Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-03-31

goodbye, stepped back upon the tran.
'Ler her go, boys" he said. But the
straps about his legs had vet to be
fastened, the black cap pulled down
after the moose had been adjusted and
the preparations for the execution com-
pleted. Deputy Sheriff Weymouth
deity fastened the straps about his
limbs, n at the knees and the other
at the ankles. Deputy Patterson adj
Justed the, moose, drawing the knot
behind the left a and pulled down
the cap. There was an i~nfnitesimal
space of time, and the lever was re-
leased, the trap fell like a flash, a
slight but distinct thud as the bodv
cached the end Of the rope, and the
sentence OF the law had been carried
out: There was not a CULVER Of the
body or Of q muscle after the drop fell.
The body hung apparently inanimate
as q log, and there was barely a mo.
ton, even from side to side. Not q
drawing or tw1tching of a muscle, a
contraction OF a limb, or other outward
expression indicated pain or delay in
the effect Of his punishment. Death
was us nearly instantaneous as pos
sible.
1t was ten minutes after six when
the condemned man and the deputies
sheriff emerged from Coles DON and
started on the march to the scaffOld
-Four minutes later the drop vas
sprung. at fourteen minutes after six.
a stethoscope was applied by County
Physician Ballard. and the heart beats
noted, they ceasing Mt eighteen min
utes after six, or four minutes after
the drop fell. At 6:20 the body was
lowered from the scaffold to the plat
form below, and the moose removed
from the neck, an examination of
which disclosed that it had been broken
In the drop. The body was placed in
the coffin there to receive it and the
last chapter of the tragedy was played
out.
It was breaking day when the exc
cution took place, and the light was
such as to enable all to see distinctly,
but rather garish. The weather
was chilly, and a slight wind sighed
rather dismally about the enclosure.
There were none upon the scaffold
when the drop fell with the excep-
ton Of Sheriff Bogue. Deputy Patter-
son and Deputies Weymouth, Mason
and Bowman. The GOODNESS and bray
cry with which the condemned man
met his fate was surprising to all who
witnessed the execution, and nearly
all of whom thought that at the final
moment Cole would lose his strength
and control.
The last act in the tragedy is over.
The unpleasant duty of the execution
has been an unavoidable nervous
strain upon Sheriff Bogue and upon the
officials who assisted him. The sheriff
is to he commended for the care and
perfection with which the arrange
ments We're made, to the end that the
execution he humane and successful,
and none who witnessed it but believe
that death was instantaneous. and SO
far as can be known, practically pain
less. While Sheriff Bogue has care
fully made preparations, and per
formed his duty as the law requires.
however, unpleasant the execution of
the. laws mandate may lie. Deputy
Sheriff Patterson rendered valuable
assistance, both i'll keeping the con-
demned nan courageous for his fate,
and in assisting with the details of the
execution. Deputies Weymouth. Ma
son and Bowman We're also cool and
OF valuable assistance in the work of
carrying out the decree of the law,
and it is well that the sentence was
successfully, humanely and decorous-
~ carried out.
The remains were conveyed from
the enclosure in which the scaffold is
builded to the undertaking rooms
whence they will be buried. Cole has
no friends or relatives to claim the
body and it will be buried by the
county. The face of the dead man,
after the cap had been removed, was
little disfigured. The eyes were not
much affected. and the tongue pro.
truded but slightly.
Sheriff BOgue says that Cole, while
In Jail awaiting sentence. was 81
model prisoner. He gave no trouble
was in nOWise di%sagreeable, never ut.
tered Il prOfane or vulgar word and
in every way comported himself MS 4
gentleman. The statements that have
been circulated that Cole had confessed
to other crimes, and that he had impli
Gated others, is not true. Cole made
no confession of any kind. and the re
port that has gained some currency
is an erroneous one.
There was no religious trend tc
Coles disposition. He desired nc
minister of the gospel. believing that
his lot was cast and that formal re