The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-05
A HAUNTED HANGMAN.

Seventy-nine Met Death Through his
Official Acts, and he Thinks That
Number of Ghosts Visit Him.
Down in Washington county, Ark,
near the village of Springdale, George
Maledon, the old Fort Smith hangman
is ending his days in most unhappy
manner. The old man believes he is
haunted by the ghosts of his victims.
Coal-oil lamps are kept burning all
night long at every window and every
door of Maledon's primitive farmhouse.
The old executoner tries to believe that
the lights will frighten the ghosts away,
but at times his faith waivers.
From 1879 to 1S94-twenty-two years
George Maledon was official hangman
for the United States court at Fort
Smith, Ark, that court having jurlsdic-
ton over the then lawless Indian terri
tory. During his tenure of office Male
don plunged seventy-four men into
eternity through the trap-door Of the
gallows in the Fort Smith Jail yard. and
| shot five others who took desperate
chances to escape, thus making seven
| ~ -IilIG SOulS SGllL lIllO StGIHlly Wy
Maledon, and now in his delirium he
counts exactly seventy-nine ghosts
Time was when George Maledon glo-
ried in the title prince Of hangmen."
but he now deplores the fate that ever
led him to mount the gallows as an ex-
ecutioner.
Take them away Take them
awayn he means in his fitful sleep,
and the old mans watchers know that
he is dreaming of his ghosts. But
Maledon Is not insane He is not a
raving maniac, as has been reported.
He has simply been smitten by con-
science 1t Is at night that trouble set
ties about this remarkable man. His
sleep is broken and he talks aloud. In
daylight he rallies from this deirium
and struggles to recall the bravado of
his former days. but 1t is the effort of
shattered courage. The old hangman
has a family to whom he has always
shown great devotion, and he is cared
for as well as conditions will permit.
His wbims are accepted as law.
The late Judge Isaac C. Parker, a
learned jurist, philosopher and cele-
brated border character, presided over
lIt COURT WHICH, AldItIOu StINtu
hangman. Judge Parker died three
years ago, leaving behind a record as
the hanging Judge" During his SER
vice on the bench in this celebrated
court he pronounced the death sentence
upon the men hanged by Maledon.
Jurist and hangman, despite the differ
ence in their stations, We're confidential
friends.
When Judge Parker was on his death
bed, just before the last glimmering
spark of life had fled, he moaned in
troubled way and said; II never
hanged man. it was the law
History does not furnish a parallel for
the Fort Smith Federal Court as it
was during the Parker Maledon admin
istratiOn. There never was another
court just like it, and there never will
be. Hangings We're to this tribunal as
commonplace as workhouse sentences in
the ordinary police court. Judge Par
ker sentenced and Maledon executed as
calmly as ever dictator and stenograph-
or worked together. Thus these two
iourneyed along together for more than
a score of years, Furnishing crime on the
old principle, eye for eye, tooth for
lObliI, plOcu lpl Dlppus 1 his uulN ut-
volved upon somebody for the Indian
territory was in those days literal In
cubator of murder, pllage and other
crime,
THE COURT IS NO MORE.
But now the old Fort Smith court Ia
no more, Federal court is still main
tained at Fort Smith, but the Indian
territory jurisdiction has been elimina-
ted. On September |, 1896, the criminal
jurisdiction over the Indian territory
was taken away from the Fort Smith
court, and since that time 1t has been
very much the same as any other Fede
raj court. Territorial crimes are now
looked after by courts located within
the Indian country but these courts |
are nothing like the Fort Smith court in |
its palmy days, for Judge Parkers iron |
rule brought about more healthy state |
of morals, and of late years there has |
been decrease of crime. The Indian |
territory is now becoming populated |
with reputable people, and murders
there are now scarcely more common
than in many of the older states. In
men to the gallows Judge
Parker believed he was discharging an
and to society in general. He was ex-
kind-hearted despite his rec
ord He encountered the most de-
oraved and vicious classes, and mild
.rea tment would have caused the court
% be viewed with contempt. An emer-
sency existed, and it appeared that
Judge Parker was called to fill it,
George Maledon, prince of hang
men," is a native Of Landau, Bavaria.
He was born in 1880. The following year
he was brought to America by his par
.nts. They located at Detroit where
George received a good education in
he city schools, both in German and
English. AS d boy he was reckless, and
his disposition increased with years.
1t an early age he started out to see
he world. 1t was not long until he
cached the Choctaw nation where he
vas engaged in lumber mill owned by
chief Allen Leaving this employment, |
lie went to Fort Smith, then. as now,
he most sprightly town on the border,
nd served for several years on the po-
ice force He fought through the civil
var Oh the Union side, and was distin-
uished for daredevil bravery. AT the ,
lose of the war he returned to Fort |
ninth and was appointed deputy sher- .
f.
When the United States court was re-