Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-01
RAILROAD YARNS.
A Hanging That Was Done By
Railroad Time.
How Old Man Sanders Ran Against the
Oispatcher's Orders.

There is branch of the Burlington
Railroad that runs down into the
southwestern part of Nebraska, and
along which are strung several county
seat towns" said Western men who
was passing the night in the city. last
week. and was chatting with some
newly made friends.
AT the time to which refer a man
named Bruce Mattingly was awaiting
execution in the Jail of one Of these
towns. he having committed homicide
which, according 10 the theory of the
jury mcrited death. He was A pretty
bad man. but. rs is frequently the case
with tough citizens. he had a strong
circle of friends who were disinclined
to see Mattingly snuffed out at the end
of a rope. They interceled with the
governor after the regular channel Of
law courts of appeal had been run
fruitlessly. but Mattingly's reputation
was against him. and the governor
would not definitely promise to grant
the desired respite. The sheriff Of the
county had announced that he would
wait until o'clock in the morning for
any guhernatorial Interference, and
promptly at that hour. in the absence
Of notice of stay, he would launch
Mr.. Mattingly into the elsewhere.
"On the morning Of the day set for
the execution the conductor of Burline
ton No. was instructed by the train
master to pick up at this county-seat
town the state fish commissioner pr.
vatc car. which had been there for
some days, ana carry it on to the ter
minal. The engineer when told of the
order suggested that it would be best
for him to run in few minutes ahead
of card time, so as to be sure to have
enough time to get away on the
schedule for there was a strong conf
petition IN the matter of promptnees
on that run. and FOR over three years
ing due at S o'clock, the engineer oc
No. 3 rushed things a little and got in
at 1.56. thus having four minutes lee
way to pick up the commissioner car.
AS they pulled up at the platform a
sound of Whistling and lie ringing oi
bells rose in the town. ana from the
high board stockade around one wing
of the county Jail, which was just
across from the depot, red flag ilut-
tered as somebody hauled it up on its
temporary pole. The engineer asked
what it meant
Just hung Mattingly.' cried a man
at that moment, breaking forth from
the stockade. Hung him prompt at s
o'clock. Bill was afraid a order might
come from the Gov'nor, an as soon as
it was s he let him GO
" But it isn't s. said the engineer.
It's three minutes to it,
Ono. it isn't It's s. Amt No in,
an don't she git here at to the dot?'
THE engineers heart jumped and
then fell down into a deep well.
:" De you mean to say you hung Il
man by No. IS time instead of by
watches or clocks?' he gasped.
"'Of course Why. watches an
clocks varies Take any dozen watches
among the crowd in that jail right now
an III bet there amt no two alike in
pintin' out the time. But No. s. and
the men looked at the engineer in elo
quent silence which was immensely
expressive. The latter leaned against
the tank and pulled his own watch and
fastened his eyes devouringly upon it.
He afterward said he lived a lifetime in
waiting for the two remaining minutes
topass SO that the hour would really hes.
Every instant he expected to see the
operator come flying out with an order
to delay the hanging. and knowing
THAT he had given the signal to execute
the man four minutes ahead of time he
before s he would be a kind of murder
or. AT last-it seemed after years
the hands indicated the actual