money and bonds as well as Bressette!s insurance papers. When he so=
bered, he reported to the police that he had been robbed and went with
them to search the thiefs, He pointed Brown out. and when officers be-
gan questioning both of them, their involvement in the Beck murder be-=
came apparent and they were arrested. Clark was taken into custoy#
several weeks later in Louisville, Ky, All confessed and Clark, who
admitted that he had fired the gun, pleaded guilty but was not sen-
tenced until after the bkial of his accomplices, The two men who had
drove them to Milburn pleaded guilty to manslatighter and were given
indeterminate sentences of 1 to ll; years, Brown and Bressette both
pleaded not guilty with Bressette maintaining that he had tried to
prevent the use of .violence while Brown said that his confession had
been forced from him and that he was being framed by Bressette, Both
were convicted and all three were then sentenced to be electrocuted.
While the cases were not appealed, all three unsuccessfully sought
flemency. They were kameex electrocuted at Joliet Prison on Dec, 15,
1928, Clark, who entered the death chamber first and became the first
man in Illinois to be electrocuted, did not wear a-mask and made no
statement. Both Brown who xmormexe was second and Bressette who were
was third, wore masks into the chamber and while Brown said nothi.
_Bressette’Ss last words were: "God's will be done, "See £
Be SOE (otal
“WAUKBGAN DAILY NEW, Waukegan, Ill., 12-15-1928 ep “we Se iia a.
money and bonds as well as Bressette's insurance papers. ‘When he so=
bered, he reported to the police that he had been robbed and went with
them to search the thiefs. He pointed Brown out and when officers be-
gan questioning both of them, their involvement in the Beck murder be-
came apparent and they were arrested. Clark was taken into custosit
several weeks later in Louisville, Ky. All confessed and Clark, who
admitted that he had fired the gun, pleaded guilty but was not sen-
tenced until after the bial of his accomplices, The two men who had
drove them to Milburn pleaded guilty to manslanghter and were given
indeterminate sentences of 1 to 1) years, Brown and Bressette both
pleaded not guilty with Bressette maintaining -that he had tried to
prevent the use of .violence while Brown said that his confession had
been forced from him and that he was being framed by Bressette, Both
were convicted and all three were then sentenced to be electrocuted.
While the cases were not appealed, all three unsuccessfully sought
€lemency. They were kamgex electrocuted at Joliet Prison on Dec, 15,
1928, Clark, who entered the death chamber first and became the first
man in Illinois to be electrocuted, did not wear a-mask and made no
statement. Both Brown who mexexe was second and Bressette who were
was third, wore masks into the chamber and while Brown said nothil
BressettesSs last words were: "God's will be done, Ue, FB We
WAUKEGAN DAILY NEWS, Waukegan, Ill., 12-1 18-1928 Teo tA ~ Sotin tke
money and bonds as well as Bressette!s insurance papers, ‘When he so-
bered, he reported to the police that he had been robbed and went with
them to search the thiefs, He pointed Brown out.and when officers be-
gan questioning both of them, their involvement in the Beck murder be=
came apparent and they were arrested. Clark was taken into custopg
several weeks later in Louisville, Ky, All confessed and Clark, who
admitted that he had fired the gun, pleaded guilty but was not sen-
tenced until after the bial of his accomplices, The two men who had
Grove then to Milburn pleaded guilty to manslaighter and were given
indeterminate sentences of 1 to ll years, Brown and Bressette both
pleaded not guilty with Bressette maintaining that he had tried to
prevent the use of violence while Brown said that his confession had
been forced from him and that he was being framed by Bressette, Both
were convicted and all three were then sentenced to be electrocuted.
While the cases were not appealed, all three unsuccessfully cash
flemency. They were ioommm electrocuted at Joliet Prison on Dec. 15,
1928, Clark, who entered the death chamber first and became tne first
man in Tllinois to be electrocuted, did not wear a-mask and ma
statement. Both Brown who sem was second and Bressette who were
was third, wore masks into the chamber and vhile Brown said nothil
Bressette’s last words were: "God's will be done, "Seq
Be Eien
WAUKEGAN DAILY NEWS. Waukegan, Ill, 12-15-1928 ep er hte Yh.
wah so MO Ett WL
BRESSETTE. Dominick, BROWN, John, and CLARK. Claude LAV / G2 a
Bressette, a 39-year-old Chippewa Indian from the LaPorte, Wis., In-
dian reservation had worked for two days on the Milburn, Lake Co., Ill
farm operated by 35-year-old William Beck in 1927 and learned where
Beck kept his money and a number of savings bond, He served in the
Army for a time and was discharged in Michigan where he met Brown, a
3Reyear-old black ex-convict. Bressette suggested that they rob
Beck and they went to Chicago where they got in touch with Clarke, a
\8-year-old black man who had met Brown while both were serving sen~
tences at Joliet Prison, They enlisted two other blacks who drove
them to a point about one mile from the Beck house, -Bressette, Brown
and Clark, all wearing masks, then went to the house on the night of
May 16, 1928, and knocked on the door, When Beck asked who it was,
they said that they were having car trouble, He opened the door and
- when he saw the masks, attempted to close it. Clark shot him and
all three foreced entry into the house where they beat him and tied
his hands and feet. As Beck lay on the floor dying, one of them
kicked him in the presence of his aged mother who had come downstairs
and had also been bound, They then stole the money and bonds and
fled. After they returned to Chicago, Brown and Clark got Bressette
drunk and left him in a house of prostitution, taking all of the
BRESSEITE. Dominick, BROW. John, and CLARK, Claude /A//27// 92>
Bressette, a 38-year-old Chippewa Indian from the LaPorte, Wis., In-
dian reservation had worked for two days on the Milburn, Lake Co., Ill
farm operated by 35-year-old William Beck in 1927 and learned where
Beck kept his money and a number of savings bond, He served in the
Army for a time and was discharged in Michigan where he met Brown, a
32-year-old black ex-convict, Bressette suggested that they rob
Beck and they went to Chicago where they got in touch with Clarke, a
)8-year-old black man who had met Brown while both were serving sen-
tences at Joliet Prison, They enlisted two other blacks who drove
them to a point about one mile from the Beck house, -Bressette, Brown
and Clark, all wearing masks, then went to the house on the night of
May 16, 1928, and knocked on the door, When Beck asked who it was,
they said that they were having car trouble, He opened the door and
when he saw the masks, attempted to close it. Clark shot him and
all three foreced entry into the house where they beat him and tied
his hands and feet. As Beck lay on the floor dying, one of them
kicked him in the presence of his aged mother who had come downstairs
and had also been bound, They then stole the money and bonds and
fled. After they returned to Chicago, Brown and Clark got Bressette
drunk and left him in a house of prostitution, taking all of the
BRESSETTE. Dominick, BROWN. John, and CLARK. Claude /L//X// 925—
Bressette, a 3d-year-old Chippewa Indian from the LaPorte, Wis., In-
dian reservation had worked for two days on the Milburn, Lake Co,, T11.
farm operated by 35-year-old William Beck in 1927 and learned where
Beck kept his money and a number of savings bond, He served in the
army for a time and was discharged in Michigan where he met Brown, a
SRryear-old black ex-convict. Bressette suggested that they rob
Beck and they went to Chicago where they got in touch with Clarke, a
\8-year-old black man who had met Brown while both were serving sen-
tences at Joliet Prison, They enlisted two other blacks who drove
them to a point about one mile from the Beck house, Bressette, Brown
and Clark, all wearing masks, then went to the house on the night of
May 16, 1928, and knocked on the door, When Beck asked who it was,
they said that they were having car trouble, He opened the door and
when.he saw the masks, attempted to close it, Clark shot him and
all three foreced entry into the house vhere they beat him and tied
his hands and feet, As Beck lay on the floor dying, one of them
kicked him in the presence of his aged mother who had come downstairs
and had also been bound, They then stole the money and bonds and
fled, After they returned to Chicago, Brown and Clark got Bressette
drunk and left him in a house of prostitution, taking all of the
PG oe eee
Be
