The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-08
CLIFF ORD
STRANCLED.
Murderer of Supt. Watson
Expiates His Crime on
the ScaRold Today.
NET HIS DOOM WITH FORTITUDE
Prepared a Statement Read
By Father McGinley in
the Death Chamber.
EXPRESSED PENITENCE FOR THE DEED
Final Attempt Made Yesterday
to Procure a Stay BY Law
yers klink and Furey.

black-robed Hgure Slood under lhe
gallows, erected in one of the corridors
of the Hudson County Jail, this morn
ing. A moose was around the neck and
a black cap drawn over the face. The
figure was Edward Clifford, murderer of
Supt. william G. Watson. At the doom
ed mans elbow stood the Rev. Father
mckinley, facing two rows of citizens
hidden to attend the execution Of the ex-
treme penalty of the law. Holding in
his hand a small piece of paper, the
priest said, in low tone:-
sI have been requested by Mr.. Clifford
to read these last words. which are his
identical words
q never intended to strike, shoot or kill
Mr. Watson, and I have never been able
to realize how 1 came to take his life.
1 make this statement. realizing that I am
about to meat my God. My best wishes
and blessings 10 you all. Good bye"
There was a nod of acquiescence from
the poor wretch. whose face would never
again see the light of day, click,
sound as If heavy weight had fallen,
a body jerl1ed into the air, a few twitch-
inge of the hands, silent figure hanging
under the scaffold, and then those who
witnessed the tragedy knew that the soul
of the murderer had sped TO eternity.
As early as eight o'clock small groups
of people gathered at points of vantage
near the gloomy old Jail. They gazed at
the famous window over the door expect
ing to see the man whose life was soon to
-gJer gngnfed out ard discussed the chances
of a stay or something which would pre-
vent the grim tragedy taking place. Along
came the police guarding the approaches
to the jail and keeping a road clear for
those who had business in the Court
House. Half past nine o'clock found the
Sheriff's office crowded with the Sheriff s
jurors whilst in the Circuit Court room
were those appointed by Justice Lippin-
colt. These were:-
Courts Jury-Dr. George Culver,
Thomas G. Vile, Charles H. Ball, Chris
tian Lohrengel, DIR. Charles A. Gilchrist,
Charles w. Levering, P. H. Murphy, DIR.
J. NJ. Rector William w. Baxter, John
IT.. O'Brien, Duncan Cameron, Mayor Eg-
bert Seymour.
Sherifrs Justice-Dr. Otto H. Albane-
sius, Edward Miller, Claude Bryan,
DR.. Joseph Craven, J. Deetjen, DR.. H. B.
Rue, Albert A Frank, DIR. William j.
ArilIZ, LIT. fliCndTu Ocu1Gii4stl, LII. -. Il.
Putnam, Charles Mcbride j. V. Burke.
Led by Sheriff Ruempler the Jurors
marched in pairs across to the Jail few
minutes after ten o'clock had struck and
took their places in the narrow corridor
on the west side of the jail. AT the south
end of this place was the scaffeld and
standing beside it the hangman, Mr.. Van
Hise," as he insists on being called, low
ingly lingering the rope and glancing at
the jurors with a look as if he would like
to work off, the whole lot at $3.50 per
head. He was in the midst of this enjoy
ment when Warden Sullivan appeared at
the door of the corridor and beckoned to
him. The hangman walked out quickly,
the talon like fingers of his right hand
ominiously clutching his throat. piece
of black cloth dangled from his coat
pocket and in one hand he held piece
of white cloth and some straps.
Following the Warden they reached the
condemned cell. There beside the doomed
man were the priests and the Sheriff, who
had Just informed Clifford that his time
was up. When the death warrant was
read the hangman stepped behind his VIC
tim and quickly pinioned his arms to his
sides. Clifford submitted to the process
indifferently, paying close attention TO the
consoling words of the priests The dread
preparation being finished at sign from
the Sheriff the march to the scaffold
began. ~ ,-o,ors stand
ing at the door of the corridor TO Inc
Jurors who were talking IN undertohes,
s'they are coming.
Instantly there was silence, only pro-
ken by the twittering of the sparrows on
the trees outside. More distinct became
the sound of footsteps, and IN IeW
seconds the tall figure of SheriH Ruem-
uler was seen entering the corridor,
and at his heels the hangn1an. Behlnd
them came Clifford, with Father McGlh-
ley on one side and Father Foye on tne
other Holding a crucifix in his rlgn,t
hand clifford walked steadily on, with
his head up, and there was a smile on
his face, as if he was at peace with hlm-
self and the whole world. There WASH I
the slightest sign of fear about MIN as
he stood under the gallows tree. calmly
awaiting his end. As the hangman was
fixing the strap around his ankles he
turned his eyes downward to watch him.
The moose around his neck was then fixed
to the catch of the long rope dangling
from the crossbeam, and the hangman
then drew over Clifford's face the awful
blackcap.
For a second or two. which seemed like
an hour, there was pause broken by
Rather McGinley's voice reading Clifford S
last words. These over Sheriff Ruempler
stepped in front of Clifford and said to
Clifford, have you anything to say why
the last sentence ow the law should not
be carried Out?
Nothing" was the faint whisper from
o,lt of that awful cap.
II was now just fifteen minutes past ten
x,,nianlS when the flangn1an at a sign from
me Sheriff released the rope holding up
the 100 pound weight. Down It flew four
fssen feet to the floor below, lighting on a
t9sa ~ 81 wfli1sst to deaden the shock. At
ne re same Instant Clifford flew into the
air. air returning with Jerk which which MADE g.,1
ieff tay,d Of the murderer opened ana
shut and the head turned on the r1gnt