New-York tribune., 1919-06-26
Young Bandit Maintains His
Air OF Indifference in
Electric Chairs Shadow:
May Give Talk in Court
Thrill in Murder Verdict
First Time, He Declares, He
Hasn't Been Bored Since
the Whole Affair Began

The most interesting thing about
ones first degree murder trial is the
announcement of the verdict by the
foreman of the jury, Gordon Fawcett
Handy 'inted out yesterday in an in
terview f, the Raymond Street Jail.
Handy will be sentenced to the cleo
trio chair this morning by Supreme
Court Justice Lewis Fawcett. He was
convicted on Tuesday of killing De
Witt C Peal, paying teller of the East
Brooklyn Savings Bank. Peal and
Henry Coons, another employe, were
shot to death by Handy while he and
2 confederate were robbing the bank
of $4,000 on December 13 last.
The trial itself was enlivened by the
brisk manner of District Attorney
Lewis, Handy said, but it wasn't en-
livened enough to keep him more than
mildly interested. In fact, things
seemed to be dragging until the jury
filed back into the box after some per-
functory deliberation, he remarked.
"There was thrill in the pronounc-
ing of the verdict by the little fore
man of the jury" said Handy, seri-
ously. "You know, the sensation it
gave me sharpened my appetite, and I
ate like a couple of people. 1t was far
more interesting than the walk l had
with the deputy sheriffs from the
courthouse to the prison. It was like
being the principal attraction at a
circus. But it was not unpleasant at
all, because I didn't sense anything
unfriendly in the crowd and l seemed
to be giving them pretty good time"
May Speak To-day
His half smile deepened to a laugh
as he said he had spent the morning
making notes on a speech he might
deliver in court to-day. He startled
his hearers for moment by announc-
Jag that he is not eager to die as soon
as possible, despite his repeated re-
quests to hurry him into the death
chair.
eyes, l want to live for awhile" he
said; Gust long enough to learn the
result of the WillardDempsey fight.
want to give the result to the boys in
the Great Beyond.
81 just wonder what that place is"
Frenchman who, filled with ennui,
killed himself to EXPLORE in the spirit
world. But I must admit my curiosity
regarding the other side of the Styx."
Handy said he has only two specific
requests to make of the world before
leaving it. The first is that no one ask
him about his family, and the second,
that questions concerning his partner
in the East Brooklyn Bank robbery be
omitted.
II am persuading my counsel not to
said. 1T seems a general rule to
make these appeals in murder cases,
but l don't care for any. I am writing
few stories which l have sold to a
publishing firm for enough money to
keep me off prison diet and in
cigarettes until the current is turned
on"
He was asked about the robberies
and murders (which District Attorney
politely and attentively while the
places were mentioned. Then he raised
his clear blue eyes to his cell window
and checked off his replies on his
fingers.
Handy Not Insane
"Now, let me see," he began. II
killed out in Omaha. In St. Paul l
did three jobs, but no shooting In
Los Angeles, nobody was killed. l
would sooner not speak about Okla
homa," he concluded quickly, with a
gesture of finality.
Handy is described as a model pris-
oner by Warden McCann. He is con-
slstenly courteous and unobstructive.
He strolled about the prison yard in
the morning after a hearty breakfast.
According to DR.. Edward E. Hicks,
psychologist of Brooklyn who made
study of Handy at the trial, the con-
victed murderer is natural criminal,
cool, cruel, quick and dangerous.
Handy is congenitally Detective"
DR.. Hicks said. ellis suave appear
ance has no connection with his Grim
lnal tendencies. His manners are of
the world; his criminality is of hered-
ity. Environment might have had
something to do with Hamby's career,
but he was pointed the wrong way
long before his surroundings had any
effect on him. He has no regard for
human life, any one else's or his own.
That. lis why he is so cool, although he
faces death.
"There is no insanity in Hamby's
case The public is too apt to con-
fuse the criminal and the lunatic.
They are usually entirely different.
Hamby's is very high grade of in
tellect, several stages above derange-
ment. But he is devoid of all feeling,
conscienceless and heartless He is no
remarkable character. He is Just. a
criminal of the worst type"
PhiIadeInhia.tO.Shoro