The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-07-13
LIES BESIDE
THOSE SENT
To ETERNITY.
GsoTgs Maledon Who OliIcIaiet
al SIXTY Hanglngs Was
Always Jolly

4
stones throw OF the final resting
place OF men whom he sent TO eter-
nifty al thu end OF a hangman's rope,
the remains OF George Maledon. who
for years served as official execu-
ti0naf OF the United States court at
Fort Smith, We're Inferred this week
Maledon despite reports that he
was haunted by the spirits Of men
was afraid to sleep in an unlighted
room, lived to the ripe old age of 81
years, dying in the Soldiers home
,at Jefferson City, Tenn.
More than the usual amount oil
Trouble allotted to man fell to the
lot Of the man who legally executed
more than sixty men, but he was al
ways Jolly La his declining years
he performed the duties of hangman
as ably as in days when he establish
ed the reputation which made him,
next to Judge l. G. Parker, the most
dreaded man In the western country
sialcdon attained his record OF six
ty haugings in the twenty-five years
he was a turnkey at one Of the most
notorious jails in the world, ana
would have hanged many more hut
for the election Of Democratic
president of the United States,
which let ont all federal employees in
Fort Smith.
Shot TWO Men
lii addition to toe number he le
gally executed, Maledon shot two men
TO death twenty-five men were le
gally executed at Fort Smith after
Maiedon left the government service.
Deputy Marshal George Lawson per-
forming the grewsome function.
With Maledon the hanging of men
Mas business and an art, Few men
who fell through the trap of the Fort
Smith gaiows died Of strangdlation--
it was nearly always case OF brok
en- neck His Willingness to perform
a duty shrked by most federal en-
hloyes kept MHledoh his position with
each change Of marsaals, until he
hnaliy retired To make room for a
Democrat
With the passing or Maledon there
in Fort Smith but one re-
minder Of the death dealing machine
which from 1874 to 1890 snuffed out
the lives of eighty-eight men This |
is the trap OF the old gallows. This |
trap Is nov the front porch OF cab |
in which stands near the site Of the |
oA gallows, and the feet OF children |
patter upon IL daily Now the site OF
the old gallows is a part of a BUSH |
ness center.
Came From Detroit
+ NIaedonl came to American when |
an infant, from Bavaria, in 1850, ana /
was resident Of Detroit until he
was grown. then going to the Indian
territory, where he soon became a
ieputy marshal. During the term OF
Marshal Logan II. Roots he was
made turnkey and hangman, the posi-
ion he held for twenty-five years
While he served as hdngman Male
ion twice hanged six men at one
ime. the trap OF the gallows being
)f sufficient size to accommodate IL
without erowding Three times he
executed sets of live, and as many
ines executed four at once Four
ines three men were legally hanged
N Maledon and double executions
sere too numerous for his attention
n after years.
Il have never hanged man who
,ame back in after years to have the
ob done over again, for the ghosts
# men executed at Fort Smith never
ians around tie old sibbet, Maledon
il one time stated when questioned
IS ,to the reports Of his mental dis
urbances.
After he was relieved as fe5eral
,angman, Maledon toured the indian
erritory aud other parts OF the
southwest exhibiting his ropes ana !
arts of the galloWs, neing greeted
N large crowds everywhere he au'
Iily gave up the venture and went |
nto the grocery business in Fort
smith later retiring 70 farm in
county where he re-
NAMED until too aged TO work lie |
vas admitted to the Soldiers home
n Tennessee, a reward for his serV-
&c IN the Union army