The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-31
THE HANGING OF
JOHN HANCOCK.
Executed in the Jail Yard at
lynchburg.
AVERY SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION
His Neck Was Broken 10y the FAN OF
His Body-His Crime Was Crimi-
nal Assault on Little Girl.
Stay of Sentence.
AVERY SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION

1,YNCHRURG. VA. Dec. 30.-Special.-
Il Is doubtful n in the record OF Stale
executions ono ever passed on more hu-
namely and successfully than that OF
Jobn Hancock. which took place tins
morning within the walls Of the city
jail. ..,..,. Co.,
geant Johnson unlocked the cell door ahe
entered with Ofhcers Robert Adams ana
Two minutes later the officers with the
missioner came out OF the CcI. mating "t
the foot of the gallows where SeIse@l'l
johnson read the order Of me Court loI
The execution. Then with the sergeant
on one side. officer Adams on the other
The Rev Carroll following, hahco'h
walked steadily up the steps OF the ga
lows and took his stand on the nallvi III
an front OF the trap. where an 9'l1 tn'
moose. which had been previously y - s-
cd was placed around his neck. Al TINS
,uncfure PRAYER was offered by Rev. Gar
roll and Immediately after by DAVIS thc
latter going mp at the request OF 'ne
condemned The minister then ltit tnS
scanold and Sergeant Johnson next tled
Hancocks legs ana ploc'" iiii VIZ Wv
zap DIDN'T WANT TO PRAY.
Asked AZ he wanted 20 pray. the prison
or muttered something supposed 70 ne IN
good luck. goodbye an Tie tIcl, dSk,u
the Sergeant 10 scratch his car Whtl Ati
johnson did and then deitiy Shp9So me
awful black cap over his head ana lace.
,rhe sergeant then descended the steps
and as he did so. Hancock IN a StfohS'
steady voice exclaimed "Good-ple' goov,
IN Heaven" He had hardly finished
these words before the sergeant mao
reached the side OF the gallows near the
Jail door and calling out Gooa-o ye
John" at 9:l5 skilfully pulled me Dig ron
bolt which releasing the trap door, han
cocks body shot downward -FOUR lttt ana
then as the rope firmly held D.. the pody
swung around for possibly rev stcoHuS.
Only one or two sighl conNulslNe no. 9
hnents of the body followed and as lar
as man can ten Hancock never lett
Dang. .
Several physicians who were present
were soon otter Invited 20 examine tne
body and at 9.26 no pulse could DE felt IN
the wrist though IL was thought there
was n faint fluttering Of the heart. At
$3.50 they pronounced MN dead an1 az 700
twenty minutes after the drop fell me
body was lowered. the arms unplulOhed
and the black cap removed.
Il was then ascertaiued that the neck
had been broken and Sc is possible that
Hhe slipping OF rho Knot Of the rope rom
under the ear % the back Of the neck
>had materially helped in THIS regard. The
features were hut slightly distgured, one
eye being little swollen.
THE CRIME.
The crime for which John Hancock
criminal assault
Hancock was arrested and brought be-
fore the Mayors Court september ora
on three charges Of assault. ana was sent
on 10 the grand jury which met lew
days later and brought in two lndlct-
rnents against him. AT the october term
OF the Corporation Court he was tired
on tho first indictment. when cndrEtd
him with committing an assault July TO-
1893 on Rosa COhn. aged II, az the mousse
I'rrHE @
street The evidence showed that Han
cock had been in the employ of Messen-
ger for two years part of which time he
had waited on the grandfather OF kosa
Coin. The old man was an Invalid ana
Hancock occupied his room. which was
near that where the little girls stayed.
ON the date mentioned he had gone into
this room and by threatening the enid
With a knife had accomplished his pur-
pose All this was substantially tOld py
several witnesses.
RELINQt1SHED HOPE.
Hencocks counsel on yesterday re-
linoldshed all hope. Throughout the
entire case they have consciously
and without any pecuniary reward. 'eN-
pended tme and labor In the prisoner
behalf. In peuuoning for respite
their claims as 10 Hancock ana ms
condition were fully set forth and the
CSovernor was furnished with a complete
COPY Of the record. Those opposing
communication OF sentence presented their
side of the case and thus the Governor
had the facts pro and con. One Of Ham
cocks counsel had a conversation IN re-
gard to the matter with the Executive
about two weeks ago. ana from the
statements made by the Governor NJ
the time. and subsequently, through the
newspapers they considered that he
had reached a final determination.
presentation OF their course and an OK
PLANTATION Of the conditions and circum-
stances involved I'm the whole procedure
was made in a communication which was
forwarded 10 Richmond on yesterday.