The New York herald., 1920-01-30


Haamby, as he requested that more
cheerful death watchman be substituted.
Refuses to Talk ON Religion.
Warden Lawes had charge of all ar
rangements for the execution. Until the
last Handy declined to accept spiritual
consolation from either the Rev. DIR. A. +.
Peterson or the Rev. Father William f.
Cashin the chaplain, but he talked to
them on topics other than religion. He
told the attendants he did not desire
clergyman to comfort him or accompany
him on the death march to the chair.
Father Cashin entered Hamby's cell at
a few minutes past seven o'clock in the
evening and was in earnest conversation
with the prisoner for nearly half an hour.
The priest later said the condemned man
had become more sober and read the even
ing newspapers, seeming to be amused at
the accounts OF his last day on earth.
Father Cashin said he did not believe
Hambly was entirely irreligious, but as
serted he. was nearly so.
Dispatches Three Letters.
Hambly arose in the morning. after
sleeping about nine hours. Warden Lawes
called upon him and the other slayers
before noon and found Handy waiting
with three letters. These he asked the
warden to mail after he was dead. One
of them was addressed to n girl of whom
Handy had been fond. He pledged Warden
Lawes to secrecy about the letters and
their contents, and the warden declined
to state to whom they were addressed.
Handy had been dressed in his death
suit of black and wore a black shirt.
Cant l have a light colored shirt
warden?" he pleaded. The warden said
he would grant the request and instructed
the guards to get him a white shirt. lie
also asked for stiff, white collar, but
this request was not granted.
When the death house barber shaved off
the top of his head to enable the keepers
to fasten down the death mask. Handy
ioked about the haircut. II thought they
were geing TO give me a German pompa-
dour" he exclaimed. IF they ever had
I'd have turned over on the slab"
Handy had a plentiful breakfast and
ate heartily. For dinner he selected steak
mushrooms. Strawberries and coffee.
Frank Flanagan. another hod-up man
Under sentence of death. asked permission
Of the warden TO buy Handy a treat and
il was granted. Flanagan ordered box
OF cigars. a box OF fancy bonbons and
five dollars worth of ice cream, which
Handy had distributed among his twenty
nine death house companions after taking
his own portion.
For supper Handy ordered lobster
salad. II need not worry about indiges-
ton now," he explained. Warden Lawes
told him that Nellie Bly,. OF whom he had
made confidant, had come to Governor
Smith in Albany TO ask n repricve for
him. Handy made no comment Later
guards told Handy that the Governor had
refused a respite. Again the prisoner
was -committal.
Handy asked the warden to have his
x,,t4 x.tf1, .tlt, h. IoI MA xf1n
so often in his cell. grven to Miss BLY,. He
did not know she had received a pass to
see his execution.
Warden Lawes told Handy that people
were curious TO know what questions he
had propounded to the ouija board. Ham
by said he had asked it. for instance,
this
what is my real name? It's so long
since have used II I have forgotten II my
self"
I've forgotten, too" Handy quoted the
ouija board as answering.
Then Handy said to the board
do you like muslc2" Answer:--"Yes."
The phonograph was then reeling off
tune on squeaky record.
do you like this music?" Handy
queried The answer was:-"No. not this
jazz
Career Excited Interest.
1OFNon Y uWttll liNHlpN DlNptbiF eANlNtu
the interest OF the public more than any
other criminal Of recent years. The story
OF his career reads like the product of the
pen OF a Gaboriau or q Conan Doyle. The
final chapter OF his amazing life began
last summer when Judge Lewis l.. Faw-
cott. OF the County Court. in Brooklyn. SEN
fenced him for the murder OF De Witt G.
Peal and Henry Coons, officials OF the
East Brooklyn Savings Bank on the after
noon OF December %. 1915 He and an
accomplice staged hold-up at the bank
and escaped with sl3.oco after Staying the
two officials.
Outside the bank crowd OF 200 had
gathered. Handy and his man defledl
them all and under protection of their
revolvers they backed down the avenue
and escaped in n taxicab, whose driver
they urged TO greater speed by pressing
the muzzle Of revolver against his head.
Hamby's story OF what followed until
the time OF his arrest was told by him
after the capture
The pair went TO n hotel on Nassau
avenue in Brooklyn, Handy standing
guard at n window all night with his
guns ready. Next day he and his ac-
complice. whose name he said was Wing.
parted company Handy stayed I'm New
York two weeks and then went to Wash
ington. whore he met girl. lie and the
girl went to 50. Paul and thence TO Seattle
Then he settled 5000 on her and ssnt