Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1885 — HIS OWN EXECUTIONER. [ARTICLE]

HIS OWN EXECUTIONER.

John Gaunt, a Jersey WlftoMlirileriMS K*li*vvs the llattgtuKn us «* Trfap-Sprlmri tug dub. fKew York special.! John Gaunt, "ho riablubl his wita to ihxitn on Saturday morning, cmnmittril suicide to-day in the Jersey f'Hy Jail. When connuiltod to the jail he seemed to be ns uneonrerned as any of the ordinary prisoners, and ho had tho Dx'e use ot tho eorridoi'S. On Sunday he ate Ins meals with apparent relish, fie did not seem to appree ate the enormity ot hia crime, and. as he appeared to be in a good Dome ot mind, tho jail ottlemls gave him no special attention, lu the evening, after having rend si newspaper. Gaunt closed the door ot his cell, and sit S o'clock, when the night watehman locked him up, ho threw himself on his cot. At 2 o'clock, in making his rounds, tho watchman looked into Gaunt's cell. The prisoner was streteluul on his cot and appeared to be sleeping. When the coll was opened this morning Guant's body was found suspended from the coiling and life was extinct. Tho murderer had evidently planned tho suicide with much deliberation. The cot on which lie slept is suspended from tho ceiling by si heavy ohssin, A short rono runs trausvei'sciy neross the oot for tho support of tho mattress. After untying this repo Gaunt unni\ oled enough of Jt to nmk«' n slender rope about five feet long, lie then fastened tlio end of it to tho chain nenr tin' ceding, nnd made si running noose on the other eml, which he placed around his neck, with tho knot under his left oar, 110 thou must have thrown all his weight on tho rope, and thus strangled himself. Ono foot touched tho tloor.