The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-04-06
Report On ALLEGATION OF Federal
Properties Submitted By Board
CHAPMAN PAYS DEATH PENALTY ON
GALLOWSFOR MURDER OF POLICEMAN
oBy Associated Press,

WE n EhOF lELD, OOnnss April
6.-Gerald Chapman's sensation
al career of crime ended on the
ga.loss ct :04 o'clock this morn
ing.
Showing little emotion he step
ped under the moose of Connecti-
cuts new hanging machine and was
executed for the murder of Po-
liceman James Skelly, of New
Britain in a department store
robbery, October IL, 1924.
Seven minutes and five seconds
later physicians pronounced him
dead. Thus ended at 38 a life
of crime that began when he was
16, led him in and out of prison
and made his name byword in
every police station in the coun-
try.
AS Chapman, whose real name
was George Chartres, started for
the execution chamber at one
minute after midnight, the prison
chaplain, the Rev. Father Michael
P. Barry, took his place at the
condemned mans side. The clergy
man carried no crucifix and
Chapman was without the consola-
tion that its sight might have
brought had he desired it.
Father Barry has claimed the
robbers body for burial in Hart
ford today. A $f,454,000 mail
truck robbery in New York and
two escapes from Atlanta and an
other escape from hospital at
Athens, Ca, were among the high
spots in the criminals career.
Three times had Chapman been
reprieved in last-minute efforts
of his counsel to save his life. His
last reprieve expired last night at
midnight. A minute later he be-
gan his march to death.
Al small blue chalked circle on
the floor Of the death chamber
marked the end of Chapman's
life's journey. He did not see on
the wall moose in new hempen
rope for before the moose was
thrown over his neck a black cap
was drawn over his head. An in
slant later Connecticut's auto
matte hanging machine, used for
the first time, had jerked the man
into the air with two distinct mo-
tions.
The body made a half spin in
the air and there were convulsive
motions. particularly noticeable
in the twiching of the feet. Then
at the end of the rope, swung an
inert body, its momentum check
ed by the hand of a guard on
either side who could just reach
the ankles.
Chapman's face had a slight
flush as he entered the chamber.
He piercingly glanced to the right
and then to the left, sweeping
the audience with his brilliant
eyes. His last ook before the
black cap shut but the light was
toward a corner in which were
the windlass and weights of the
hanging machine.
At a signal from the prison
warden through peep-hole, the
oxeeutioner in am rfsadjoining room
put the machine in operation.
Immediately after the hanging
the body was lowered till the feet
touched the floor. Physicians ex-
amined the body with stethescopes.
Then guard with jack knife
cut the lashing of the ends of the
rope where II had been made into
a hangman's knot and the body
was removed from the room in an
undertaker's basket.
Chapman paid the extreme
penalty after the most eventfuI
day in the states criminal his
tory. He had personally appear
ed at the prison before the Board
OF Pardons over which Governor
Trumbull presided and pleaded
for. comm6tation of sentence to
life Imprisonment. He spoke for
thirty-two minutes. He INDUCED
in sarcasm and invective at the.
states attorney. He demanded
more time in which to obtain
Justice and 10 offer new wit.
nesses and new evidence of his in
nocence.
Back in his cell Chapman said
goodbye. old pals to bis attor-
neys and they filed in Hartford
a petition for new trial, bat the
document was Of no value as
Governor TrumhulI refused an
other reprieye.
Fiery crosses we're burned AZ