The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17
PATHETIC GOOD-BYES.
OF MEN ON SCAFFOLD.

Caliemin, one of the three motor bandits
guillotined recently. exclaimed to one of
the wardens as he was dressing for the
last time;
"I don't need much clothing for such a
short Journey" Just before he was exc
cuated he caught glimpse of the crowd
in the distance and cried: "Ah, Is 1t not
beautiful thing to see a man in agony?'
And that was the man who thought 1t
joke to see others in agonyi
Those dreadful few minutes before
man is launched into eternity have been
responsible for many dramatic and ghast-
ply scenes. The wild desire to prolong his
life if only for a few terrible seconds, Is
irresistible says Pearson's Weekly.
When Charles Peace was on the scaffold,
Marwood the executioner, stepped for
ward to plaee the white cap on the GRIM
malls head. stop a minutei" cried Peace
excitedy, "I want to address the report
ers"
HE was allowed to speak-bound, shiv-
ering, and almost bloodless. After he had
spoken, Marwood again stepped forward
but Peace repelled him, and hoarsely
asked for little water.
No attention was paid to his request
and the executioner drew the cap over
his head. The condemned man, from un-
der the cap, again asked for cup oil
water. and cried out that the rope was
too tight and hurt him. At that moment
Marwood drew the bolt and the scene was
over.
Neil Cream, the doctor who sent num-
Der of women to a dreadful death by
strychnine poisoning. suffered terrlpls
during his last moments on earth. AT tht
very last moment he tried to gain little
longer lease on life. AS the executionei
pulled the lever which released the bolts
Cream hurriedly cried out, Stop min
ute-I am Jack the -"
The sentence was never finished, though
to this day many people believe that thu
American doctor was the author OF th'
outrages that sent wave of terror ovel
the East End of London in 1888.
One of the most dramatic scenes on th'
sea mold in recent years was enacted wheI
Dougal, the Moat Farm murderer, wa'
executed in 1903.
Rellipgton adjusted the white cap, and
after a final glance round grasped Tho
lever At that moment his attention wa'
drawn to the chaplain who had pushed
his way toward the very edge of the drop
and was motioning to him to stop.
With his hand on the lever, Billingtor
| waited.
Guilty or not guilty, Dougal?' asked
the clergyman, in a shrill, nervous voice
| There was no reply.
Guilty or not guilty?' again asked tht
clergyman.
| This time Dougal replied. His head
| turned in the direction of the voice, ant
from beneath the white cap the dyinf
man replied hoarsely:
| "Guiltyl'
| At that moment Ellington pulled the
| lever, and the heavy doors fell down witt
| a crash.
| One of the last executioners ATTENDED
| by Calcraft was that of James O'Connoi
| for the murder of James Gaffney One OF
| the journalists present at the execution
! described it afterwards in terrible SEN
tences
II could not turn my eyes from the
drop. A crash! A thud. The rope flies
loosely in the air
with vault, Father Bonte dhe priest
present) sprang into the pit. followed
him. Propped up against the wooden
partition lay O'Connor, the broken rope
round his neck and the white cap over his
eyes The good cleric at once drew off
the cap and loosened the moose. Selling