The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-11
ABE COHEN HANGED
WITHOUT A sHUDDER HE WENT
TO HIS DEATH.
SPOKE ON THE GALLONS.
SMILED AS HANGMAN's MOOSE WAS
frightened.

hen spoke Long and FerventIy.
at Is Well With My Soul" He
Said; and as the Clock Measured
| the Appointed Hours. Exclaimed
.There Is Death-It Is Here-I Have
waited for 1t and 1 am Ready"
Life Was Extinct Thirteen Min
utes After the FnII-Neck Was
nrOken.
Without a CULVER or a shudder of
his huge frame, Abe Cohen dropped
through the death trap and his soul
passed into eternity at 1903 o'clock
in the county Jail yesterday morning.
The scene before the hanging was
even more impressive than the exc
cution itself Long before the appoint
ed hour the inmates of the Jail con-
gregated in the corridor and held SOL
emn service as the measured minutes
told of the hour when Cohen was to
be plunged into eternity.
Shortly before 10 O'clock Cohen,
dressed in a plain black suit, wearing
white gloves. and his hands folded
before him. moved slowly down the
corridor to the death trap, a minister
on each side of him, the prisoners
following with solemn mein, chant
ing softly and wierdly the strains of
1T Is Well With My Soul"
When the door was reached the pro-
cession halted. continuing the solemn
dirge; and as Cohen looked out upon
the faces of the officers. doctors and
executioners, his face wore a firm and
solemn aspect, but his voice was
strong, and above the others he sang
with fervor Yes, it is we'll with my
soul"
"Jesus is My Doctor"
Yes, friends" he said, when the
singing had ceased and the Jail was
as quiet as death itself, lit is we'll
with my soul; it is well with my soul.
l am we'll in body and spirit. 1 need
no medicine; need no doctor. My Doc
tor, friends, is up Wonder" And he
pointed his gloved hand toward heav-
en-. MY Doctor is DR.. Jesus. My
soul is with him, and 1 am content.
Il am a black man. you are white.
My face is black, but, thanks to my
Saviour, my heart is white 1 hope
to meet you all in that better home;
where there is no color line, where sick
ness, sorrow and disease is not known,
and where black and white shall re-
joice to do the bidding of the Father.
Doctor" he said. addressing him
self to the coroner, who stood just out
| side" l hope to meet you this morning.
| l hope to meet you this morning in
| heaven"
Man is like a flower" he continued,
his voice growing stronger as he
spoke. He springeth up in the
morning, green and tlourishing; in the
evening he is cut down and he wither-
| eth away. Now as | wait the time that
/ shall cross lJordans chilly stream-as
L stand on the brink of DEATH pray.
that may met you all there.
mo man knows When death will
overtake him. 1t may be at his heels,
| it may be far distant"
''There is Death"
| AS he spoke the clock near the cell
| door slowly rang the hour of ten. Half
facing it, and extending his hand in
| impressive manner, he slowly said:
There is death. 1t is here. That is
the hour. 1 am waiting. 1 am ready;
take me and do what you will with
me. The hour of death is here"
1t was an impressive scene. The
| white faces before the condemned man
bespoke the sadness in every heart.
Behind him stood his friends, silent
and awe-struck. Without curious
throng, in the dead silence, listened to
| the last words of the murderer, as he
stood, penitent and waiting, at the
door of the death chamber. With death
upon him, with the thought that he
| had less than five minutes more to
live-his voice was strong; he was
calm and deliberate.
With no sign of emotion he stood
while the ropes were being bound
about his limbs. He told Rev. j. NJ
| Milton and Rev. G. w. Griffin, who
stood beside him, farewell, before his
hands were tied. For the last time he
extended his hand and shook good bye
Then his arms were bound.
He was taken into the death trap
AS the hangman moved the board
upon which he walked into the cell
and made other preparations for the
fall of the trap, he looked intently on.
His face was a picture of sadness, but
he did not seem afraid. AS the depu-
ties bound his limbs he looked at them
curiously. When they frightened the
heavy hemp rope about his neck he
did not finch.
Smiled on the GallOWs.
Tell US when it's too tight" said
one of them. I'VE don't want to hurt
you any more than we have to-
Il know that, SIR" he replied. And
he smiled.
The sheriff then stepped into the
death chamber, it's sole occupant beside
the condemned man. AS he read the
death warrant Cohen stood erect. his
| cOuntenance calm and his limbs steady
Not a CULVER shook his frame.
The death warrant read, the sheriff
stepped without.
ABE Cohen, have you anything to
ecuted?" he called.
Nothing, except my prayers came
from beneath the black cap.
Then may God have mercy on your
soul"
No one knows what were the thoughts
of Cohen as he stood waiting for the
death trap to spring. Most likely he
was praying with all the fervor of his
soul.
May God have mercy on your soul"
called the sheriff, again, and the death
trap sprung.
The Death Trap Sprung.
Ten feet, or more, the body dropped;
! the rope frightened; there was no
sound save slight gurgle; the pen
dant body turned slowly about as the
rope twisted, Abe Cohen was dead.
The death trap sprung at 1000. Co.
hens neck was broken by the fall
and he knew no more. Thirteen min
utaS later his heart