Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-06-01
INTO. ETERNITY!
Jose P. Ruiz Hanged
This Morning.
Did Not Weaken in the Try
ing Ordeal.
Said Drink" was the Cause OF his
Terrible Crime,
A HANGING WITHOUT A HITCH.

Jose y. Ruiz, convicted OF the muir
der OF 5-year old Patricio o'Bannon'
was hanged this morning In one
story frame building near the county
Jail in old Albuquerque this morning.
He was assisted to the platform by
Rev. Father Persone, OF the Catholic
church and Jailor Lucero and spoke
few words in Spanish to the audience.
His speech was interpreted by Nestor
Montoya. Everyone present expected
to see Ruiz weaken at the last mo-
ment, but he proved to be one OF the
gamiest men that ever suffered the
death penalty In the southwest. Depu-
~ Sheriff Il. G. Newcomer gave the sig
nal to John Clark. a colored guard,
and in an instant the body of Ruiz shot
downward like an arrow. The drop
fell at s:53 o'clock and the body start
ed to swing to and fro. but was stead
led by the physicians who were present
to record the pulsations OF the dying
man. Life was extinct In eleven min
utes, but the body was not cut down
until 9:l6--twenty three minutes after
the trap was sprung.
All day yesterday the condemned
man paced backward and forward In
his cell. except what little time he was
occupied in prayer with Father Per-
some and conversation with friends,
who called to bid him farewell During
the night he reclined for n few mo-
ments on his couch. but was unable to
sleep and passed the hours conversing
with the death watch. He said he was
thankful to the officers for their treat
ment and attention to him. during his
confinement in the county Jail. When
asked II he was conscious OF what was
about to take place, he said he was full
ly prepared and would go to the scat
fold unfllnchingly. Breakfast was
served about o'clock, but he did not
lpartake OF much food.
| At $40 o'clock this morning Deputy
Sheriff Newcomer arrived at the Jail
and proceeded to Rulz's cell. Ruiz and
the priest were uttering fervent pray
ers. The prisoner walked to the cell
door. and with head bowed heard the
reading OF the death warrant by the
chief deputy. which was interpreted in
Spanish by Nestor Montoya. Ruiz was
dressed in a new black suit, new white
shirt and congress shoes After the
reading OF the death warrant he plac-
ed his hat on his head and assisted the
Tailor In adjusting the handouts. Then
the procession to the gallows began.
Rev. Father Persone walked at the
lside OF Ruiz and was followed by De-
putty Sheriff Newcomer Nestor Mon
toya and a press representative. A
covered carriage was in waiting at the
Jail yard door and conveyed the pris-
| nj
zen representative to. the building In
which the gallows was erected. Crowds
of people anxious to get a glimpse OF
Ruiz. were in waiting at the Jail fol
hours this morning and when the car
riage was driven to the building sew
eral hundred people, men. women and
children were present who crowded
around the carriage to look at the mar
who had but few more moments tC
live.
, Ruiz bore up remarkably well and
,, , showed no signs OF nervousness when
he alighted from the carriage. The
death march began and every steI
Ruiz made brought him nearer his
DOOM but he was conscious OF his sur.
roundings and never faltered at any
lplace. When he mounted the scaffolC
he faced the assembled crowd and tn,
l. guards began the work OF pinioning tn,
q legs and arms. He was told by Mr.
Newcomer that he might address tn,
crowd. and in a clear and dstinc
voice spoke briefly in Spanish, whicl
Nestor Montoya interpreted in En-
Z gllsh. He said:
"Gentlemen-Beware OF drink: IL ha
brought me TO this scaffold. Father
of families. train your children proper
lly and teach them to respect everyone
: and for the love of God keep then
away from liquor. for this is tn
cause of ruin. Now, friends. in thii
my last moments / ask you for tn
love OF God to pray for my soul"
a When Ruiz had ceased speaking
Deputy Sherlif Newcomer placed tn
e black cap over his head and DR.. ]. i
Haynes adjusted the rope. Ruiz wa
heard to murmur, "adios," previous I
II the springing of the trap.
That there could be no possible mis-
take the body remained hanging Il
several minutes after the physician
ANNOUNCED that life was extinct. Froi
a hangman's standpoint the executio
was a success In every way. The bod
., was cut down at 9;16 o'cock by NJ
Newcomer and was placed in a cofl
AZ and taken TO the San Felipe de Ne
4. cathedral. where mass services wei