The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03
HANGED BY RAILROAD TIME.
Ahead of Time and the Engineer was
10 Blame.


There IS a branch OF the Burlington
Railroad which runs down into the south
eastern part Of Nebraska, and along
which are strung several cOunty-seat
towns. At the time TO which reference
Is made a man named Bruce Mattingly
was awaiting execution On the Jail OF one
Of these towns. he having committed
homicide. which, according 20 the theory
Of the jury merited death. He was
pretty bad man. but, as is frequently the
case with tough citizens he had a strong
circle Of friends who were disinclincd 10
see Mattngly snufed out az the end OF
rope They intercedcd with the Gov
ernor after the regular channel Of law
courts Of appeal had been run fruitlessly
but Ma.tinglys reputation was against
him, and the Governor would not def
niteiy promise 20 grant the desired re-
spite The Sheriff Ofthe county had an
nounced that he would wait until
o'clock I'm the morning for any guberna-
torial interference. and promptly at that
hour. I'm the absence Of a notice OF a stay
he would launch Mr.. Mattngly out into
the elsewhere.
on the morning OF tho dayset FOR the
execution the conductor Of Burlington
No. 3 was instructed by thetrainmaster
to pick up ar this county-seat town the
state Fish COMMISSIONER private car,
which had been there FOR some days, and
carry IL onto the terminal The engi-
neer. when told Of the order, suggested
that Il would be best for him 20 run I'm
minutes ahead of card time. so as TO Doe
sure 20 have enough time 20 get away .on
the schedule. for there was strong com
petition I'm the matter OF the prompiness
on that run. and for over three years
the train had not been behind. So being
ffa To- a
rushed things a lite. and got I'm at I56,
thus having four minutes Jecway 10 pick
ne the Commissioner car. As they
pulled up AT the platform n sound of
whistling and a ringing OF bells rose IN
tho town and from The high board stock
ade around one wins OF the county Jail.
which was just across from the depot a
red flag nuttered as somebody hauled it
up on its temporary pole The engineer
asked what f. meant
Just hung AlattiuglV' cried man ~
uhat oment. breaking forth from the
stockade. Hung him prompt 40 s
o'clock. Bill was afraid a order might
come from the GOv'nor am as soon as II
was he let him co.,
"But 81 isn't s." said The engineer. IT,
three minutes 10 IT,
"No. Il isn't. It's g. Amt No. 3 IN, an
don't she git here al s 20 the dot?'
The engineers hear Jumped and then
fel down into n deep well.
do you mean 10 say that you hung a
man by railroad time instead OF by watch
or clocks?" he gasped.
"Of course. Why. watches an clocks
varies Take any dozen watches among
the crowd in that Jail right now an I'm
bet there amt no two alike In pintin' ont
the time. But No. 81" and the men
looked az the engineer 10 eloquent silence
which was immensely expressive. The
latter leaned agslnst me tank and pulled
his own watch and fastened hiseyes de-
vouringly upon II. PIE afterwards said
ne lived a lifetime waiting for the two
remaining minutes % pass so that the
hour would really be s. Every instant he
expected 10 see the operator come fly
ing out with an orcer 10 delay the hang
ing. and knowing that he had given the
signal to execute the man four minutes
ahead OF time ne felt that II any such
notice were 10 come before 8 IN would
be a kind Of murderer. At last-it seemed
after years-tne hands indicated the act
ual arriving time Of No. g and with a
great gasp OF relief the engineer climbed
into the cab and went about the work
of hooking on the Commissioner car.
II was some time before the engineer
got around 10 a state OF mind where~he
could sneak lightly OF the incident and
to this day he has never run so much as
four seconds ahead ol time. He says q
isn't conducive 10 a mans peace OF mind
out I'm that country. where they hans
people by railroad time card.-Chicago
Racor1