plied that they had no warrant and resisted arrest with a bowie knife,
The two efficers attempted to subdue him with their clubs and he stabbe
Jones fhrough the heart, instantly killing him, and. Rosenberg through
the head, inflicting a wound from which he died the next day. Dilger
fled and, sought to make his way to his brother's house whene he hoped
to obtain money and a change of clothes to make his flight but he was
captrued before he reached there, While he never denied killing the
two officers, he claimed that it was in self-defense and his first
trial resulted in a mistrial, Tried a second time, he was convicted
by a jury which deliberated for only one hour, The conviction was
affirmed on appeal and on the morning of July 31, 1889, he was hanged
in the Jefferson County Jail Yard on the same gallows with his friend,
Harry Smart, convicted of another double murder, The day before his
execution, Dilger attempted unsuccessfully to commit suickde and was
calmed down and manacled only after his former employers called on him
and comforted him. He: went to his death bravely and stood on the
scaffold nodding to friends, He looked up on the wall overlooking the
yard, where he himself had sat in June, 1638, and witnessed the execu-
tion of William Patterson and smiled at the firemen seated there.
\ shi j ck and began un-
Nhen the tree cane pufved fin up By the nd his nec an
“ ings cers pu e head and he asked: at
fpronadel When told, he replieds if can stand it. Tell them to hur
me up and let me die as quickly as possible. Tell them to hang me, no
to butcher me,'' When a new rope had been prepared, he hopped on the
plied that they had no warrant and resisted arrest, with a bowie knife.
The two officers attempted to subdue him with their clubs and he stabbe¢
Jones fhrough the heart, instantly killing him, and Rosenberg through
the head, inflicting a wound from which he died the next day. Dilger
fled and, sought to make his way to his brother's house whene he hoped
to obtain money and a change of clothes to make his flight but he was
captrued before he reached there, While he never denied killing the
two officers, he claimed that it was in self-defense and his first
trial resulted in a mistrial, Tried a second time, he was convicted
by a jury which deliberated for only one hour, The conviction was
affirmed on appeal and on the morning of July 31, 1889, he was hanged
in the Jefferson County Jail Yard on the same gallows with his friend,
Harry Smart, convicted of another double murder, The day before his
execution, Dilger attempted unsuccessfully to commit suickde and was
calmed down and manacled only after his former employers called on him
and comforted him, He went to his death bravely and stood on the
scaffold nodding to friends. He looked up on the wall overlooking the
yard, where he himself had sat in June, 1888, and witnessed the execu-
tion of William Patterson and smiled at the firemen seated there.
i an un=
sae eiinae Lor see pufied Ain up" By the nd shag ate Shea: Manat
tappened." When told, he replied: "I can stand it. Tell them to hurry
me up and let me die as quickly as possible. Tell them to hang me, nov
_to butcher me." When a new rope had been prepared, he hopped on the
plied that they had no warrant and resisted arrest with a bowie knife.
Jones fhrough the heart, instantly killing him,
the head, inflicting a wound from which he died the next day. Dilger
fled and, sought to make his way to his brother's house whene he hoped
to obtain money and a change of clothes to mike his flight but he was
captrued before he reached there, While he never denied killing the
two officers, he claimed that it was in self-defense and his first
trial resulted in a mistrial, Tried a second time, he was convicted
by a jury which deliberated for only one hour, The conviction was
affirmed on appeal and on tie morning of July 31, 1889, he was hanged
in the Jefferson County Jail Yard on the same gallows with his friend,
Harry Smart, convicted of another double murder, The day before his
execution, Dilger attempted unsuccessfully to commit suickde and was
calmed down and manacled only after his former employers called on him
and comforted him, He.went to his death bravely and stood on the
scaffold nodding to friends. He looked up on the wall overlooking the
yard, where he himself had sat in June, 1888, and witnessed the execu-
tion of William Patterson and smiled at the firemen seated there,
5 ; et
when the trae folly the nagndPped petted haste Tasted: Atha
Rappeneds" When told, he replied: "I can stand it. Tell then to hur: |
me up and let me die as quickly as possible, Tell them to hang me, no’
to butcher me," When a new rope had been prepared, he hopped on the
DILGER = continued, Louisville, Ky. , .
scaffold, both legs having previously been tied, after having pat
ly waited for about three minutes, and his weight released the trap
for a second time, 26 minutes later he was pronounced dead, RXHX
BO AKXHARX LK
XXXROAMLAWE ANAM AG AL
11 SOUTHWESTERN 651 ;
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL. Louisville, Kye, 7-31-1889 (Woodcut Like-
ness on page two) and 8-1-1889
pueaseo ¢[ ze fo) a1 Ell atin stow *ATTwWey 4s
qNngNTeo ory ‘gem §*Xy Sap Ttastney jo sat yeu PTC aa
satszeyg “YdsTId
DILGER - continued, Louisville, Ky. .
scaffold, both legs having previously been tied, after having pat
ly waited for about three minutes, and his weight released the trap
for a second time, 26 minutes later he was pronounced dead, RXEX
MBASXHARXAH
XXXSQUXUNNAXERNXIGLT
11 SOUTHWESTERN 651
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Kye, 7-31-1889 (Woodcut like-
ness on page two) and 8-1-1889
pue—aS¢o C mo sy See skTTwWeZ 48
qnqXzoo ory Ben §YXy Setttastney zoeat yeu pTo-week
seqaeyg “Yd
DILGER = continued, Louisville, Ky. .
scaffold, both legs having previously been tied, after having pat
ly waited for about three minutes, and his weight released the tray
for a second time, 26 minutes later he was pronounced dead, BXKX
IoeOGRONA
XXXROMTRMRATERNKLOAT
11 SOUTHWESTERN 651
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Kye, 7-31-1889 (Woodcut like-
ness on page two) and 8-1-1889
p) 3 oi Thy Sy G ody sépyuez 45
seTseyg “ua
conse 6
(HOUTA, Letevtty Key TIA889 (ondent kee
tna) BAS
DILGER, Charles = - he Laer
~
Dilger, a 30-year-old white man, was a native of Louisville, Ky., where
he was born to a poor but honest family, A poor student, he quit
school at an aarly age and was apprenticed to a house painter. A hard
worker, he soon became known as one of the best painters in the city
even though he was a hard drinker and, frequently engaged inbrawls whick
as a large and powerful man, he invariably won, When the. old Bucking-~
ham Theater was opened on Jefferson St., he was made a private watch-
man in charge of the upper gallery where he was noted for his ability
to maintain order among the rowdy elements, using his club frequently,
One one occasion, a fireman who he had beaten attempted to attack him
away from the Theater and he shot him through the neck, inflicting a
critical though not fatal wound, After severely beating a rural pa-
tron of the theater, its owners discharged him but they soon gave him
another position as keeper of the back entrance. Around two o'clock
on the morning of August 16, 1888, he was beating his prostitute-mis-
tress, Mary ("Buggy") Burns in their room in a brothel located at 98
Lafayette St,, and her cries for help were overheard by two Louisville
policemen, James W. Jones and Joseph Rosenberg. They entered the
j : the
house and by the time that they reached the top of the stairs, ‘
screams had eeased. They surmised thet the noise had come from Dilger
room and they went in and told him that he was under arrest. He re-
DILGER. Charles © q Oe aber
Dilger, a 30-year-old white man, was a native of Louisville, Ky., wherd
he was born to a poor but honest family, A poor student, he quit
school at an early age and was apprenticed to a house painter. A hard
worker, he soon became known’ as one of the best painters in the city
even though he was a hard drinker and, frequently engaged intrawls whic]
as a large and powerful man, he invariably won, When the. old Bucking-
ham Theater was opened on Jefferson St., he was made a private watch=
man in charge of the upper gallery where he was noted for his ability
to maintain order among the rowdy elements, using his club frequently,
One one occasion, a fireman who he had beaten attempted to attack him
away from the Theater and he shot him through the neck, inflicting a
critical though not fatal wound, After severely beating a rural pa-
tron of the theater, its owners discharged him but they soon gave him
another position as keeper of the back entrance, Around two o'clock
on the morning of August 16, 1888, he was beating his prostitute-mis-
tress, Mary ("Buggy") Burns in their room in a brothel located at 98
Lafayette St,, and her cries for help were overheard by two Louisville
policemen, James W. Jones and Joseph Rosenberg. They entered the
house and by the time that they reached the top of the stairs, ae |
screams had eeased. They surmised that the noise had come Sra ilg er:
room and they went in and told him that he was under ae ae ie re=
DILGER, Charles « ‘ : a
Dilger, a 30-year-old white man, was a native of Louisville, Ky., wherd
he was born to a poor but honest family, A poor student, he quit
school at an early age and was apprenticed to a house painter, A hard
worker, he soon became known’ as one of the best painters in the city
even though he was a hard drinker and. frequently engaged intrawls whic!
as a large and powerful man, he invariably won, When the old Bucking=
ham Theater was opened on Jefferson St., he was made a private watch-
man in charge of the upper gallery where he was noted for his ability
to maintain order among the rowdy elements, using his club frequently,
One one occasion, a fireman who he had beaten attempted to attack him
away from the Theater and he shot him through the neck, inflicting a
critical though not fatal wound, After severely beating a rural pa-
tron of the theater, its owners discharged him but they soon gave him
another position as keeper of the back entrance, Around two o'clock
on the morning of August 16, 1888, he was beating his prostitute-mis-
tress, Mary ("Buggy") Burns in their room in a brothel located at 98
Lafayette St,, and her cries for help were overheard by two Louisville
policemen, James ¥. Jones and Joseph Rosenberg. ‘They entered the
house and by the time that they Peached the top of the stairs, the
They surmised that the noise had come from Dilgerd
screams had eeaseds
@ him that he was under arrest. He re~
room and they went in and tol:
