Mackin and GEM Snatched
From the Gal1oWs at
the Last Minute.
COURT OF ERRORS INTERPRETERS
Clara Arnim's Murderer CIamors
to Be Hung-Mackin Weeps
for Joy.

lVl UVJs
Tor the first time in the history of the
Hudson County Jail, two men would have
spent their last night on earth, confined
within the walls of the old gray stone
building but for their lawyers having sue
ceeded in procuring a stay Tor the execn-
ton Which would have sem them into
eternity this morning.
The lawyers for the murderers sue
ceeded yesterday in getting a new lease
Of life for them and nobody can predict
how long the lease is to continue. Lawyer
John DENIM for Mackin and Lawyer
William S. Stuhr went to Trenton yes
terday and presented a writ of error TO
the clerk of the Court of Errors and
Appeals. All they had to do was to get
the seal of the court put ON the papers
and then bring them back present them
to Justice Lippincott for his signature
and then file them with Sheriff Toffey
ana County Clerk Fisher, and that acted
as a stay of execution until the Court of
Errors acts in the case. That will prob
ably be in next November.
While the lawyers were in Trenton
hustling to prolong the lives of their
(A+[1 = 4LGlSAl6il Oil AIASF Lin Att@ 49,
and son-in-law were busy making their
preparations to launch the murderers
into eternity. Van Hise brought the
gallows down from his carpenter shop
in Newark drove the wagon into the
jail yard through the rear gate. The
upright timbers, cross piece. rope and
No. 6. All the prisoners had been re-
moved from the ward. Van Hise mad
remained down stairs in Warden
Mftchell's office while the CHASTITY para
phernalia was being carried VI stairs.
About three o'clock he rubbed his hands
together and with the remark, Il guess
TN go upstairs and see how the boys
are getting along started up to super
intend the work of erecting the gallows.
At the same time the Rev. e. A Meury,
GEMS spiritual adviser, was paying him
and the young man had a cornet. He
played a number of hymns. While Van
Hise was erecting the gallows the strains
Of Nearer My God to Thee We're
murderers were confined. Before going
AVA Mr.. Meury left four religious books
with Genz to read. As soon as the min
lister had disappeared GEM called the
attention of the other people in the
ward TO the books and with an unex-
pected touch of humor exclaimed: did
you ever see such f~oollshness? I've got
only one more day to live and how the
hell does he expect that / can read them
four books in one day?"
At another time he said he would soon
be up among the machines. He was
asked what machines. and with a laugh
he said: The machines that make the
thunder and lightning and push the
Clouds"
Meanwhile Sheriff Toffey was in his
office nerveusly awaiting information
from Trenton. While he was fully pre-
pared TO do his duty he was earnestly
hoping that the execution would be stay
ed He and Hinder Sheriff IRWIN want
nyer to the Jail and remained there to-
ait developments. It was about six
lex when Lawyers DENIM and Stuhr
-kped off a trolley car in front of the
vi n FASTENED into the Office with
the papers which were to be the means
of p~rolonging the lives of the two men.
Justice Lippincott had left word that he
would be at home all the evening. The
lawyers went around there first and JUS
tice L.ppincott attached his signature
70 the papers. The papers We're afterward
fled with Sheriff Toffey and County
Both Counsellors stuhr and DENIM
called at the Jail last night at seven
thanked ms lawyer for what he hal done.
while GEM scowled angrily at his counsel
and upbraided him in no gentle terms.
said "Didn't TT j tell You n0i f hat ihi i was an *
iqns to die and wanted to join my child?,
tHe always calls Clara Arnim his child.)
''Thats all the hanks a man gets for
his work, is ft?" replied Counsellor Stuhr.
ing Mackin's lawyer. Mr.. DENIM, your
work is appreciated at any rate"
At that the ex-senator walked away.
followed by Counsellor DENIM, who told
Mackin as he moved off to cheer up, as
all would end well yet.
GEM wanted to be hanged; he couldn't
see any reason why anybody should in
~terfere. He felt satisfied that If he
should get another trial the result will
be the same and he might just as well
be hanged now as some months hence.
He finally uuieted down somewhat, but
indulged in occasional outbreaks during
the entire night, scarcely sleeping at all.
Mackin slept several hours.
At half-past five o'clock yesterday after
noon GEM was in high spirits and told
his friend, Justice of the Peace Macs,
who had been with him on and off nearly
was near, and hat he could Join his
sweetheart. But when Judge Macs saw
him later in the evening after he had re-
ceived the news of the stay OF the execu-
lost all of his self possession and was
trembling like an aspen leaf. Great beads
of perspiration fell from his body and he
was as weak as a cat. He complained of
being sick at his stomach and attributed
IT to the thought Of another years cons
inemen in the jail.
As regards Mackin, he was bearing the
approach Of his execution very manfully;
but anyone could see thai he was under
a great mental strain. which as soon as
he received the good news. left him, and
he was himself again.
Hangman Van Hise expressed his views
of the stay very tersely. He said: TITS
a damned shame"
The news of the stay did not get a very
wide circulation last night. A crowd OF
two or three hundred people collected in
front of the JAN and looked up at the
windows. The services of a couple OF
policemen were required to keep the
sidewalks clear. A crowd gathered again
thfs morning and gazed up at the win
dows IN the hope of getting a glimpse OF
the condemned men. Their curiosity was
not grati1ed. The prisoners had beer
removed from ward No. / to No. 8. or
the ground floor. which is known as
stMurderers Row.
Van Htse arrived at the jaik with his
assistants and took uhe gallows down
He then went to the Sherin's office and
remained there for some time. HIS
colntenanoe plainly showed his disap-
pointrnent.
The prisoners who had been removed
from Ward 6 were returned, the death
The PRIZE a. KANSAS