The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-15

Saved by Reprieye From
Governor at Last
Minute


1.-TWO years at the door of death
the grim, green door In Sing Sing
joseph Cohen has come back.
Freed from the charge Of murder
which had been hanging over IN
head for nearly five years. he d
hard at work on his old job-un,
loading chickens in the Washing.
ton Market But he is no LONG 81
the same powerful, fearless "KIns
Joe"
Once" he says with a raspina
voice, II was within seven minutes
OF the chair. The governors re.
nrieve came just in time. II it had
been delayed ! wouldn't be here
Cohen had been convicted Of in,
stigating the Baff murder which
rivaled tho Rosenthal case IN popu,
lar interest. In 1917 he was sen,
fenced to the death house,
Reveals Emotions During His Trial
Il was in daze from the start Of
the trial." said Cohen today. "The
whole business was so unbelievable
But when ! found myself in the lit
tie gray house up the river | knew
that It was real-all too real.
II couldn't bear to look at the
hars. So ] slept with my head to-
ward the door. One night heard
10 buzzing noise on the other side
Of the wall. 1t was tae electric
chair. was nearly frantic.
Thirteen men passed by my cell
on the way to their death. IS each
would go by, there would be a noisy
goodbye from the other men.
Most Terrible Sound In World.
Suddenly we would hear the
buzz of the motor. It's the most
terrible sound in the. world-abso,
lutcly indescribable. We would
lose our heads and scream. But
soon everything was quiet again.
ut is not the man in the chair
who is being punished" Cohen sud
earnestly, but the mon who are
left behind. Theirs is living
death. Any OF, them would rather
die Immediately than llnger in the
death house.
u wanted TO die. Tie only thing
that kept up my courage was tina
thought Of my innocence and the
stigma that would have been left on
"one day a youngster broke
loose from the keepers grasp as he
%ds being led to the chair. He
ran down in front of my cell scream.
Ing. The boy was only IS. We be.
gan to yell. 1t was all over in lit.
tie while. The kid went through
the little green door
Days and Nights In Solitary Con.
fInement.
None of us slept that night.
was taken from my cell and put ir
q dungeon. 1t was punishment for
cat calling with the rest. For three
days and four nights, Ielay in soil.
tary. When got out, couldn't
talk.
Sometimes the man told Jokes.
Sometimes they laughed. But It
wasn't often. They couldn't forget
that little door and the buzzIns
noise"
Cohen shuddered.
There is something ironical." he
continued. about giving man a
good feed Just before he goes to tbs
chair. I have never been able To
figure 1t out, remember QUO
youngster who didn't eat. He hal
been arrested with three others in
Bronx murder. His sidekick
told me that lle was innocent. FL
Just read aud wrote until his day
came"
Finally Taken From Death House
After Cohen was reprieved his
. sentence was committed to life In.
prisonment, and he was taken from
the death house.
II was so weak that I couldn'
walk" :. lie said smiling for the frs
time. AFTER a couple OF weeks Ii
the hospital I began to come to ami
my courage returned. From tlcI
on ! never gave up hone.
"And ono day my dream cam,
true. I was granted a new trial.
Everybody In prison seemed t,
share my happiness. ! was nurgin.
tdiphtheria patients in the fospita
when the rector came in md toll
me to get ready. I was going ii
New, York.
IT was the greatest moment o
Imy life. ! was released on bail. Bu
1t was only few days ago that TIL
courts finally freed me.
i I'm still dazed. But I'm goin,
to start all OYER H..