Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23
Letter to Warden Harris.

Warden Harris, but his strength was not
equal to completing the task, and the
priest. Father Yaselli, finished writing the
thoughts which Paolucci expressed. This
letter was as follows:
"Mr. Harris. Esq, Warden L s. Jail, DC:
Il wish to thank you and the keepers
of this institution for their kind treat
ment which l have received. | have been
treated very kindly by every one of them,
and l want you to know I appreciate their
kindness and favors to me very much
indeed. May God bless every one of them.
Goodbye, am 9oing to meet my Creator
in heaven. My best wishes to Ducky
Holmes, and l hope and pray the Lord
will spare his life. May God bless him;
he is a good man.
JOSEPH PAOLUCCI"
From the cell which he had occupied
during the most Of the time of his ncar-
ceration in the jail since the murder
Paolucci was taken across the rotunda
and into the death cell at about $50
o clock this morning. Warden Harris
then read the death warrant to him, and
Paolucci was left alone with his spiritual
adviser.
Carrying out his expressed intention to
meet the end bravely, the condemned man
walked firmly from his cell 10 the spot
they indicated in the center of the drop.
His last act before the black cap was
adjusted and while William a. Sword,
one Of the guards. was strapping his legs,
was to kiss the crucifix held TO his lips
by Father Yaselli. Paolucci continued to
repeat The Act of Contrition" even after
the black cap hid his features from view
and his lips were moving even to the
moment when William T. Vickers. rotunda
officer at the Jail, frightened the moose
about his neck.
The Fatal Drop.
AS usual at executions al the District
i,iI turn led SnYinQ
of the trap to an adjoining cell in the
jail corridor One Of them only was re-
aured to spring the trigger. but neither
of the two keepers in this cell knew which
of them was to pull the rope which sent
Paolucci to his death. At the softly
spoken signal, IAN right the ropes
frightened, the drop shot from under him
with dull thud and Paoluccis body shot
downward II was at once evident that
his neck had not been broken, because
the twitching of the arms and legs and
body gave every outward indication OF
strangulation.
The condemned man was clad in a dark
gray suit. low black patent leather shoes
and he wore white shirt and black neck
tie. In his inside pocket he carried
small prayerbook. the gift of his mother
and sisters when he left his home in Italy
about seven years ago, and it was his
wish that the book be buried with him.
Paolucci also expressed the desire that
his funeral be held from Catholic
church. and that the appropriate masses
should be said for the repose OF his soul.
The Italian Society is making arrange
ments to that end today.
Story Of the Crime.
The crime Tor which Paolucci was
executed was committed about 1870 o. clock
the afternoon of September Ii, 1893. the
life OF Miss Dodge being taken almost In
front Of the home Of her mother 437 9Th
street northeast. Paolucci and the girl
had been friends for a long while. and
Paolucci had reached the conclusion that
she belonged to him: that she was his
sweetheart and had no right to go with
other men. The evening befcre the crime
was committed. however. he found that
ne was mistaken. That evening he met
her with her sister and young man. and