The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-10

Winnipeg, July 10.-Game to the very
last, with a smile on his lips, John
Krafchenko, Plum Coulee, Man, bank
robber and murderer of Manager Ar
mold, walked up the long flight of
rough made steps which led him to his
death in the hangman's moose, and with
a toss of his gray streaked head to
throw his hair clear of his eyes, he
gazed square at the loop Of rope in
front of him. He was pale, but not a
tremor shook him, and with his hands
tied behind him and shoulders straight
ened and squared, he mounted to the
Scaffold.
trap, he smiled and said something to
the warden. The smile stayed on his
lips until the scaffold was remounted.
Then he faced the moose.
His hair, streaked with gray, which
had grown somewhat long, hung
slightly over his Eyes. He shook his
head backward, clearing his eyes, and
then looked straight at the moose, with
a slightly puzzled look.
In a second the black sack was Slip
ped over his head. His legs had been
strapped above, his knees and round the
ankles. Before he could have realized
that all was ready, Ellis, the Canadian
hangman, had jerked back the lever.
There was a snap as the doors sprung
loose, a jerk, and a faint bobbing up
and down Of the slightly swaying body.
Eight minute later John Krafchenko
had met his Maker. There was no de-
lay, no hitch to mar the speed or
smoothness Of the execution.
The death march from the cell COM
menced at 6:57: At one minute to the
hour Krafchenko, led by Rev. W.. b.
Heeney, who himself was pale and
looking i'll; Sheriff Inkster, n Deputy
Sheriff Pinycker, with two guards
slightly behind the murderer, reached
the foot of the scaffold. This he mount
ed nnai6e1. A few seconds hpfnra 7
o'clock the black cap had been adjust
ed, the trap sprung and s minutes later
DR.. Carscallen declared the murderer
! a corpse.
FOrty-nine See Hanging.
Forty-nine people witnessed the
hanging. The speed with which it was
carried out caught the greater part of
the onlookers by surprise as they were
not expecting the murderer to be dealt
with so rapidly.
The drop was eight feet.
Several of the spectators, in the ex-
element as Krafchenko passed from
the Jail to the steps of the gallows.
kept their hats on their heads Hats
off," sharply called Ellis, the hangman,
and all heads were barred. More thar
one turned away as the black cap was
adjusted, but some who would have
turned away were caught, as the lever
was pulled so quickly.
The rope stretched a matter of four
inches, leaving Krafchenko's feet about
seven inches from the ground when
death was pronounced.
In prayer ALI Night.
Rev. Mr.. Heeney entered Krafchen-
kos cell at IL o'clock and throughout
the night he and the prisoner prayed
every hour, now Mr.. Heeney, now Kraf-
chenko, supplicating the Almighty.
Dramatic Scene In Cell.
At 4 o'clock, however, Krafchenko
suddenly looked up from the bench on
which they were then sitting. Holding
his lands level with his shoulders, he
stood, every muscle tense, and his face
reddening with the strain. Listen, -
he said, and for four minutes he stood,
braced and taut
Then, Ready" the word was bIurt-
ed out, and John Krafchenko collapsed
unconscious on his prison bed. From
that moment up to within 10 minutes
of his execution he remained uncon-
scious. DR.. Carscallen and several
guards called by Mr.. Heeney attended
him.
He recovered consciousness about
6:45 and at 6:55 he was brought from
his cell to the place of execution, at
tended by two guards. He mounted the
twenty or so steps to the scaffold and
halfway up he sadly smiled and muir
INJURED to one of the guards that he
didn't feel very well.