Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-31
DEATH CELL HORRORS
Roland B. Molineux's Story of
Life In Sing Sing Prison.
THE GREWsOME LAST NIGHT.

Watched a Man About to Die.
Roland Burnham Molineux, who was
acquitted Of the murder of Mrs. Kath-
arine B. Adams, has written a book
describing his four years Danish
ment' in the Tombs and in the death
house at Sing Sing prison.
The title Of the volume is "The
Room With the Little Door," 1t is
copyrighted, 1902, by Roland Burn
ham Molineux and will soon be issued
by the publishers, G. w. Dillingham;
company, by whose permission the fol
lowing extracts are given. Molineux
wrote most of the twenty odd chapters
while in prison.
The unique feature of Molineux's
book, says the New York World, is a
chapter entitled impressions" and it
is divided into two views, THE Last
Night" and THE Next Morning" de-
scribing the last hours of man SEN
fenced to die by electricity. He says
that man about to be executed Is re-
moved from his cell to an apartment
directly adjoining the death chamber
ON Saturday night. He then knows
that he is to die week from the fol-
lowing Monday. He asks no questions.
He Is given everything new-clothing,
bedding, books or anything he asks for.
From that moment" writes Moli-
neux, "a certain unwritten etiquette
among us is never violated. His own
way in everything so far as we can
possibly comprehend 1t Is our law.
Does he ask for song or story, his
demand is acquiesced in at once. VIII
he play checkers? He will choose his
opponent, and he will always win. We
send him our oranges, the top layer
from the box of cigars one has pur-
chased. We do anything-anything we
can to please him.
HAS there been a quarrel between
him and another? 1t is completely for
gotten. On his part he must make the
ghastly regulation jokes during the
week. These are two in number, one
with the keeper about the new suit of
clothes, 4 suppose you will be wearing
this week after next
mo. Q is with the barber, Don't
forget to cut my hair short on top"
OF the grewsome last night Of u con-
demned man Molineux writes:
But at midnight the last rites among
us of the death chamber take place.
The keeper comes to my cell, carrying
perhaps the little paper box my depart
ing friend has kept his tobacco In SO
long, one that he made and decorated
himself. Keep that to remember me
by / heard from the direction of the
little door.
"'Thank you,' reply.
'Goodby. l hope you have luck and
get out is the next part of the ritual.
must respond: Thank you. Goodby,
and God bless you
"This is repeated to each one sep
arately. He gives everything away;
books, pipe, all. For six months he
has been turning over In his mind just
what treasure each of his companions
shall receive when the last night
comes"
Molineux says no condemned man is
ever given food on the morning of his
execution. He describes the parting
between one condemned man and his
spiritual adviser as follows:
IF you have slept and do not hear
the death watch draw down the cur
tains in front of all the cells when the
night outside turns gray, you will sure
ly be awakened by the noise of many
feet. 1t is the priests who have en-
tered. AS you lie in your cell Ghe
drawn curtains make it resemble lit
tie box wide awake you know that the
last confession is being made, the last
sacrament is being administered
This is another reason why no
breakfast is given to the traveller. |
saw it all one morning. The curtain
was not quite down to the floor.
made myself as fiat as possible. l saw
the priest kiss him, hold up the cross
before his eyes, bid him have faith and
the little procession march rapidly into
the next room. What happens in there
and how it felt three minutes later
cannot tell you, but I came very near
finding out"
Molineux says "Home, Sweet Home
is never sung in the deathhouse. He
says the condemned men indulge in
mock elections, contribute to n manu-
script newspaper called the Murderers'
Home Journal and read and converse
when the guards permit.
OF the newspaper, to which Moli-
neux contributed freely, Molineux says
that there is no newspaper in the out
side world like it," A verse contributed
by MolineuX is given as appearing in
the Murderers' Home Journal. 1t is as
follows:
Here lies a judge whose last words / in
dite:
"Ill go to heaven; I'll go this very night"
He died as with himself he conversed;
AS usual, his decision was reversed.
An UnexpInined Phenomenon,