The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-07-01
NECK IS BROKEN Py cATAPuLT
JERK AND WAS PRONOUNCED
DEAD AT 1o:so p. NJ; SISTER
SAYS GOOD BYE.
BtEssEs HIS ExfCuTIONtRs

AEA EAA0as IENOI0y-
Harry Edgar Hillen Thursday night
at ten twenty-five paid the penalty for
his life OF crime and particularly for
the murder OF Thomas J. Chase. a,
Denver real estate man on the night
OF October "A. 1918. He was hung
by Warden lyman. his neck was brek-
en- and he died almost instantly.
About I'VE minutes elapsed before he
was offciAiy pronounced dead by
Prison Physician DR.. Hart Goodloe-
HiIlen was calm and apparently
Arm. being. no doubt buoyed up by
his recent conversion to the Chris
tian life by Reverend c. T. ilsley.
pastor Of the Baptist church OF this
city.
Certainly he was less nervous and
fearful than those about him who
we're called to officially watch the
execution He was tall. young man
Of healthy appearance and as he stood
erect beside the death trap just a
step or two he commanded the adni-
ration OF the execution party. He
spoks directly and clearly In making
his ;ast statement and there is well
grounds 10 believe that he made a
nnd and conclusive confession OF
the crime for which he died. because
II y known that his last words were:
"And May God Have Mercy Upon My
s5ul. Good Bless You AL"
Those invited TO the execution be-
Gan TO arrive at the penitentiary
about nine o'clock. although Commits
ticner OF Safety Alexander Nisblt
and undcrsherir Glenn Dnffieid. Of
Denver. canrc 20 Canon City on an
afternoon train and remained at The
warden's house while they were here.
except during the death scene. Rev.
c. 7. IlsIey and Chief Clerk Eugene
Crawford were the FIRST TO arrive of
tho town people, although Chaplain
J. @. Blake and n middle aged gen
tieman. supposed to have been Rob
ert u. Hilien. an uncle OF the victim.
spent the evening at the home OF De-
putty Warden John Keefe. who has
been seriously III. but last night was
able to sit up for awhile. He did
not attend the hanging. Prison ply
sIcian Dr. Hart Goodloe arrived in
plenty Of time.
The death cell In which Hillen was
confined was sealed at noon on
Thursday. Roon after Miss Irene Hill
len. tho nineteen year old sister OF
the condemned man. had taken her
last. heartbroken farewell Scarcely
had she been taken sobbing from the
death house than guards and work
men began sealing up the door. Only
room enough for air and an aperture
through which to pass food were left.
Scarcely any light penetrated the
cloistered room and Hillen's last
hours were spent in clouded darkness.
Warden lyman and Chaplain Blake
were exceedingly nervous as they
went TO the covered door Of the death
cell last night to accompany Hillen
to the room OF death. Their knees
we're knocking ardibly. one against
the other. and they had the righteous
fear OF good men in their hearts. Hill
len. strong in the hope Of forgiven
ness by his Almighty God. showed
tut little Indication that he realized
Ms impending doom. Only . little
shudder a. he paused down the hall
way and turned the corner which ves-
tibuies the threshold Of the rooln Of
horrors, was the only sisn he gave OF
dread.
Being. ~ Il was. the fieetinG time
Of . condemned man who u to reap
the maximum reward for . life Of
crime. HIllen's final moments were
allsd with beautiful words and .fine|
thought He gave his pleasing upon
those about with ringing voice. full
OF Kindness. Only for : second did
he Vince ~ the moose and black hood
we're placed about his head.
ons step wAs all that was. neces-
nArx 70 place HIM upon the death
trap, but he could not take II because
his ankles were strapped together ~
also were his wsists. Captain lack
Dslss. who had charge Of he death
dealing appasatis. ard oae ~ those
standing SER, plapea Hlllen upcn Ne !
mo Instantly ~ ipy6F uuAosnseHA
- ec,qnscl ~ A ~ - l,(