Illinois, K-L, 1881-1975, Undated

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the sheriff intended, skidded off the table and
landed on the floor with a crash of breaking
glass.

“Look at what you made me do!” he
bawled. “Now, clean up the mess!”

Hurriedly grabbing a broom, the chastened
deputy began gathering up the pieces. Sud-
denly, he straightened up, waving a portrait
of a man.

“Look what was under the drawing of
Buffalo Bill!” he cried. “A photograph. The
killer’s maybe.”

The photo was that of a bushy-haired man
with a prominent nose. It was shown to

“neighbors, but they did not recognize it. En-

tering his car, the sheriff drove to the home
of the murdered woman's sister and handed
it to her.

“I’ve seen him—but where?” She thought a
moment. “Oh, yes, he was a friend of Otto’s.
They were from the same. Bavarian village.
It was four years ago I saw him—at Otto’s
house on Lexington Street.”

“Recall his name?”

“He was introduced, but I don’t remember

. John something-or-other, I think, but
I’m not sure. He acted oddly, didn’t say
much. After he left, my sister termed him
queer. Otto said he was only a shy, lonesome
bachelor who was uncomfortable when women
were around.”

STAMPED on the lower right-hand corner
of the photo was a photographer’s name
and the address of his studio on North Halsted
Street. The detectives drove there and ques-
tioned a stooped, aged man whose fingers
were discolored by developing chemicals.

Sheriff Hesterman showed his star and the
photograph. “We'd like some information
about this fellow.”

The photographer reached for a ledger.
“Sure. What's his name?”

“That’s what we'd like to know.”

“I'd have to go back through my negatives,
thousands of them, to get that information.
I’m too busy right now for that.”

Sheriff Hesterman placed five glossy prints
on the counter—ghastly pictures showing the
battered bodies of the Eders.

“We have reason to believe that the man
you photographed is responsible for this
butchery. He’s still at large.”

With a shudder, the old photographer
turned the grisly pictures face downwards. “If
that’s the case, my time is yours.” He locked
the front door of the shop and led the officers
to the rear, where hundreds of boxes of
negatives reposed on floor-to-ceiling shelves.
“You got any idea when this picture was
made?” he asked. “I mean, if I knew about
when the customer came here. . . .”

Hesterman shook his head silently.

“It’s like looking for a needle in a hay-
stack,” the photographer muttered. “But one
thing is sure—the needle is here somewhere.
I never destroy a negative... .”

After three solid hours of hunting, the
photographer uttered a cry of victory and
exhibited a negative. “This is it! A year
ee
A number on the negative led to a ledger
in which the transaction was recorded.

“The name is.John Kammerer of West
North Avenue. He gave us a big order—100
prints.”

“One hundred!” exclaimed Sheriff Hester-
man. “Why would anyone want that many
pictures of himself?”

“It és unusual,” admitted the photographer.

“A dozen, two dozen, is the usual order, ex-
cept for theatrical people.”

“Think he might be an actor?”

“I don’t know. Maybe my assistant does.”

He telephoned his employe, a young man
who lived nearby, and the latter hurried to
the shop.

“I recall Mr. Kammerér distinctly,” the
assistant said. “I was naturally curious about
the large order, and I asked him whether he
was on the stage. He chuckled and replied:
‘No. But like actors, I have admirers, woman
friends, and these are for them.’ I laughed,
thinking he was joking.”

The address Kammerer had given the studio
proved to be a weed-grown lot between the
west bank of the Chicago River and a cluster
of factories. The nearest habitation was a
fisherman’s shanty. Its owner, interviewed as
he bailed out a dory, had never heard of
John Kammerer.

Copies of Kammerer’s photo were made and
distributed to police. One of them, checking
trainmen on the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin,
came across a fl n who recognized the
picture as that of a stranger who had boarded
a Loop-bound local near Villa Park on the
night of the murder.

“What drew my attention was the mud,”
said the trainman. “His shoes and trousers
were covered with it up to his ankles.”

Another officer canvassing the area of the
slaying scene, showed the photo to a 16-year-
old newspaper delivery boy who lived two
blocks away. The boy said he had seen the
bushy-haired man walking along a quiet street
toward the Eder home an hour before the
rain began on the murder night.

At the mass funeral of the Eder family,
detectives circulated among the mourners in
search of Kammerer. But he did not appear.

Seeking a lead, detectives questioned taxi
drivers who had worked with the slain Eder.
The fugitive was not known to them, but one
of them mentioned that Eder had many
friends among waiters.

“When he first came to this country, Eder
served at the Auditorium Hotel,” he sgid.
“Perhaps Kammerer did, too.” y

Records of the swank downtown hostelry
revealed that Kammerer had been employed
there at the same time Eder was on the
payroll.

“Haven't seen either of them in years,” said
the head waiter. “But I remember them well.
They were real buddies. An odd combination
too—Kammerer, erratic, hot-tempered, sullen;
Eder a steady, pleasant, dependable person.”

Interrogating waiters at the hotel, Hester-
man came across one who had met the murder
suspect in Lincoln Park only a month before.

“He said he was working in a German res-
taurant on Wells Street. I don’t know which
one, though.”

Detectives began canvassing eating places in
the German colony. After visiting scores of
them, they entered one on North Wells Street.
The owner informed them that Kammerer had
been employed there as a waiter until two
weeks before.

“Then he became a problem. { had to fire
him.”

“A problem?” Hesterman probed.

“He felt he was God’s gift to the fair sex.
He flirted with lady customers constantly, and
if they showed resentment he insulted them or
gave such poor service they never came back.

“The last straw was a fight he had with
Anna Fallinerayer, my cook. He began court-
ing her, but she gave him the cold shoulder.

He was ardent and persistent and kept after
her. One night, he crept up from behind and
hugged and kissed her. She screamed bloody
murder, grabbed a meat cleaver and threat-
ened to sink it into his head.

“Kammerer flew into a rage and howled
that he would cut her throat. When I learned
what had happened, I discharged him. After
we closed that evening, Anna saw him hiding
in a nearby doorway. He started for her,
waving a club, and she ran back in here. We
called police, but he disappeared before they
got here.”

The restaurant’s records showed that Kam-
merer lived in a rooming house on nearby
West Armitage Avenue. Police checked there
and learned than he had moved on the same
night he’d been fired from the restaurant,
without leaving a forwarding address.

“A very odd man,” said the landlord. “All
he used to do at night was write letters. He
had pictures of women tacked on his walls—
dozens of them. Every day he got a few new
ones and added them to his collection. Most
of them were signed with messages like, ‘To
John with Love,’ and similar stuff.” He
paused, then shook his head. “What they saw
in him I don’t know. He’s a skinny, puny
shrimp—not the sort you’d expect to be popu-
lar with the ladies.”

“Ever meet any of those women?” an officer
asked.

“No,” replied the landlord. “Don’t know a
thing about them, except that they weren’t
young chickens. They were middle-aged; older
than him.”

“What about those letters he wrote—who
were they to?”

“The ladies. Or at least that’s what he said.
When he went out to mail them—two or
three each evening—he’d say to me, ‘The girls
are waiting impatiently for these letters.’ Then
he’d. wink and laugh.”

“I suppose he got letters from them in
return?”

“Plenty. In fact, he often read me excerpts
—just a line or two here and there. I remem-
ber one passage which went something like
this, ‘I love your wavy hair. Is it light or
dark brown? I can hardly wait for the day
when I can run my fingers through it.”

“Weren’t you able to tell from the post-
marks where the letters came from?”

“T never saw any of them. They weren’t
delivered here. He got them somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

HERIFF Hesterman now went to Chicago’s

police headquarters where he discussed the
clues with his friend, Captain William Schoe-
maker, deputy chief of detectives, whose men
were already hunting for Kammerer.

“This certainly is a strange case,” mused
Schoemaker. “He had 100 pictures of himself
made, saying they were for his sweethearts.
The walls of his room were covered with pic-
tures of dames he claimed were his women
friends. He wrote to them regularly. He re-
ceived letters from them in return. But their
letters did not come to his home address, and
no one ever saw any of those women.”

Sheriff Hesterman opened his notebook to
the landlord's statement.

“And at least one of his girlfriends hadn’t
even seen him in person,” he remarked. “Ac-
cording to the landlord’ she wrote, ‘I love your
wavy hair. Is it light or dark brown? I can
hardly wait for the day when I run my
fingers through it.”

~ ject,

“It sounds as thought she had a photo of
him,” said Schoemaker.
“But why would a woman he’d never seen
be writing love letters to him?”
“IT have it!” Schoemaker slammed his fist
down on the desk. “Romance by mail—matri-
monial ads!”
Picking up a telephone, he summoned De-
tective Patrick Lynch of the confidence game
detail, who specialized in swindles involving
lovelorn women. While waiting for Lynch,
Deputy Chief Schoemaker told Sheriff Hester-
man of his theory.
“Foreign language newspapers carry many
advertisements from widows and old maids
seeking husbands. They exchange pictures and
personal information with men who respond
to their ads. Once in a while happy marriages
result, but often—much too often—there’s
trouble. Crooks marry prosperous dames and
desert them as soon as they collect the bank
account. Other bridegrooms murder the ladies
to collect the insurance.”
When Detective Lynch arrived ~in Deputy
Chief Schoemaker’s office, he agreed that the
evidence indicated Kammerer was a love
pirate.
“Start checking that angle,” instructed the
chief. “I want this guy in a cell!”
Lynch began canvassing the offices of Ger-
man language newspapers. On his third stop,
a clerk recognized the suspect’s picture. In the
records was the name, John Kammerer, and
a copy of a classified advertisement.
Lonesome bachelor with a well-pay-
ing job wishes to correspond with
middle-aged lady of refinement. Ob-

matrimony, Send latest photo
and full particulars about yourself.
Write Box 235-A.

“He comes here for his mail,” the clerk said.
“He gives his box number and we hand over
the letters received for him.”

“Do you know where he lives?” asked
Lynch.

The clerk consulted a card. “He originally
gave an address on West North Avenue, but
a week or so ago he changed it to a hotel on
West Madison Street.”

Notified of this development, Sheriff Hester-
man and other officers hastened to the hotel, a
second-rate place opposite the North Western
Railway station. There they were informed
that Kammerer had moved out on the previous
Saturday—the day after the Villa Park mur-
ders. He had not given a forwarding address,
but the clerk on duty stated he had seen his
former guest passing on the street several times
since then.

“He must still be living in this general
area,” said Sheriff Hesterman.

The congested neighborhood, just west of
the Loop, contained scores of hotels and hun-
dreds of rooming houses. Not far away was
the Green Street red-light district, ruled by
the notorious Mike de Pike Heitler and
swarming with the dregs of society. In it, a
well-heeled fugitive could find a dozen safe
hideouts from the law.

Twenty Chicago detectives joined the Du
Page County authorities in a search of the
section, Each was given a photo of 38-year-
old Kammerer and his description—-a sickly-
looking chap, pale and nervous, small and
thin, clean-shaven, with thick, wavy brown
hair.

“He’s as vain as a peacock about his curly
tresses,” the sheriff told them. “Everybody
mentions that. They say he’s always combing
and patting it, like a finicky woman. Check

all barber shops—he’d be fussy enough about
a haircut to make a barber remember him.”,

This slow ‘and tedious line of inquiry finally
brought a detective into a barber shop on
South Clinton Street. The owner recognized
Kammerer’s picture immediately.

“But he doesn’t look like this now,” he
said. “He had me cut his hair very short. It
made quite a change in his appearance. He’s
also growing a mustache.” He took the pic-
ture from the sheriff, picked up a pencil and
blacked out Kammerer’s hair. With a few deft
strokes, he drew a mustache dnd handed the
finished product to Hesterman. “I used to be
an artist... 2”. '

The manhunters had completed a canvass
of neighborhood rooming houses and hotels
without finding anything. Now they were
summoned to Desplaines Street Station and
told of the changes in the fugitive’s appear-
ance. Hesterman gave each of them a photo-
graphic copy of Kammerer’s retouched picture.

“Check each of those places again. Show
employes this new photo.”

"THREE hours later, a detective entered a

hotel on Madison and Desplaines Street. He
had visited it a few days before with the
unretouched picture of Kammerer and the
clerk had failed to identify it. The same clerk
nodded when the photo doctored by the
barber was displayed.

“That’s Jack Coleman,” he said.
356.”

“Coleman” had registered on the afternoon
following the slaying.

With a master key, officers entered his room,
but he was out. In a drawer, they found
letters addressed to Kammerer’s box at the
German language newspaper. Plainclothesmen
were planted in the lobby to await his return.

“There’s always a chance we might not
recognize him,” said Sheriff Hesterman. He
then summoned acquaintances of Kammerer
and stationed them with detectives at windows
overlooking Madison Street. It was July 12,
two weeks after the quintuple murder; the
day of reckoning.

As the sun began to set, Kammerer ap-
peared, sauntering toward the hotel. From a
second-floor window where he was staked out
with detectives, a former coworker of Kam-
merer’s sighted him and said, “There he is!”
Officers sprinted outside and seized the suspect
before he could bat an eye.

“You're making a big mistake,” the suspect
claimed indignantly. “My name is Preston H.
Olsen.” But a score of old associates identified
him on the spot, and he finally admitted his
true name. He doggedly insisted: “I didn’t
kill the Eders. I haven't been in Villa Park
in more than a year.”

But within the next few hours, this state-
ment was contradicted by reputable witnesses.
One after another they came forward to stare
at, and identify, the waiter.

The flagman of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin
stated Kammerer was the man with the mud-
encased shoes who had boarded his train ‘on
the murder night. A sixteen-year-old boy said
he was the stranger he had seen near the
Eder home on the same evening. The eleven-
year-old girl was sure he was the person to
whom she had delivered the loaf of bread at
the rear door of the massacre cottage.

“They’re all crazy!” protested Kammerer.
“Why would I kill them?”

“Because Mrs. Eder repulsed your ad-
vances,” snapped Hesterman.

“Nonsense! For me, dames are a dime a

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dozen. One more or less wouldn’t make any
difference. I got plenty of them.”

“So you fancy yourself a ladies’ man, do
you?”

Kammerer seemed to swell with pride. “Call
me Casanova. I got 50 women. But I’m no
Bluebeard. I never killed anybody.”

“ He admitted he had swindled at least a
score of women who’d answered his ad in
the lovelorn column.

“T promised to marry them if they sent me
train fare,” he explained with a smirk. “I told
them my money was tied up by a drawn-< out

law suit.

~ “They believed me and the cash rolled in. One
of them even shipped me her dead husband’s
best suit to wear on the trip. I never met any
of them personally. Never want to. It’s a
nice racket, good for at least $10,000 a year.”

Kammerer claimed he had been sleeping on
a bench in Chicago’s Lincoln Park on the
murder evening. “It was hot in my room so

I snoozed in the open. I lay down when it
~ got dark and slept like a log until dawn.”

Sheriff Hesterman looked him straight in
the eye. “It rained heavily on the night of
June 27. You couldn’t be sleeping on a bench
in the downpour. Even a duck would run for
cover on such an evening.” The sheriff stood
up. “Book him for murder!”

Still protesting that he was innocent, Kam-
merer went on trial December 6 in the Du
Page County Circuit Court for thé murder of
Mrs. Eder. After a three-week trial, the jury
found him guilty and Judge John K. Newhall
sentenced him to die on the gallows.

“String me if you want to,” Kammerer
ranted. “You'll still be hanging the wrong
mah ' 5

But a few hours later, Kammerer ~called
law-enforcement officials to his cell and made
a long, rambling confession. His weapons had
been the ax, and a razor which he afterwards

threw into the Chicago River.

Kammerer at first said he had killed Eder
because the latter refused to repay a $150
loan. Later, he stated that unrequited love
for Mrs. Eder had led him-to wipe out her
family. He denied this version afterwards,
maintaining that the earlier story had been
the truth.

_ Authorities were convinced that the self-
stvled Casanova’s infatuation for the house-
wife had -triggered the tragedy.

Maintaining a calmness which surprised

’ those around him, Kammerer was marched to

the high scaffold in the courtyard of the
Du Page County Jail on Friday, February
13, seven months afterward. His last. words
were: “Oh, God!”

No one came forward to claim his body
and it was buried in an unmarked grave in
potter’s field.

“He didn’t have a friend in all the world,”

Sheriff Hesterman said quietly. “Not ate he y

killed the isang Ld

Killer in the Window

- continued from page 29

robbed them of their chance to save Mary
Alice’s life. They were only minutes late. If
they’d arrived a little earlier, perhaps. ...
But it was too late for anything but tears.
Unaware, they strolled in the front door.
“Mary Alice, where are you?” the slain girl’s
mother called cheerily, and then stepped into
the dining room where she saw a light burning.
Clapping her hand over her mouth, she

looked down on the bloodspattered body of

her daughter. Her son rushed to her side, and
her son’s friend, who’d accompanied them on
the trip, telephoned Buffalo’s Cold Spring po-
lice station.

The first officers to arrive were Lieutenant
Herbert J. Levine and Patrolmen Alfred Sie-
bold and Benedict Smardz. Their preliminary
questioning failed to establish any explanation
for the shooting.

“Why, why?” sobbed the mother. “There’s
no reason for anybody to do this.”

The policemen summoned the homicide
Squad men and other detectives, who joined

- in the questioning and instituted an imme-

diate search of the neighborhood. They pieced
together the story of the shots and the fleeing
car, although there was no adequate descrip-
tion of the vehicle.

The size of the wounds in the girl’s body
indicated that large slugs had been used. These
had crashed through the lower pane of the
window and then torn a gaping hole in a
flimsy curtain. Mary Alice’s body was lying
about ten feet from the window.

In line with the window and the body was
an area of chipped wood on the door connect-
ing the dining room and kitchen. Police chem-
ist Robert G. O’Connor of the city crime lab-
oratory poked at a hole in the door jamb and
extracted fragments of a twisted lead pellet.
“Looks more like a shotgun ball than a bullet
to me,” he told Lieutenant. Harry G. Klenk,

‘head of the homicide squad. “Maybe a pump-

kin ball.”

“That’s a nasty weapon,” said Klenk, “but
at least we know what to look for.” He real-
ized that in New York State, deer slugs, or
pumpkin balls, were commonly used as shot-
gun ammunition. In some counties, deer could
not be hunted with rifles, and only shotguns

could be used. He ordered his men to look in’

the alleyway for discharged shells, but none
were found.

In fact, there seemed to be no physical evi-
dence except the bent slug, and no one had
seen the assassin.

“With the shot fired from outside, it may
be that the gunman was someone who nor-
mally couldn’t gain admission to the house,”
Klenk said. “But then again, it seems that he
knew where the girl was, or knew enough to
go around to the side window, where she was
a perfect target...

LONE in his room again, he carefully ex-

amined the glossy shotgun. He sat down,
removed the two discharged shells, oiled the
weapon to remove the powder, slipped it into
its leather case, and replaced it in the recesses
of the closet.

He still had the empty shells to get rid of.
There had been three others, unfired, but those
he’d dropped down a sewer.

After a moment’s thought, he rose and left
the room, walking quietly down the stairs and
slipping out the back door of the house. In
the dark backyard, he hastily scooped a
shallow hole in the ground with his hands,

dropped in the shells, and brushed the dirt

back. Breathing easier, he returned to his
room. -

Although it wasn’t late, he undressed to go
to bed. He emptied his pockets and placed the
contents on the top of the dresser—keys,
change, cigarets, a crumpled piece of a

A crumpled piece of paper.

At first, his fingers almost recoiled froin it.
But he opened the folds and smoothed out the
creases and read it agdin, slowly and delib-
erately.

“He needs help.”

His thoughts were troubled as he lay down
and closed his eyes. .

“Did your daughter have any enemies?”
Lieutenant Klenk asked the victim’s mother.

“T don’t know of any,” the woman said,
trying to regain her composure. “She was a
good daughter, a good girl. She worked since
she left high school, and always gave some of
her money to the family. Why, even when she

was living away, she’d call or visit me every _

day, and often come over to help with the
housework. Mary Alice was very pleasant. She
got along well with nearly everyone.” -

“What about boyfriends? Has she had any
romantic troubles?”

“1 don’t think she had any steady boy-
friends. She worked hard and didn’t go out
with boys much. Even today, she wanted to
stay home and work instead of going to Roch-
ester. If only she’d gone with us. .. .” The
tears came again. ;

A detective had given Klenk the letter
Mary Alice had been writing. Klenk read the
brief text. “It might be easier talking to you
than saying anything this way.”

“Who is this?” he asked the mother. “Do

you happen to know the girl to whom your .— “a

daughter was writing?”

“Yes. She and Mary Alice shared a room
over on Pennsylvania Avenue. You see, Mary
Alice didn’t come back here to live until about
a week ago. She and her roommate had some
sort of a tiff and split up.”

“Was it anything serious? Do you think it *

might have some connection with this?”

“Qh, no. I think it was that Mary Alice _

resented something that was said to her—some™
sort of advice. Mary.Alice acted as if she were
sorry about the fight. That must have been
why she was writing the letter.”

Nevertheless, Klenk asked detectives to pg 3

tion the former roommate in the hope that as

a close friend she might provide leads to the Z

dead girl’s associates.
While the officers were still at the scene. &

canvass of the neighborhood produced the first 2

solid clue. A woman clerk in a delicatessen

four doors from the Broderick house revealed —
that a strange man had asked her about the _
location of the house. This took place shortly Bee

before the shooting.

“He was a young fellow,” she said, “with an

dark blond hair—medium-sized and clean-

shaven. He had on a bright yellow tie and a 2 Bs

white shirt, with a tan gabardine topcoat. wg

“Well, he asked first where an Area on.
Masten Avenue was. I ton him it was just up. f


palate ererseate
LINOIS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1925

saute

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2) wy 8 arrennio | Kammerer will Hang |

_. Foday; ‘No Reprieve|”

he. ‘seafleld. Gan “whitch: John Kam-

| mireer must paky witty Aas Aite-ter-thef
“yt murder: of the five:

Otto. Eder, family is being construct-
ed. at. the DaPage. ‘ecoanty « jail, ‘this
morning.” The effort of {riends. to. se-

|. eure a reprieve from Governor Small]. | |
{met with failore. “Tam glad,” Kam}
_ | therer said-when ‘he beard the decision. |.
_.f “E-did- not ask them ‘to get me par-
“t. -tdoned. They did it without! my. Inowi-

oe edge. Lam ready. bo. die,

“Witnesses. ‘of. today” ‘7 execution will
be only. those. few that have special

permission from. Sheriff -Hesterman|}
.{and those that. shave’ agreed to’ wssist,

‘| Twelve men: have deen naked | to be
; present and each one is to push a but-|
ton, 8a. that bo. one will know: whose.

: : hand: it is that springs. the. trap. Phy- |

| sicians, clergymen, judges: ‘and. clerks!

dof. the court, the state’ $s: attorney: and
} such: deputies: as are: necessary aratit

, [comprise the small. efowd ‘that, will
.. | witnesa: the. death, ° ee

. The: “petitiqn for’ ‘arminerti's “et

“| prieve was: filed dt’ Springfield — by

W. P. Loveless and Mattie G: Squires.

=e oS = The Governor~ referred” the ina tter to

‘the. D? vision | of: ‘Pardons. ‘and Paroles

cae . = and: . ‘hearing, lasting ‘alt. ‘afternoon;
- }was held on. Monday. Attorney ‘Reed |:
| appeared for the stéte:and Dr: Hinton

-Jnembers. of the} Hee

46

IN

Crowds ie
» tory-—-List 4
. Winne

“The radio, ‘cbapled. %
ther And an. exception
exhibsi. made the 1925
Farmers” Institute, he
February 4, 5 and 6, th
ful fn the: “history ®
‘county organization...’
tesy ‘of ' Station: Se
Glenn” ‘entertained : +)
hanes: ‘Wednessday.~
and, the idiemaneweci
“ag: over: die ‘Tadig eo
in drawing 2 Yetord-t
and an. excellent” pri
three. days, kept the a!

Need. Larger |
Oa: ‘account we fimis:
‘Soar’ ce mesting Wes ty
the towne. It is the:
‘fleers that. arrangeme:
| pleted Yor a: Targer® a
that not ve’ of the. 2926
extended: te all-whe mm:
The men’s, ‘section ¥
‘President: RO. Sas

bof the Elgin Insane. honpital, and Dr.
{0 HY S$. Halbert: appesred for Kammer: |
4- fers Dr. Horlbert: contesid

| * "| Kaminerer had been ‘convicted he had | na
ae been “able: to: diagnose: his ‘¢ase, pro- | |

‘that. since |

dementia “prateox vof the

er. addiekk: wil bel a8

: play entitled:“The | AULA
ry,” given’ by the} Ey: A
rail penile 4 Lesaets ;

5 es paranoid: type. Dr. Haribert bad” ten-F
cS fhnnaiie but at the time he anid he waa me
cing bs able to olasaify. the: type. :

on Leer eg te ot
es, i +
Y
. ot

Sk

. as ea eae B

d

S

——e

2

Pe)


a beartet
jeam Game
w ete tte
2 tre fore
ome (ken
thre aoe wtth a

abt Se

ili

+ wid

ha tt hend for
any wor:
W eat

{ree

oO VPS Wises Tae ar”

rietend Low the waiting hadiew eer waned
diwnec tart whi?

2wr sg wy all, Lex} bry T etm

an erocethery:
wy wee
Liccwe ys
After the good apple
coffee hod diaappeared,

phe atid

then dropped one oficer Jra Mo Carnelivr annet med

4
ts?

med the quarter
- favor.

4 Perted

to pet Rie team
Chica ge

qrvd -

co opened the scor-

. free throw a

bas.

-r free throw to put;

y

ot g free throw, the editor

4 in their favor.

?
ae

»d Half

the boya a little,
turing the intermis-
came back playing |

dof ball.

Tu close the period

Teddy | was pbb by A. M.

rot a free throw to |

|

the programe amd tnirvduced the
speakers.
Weleore to the fathers wae

given by Seout Jesse Burt. May. :

or Pittsford responded for the
fathers in hie able way, empha-.
mizing the father’s job.

The principal apeaker of the

Then Turk and’ evening was So J) Duncan-Clark, |

of the Chicago Evening’
Post. His theme was “The Grea-
test Partnership in the World, '

Dred é& Son, Senior and Junior part
ners.” ©The spenker has a dad’s
‘heart and a gifted tongue.

A short talk on the 1925 Budget
Jens and

| interest.

Taps were blown and the bene-
diction pronounced and we look,
back on the Father’s and

ted right off with a | eerstanding of the boy.

it.
er! |
| 8 Q t |
free throw. Low-
nice basket,,

but “i

_ Toddy helped out
ting two more, and |

ped one in.

the game

_ 18-9 in our favor...

as outplayed during |

lf, but came.

back |

e guarding by Stock- |

ry were the features |
‘ |zome of our more distant
John Kammerer, cénvic-+

eevee ee teres

&
sw Guwtees C5e se 2.2.2
errr errery “6 1 1
eed ee tebe pt
vale ers 0 0°21
ore ee .0 0-1}
jess ieee OF OF 1
ago, 9 B FT P
heh eco 1 BO
ve ieee ey «1 2°1
Sieastes rea M 0.1)
clea es ever O—O- BE
ON vevepads¢ Oi Ow |
seqeeeeeecie 0 i
ora

B FT P ' scribers,

4 to . (when in the, mood.) .. ey

astilite
em “

Forsyth in entertaining

Mrr. I.

her mother at.her home on. Mad-
ison St

ste bps 24

pereowdl mg |

told '

Son's |
banquet. with a little clearer .un-

Websters
+ oy

yd. cee

Teas Standings
Whtn Alleys...15 3 959 852 833
College Inn 15 6 961 861 715
Baur B. Shop. . 7 14 904 818 333
G.W. Bank .... 6 12 917 816 333

oovee

By the time this paper ‘fh

ted slayer of an entire family in
| Villa ‘Park last summer, will have
pa id the full- ‘pénalty for his crime
paid the full penaity for his crime

Sheriff John Hesterman, : because
‘he has always had company and
someone to look. after him. or, talk

x

He -derfied stoutly: that’ ‘
‘man Crones : who' ‘co!

‘the wholesale poisoning ata. ban-

Patt ee
Oe: ives
Be

set in a on d he, Was no

, The puny, crafty, murderer has
‘apparently enjoyed. his stay with:

doubt right in this contention. He
did. not in any way resemble

ipa hic i
‘Up. to the. last he ee ‘ines |

calmly, at eheartily, slept well
and stafé@d that he was ready to
die—that Aé-.was of ne use. on
pearth, d no friends: or money--
but was sorry: he>
given the opportun “Kil} off
the three other people whe. were
gn his black list.’

: The, execution will.

eae ?

Setwoen’ the hotre of. and. rae Feb
in the morning,. Friday; February | bé
13, 1925, in the ‘DuPage hagrcid 7

fail.

5 13 933 800 277 | Squires,

exe not . been |

Sei” to lew eB aR, } td wet GRR Rt ORE... AA BS, AOS
to the mad  fathrming are the? oy” thee dewertpthome
= ——— pomienthongee bm (Themes

Wheerdm Afteys tna eng a dapeheting Behe

Bo i weg 1t® $4 169 457 Cae eee wee Mery
PV ae bey “TST SO 99S 4G

Ww Mi. i

‘ eherter 24 sal 19) aoe bate Pom

- pes Ee 108 177 es aa lotus of the

J; Demaee 1 ES a ee emai i ad thewte bate

“ ae ee arebitectare of the 1)

fetal nie wer sales wersity will be far me
Ashley 198 tet iv7 ba) hE Ye the members :
Christianson 156 148 167 471 fated aphecherrisn ars
D Walker 146 J61 122 419. ” etre nk Cask "ee
nds iin oe a i only her own Imoprerel

ESEARAIED ong, ARS EEe 1 ORY eT hie point of many

Totals ....706 875 772 reag' SCUMPIOES . BA nerd
_ — | boulevards. Her Mat
Sleep o....... 192 179 185 5s) nd -

Miller 162 «161 192 496; 0¢ ® — —
| Schusaler 218 170 149 636! °F aga arm e
'R. Parsons ..122 162 178 452 | Declelly Rockabye
H. Chriensen 170 169 159 ool ora ay tiers a
’ ie
Totals ....851 831 855 2635! ws Chicago’ Arsngn
Gary-Wheaton Bank ee nt Ga
179 222 146 547 |
Soe e aes 178 140 168 ant! The pene featur
125 121 169 406. paid to t a nr
A. Atwater ...175 166- 161 492 | ernoon. re.
“Molling ...... 148 138 211° ponte in ml
| “Polinalse n C mino
Totals R00 777 845 2122 | Saen ’s “Swan Song

spiration to all prese
Mrs. Harry Mifler

L. Alexander showed
tility by first singing
ous duet, “The Music
res,-..and...then..vi
and effectively. | sing’
Machree.”. They: wer
jed by. Miss. Marg:
They: concluded the
program with “Go Pr
_ At the business me
preceded the progra
lowing were elected
ensuing year:

- Chairman, Mis. Se
er; Yat Vice “
Burt;.2nd_ Vice’ Pres.,

-Amach: Sec. and Trea:
“Turner.

Miss_ Allee. Fisher
importance’ of the cvr

of artists of Chicago:

All members (of. the


Janice “My kids,” he explained. “J can't with another mob. They pulled cur- He professed not to know the iden-
leave them here.” rency exchange jobs, too. Krause © ten tity of the older man who had assiste
ress on “we'll take them along,” said Pape. helped them.” Krause on at fatal foray-
ie Ave- “C’mon, youngsters.” He admitted taking part in the garage “Krause had tie-ups with a lot of
etective The children were Edward, Jr. 1g holdup with Gemmil and the Lamb crowds,” explaine iani. “He'd
months old, and Janice, four years old. brothers, who are awaiting trial for work a week with one mob, then he’d
ht,” he The latter's photograph, taken when, she murder in Detroit. swing to another, and sometimes he
igerator was six months old, had been the clue “We planned to heist a bank,” he Jone-wolfed it.”
on the that led to their father’s arrest. “Their related, “but Dave Lamb and I quar * “Who in your outfit calls paper
ys; and, mother was downtown on 4 shopping reled about who was boss. I told them money ‘government plotters?’” asked:
in the trip, Janice told the sleuths, and they to go to hell and left them.” pe.
re mon- now lived in an apartment near Lincoln As her husband told of his crimes “Krause,” was the reply.
iders.” © Park on the North Side. at the detective bureau, Mrs. Damiani “Well, in another e¢x heist
etectives Enroute to police headquarters, Dam- returned home from her shopping trip. near Thirty-six an bland, where
to the jani suddenly snatched uP his daughter A squad was awaiting her and took @ man named Patinkin was shot to
srapher’s and flung her against Friedman, who her into custody: It was apparent she death—the killer mentioned ‘govern-
el which was in the tonneau with them. Then had had no knowledge of her spouse’s ment plotters. °
Damiani, the hoodlum, ¢ utching his small son to evil pursuits. She had believed him to “Probably ‘Alvin Krause, but he never
ioved six his breast, leaped from the moving be an honest, hard-working refrigerator told me anything about bumping tha
forward- squad car an ran. , repairman. e children were turn guy.” ;
hotel in. “Don’t shoot!” ordered Pape- “you over t9 her and she was driven back Krause, whose fist-torn face had
; might hit the kid.” to her apartment, tearful and disillu- healed, was questioned in the Cook
. pimply- Racing after the bandit, the sleuths sioned. County jail. He denied any connection
w nothing overtook him three blocks away- Dam- In the meantime James Ball, the with Damiani’s crimes, but victims of
jani dropped his child and put up 2 guest whom the hotel clerk had been two currency exchange robberies rec
er stopped fierce struggle, but was subdued. He s0 prompt to notify that Damiani was ognized him, Niske, who had witne
be some rode the rest of the way lying on the being sought, had been arrested. Under the slaying of Bush, also identi ed
floor of the squad car with Friedman’s Ball’s bed were 4 gas tank, 2 sawed- him, @s did Simmons, - ho had seen
e a shifty feet planted firmly in the small of his off shotgun and a half dozen cartridges Miss Olsen gassed.
3 eyes, but back. for a Luger automatic. Detectives were unable to find.
sign of his “Don’t hurt my daddy,” screamed Krause’s death-dealing Luger, which
~ Janice, pounding Friedman with her Blames Pal they felt sure would li him to 4
track,” he tiny fists. “Take your shoes off him wphat’s the ta nk I used tee” third murder, that of atinkin. Police
right away.” drai i ed Da —e verb on our Lice veterans ermed him one of the most
ght of steps ‘At headquarters Damiani protested b (i ‘ to ae oy mmunition savage CT £ the decade.
by to the ' that he was innocent of any crimes: ar eard “t : a ‘ aout > were dat “Jf he had operated a little longer,”
down he “Pm strictly on the legit,” he main- i e cartridge® se er ir ey ‘ a observed Sé tant Pape * e’d mak
»d upstairs tained. “Pye been out of the racket ta Onn — hig ‘ Dillinger Jook like a piker. That’s been
unseen to a and going straight since my first kid when | tne rigger was squeez™? for said of other crooks, too—but Krause
rd the clerk .« was porn.” each bore ge of a guns ane’ tops them ee
. But Simmons, witness to the murder pea wack wee sent to tt Ball had taken no part in the gang’s
for Eddie,” of Agnes Olsen, itively identified “9 on ‘S epa Te at comper the crimes, investigation ¢S plished. H
the mouth- him as the bandit who had handled ae hie pine’ ym “— ive that the = was held in $1,500° bond, however, 07
2 was a new the death-dealing poison gas- Tell bpp ig ego hich ai ef S__ the federal charge of possession ©
wasnt a bit “J guess the jig’s up,” mumbled the ° he li ew t which Aa gr aro unregister eapon, th wed-off
peor F “se ex retreat Pac Ker Ke ke 1 ae pita: ‘ol a ade shotgun which Damiani had left ™
ought’ to after lengt rilling. “Ye *m the t6 ‘ a) ‘ his room
xs for that.” guy.” anki . D Krause age oa — admitted Krause was indicted PY a Cook
bee hung up e named as one of his companions ant wy st ae. ronted € County grand jury for the Olsen and
th over the \ on the homicidal foray Alvin Krause, evidence: wasn’t in on Bush murders and for the robbery. of
bal ea , \ 28 years old. 3 sept aN the Courtesy Service Exchange a
. “Why'd \ “where’s Krause now?” asked Ser- “i xz miani also was indicted for this robbery,
blin ; eant Pape- sve and for the Olsen slaying. trial of
vbhng, whim- Damiani managed @ wry grin. “In the pair for en killing was set
amiantl would jail awaiting trial on @ charge of for an early te.
assault.” Police are hunting the bandit known
xrson to whom This was found to be true: Firing eee ; as Sam and other members of his gang,
elephone was wildly from 4 revolver, Krause had : i which was affiliated with the Krause~
. an acquaint~ terrorized scores of pedestrians a short es Damiani P tnership. Sam believed
; time earlier at Bryn Mawr and Win- to have with Krause on the foray
until a week throp Avenues 0 the North Side, fol- which esulted in the death of Pa
ened clerk. “I -  Jjowing 2 drinking pout. e of his The sweet-voiced woman, hose tele
aying now. He pullets had struck a man. in the leg one call put. Patin! n the spe
ago and asked and another had snipped 4 feather from is thought-to be Sams sweetheart.
elivered by the the hat of a woman passerby- A crowd With of the Poison Gas
the closet over of angry citizens had Jeaped upom him Mob, life ome less hectic for
for it soon.” and mauled him badly before 4 police currency exchange 0° ers and em”
Shield patrol arrived and too: him he Joyes. Not a single holdup of su
jockup. jaces of usiness has occurred since
ato the hotel 45 “Currency exchange victims saw the arres The gas masks ging 1m
and calling to Krause at & showup,” said Pape ‘How the exchang' are gathering -—re-
‘ks, kid?” The is it they did not finger him: minders violence- dded. two-
three detectives “They didn’t recognize him, I guess,” year period, during W ee per
ackground and | answered Damiani. “Those people who ; sons were slain and over $150,000 taken
cheir’ revolvers. captured hi beat lumps on him. His jn robberies.
nd -surrendered face looked something like raw ham- j
je was led down burger.” : Eprror’ Nore: To spare possible em-
Who was the third man on the Olsen Sergeant Frank Pape headed the squad barrassment to imnocent persons, the
- the sidewalk, wnurder?” demanded Pape. of detectives which laboriously. ran names James Ball, Harlan Mueller,
pinted to a small “A guy called Sam. That’s down a clue leading to the first sus- Carlos Pizzi and Jeff Reed, used i

ested in the gas case- this story, are not real but fictitic


i 5]

EADLY gas—not  bullets—had

been the bandits’ weapon. The

Poisonous fumes still swirled in
the Currency Exchange when the cops
arrived and, gasping and choking, car-
ried the unconscious girl out to their
squad car.

-Sergeant Frank Pape said: “She’s
still alive. Get her to the hospital.
Fast.” .

The car door slammed. The squad
car leaped away from the curb. Pape
stepped to another car, opened up on
the police two-way radio and spread
the alarm. Squads went into action all
over Chicago’s West Side.

Lieutenant Kyran Phelan, Pape’s
superior and leader of the famed Rob-
bery Detail, left his desk at the down-
town Detective Bureau on that Satur-
day, July 3rd, 1943, and raced west-
ward. Pape had told him: “If it isn’t
murder it’s the next thing to it.” So
Phelan knew that the thing he had
dreaded’ during the last harried
months had happened: The Gas Gang
had killed.

Phelan had been after this mob
more than a year. .Everything had
failed. And this job today looked like
another clean getaway despite the
squad cars that were criss-crossing the
West Side even as the Lieutenant sped
across Washington Boulevard.

His two-way radio crackled: “Hold-.
up at 4753 Fullerton. Currency Ex-
change.”

Phelan’s mouth set tighter. This
was a new alarm—a new holdup. He
flipped the steering wheel, fighting the

The only real clew the po-
lice had—would™ this * pic-
ture found in a rooming
house expose the killers?

skidding squad car wheel. Seventeen
minutes ago the mob had gassed the
cashier at No. 311 North Pulaski. Had
the same bandits struck again?

They had. The descriptions of the
two robbers were the same. Frustrated
at the first job, they had cracked the
second job seventeen minutes later, a
half mile away, grabbing $2500.

The two-way radio sputtered inces-
santly. ‘Car twenty-three, take up
position at Fullerton and Ashland. Car
nineteen, go to Washington and West-
ern—.” A blockade. Every strategic
getaway intersection w a.s_ being
plugged. Scores of police peered at
each passing auto. This time they had
a break: They had been concentrated
in the area when the stickup hit.

Phelan cruised for a few minutes.
Then he decided he’d be as close to the
center of action at the scene of the first
holdup as anywhere else. He went
there and found Pape questioning an
eye-witness.

Phelan was sitting on the front seat
of the squad car with the door open
and the radio on. Phelan told Pape:
“Go ahead with what you’re doing.”

“All right. This fellow,” and he nod-
ded to the man beside him, “was a cus-
tomer in the Currency Exchange when
the heist hit. His name’s Bertice Sim-
mons.” -

Phelan asked Simmons, “What hap-
pened?”

The way Simmons described it, the
two bandits had walked into the Ex-
change and had gone into action al-
most wordlessly. The Exchange was

re

Baby -T railing
The Gas C3an

¥

Special Investigator for
OFFICIAL | DETECTIVE STORIES

With a Picture of a Smiling

Baby as Their Lead, How Could
Chicago, Illinois, Police Trap

a Double-Killing Stickup Gang
That Used Gas for Bullets?

small. Most of it was taken up with
the bullet-proof cage behind which the
woman cashier worked. All the money
was kept behind the steel cage.

OvE of the bandits had a gun and
the other had a tank of gas. The
tank was about five inches in diameter
and about fifteen inches long, with a
valve and a rubber hose.

While his partner with the gun
pushed Simmons into a corner, the
man with the gas strode to the cage
window and shoved the end of the rub-
ber tube through the change-making
slot. He spoke through the speaking
tube to the girl cashier, “Come on out.
Quick.”

Her name was Agnes Olsen. She

was a plucky girl. Instead of unlocki
the cage door and coming out so |
gunman could cover her while t
other man went into the cage a
ransacked the safe, she fought back
the only way she could. She grabb
the end of the rubber hose and pinch
it tightly.

The bandit—he was stocky a)
swarthy—turned on the gas. Miss (
sen squeezed harder on the tube.

The bandit said in a hard, flat voic
“All right—you asked for it.” a
opened the valve wide. The slight hi:
ing sound became loud. Miss Ols:
could not hold the hose shut under t
terrific pressure. It popped out of h
hands and the gas swirled around hi
She coughed, choked, clutched at h


“Let's go,” he said, and turned and
strolled out of the place. His compan-
ion backed out, covering Simmons to
the last moment. He reached the door-
way. In an instant they were gone.
Simmons heard their car start.

4IQ°AN you describe them?” Phelan
asked. But he knew what Sim-
mons would say: The man with the gas
was short, stocky, swarthy and foreign-
looking—in his late twenties. His con-
federate was over six feet tall and very
slender and blond and well-dressed.
They were the Gas Boys all right, the
same ones who had been in Phelan’s
hair for more than a year.
Pape’s men, Officers Morris Fried-
man and Rudolph J. Friedl, came back
from taking Miss Olsen to the hospital.

It Became Apparent to Lieutenant Phelan and His
Men That He Was up Against a Smart, Big-Time
Mob—a Smoothly Organized Gang of Big Shots
Who Knew Exactly What They Were Doing. A Gang
of Specialists. Phelan Had Organized the Robbery
Detail in Chicago. He’d Run up Against Some Weird

Operation Methods Among Bandits. But Never Gas

Phelan asked: “How 1s she?”

“Pretty bad. Her lungs are seared
It's about an even bet.”

“What kind of gas did the doctor say
it was?” . :

“He thinks sulphur dioxide. He'll
let us know for sure later.”

The Sergeant nodded toward the -
police technician who was inside the
Currency Exchange. “That’s what he
says it was, too. Only not pure sulphur
dioxide. Anyway, it’s the same stuff
they’ve always used.”

Phelan, realized the radio had been
silent for some little time. At first it
had crackled ceaselessly with orders
placing the blockading squads. Now it
was dead. The Lieutenant sighed wear-
ily. He knew what that meant: That
nobody had sighted the hoodlums;

Mathew Kulovitz, a marine, shows Assistant
District Attorney Samuel Freedman where
he was wounded when one of the Gas Gang
thugs changed. technique and used a gun

throat, staggered back to the far side
of the cage, trying to escape the fumes.
3trangling, she ran wildly around the
ittle cage.

Then suddenly she went limp, fell
1eavily to the floor. Her legs twitched
pasmodically t wice. Her hands
‘lutched at her throat as though she
vere trying to tear away the gas that
vas searing her lungs. Then all at once
he was still.

The bandit turned off the gas. By
1ow, some of it had floated up to the
op of the cage where, near the ceiling,
t was drifting through the heavy iron
rillwork out into the room. The
iearest bandit coughed. The other,
\olding the gun on Simmons, wiped
.t his eyes. ‘

They both saw they were licked:
Aiss Olsen, unconscious, couldn’t let
hem into the cage even if she wanted
0, since the door opened only from the
aside. The stocky man with the gas
hrugged.

6


One of the killers went berserk in court, struck a newspaper man, then

jr in all probability, they got away
clean.

He was right. The cops were as far
from a solution as they had been
months earlier. Only now they were
hunting killers. For Agnes Olsen died
a few days later. And the cops were
stymied.

During the past months they had
tried all their standard techniques to
grab this mob and they had failed. The
Gas Gang had first come to Phelan’s
attention early in 1942. It knocked over
the Central Currency Exchange at No.
2152 South Western Avenue on Feb-
ruary 27th, 1942; but, though it terror-
ized patrons and the cashier, it got no
money because of bad timing. A month
later it had improved: It hit the Ex-
change at No. 1347 North Wells Street
and grabbed $3000.

T= the technique smoothed out.
The mob always hit immediately
after the Brinks Company armored car
had delivered its load of money to the
Currency Exchange, Thus its hauls
were large—it got as high as $16,000
in one crack.

Currency Exchanges are the next
thing to banks. They serve, in scattered
communities, the function of banks in
cashing payroll checks, making

change, issuing money-orders.

Usually this mob hit on Friday, when
the Exchanges would have the biggest
amount of money on hand in order to
cash payroll checks. And after that
first start, the list of jobs mounted with
regularity. The hoods didn’t hit every
week—only when they had cased the
job thoroughly; only when they knew
exactly what they were doing. Almost
never was their take below $1500.

It became apparent to Phelan and
his men that he was up against a
smart, big-time mob—a smoothly-or-
ganized gang of big shots who knew
exactly what they were doing. A gang
of specialists.

Now and then a third man would be
described by witnesses. But almost in-
variably Sergeant Pape found, when
Phelan assigned him full time to the
case, that witnesses described the
stocky, swarthy man with the gas and
the tall, thin, pale gunman.

Phelan had organized the Robbery
Detail in Chicago. He’d run up against
some weird methods of operation
among bandits. But never gas.

But he didn’t believe anything until
it was proved beyond doubt. So he told
Pape. “Just because it’s new to me
doesn’t mean it hasn’t been used else-
where before. Why don’t you contact

chased into the judge's chambers the photographer who took this picture

some other departments?”

Pape got off inquiries to half a dozen
cities throughout the country. While
he waited for answers the mob
knocked over a couple more Exchanges
in Chicago. Pape questioned witness-
es, went through the routine—without
results. Back came the replies: No éne
ever had heard of a gas gang.

praian told Pape, “So there’s no
precedent for us to work with. We’ve
got to break trail. All right. Concen-
trate on the gas. Find out what kind it
is. Find out who manufactures that
kind, how it is distributed, who can buy
it, whether you have to sign for gas
like you do for poisons.” He paused.
“You might be able to get at it by
questioning each witness thoroughly
nd just what the gas container looked

e.’

That’s what Pape and his men,
Friedman and Friedl, did.

Witnesses described the container
as being about five inches in diameter
and ‘fifteen inches long, black, with a
rubber hose attached to a valve which
was opened or closed by means of a
specially-made key. The container ap-
peared to weigh about ten pounds. It
had some sort of pressure mechan-
ism which could be timed or regulated.

“In other words,” Phelan said, ‘
isn’t just a tin can with a hole in o
a. It’s a highly specialized mecha

“But how’ll we find out where t
things come from and what they are

Phelan thought a moment. “Does!
Prest-O-Lite manufacture gas? Or g
containers?”

“T’ll find out,” Pape said

At the Presto-O-Lite plant Pa
talked to an official who said that
had to see the container or smell t
gas to be able to identify it.

Pape asked: “And unless. we kn:
exactly what kind of container it w:
we'd be helpless? Right?”

“I’m afraid so, There are a numt
of gases packed in containers for d
ferent purposes that are readily ava
able to the public. I wouldn’t be al
to tell you which one this is.”

“All right,” Phelan said. “Let it ri
that way until we can get a sample
the gas.”

Officers were planted in Curren
Exchanges at various spots throughc
the city, to be there in hiding on F
days when the Brinks armored car
livery was made.

On pay-days squads of the Robt&
Detail were posted at strategic sp:
throughout the city and a code was ¢


,
+

LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF twice in the back
room of the little brick bungalow. It was shortly after mid-
night, January 25, 1934, and the house was that of the Puhse
family in Granite City, Illinois. A few minutes later’ two
pistol shots rang out. A woman’s voice screamed, “Oh, my
God! He’s lost his mind! He'll kill-tis all! Wake up!
Help me!” Almost instantly lights flared up again, this
time in several rooms. A window opened and a young
woman put her legs over the sill, jumped to the ground
and’ hurried down the street.

Soon the switchboard buzzer
sounded at the Granite City
police station. The desk ser-
geant lifted the receiver. Some-
body said, “Hurry over to the
Puhse home right away.
There’s been a shooting !”

Policemen Al Rowden and
Henry Hahn rushed to the
home in a patrol car. They
leaped out, ran up the steps of
the new brick house, and
shoved through the door. A
strange scene confronted them.

Two girls, an older woman
and a young man stood ner-
vously in a little knot near the
open door of a bedroom. One
of the girls was dressed; the
others were in night attire. The patrolmen recognized the
older woman as Mrs. Gertrude Puhse, the wife of Charles
William Puhse, a respected resident of Granite City. The
girls were Mildred Puhse, the couple’s pretty, twenty-three-old
daughter, and Katherine Wolfe, a cousin of Mildred.’ The
young man was Earl Puhse, son of the family.

“He's in there,” Mrs. Puhse said, pointing inté the bed-

room. She was obviously fighting hard for control of her

emotions.

Officers Rowden and Hahn strode into the bedroom. On
the bed was the body of Charles Puhse, a bullet wound in his
right temple. He lay on his left side, with his right arm
thrown carelessly across his head and partly shielding it, as
though he were sleeping peacefully, The blue hole made by
the bullet was drilled neatly in the center of his right
temple. The body was on.the right side of the bed. A second
bullet hole showed in the wall above the left side of the head
of the bed. A .32 calibre revolver lay partly under the covers
and near Puhse’s feet. Otherwise the room was in order.

28

ARE THESE THE EYES OF A KILLER? THEY BELONG TO TOM LEHNE

Officially, the death of
Charles Puhse was
termed a suicide, but an

alert deputy began to

4

_ ae ~~ in
» WH, ELEC L (} ata fie” OE pee a
’ © 44 MAQLI0ON VO,) apr oa L9

‘“ Rowden turned to the distracted woman. He said, “Mrs.
Puhse, please tell us everything that happened here. Try to
be calm and give us as complete a description as possible.”

“We had all gone to Edwardsville early in the everting to
attend the wake of a friend,” Mrs. Puhse began. “We re-
turned home about midnight. After eating a. light lunch we
retired. Mr. Puhse, who was tired, preceded me to bed by a
few minutes.”

Mrs. Puhse hesitated, then continued apparently - with
difficulty. “I woke up to find
my husband with his hands.
around my throat. I leaped out
of bed, and as I did so he fired
at me but missed. I suspected

- he had gone crazy, and I was
afraid he would kill us all. My
first thought was to protect
my sleeping children. I hur-
riedly pushed the victrola up
against the door of Earl's room
to barricade it. Then I heard
a second shot. I must have
screamed. The children woke
up. They turned on their lights
and joined me. I sent Mildred
after a doctor, and to call the

ask questions, AMd— _joiice. She didn’t take time

to open the front door but went
out through ' her. bedroom
window.” Mrs. Puhse seemed to be bordering on hysteria.

“Oh, I don’t know why Charles did this thing,” she con-
cluded, “unless it was his head. He suffered a blow on the
head some time ago, and recently complained of severe head-
aches.”

The other occupants of the household were questioned, and
their. statements backed up that of Mrs. Puhse. At the in-
quest the widow repeated her story, which again was cor-
roborated. The evidence was reviewed. The bullet had en-
tered the right temple, where a right-handed man would be
likely to shoot himself. The revolver was identified as hav-
ing belonged to Puhse. The bullet hole showed in the wall
and thus apparently corroborated Mrs. Puhse’s statement that
her husband shot at her as she leaped from bed.

In opposition to the suicide theory were the facts that no
powder burns showed around the wound, and that the gun
had been found at the foot of the bed. It was possible that
in the excitement attendant upon the shooting some member
of the household might have disturbed the bed-clothes in such

Dhherot. (93S. *

as

a manner as
that the Pu
family. The
of violence.
A verdict
Charles Pul
services not
_It is diffic:
suicide verdi
the county’s
no active pz
evidence to
didn’t ring t
Maybe it :
I couldn’t 7
who would
superiors, - ¢
Fitzgerald,
City. I we
As the cz
I was unde
who had b
might resen
further que
and daught:
ear to the 5
suicide, and
be to my ad
that the cas
I must hi

said, “Mrs. :
ere. Try to
possible.”

2 everting to
1 “We re-
ht lunch we

to bed by a

rently - with
e up to find

1 his hands.

T leaped out
d so he fired
I suspected
, and I was
1 us all. My

to protect
en. I hur-
victrola up
Earl's room
hen I heard

must have

ildren woke.

. their lights
vent Mildred
| to call the
t take time
»or but went

r. bedroom
on hysteria.
x,” she con-

”

blow on the
severe head-

stioned, and
At the in-
in was cor-
ilet had en-
in would be
fied as hav-
in the wall
atement that

acts that no
hat the gun
possible that
me member
thes in such

é vf bi : i ;
DO MRS. PUHSE'S EYES SHOW

by Deputy Sheriff.
Harry C. Odum

Of Madison County, Illinois,
as told to Robert A. Hereford

i

E LUST TO KILL?

SORROW—OR TH

ah
4 \ .
= OR Ry

Pa eal)

a manner as to move the pistol.
that the Puhses were known as
family. There was no reason to s
of violence.

A verdict of suicide was returned b
Charles Puhse was buried. H
Services not allowed to a person who has taken his own life.

It is difficult to describe my reactions when I learned of the
suicide verdict. As Deputy Sheriff of Madison County, I was

the county’s law representative in Granite City, but had taken

No active part in the city case. Although there was strong

evidence to support the suicide theory, the verdict somehow
didn’t ring true.

Maybe it was ah
I couldn’t picture
who would take his own life.

On top of this was the fact
a respectable, law-abiding
uSpect any of its members

y the coroner’s jury.
€ was denied certain religious

and daughter. So I decided to proceed slowly and keep my

ear to the ground. If Charley Puhse’s death had not been a
suicide, and if there were

be to my advantage to allow him the false securit
that the case was actually a closed one.

I must have gone over the evidence in my mind a thousand

ABOVE: DEPUTY SHERIFF ODUM, CO-AUTHOR.

times. The pistol belonging to Puhse, the bullet hole in the

ll fit into the picture.
round the wound and

action great enough to

Too, the fact that the
room was in perfect order seemed to discount Mrs. Puhse’s’

; nor had the
Mrs. Puhse slept—been

Investigation revealed that Puhse had $4,800 life insurance.
I also learned that the Puhses’ married life had not been as

ideal as it might have appeared on the surface; they had
quarreled frequently in recent months,

29


I hunted out friends and neighbors of the Puhse family and
casually discussed the case with them, not as a law officer but
merely as a citizen interested in a tragic happening in the
community. I listened in on street corner and pool-room
gossip—sources, which often yield valuable information.

From sly hints dropped here and there I gathered that
there might have been another side to Mrs. Puhse’s life be-
sides that of a respectable wife and mother. She repeatedly
had kept appointments and gone on long automobile rides with
a man other than her husband. This’ man was Thomas
Lehne, a former policeman who now operated a filling sta-
tion. I recalled that Lehne had been arrested: for questioning
several days after the shooting, but had been released for
lack of evidence.

One day I came upon an old negro known simply as John
who had once worked at a steel factory where Puhse had been
employed. “John,” I began, “it certainly was too bad about
Mr. Puhse committing suicide, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed it was, Mr. Odum,” John responded. He hesitated
a moment, then blurted, “Mr. Odum, I heard something.”

“What did you hear ?”

John glanced apprehensively over his shoulder. Then: “It’s
like this—I heard about an old colored man who was asked
by a white man to do a job of work for him; a job of dirty
work !”

“What's the name of that colored man, John?”

“I sure don’t know, Mr. Odum, but maybeI could point
him out for you.” :

John was also ignorant of the identity of the person who
had asked the colored man to do the “job of work.” He said
he did not know whether the person had been a man or a
woman.

It was a slender clue, but the next day I took John with
me in my patrol car to nearby Newport, a negro settlement.
Over its streets we cruised all day long, with John scanning
the face of every negro in sight, but each time he shook his
head. We repeated the procedure the second day, and when
darkness approached I began to despair of ever locating him.

It was at this point that John suddenly shouted, “There he
is; that’s the man, Mr. Odum.”

Thus we got in touch with the negro named Sam Wilson.
He said that a white man had approached him some time
ago in Newport and told him, “I’m looking for a man to
do a job of work.” _

“I guess you’ve found your man,” Wilson answered. “I’m
out of work.”

Wilson said the man then warned him that it would be
“dangerous work and would take a lot of nerve.” The negro
assured his prospective boss that he had done dangerous work
before. The latter asked him if he could shoot. “I used to be
a pretty good shot and I own a .38 calibre Colt,” Wilson re-
plied.

“T’ve got a fellow to be bumped off who is standing between
me and $100,000,” the white man said. “T’ll give you $500 and
my automobile if you’ll do the job.” rae

Wilson said that after he found out the nature of the “job
of work” he flatly refused, and that the white man then
inquired whether he could refer him to a woman who could
tell fortunes and “give good luck by reading coffee grounds.”
Wilson referred him to Emma Farmer.

“What was the name of the white man?” I asked.

“I think it was a Mr. Lehne,” was the answer.

I went immediately to the Newport home of the Farmer
woman. She revealed that.a white man had visited her
shortly after New Year’s and tried to make a deal with her
ta go to the Puhse home and “give them a spiritualistic heal-
ing for luck.” The healing was to be made through the residue
left in the family’s coffee cups. She was to put some baking

powder in the cup of each member of the family and “some- *

thing else” in Puhse’s cup.

“When I found out that that ‘something else’ was something
to take life instantly, I told the man I just couldn’t do that,”
the negress said. “I didn’t want any police trouble.’ She

30

SECRETIVE?
Was Mrs. Gertrude Puhse
(right) telling the : authori-
ties everything she knew
about her husband’s death?

FORBIDDEN LOVE?

Deputy Odum, in this story,
tells how he discovered that
Tom Lehne (right) frequently
wisited Mrs. Puhse when her
husband was absent.

gave a description of the man which answered to that of Lehne.

I was tempted to arrest Lehne at once for questioning on the
strength of this new evidence, but hesitated when I recalled
that he had been arrested once before and was released. Be-
sides, I had only the none-too-definite tales of the colored
people to back up my case. I decided to bide my time.

Although the breaks had been slow in coming, it appeared
that I would now be deluged with “clues.”

> @

A friend of min
tentially that if I ¢
he thought Nicko!
After a two-day hu
tioning, and broacl
looked at me for a

“Deputy Odum,
contract calling for

Vol 2 Ne. 10
July, 1935

CONTENTS

SHORT SHOTS

NE of the last “heart balm” suits
to be heard in New York state re-
sulted in a $15,000 verdict for Mrs.
Maud Kimball, levied
against Mrs. Charles
Severy (Claire Wilson
of radio fame) and
her husband, for alien-
ating the affections of
Mrs. Kimball’s hus-
band, Grant.

Shortly after the
verdict was handed
big? ae Haag io: awe
man, following a lea
established by other "Charles
states, signed a bill
which outlawed similar suits.

* * 1“

In this column, a short while ago, we
chronicled the misadventures of Mrs.
Myrtle Davis, accused husband slayer,
who broke jail at New Martinsville,
W. Va.,-only to thumb a ride back to
eo with her erstwhile jailer, Sheriff

ng.

Twice Mrs. Davis escaped. Twice she
was recaptured. Her third attempt to
escape the Law was successful. When
Sheriff Long brought the prisoner
breakfast one morning he found her
hanging from the cell bars, a noose
fashioned from her underclothing around
her neck.

* * *

_ Echoes of the Stavisky affair, gigan-
tic fraud plot in which the French pub-
. lic was mulcted of $30,000,000, recently
woke in Paris when Arlette Simon Sta-
visky, widow of the banker-suicide, was
set free.

Held in confinement for more than a
year, Mme. Stavisky was recently in-
dicted with 18 others; but shortly after-
ward, the indictment was quashed and
the pretty widow was restored to her

children.
—_ a * *

Convicted with her lover, Thomas
_Lehne, former policeman at Granite
City, Ill., of the slay-
ing of jher husband,
Mrs. Gertrude Puhse
narrowly escaped the
dubious distinction of
being the first woman
to die in the electric
chair at Chester pri-
son.
Mrs. Gertrude Last minute pleas
Puhse for clemency won her
a commutation of sen-
tence to 99 years in prison; but the
state had no compunction about taking
the life of Lehne, who paid in the elec-
tric chair at Southern Illinois peni-
tentiary for his crime.

THRILLING FACT STORIES

SOLVING OHIO’S JAZZ MUSIC LOVE TRAGEDY—
eae iShaiaunnd vie als Wiblora diatate AWA Gtcasep Wis: viet e en 4 a CEEOL
The amazing story of a sex-crazed slayer’s deeds.

THE SECRET OF MISSISSIPP’S FATAL ROMANCE—

THE SCARLET STORY OF THE FAITHLESS WIFE—

clabieace aan tleh sides Cade s.s'6 50°0's te See RE eLeR, LOVING
One of the most sensational triangles in New York history.

CHICAGO’S SLAIN BRIDE AND THE CLUE OF THE

SATIN NOOSE....... pide ei ewe eee Merlin Moore Taylor
How clever detectives trapped the honeymoon flat slayer.
THE GIRL SLEUTH AND THE WOMAN WHO LIMPED—

Rein nish alee catave Tabecohbie: + baleweie. e104. 6 54 vWie Ue MUOMLIS: Io. WaLez
A pretty girl takes up:a ruthless killer’s trail.

“I LOVED 1,000 WOMEN”—

Pen fax yt) .....-+Charles H. Bell and Robert Sothern
The startling confessions of a professional love thief.

HUSBAND’S VENGEANCE.......... .... Wesley Gordon

Unraveling the tragic climax of an Arizona triangle.

THE RIDDLE OF THE CRIMSON SEANCE—

ae pile ee tark With eehk wheter eeeseeeeeeeseeekimer E. Meadows
A crystal. gazer predicts love and wealth—but lands in jail.
DEATH CELL LOVE...............ceceeees Frank Ward

Convict and warden’s wife find fatal romance in prison.

FASCINATING SHORT FEATURES
CRIME “ADDICTS”...... Chief of Detectives J. A. Pitcock

A famous sleuth discusses the deadly drug of crime.

STRAIGHT FROM HEADQUARTERS..................
Looking over the editor’s shoulder at the crime picture.

DARING DETECTIVE’S SHOW-UP..............2 0000s

Descriptions and “mugs” of notorious fugitives.

THE CAMERA SLEUTH GOES TO THE BEACH........

Latest and loveliest news shots from the vacation spots.

eee eee awe

\

12

20

24

30

36

40

43

44

DARING DETECTIVE (formerly Detective Tabloid) is published monthly by
Graphic Arts Corporation at Long Prairie, Minn. Entered as second class matter

at the Post Office at Long Prairie, Minn., under the act of March 38, 1879.
Editorial offices, Graphic Arts Corporation, 529 South Seventh Street, Min-
neapolis, Minn. Advertising offices, 360 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IIl.,
and 1501 Broadway, New York City. ALL MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOS
MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE AUTHOR’S RISK, ACCOMPANIED BY
RETURN POSTAGE AND ADDRESSED TO THE MINNEAPOLIS OFFICE.

Price 10 cents a copy, $1.00 a year in the United States and possessions. CODE

Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 1935.

saceniameemibacibide

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DETECT


E 16.
dy @oasett

Railway)

fWisstONv—

~~ — + ee ”

i little
| Joweti

eae

y | nowy borhood of

a ee

~
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-_

OOME Dp TO DIE

Second Hanging
County of shea
HW

ee

|

sey id

nday,

f bi County, on the Night “

vy. 20th, 1864. Resume of the Cane '
--- Appearance of the, Prisode 4
Interviews with him---Desall |
of the Seene, ‘
etc., ete.
: ‘ ? A

a certain stormy Sunday night in the
nonthh of November, a place called | fend
ad in the town of Cicero, county of Cook,
wah the theatre of a horrible trage@ty. Fe
cireagast ances under whbeh one d Idnay, a
taloe rem ling at that point, iwns alot
in higeown evinced p a
tutu? which was ruthciently atrpe ous ito
wok even Chicago sh@dder. Thipt thiy is
no ¢ matter, the fraqueney pf} ceithnie in
oplacte of raveallog of the
tly ont
eelobdin this entire affair
oltipPes cu lesun part of
ao Pat han tiarvel publee

hen isa,

the
fepitn In fogt, there
such w dey) ot |!

n thie

See tet: an many ae

ore ptr Big

i jipatty Pénalty wrong, there ida
f the aguas |

intignatkon |

Ome te omy

Ty 9 +t ene ~~ os Oh ah

were only obsent an “bear when i re-
turned with a verdict of gailty, and the list

1 Of pamids (braced some highly respeetalle

HER MAN'S yo

difizens.of thin county. The names upon the

‘| jury webe 4. ib. Mattison, J.P, brown, Cor-
“the | nehine Shultes, Samoel Cone, Job Voak,

A. KR Mbbtley, A. J. Leeber, Joseyih Pavey,
Lemuel Stanford, L. D. Warren, Walter
Heott nef Mertin Abbott. This list shows
that the’ y rdict was an hpnest one.

() | |nie sexTENoR,

Keuned was sentenopd to be hanged on
the 2 2 of Mardh, 1666, bat his casa was car-
ried uj fo {lic Supreme Court who ¢onfirmed
the deci previously made in the Circuit
Court, wt at both judge and jury have the
®: atisfacthak of, khowinug that their agtion wis
rediewed snd gustained by a higher tribunal,
The day of exeqution, postponed by this ap-
peel 1o pnothe® Court was then fixed for
ir riday, guly 27th, 1866,

ho pouth for the bistory of the case. Ke n>
nedy dortgluly hud no cause for domplaint
in rég¢rd to bis defeyse or the competency
af the'edurt which sonteaccd him to death.

| SOMB RRFLRCTIONS.

It ik, however, idla to deny that itis no
Gaby’ tiatder to convidt a man eof uarider.—
Outaidie of the numberd who belleve the
1; Wy geriug
f bbimg of mes in many ininds, where the
that

4 ( edi Tt is any to ulegadend that evidence | thietly circumstantial,

7 b Ge vata nip etfon ofttbe babs creat favor intereot to “nog whether

ie Hendler de tle | the pmeguer wall confess, The moment a
ivi ds condemned ta death the public are

Saud hide, a‘@lae wie

finwliy olbtuined: whieh eved tho; prestiag

| po lighot Chieayo, (usually tow buapy in .
remtlfg the more inoffengive chien a éofy

ray lrankards, prostiutes ahd peels

Ws fopryingea attention fo

band @uilies.) could not mistake, Hiipit miniy war
ateWwere daade of ws bape cts pad s. The
dy poouler is that way of the gublty adn,
w eda rested for at aust Lo re@embened \
maths addy iron) satpe eight |
noevgtive after the cpime lrlegad, fur a lotg
ae gtho cage seeme Leawrapt in IBY SL OTN
arh ore those who still doubt in the bat”
AG the offiie has been prabe 1, This ie
pheey 1 “cine rel trigls, where
ref moon ey clecaadtantial There
( ‘ v I ise ft bobiavea any
wad R wo overeat id their lweroe oe
spel Puy int (hero ar® others,
Te Liavide ¢ Vay ted fe Ps wives ji
ee ‘ . tt} nthe ral
of Wheat of q |
i , ry eit 7
' 5
| f
} | ; b ake

tho prong to forght the victim in th: ir pity

or the murd rer, Especially is) this the
case Wharethe, 6ffew:! ler hasw wife. and chik
fatal who roally need sympathy whether the

hanterert | ginsd of (their disgrace deserves apy or not.

| ft brig ov rong, ag society ix constituted, the
partie phigfly punished by an oxe¢utiyn are
i tha mabedeyer’ # kicdrad, yh plile’ the

ond i aan Mr. ( £. G., a Hy wer ied the qseehre of the neck.
;@ moment, at intervals, the hunde and feet
rossing ah Didi an io a eparm—meud indeed it was
he exw
The tope war the roe

thes | Fur a few milan ts

bat effective, and every precaitioe ibpal b.
taken to prevent any off theag
mishaps whieh are too ae ia
cution of the Death Penalty
passed dows through the j« Gibitgy gabe:
vestibule wamediately in front af ye

rooin Gout, terminating in: fh HOLS. At

weighing fwo hundred anf BEVUNY
upheld hy four girdiny ropes ke wer: pn. ta
lo wusLUn large portion at the train:

The we, hit was adjusted geome degen feet

amd) ffasteacel | «

from the floor of tha towed
thouyh not eolely beld there, ly a qagall roy

Pa ‘
which was secured to (le chsing of ti
sonth doar leading to Abe @upeoda. ‘
course When tis small rope  woaicut,

weight abeyve would fall, Wat Whe phoven’
from) striking the floor by [the four

ropes Whieh beld its a few inghea woo
thos preventing any sound other tan |
caused by the vilrrathon of the cord. ob
in the eorridor, anrfoun Mag the «ar
joctapy, me
aif) of 4 trie tire

Vitacosie’,

inak would be drawn up

slack of the rope Cause

fect. [i or believed Phat hig’ ine!
wy OUl.E ties tt more spre ye dic rhain 4
than the paraphermatia of the crops b
and trap. The preparations werd) an ty

for the exeeutir
Levy jae qpitins
Vac rqapee Was {4
‘he epecubton. |

sin@lar to those myach
Bel], rat
Vine t

scverak tines belore

votding: th

all od thre welult,
CHICAGO BOMEMEANS:

KRenoedy has

Mapbilestal ont popol |
and that is aw hdlesgome Aversion fle bein:
diseaeted alive by the wotal anatidnr
Lhe Chica nowspaper | fons, Megas. (

nally of the 7 cbene arad Wings of |

visited bink Jakt evering and Beis Wot

ytigy } ist tha i Sd Vidres Whit ype
fec ling! thay he eo pide mned, : is Wastanctive Cael benef? lta } ity { ;
‘itt ltenthay } iin, P-nee the fe veri ayer theta [uid Wik. Lawes de, ,! '
spt ghe publia te read.the last worda off theectec4 : \
* if 1 bea
* :
chee the necessiiy off news. | ,, :
js devine a ios emee the n y of news Lies WILE nMesik dn eesinit which its
prpurs tp publish them—forthe Prbeactoday Ce Oban’ s meade ag )
. ; ; Van Aaya Weta es eo lettre teat @
does not, cannot guide, but mimgly reflects hy ; {
ta fit i ‘
Anioben*, men abd maunuerp.
' | 4 a 4 }
INTEMS  bWe WET HRN SN ROY “oft , F
ves ; 4 ( ex J ¢
Tite writer han pag twa vegies tad tie con
\ 4
lopped boon G&ine.y howad noticodia a | |
!
a PON bBUALeM Ye OL sf duopd Pay te i
{
Oo tegufts of wh
Mody 6 lire y ae he q bd
ree, ¥ 3 , |
4 i
to t
' Jt ’
waqrgey i }
# \ ! iS '¢ » 4
tevt# YMG Cgaccre ane cairn ote OS  ——,

eourt
the:

othar end of the rope, whidh proged over a

pulleys ire the tower, WAS 4 heavy inom weigh iF

ee ta.

i beady el Dlr thai;

! * fe
Doster d so kindly

=O

Be struggled for

ayy wt Fathers witudrew,

y died Oparcnt!
' ban; euig + five Iinutes, lite peetie| «

aia excincd the bel s,

whdotion slated


Pk be Td bea trgie ae j bender their since

tm ey sy ‘ ETT ; ry feontess he hed begu tee fond of A tt es fiviae a
: “i { on bib in ns ay night of “Nove ‘nbar 261s, 1: i phe aed Bay coutens his friends had pub A five mitt, | ist J | I - t ! en Misses By Ma

. ‘ , ww * t y f r us drie : , , rata Ko F
eee ee t | i. i tlie tife had beenstoo humble to shag Vast Hiquey. I ie it" q item them, or py tpn Ie his dark prise ta 1 ite - | CULL Duptridge, and the
nex 4 rae t ’ . of ; he tae ower te rem (i ii «hi ities : . .

™ oo = - ee podbibeions One faet was eloar from the lished? ee . - lato Une sf SAAC, SOOT TB ya on uy iio Te delightful musical
emt atedy (AN @umber, tas tale dt exused t9 Ye \ ritlen, en the 4th inet, in the .

them at Dickingo:
the 2th inst, and

beginning, vias robery was not the esign of H i Galiness w boar athouabie cloopa oof the
bigs shesiinuts What eectets he n ght re | Chigazo i hla It Ind not been sent by | year Urinown, ;

hopktwhat cumities he might hayp AWah- (hind fu & en penne Vee " ae Derety, Sueairy Bea dumleppedy, OTE | salfot the conecr

be fully k ay | remapke . I't makes little difference what yon ready? ; aliieh Mice
cud bbany never be fully Hown ; ut it ii 1 to God who aa ; i the fan dsifor furn
ret coon rece tm tbe eye iy om er ee oe eae oo IeNNkOy—Yes gir, CPle accepts could Miny thanks al:
Cedlbeedeicelsicstett ti fret vit pr sii oul life, ha was reticent, usc of hor pran
hen dy denies having kaowin the iret | Referrfug to his

wee ot Amgat Tle “Pray py ited
% vee Tomes of the Untted States! wil
~ Sod Oe gewel lle rvad, “Newspaper
oly oe loleethowe Conmpembonialic bay 4
se ie giml ett The ku hor
EME smalls tar with spa wing
© Wee may remeat Tevadeotly prox paul

sgarcely be heard, bat i afer Chagles Stiass

burger raped for] mm)
ked that he had former ly keptal  y-

arect mnsie ener

Maligey was aroused on the fatal hemmed, thon ty 7 the Brisonerste ad bre, |p artritmas
a+ prwtiond pw Ase whole, the pyug etl ing at his door, when, tie fd pd H boatding house qn he cornap. vf ant walked mapfally up tira, thd Catholic Waukegan, lab
> ee eoveege ome sad “Marper’ Yo Wb) 4 oiidn it until he knew who called © whe alfersqn aiyents, in Chigaga, and clergymen leqding, tien fUowed the Sherif, DE
wir toot ¢ Merah (red 466d icutfty abut down by Conbgtythrgugh the ree pear, Of ul on atear {Wea the doomed many hetwedi Dpnty | LAKE COL
—— hh | Clow door, if |

herif Bach and the Jailgr Mr. Isqne Heath
Mtowed by the reporter ofthe Gagmi re and

: Ap we three years, mt and on, sbout

i if || the ittp urgh & Fort Wayn

mh

railroad depot Eis.—Oud ro

creda
Constables, Thee dl aneauor of thew retelied | BES!

KENNEDY'S RIAL.

teiy, and his hauds gre thosd of a

4 omy us the folloy

eae Snort Heoth's thd af 4.2

!' j in
Corlett, was qxeoh od with | — , ot
wm omen “Owe ome belloved ty lh Hl! enn the 15th of last Decdmber n Recustomed to hard manmal LuLor. man wes firm and evinced wsiqnation to [A oe he bes
wv petty qmlehy, bas Wire: Hate ennedy, who wa hun von “ys piisoner spoke very kindly of both appeal his case lo a higher triliaal than Wour hie purr
+ age Naot ioe German I] day, sale these cee e3 bay idge, | hig pyirfrwal ‘adviser, Father Kenney, of Earth. boop. j i ; imBayine, tO such
wd Meleaias Lang He bal and thoagh dlaiming fh h hn noel ‘Korg sat, who las been untiring in his You with any corr

His brather-|ndaw was, at his own reanent,
admitted to wii ness the efeeution. Vis own
brother, Jamds Kennedy: had no ee gira of
Course ta Wildesa so terribly a's: eye.

mh tee iby wf CBieago, wha
ne * egree with Lim A
wang ww etgemd Ber Coe A. of she sit W|
ase (rose thifeush the ijp ae
we Bell lay, where ho play

} i iI i
ool whe grocery eeper mpknh rv re b counsel ak heat
oe @o6  Rargve bie with plucki Rory

NI who had more -
oo lag saye “he no | men: from the nid jaws o ny
‘ vr) ‘
. lunge} condaeme ES a 1¢
4 sat tive it ~ he in Hl bee jae la Coo ze
. ~@ Se -@4 Memes, le « way | der o plea that sae’

pore ome aeeble vous,
& Bye Bees ~~ ¥ mang Millard Taft wo much influen

he) 4 bad ogg whieh was laid I

|| coniff érinbing! intent, has bhen du peit miniftratjons, and also of Sheriff Heath and

. ft?) Weary, hopeless—his words were
Afetain) idende, siroy tis

yet quite strong e resents dj and he seemed to wish to im.

se of his few remaining

fF Veniuie fo dr Ip
be dviilidbe,

Jyist week Mr,

. i LAST MO MAN TR. if and large faruicr i

oye to, mer pad medi-} Taking hig seat undef the fat) Hooke gt picid hy # mult :

precisely ten frinutes aftar two o'flock, tl | sultey His Beane

Sherif read the Death ¥ arrant, le ie 3 of a a nol resi
the condymn¢d man moving in p tt iddtin ae wid
Cc #1, who ne felt friendly to ‘the may r rt

{ Tle svemed iquite ca! fxge | eed PeeOwCe Rae u

ken a tft race ets cd quite calm gander ta readh

oe

anil
et iB hs .
pmind of an ‘spr " td a tl | Af

an darly hdur yesterday morning; Geo.
s0n Eaq., Assistant Clerk of the Cis

of t) r but . , On the LOth in:
isite hima gt the cell When ¥ the warrant but castigg his eyes upward

to tl l “mblal f dng. L. Boos Was ij
g ome ation ‘took place :° ve the fhe Hs framg¢ treme! for a volt’ Kawa

) $0

'
re tothe accused
atria Hobe a wide desire, Kennedy, to hear Sueniyy Teatn. Hays you anything you | 4s lips aud tare,
eed “ ite perce re ) ‘ Clee on the | fret, ot Show mica fo guilt, or ‘in: desire to; y Mr. Kennedy # Becker being oth
. - F b yp } be lob Fance | fe last conyergation we , KexnEp —{With a pialow ‘om his the enffercr isco.
wet in Rome bbe hod att Looe idin ze, f - wearfotmed } Av | Tt is an awful thing fi lid feat rea) Nothing. Phe ease of iy.
owes (hat @ tenth Letore hia ; a be: ore your God with a faleeod Th oe Dianond I ake \
ag bum Ramet wives he? \ues f |x vanks! were i reture: ito the Bheriff by | Viamond Lake,

: Father Charles in behalf ¢ fthe dopmed man. | ™eAtencd, is reeu)
The world is Au about closed , At 2: 14) p. m. the shrgud of white cam? Booger, Andeed, >
dts would no} t a lie for the brie wa Mord about ideas ni which {84 acywoastion to ui

« vat teow =e hal « habit of
.oo) etl getag with very bad birds.
“« et bm pareote hed him eat to
-» twit of Weubeshan The b
— seey and rego red Libertyville, 3
i? soe Pattern gare o

—

L a will only r oie I have the terrible rope was adj ed abot his neck The crops look w

1 went.oui with them (ie band the thite cap drawn pver his fire, the | UCularly promising.
ming) and

ry tb

back. with priests assisting in the Inst. sid bilice, and| Tage chop in quaui
knew ing | howing the doomed man the a 1 sym: | ity. Cats and w)
ai}, until O90 7) phy f “oily { potatocs are abused
mete! SRB RBERCUTION, | I hope cur frie

ae rH. | aaa , he eri’ Hgath said : | gate the new adpe
ay Kenney se shd duty,’4/ oats, auth report, |
uty bid him | that caturs jist Le:
| 2 o’elock ing up and cating «
band the | vesters wiil be ne
eroad to] increases io autnbe:
bled-con-| crop already lok |
4 effective Yours tr

on off = bia, July 2h, i>

wo tahing Wht whe, bola Se cl =
+ vente ayo aad brought up st H shal
aot pred napa ny ne
—— © erat) she deaf. Be fp
mang ¢ Sore aah 1 Ws
oh» tal

f

+ 48

Yt anv gol Ssh Giese eA Na: guna ble en ay. igen i

%

4

some te ~ 8 ete ee ee 4
———— oe a

he

Lay | Ow «it Dal toe 7 Peury VW 44 SFA 444) 4hsdd, A te ed Bd ’ ABH tee

i —- mote ence ta

H be rare 7 phe te tebe gf enerme a eS ee ee ee a ees ee a ~ a ca —— 4 eager t —s
Lys ee oe a a apo ifee pam eH np Le penne ntenenieeutenntsetehen: i oe ’

'

the vertebra of the neck. Ho! struggled tor|

_ » oom Ux SOM KS D v ro) 1D TKS. were only absent an — when they re-| and his deputy, Mr CG. Bach, wer simple die: }
hly Qasrt tt i; | —- 4 ‘tarned wigh a verdict of gailty, and the list | tat effective, and every precantiom bps) bid | @ moment, at intervals, the hands and feet) |

E 3 ; . : haking as it tn » spastmi—ond indeed it was.
r Sey ' ‘of ngsias ¢mbrace | some highly respretable [takem to prevent any off thos. dbaprossin j Seared ecidianlin '
vasvea ' | ANGTHER MAN'S wre Yan, ditizens of thin county, The names upon the | mishaps which are too copmoniig fhe exc The good Farhers witidre@w, 59 s00n as

' ae ated fi _— ‘| jury wete 8. ib. Mattison, J.P. Brown, Cor-lention of the Death Fenalty. The ype Wak “the Pope was ct cutede af the eorrdor,
a fer The Second Hanging in the | neliae &hultes, Samuel Cone, Job Voak. | passcd down through the eguliigy aljosc The fur HAW touieote, from tye mies of the
County of Lake, | i (ALR Uyttley, A.J. Leeber, Josop. Pavey. | vestibule amediately ia fant af a court: bedy at Tie than ty whom in ite Wey bady,

oo

vatorn Railway4

i]
. Lewuel Stanford, L. Dd. Warren, Walter | room dear, termineting ina mouse, At the antniddered we kindly ® |
AVISLON = i — . oT eon . ;
i! ty : sity rel Heott me] Martin Abbott, This list shows) othe end of the rope, whieh pie es dover al Keunede Ma apparantly (aes, and alter
| Pvedation of Joan Kennedy for (Comp i bh; _ : i
bt hoe pethed a ) dic . vlles in the tower, was a beavy inom we ight Dancap ee mutes, dite ge Peatiact.
| ihe Murder of Tallur Maloney, of Sage Ridge, thot the vurdict was an honest one. potey * + y wend fain z . i Feetiness « 7 ac t
1 Cope ‘eee on the Night of Munday, | SENTENCE weighing two bundrgd and seventy five Vs) AY prc osely adh Trayt BG dock, thi
, | . 20th, S44. Resume of the Cane Kennedy was sentenced to be leanged on uple | by four girdinys ropes so wer _ ee TUR On preity lore aps 4 \ and M.
we Apprqrence of Oe, Irigene~- the 2hof Mardh, 1866, bat bis casa wan care [to wustain a dare portion af ue qiruin - bane, esaiingd the beady, abd ation oar
t +++ Detal \ . \ ; , : oe . rte ; |
_ in en ried yt bode Supreme Court who ¢onfirmed Pie welstt wies adastedd tomer gegen fos Pile xat nation stated there wore 00 mpial
“ c * ‘ ° ‘ ot
the decigiig previously made in the Crremmbly thorn the Moor of the tower and faeton A ohide {
. } bad 4 i}
the ete., ' ete. Court, aothat both judge aad jury have the thocoh net eolely beld there, by a qiyall rope | iN THR CORKS,
: Pa { bay ry satisfaction of knowing thatthe uption wos fwloeh was seeured to fle cheng ol te | Jini Hetely atery ards tue 7 weak.
certain stormy Buedny 1, e ; ;
a COTA BOTY PUAGNy ght in : etiewed and sustained by abighertmbanal. | soc door leading to the @.jpebs (jp daowan, ond pela cob tae ec aha tle Wed
of November, m pl Weds Band t y 6 ' 7
wo 1 . tac ralbed 6 d ‘oe \ : . : .
” \ mye peace a hi k The day of execution, postponed by this ape feourse: wiel bias suiall WOpts Wgaic yi Deon Woosdak aid hat been te actus ad J
_ : ene oe ( ale eat of yt : peopl fo pnother Court wae then fired for] wouht above would fall, Hit Wit> Pteves ‘ iM Phoetdsp on thee did of w hiete was ou lags
tab & theatre rrible trag@ly. Phe] i. ; ie i ae
7 pent nerok 8 DEPP da i J re Vridsy uly 27th, 1866. ; rom) striking the floor by othe four pct BLUWer «robe WIth Dlaes Ghiseriotbar
reigoet 1 hich one Mblonay wy, J : | hseripthor a
Coreefaetinces unde on ‘ . ; 7. : a
‘ inden Which oF a | qnay, Ko ugh for tie history of the case, heos | ropes wikeh leld it aw few ingea woos | JON WINS RADY .
' ecrepmandd Latledta toe residing at that point, wre aot) ‘cad i ai ; ; ; aT } tg ' -
t serie thus | ld | | hi ) 1 ad nedy dertghuly had no cause for gomplaint thus preventing any got other tian | webb JULY of yang ‘
; iia! ., 4 so, evinces Mmewedr¢r |. oi , ; i i. '
bier ct thal wed wiftin higeown hou in B, pt in regerd to bis defease or the competency teased by the vibration of the cord be - pNP dss 4
Feed nd Cut which was sutlcie nit ly atrpclous ito i , ‘ ; ; i bs 7 _ ——
of the'edurt which senteaced him to death. | ijoise, in the corridor, al Mupe the ert Pid iasteot tea tlead age ane rdootheted
at be veut teh wakaoven Chicago shadder That this is oe ; ; ; ; L ,
vd hy tm \ eg SOME REFLECTIONS tnak would be drawa ip prs MENON, Pree The SATO WES EE dae . mb be Merde
Wires nes) treet} no daby matter, the fraquency pfienbme in ot ve al
hat saat a sasiden ‘of she It ix, however, idle tg deny that if be not atyek of the rope couse aefall gf s@gne thre Bene away tis awe bate yy
eg | that freceptaete oo era ‘ 0 1 7 ’ :
ee ae works a ieutly oattest#. In fogt, | they aby’ matter $0 fonviat A mun of mpariber— | foot [t fas believed Haat Cig Mae tied Je," = pase =|
ry? ‘ of a ‘yet y nite i 7 { .
, he 'IMaralte f utaide of tha numbers who believe the WOULP Enbyte mbar apeccy ab leer gain den’ | Get Ceres heads cyet 4
tel Peed) Seetabd in this entire affair sugh Py devilil | . 1 ; } I bisa. ted |
cael cooltipes in decgu on the part of the asass Lees Penalty Wrong, there id a Pagering} qian the, paraphernalia OP the crops becia | fab eave ded os niece sr tile a Fs
ares | ° ; RU on Bll Teas 7 i
i ing, Rist itfid4 no marvel public inlligwation | hing of doubt by many minds. where the and ta The preparatinns wergyin fa jms’ ee ee ee a hs
oftha poowy : were * bat hvad
H | wid roused It ise asy to une derstand, th: gi vidence in ¢hie fly circumstantial, that). inyvthar toe those guade for the wedi tic mot) eel Bey pee Meee Wad
a Wdiguatiy ‘ . : . H a
. een : whey bs the voluntary action @fjdhe: cabs |? rused ateverivh jntérest to know whether Bei}, but avoiding the hogvy jai q Pline cif CMa centage the ¥
Hl inat hove Corbet® nad Fiend, be the pthe potegner will confess. Tho moment @ the: fall at the we ‘lit, ‘he rope was texced i given to the fia ix of Slee deeraed wie
wet I pW berhood of Sand Lidge, 4 ighhe wie jovn is cpndemped ta death the publie ore} sc yveral thes belare the egecution rembnved to the Cath olige qtoure hi
neipitborh oc uf Sane vidze, . . . ., ! ; ‘
, WOM) Gauls obtuined, which even tho; peculiar | ee rend ta aun the victim ig qhrie pity CHICAGO BOMBMEANS, p ETRE aS NS Mae to thre Cabsary sce
. an P ligd of Chicago, (usually too buy in or- | for the qurdeter. Eepecially is: this the Kenocdy has inpaticstad opt pypod tra |, i! ryopenp Evcistom pop de tet gens dee tue
fo? | » » . ' ’ 2 . ‘
HYCO pontliy the wore inoffengive clagupa éf va. 8” Whore the @Mffnder has» wife and chile) and that isa wholesome byersion fo being o dlodk pom: trem,
" et an detohourda, proptivutes atid) pet dren, whio really need sympathy whether the | gjgeaered alive by Une imokal anatdinses ot! WHEN Tes ahs yn an ee Se ee
* of at i ; ' ’ : 7 ¥ ;. ‘ ’ : ; . ; i ' “ee
reopen tooo y reed ntteution to inarterere | situs of: thei disgrace deserves any or not. tlre ( Hye (lO Te AVS Der phen Peep: Coun] ‘ i! Morr ~ oe harn tt ef Te oth
rr ’ : : : 4 ‘ . ; \ ’ ‘ , ' vs ;
| H| nad Pthuld pot mistake, isp ny Ea ister ne ew society is conustitutek, the nally of the 7 ¢bune and I! nas of fle Tun apf mit Teas ! lee al 4
ne yi ition are]. - .
strug be MtBHWrre hiade of auspe | pal s. The Pare, Qhidfly puniehed by an cxegution are vetted tam dagt evening and Breda uier Cha i 4 arr | ,
" ‘ ay i ‘ i . + ;
jr th way Pouler is that noy of the guilty wintn | 2 oucderbr as kiedradj—and while the bi qa dy mt owtdre wat liat ava ‘ ‘
ry “FF t ary a ‘ ‘ A at th fa] a ‘ law . \ ' . , i . at i\
i 4 Aorelreteted ‘ur it mast I ol re emi bred! fecling| thay he cope moe 1, ML is dbastioctive rr 11 1, } {te i 5 ‘I a ’
: . ; ue * a at me Wind, Deence the feverigh cayer- | ‘4 4 ; , :
vot boat sobdone cup unib wane eight ‘ . Hoa Pout Widi, Trewern, dans!
Pd ornate t ti fed, for a jot j! uf he pe tou read the dast words of} : ej
seers wer the crime Lrele ’ ohy |
| f ‘ ‘ 7 2 bf bg } Q Ube tae 4 - y r ia } » | '
(} time dtho case seen Leuwrapt int Inystetyom | th " ineg fac . | “ t : ( | : ofon i. iy in wall fice ; bt wheel oy € | Vive ‘
) reg \ . F Pperés tp publigxhe the ii--Lort ‘re uechivy
Moyen cecai vend? Nhe aro those who «till doubt if a a | i , ry ded { ] 7 " ‘ " fe if oO! ter thay th mitt ’ ti
‘ ! , 4 . . qs « c ds we 1 Pan y Podpeetes
t it mo @f the uffair has been prabeds ‘Phis is Wot, cannot guide, tact minply reflect ty +i then tana
‘DLAI - at . apiadiays ‘moaned pouener es, |
1 (rea nthy the came an erotik} trigqlas, where plu {it} i men and tous | | 7 ded 4 he at)
thaofilenee in elietly clecnoatanti@l There TI "eeltag tip ye ataeat por rs tel Pbeten “ge
i : . a it ly i : Lab thay ( \- | (
are those who will or fuse to Loaligve A Any Mt Mi WP thw H Uv we ye SG ; i fy 7 rot] mid oy, j
Mined dagn. One ith Wad. notype al, , ’ |
. eri ial gouty, so reat in thei iy! horror pe" Cue wis " ‘ ' ; ii t) yo id boda deay Was pi a oe . 1 ’ j
i ; i : ; " ¥3C feud; Che other dus uerdiy cai
ae Capel Punidhmont, hero arg others) Po” mi ee | j : wend | t
‘eee ’ ¢ toe pesulte ich are aulbyperne L,
ks oap@eially old maida aml ghi legs wives} | an ses ; mee ELEC av oe . an vod duvet’ thaw abet . a
% } Sine | “OTE ree th omni dy s. af] '
ha Pyuld dopiy any cue tal death: Dae oui u ua J : \ i Verney | ’ { ae ool aoe pery { ‘ ‘ !
’ ' tt A ad yao ism wie eroowy ‘or Yo) a |
rat tr } rou du uoroet Treath of 4a piel nm, a y at ti I, , yet iN Very fiat ey hats i a ! : ’ \
i yony ' , The Jona interval between the ifhetrut \! , : f if
tad AN riiy if t ey were Qieir own . { . ‘ ‘ roy ty j \
ri lat re . : : P| t of thd ctine andthe arrest of the caressa |
- POP FRCeTe yg aver Oe yt VAN? {
} 7 4 . eh¥ we Witir hae Rey Ay Yad theeyybe a 1] tics bi bi api tthe vb r I i
vey Poyennedy the Tadt of @ie gasilty ee : i \ . pve
Wencived ohn Mal \ Sate Wage rab We Wet a I aft i t Poy l ’
eu pug Key i Ma‘oney’s murder ave per, | ; acne Bie | *
AE whic? tio minis, oid qRite Clear wi ve gga OF oY bi bids hee ee ee | hp! "4 :
re , \ wel contpary tocGerouvoraborsenies fj
, ul l ee “tiystor of the devd Lava oaeet i f ; , : hl » 4 : : hi Hee i i
. , if fielged, the Nemesis of he Natuat eould
} ‘ P } 1 — : ia 4 Pt } Um Vy 4 tea , ;
thy 1 Wiis Hheeovecred, werLTy ; t }
i4 4 ee ' Mier |
bay When ®ecdhdin tl
i Ny nrg
! tq itn vu ‘ i ! {
r H ) j t
' ih ¢ {aiieocreyt ; | ’ \
' , ia 4 »} lei j i " ;
| ’ “+} revs { vr? tig? die Edokw °
rh fey hos 1 ostrt s ' {
| ‘ Ty) ' : il
| 4 {yh vue qf . yet , '
\ ‘ | ' ‘
\ tay ) { < wy Ivy . ryoute oa]
! if f 4 4 LY { * ‘ f pl {! “ \ I H .


Aad SY 4h A“ 4RALY V dds dg | dado d eh 4 dy ey biisk “eh HM Auailied aye. Phe” bi

i
4

ter ~—

wa i er ' ~~ +90-amer-peraheppncmeaieiiiiy aby

simple} the vertebra of the neck. cletragsied for, Tun Warts jo — ies _ ¥

io uae sa —+ - nn eee ne eee —_— re — meena Rie amemiihie,
absent an hour | when they re-| and his deputy, Mr. C.G G. Buell,

anti H . : ee y 100 t j
igh aiverdict of guilty, and the list | tat effective, and every precauth been | moment, af intervals, the! hands and feet feat Meat peal Apel ghaihly only of ¢om-

=e inbraced some highly respectable | takem to prevent any « those ng | Shaking as if in » epast-radd indeed it was. resent date thas have been! | y, ‘
° c{inonsf Khip Neaaty, The names upon the | mishaps which are too cofmon exe-| The good Fathers withdadw, 69 soon as Zasly Ivbed bined } they eee | for} 4, tie Ara
a ty were 'Hi.. b. Mattison, J. P. Brown, Cor-] cution of the Death Rena y. wak | the rope was jcut, outaide f the corridor, Me F juse.! Dr. J W. Poland—formerly | Capen e—W coterd |

3: gelius Bhultes, Samuel Cone, Job Voak, | passed down through in fe ity we the fur a few puts, fron alight of the}: PP fat cr ‘a of ey h rey porgtens Or atts “rr rege eer:

AR. Mpattey, A. J. Leeber, Joseph Pavey, | vestibule immediately in frome aft ¢ court of the may ' whom e life ey had welled’ a Lite Pine Compound,” and aw a
| Lemuel Stanford, L. D. Warren, Walter | room door, terminating inp pos¢, | At the|) mini itterod ao ki | Riga Ae Hit proved in all throat, lang | aetee of some ©
 seott ark Martin Abbott, This list shows] other end of the rope, which pasted over a] Kennedy died | ently Lear and “after and kidney diseagcn, wherever It grey teen eaibee e0is

"| that the vardiet honest ulley in the towe a iron weight | ban fi used, th he popular demand fog itr “3 ~~ loess
‘ oy rr was an honest oue. pulies be tower, heavy gl ging ve minutes, life seeined! ¢) tinct, | iner ali! Mae Micceveret wee @ botnging ieee Wve
V) ie SENT ENE, weighing two hundred an sivent five ths,| AS precisely half hast o'clock, the| tu devote bis wisi mttention to the benign D details hashin take
Ketinedy was sentenced to be hanged on} upheld by four girdiny Fo " 80 afrgnged as | Bangeons present, iI) re. B. 8. | Cory ‘and MM. of pre; saring It for the market, and it : low anaes
the 2 dof Mardh, 1606, but his cas@ Wan cary fa wustain a large portion of th ‘, (rain. Evans, examined the Mtoe apd after ® carc- wane te the doy, Vv. hwest, of ‘he Mea ‘hod 128 Pes

ried uj fo fli: Supreme Court who eonfirmed |The weight was adjuste« fh vo feet | ful oe | Were ve signs!) Fogland Pajanig Depot in Boston bas be-| omar Bereiyse ub

the decigi previously made in the Circuit from the floor of the lower and nie fo of life, | [come the propri qtor of the compound, On d | byterets oyu + few

i] Court, at at both judge and jury have the | though not solely bekd thee by a
eatie faction of knowing thattheir agtion was} which was secured to _
reviewed ond sustained by ahigher tribunal, | south door leading to

. pis: adver iadment in this papes gives un ite | pa oe wocme bb

all rope |, |: |
| 1s ru corns orémting a ve of its otialn and puceeme | gt tig gi cin gee
body wae cut

of the Jinedjately afterwards th
a, ©} down, an ‘placed i ithe cofip,

tua ated a large mumber of vertifi-lapees) percy  &,
tans citizens of the New ie ore? emasres

» (Whleh waa] owtes fr:
The day of execution, postponed by this ap-| course wiken this small | the | of black may 8 had Plnobh b Bvslend wa |The medicine is specisl!y
Li peal to nother Court was then fixed for | weight above would fall, But evented hig friends) on the lid of whidh was ® lage a al Jd] sine, Nhe Hempehire ond vie S '
Friday, July 22th, 1866. v4 from striking the fluor by the girding sliver crune with this inseri : are as thant ier us household words. 300] | pe {la

1 Be much forthe history of the case. Kens ropes which held it a fe advert 7 $
| nedy dertgiuly had no cause for eomplaint| (hus preyenting any sou

, jim regard to bis defease or the competency | caused by the vitiration «

i pbove- ‘JOHN KENNE
an that DIkP JULY at,
s, The A

MINI e TMA

(MARRIED. [AU

jaf the edurt which senteaced him to death. hoode, in'the corridor, sn he ern: T hep fixcye of the dead ncoveryd, th pn Newport, daly acd, by Kew. Woo. Meeith om, a met a ¥ weet

. . SOME RFFLECTIONS. ina} would be drawn up 5 | i¢ | Cap Was Tht moved, me nod se of the Kr LUCts L. prank with Mise GLIZABeTM Las pu - 7 temtiene f
It ix, however, idle to deny that itis not slack of the rope cause alfall he three | @kea aw after hp wad placed in the COf- His, Poth “ Bowiyys', babe bv. 4D pedi cent be

‘| Guby matker to fonvict a man ef wurder.—| fect. Tt Was bepevel st hid y. There was ho discelotation of tha} 4! the ra fi ” ean pea apc are ae bites obey etered
ts stede of thp numbers who balieve the | would sl | f in death | Gountenaace—which proved tt he by Hori, Giiberg, He. WHI LAM TAdM bile 4) Ae
i \ would impyre more’ speody and cerfgin dea pra aa | Kane seuny, Wide Miss SARA ANN CLEATOR ot | 7 on a
_ breath Penalty wroug, there Iq a Vngering | qyan the: paraphernalia ¢ = ‘bean ot have died by mere strang lation, Dea Avon. | | | Worthen. 9 4
ni tiling of doubtda many minds. where the and tra The rea ne in fac wuss bave been alinost j T sn '

_ tvidence i ¢hietly circumstantial, that) similar to those nda not hands were somewhat livid, | | ‘prep. Osage ¢
coed acteverigh interest to know whether Bel, but avoiding the ho used by] The eoffa mare the remedies Wh | At Antioch, July Uf of -rviie pore throes, Mine | BOE MES bees oe
,i the pr-aver will confess, The moment @] theifall af the welght,. ed | BIVen to the friends of the. Maytetn RECTOR, second daughter of Benry a hoqd, botnet

deen iscpondemuelta death the publ are several tines befare the e had it removed to the Catholi H. and Marie Keotr, ‘est eeve Lbeou yoore, eieyew Co | ae oF oe

we a . : F | \ , han oud eikteon dpye ee

, to prong to forget the victim in their pity], \) cmtcago Bou whence a was taken lo the i | GS Sorbets ae
‘Ur i dete : j is Bre ol Lae Li In Chieaga, Bouday July 224. of txphotd 4

«for dhe war defer,| Hapecily ix thle We} Kenatay he malin tars ma Branton For ner srepaabat anh auttisncor srinsunerants || agMMHN® we
vase Whare the Offender has wife and chil- and that is a wholesome o' foc Pp, train, | deecased, dyed 47 ypare “

‘ : I ” : Be * *

5 dren, whe roally need sympathy whether the dissacted alive by the moral |abatypmists of} | WITNRSSHS OF THE & CUTION, | At her resijemee, ih the towa of Bbielte, of dou. my " '

pi iuse of their dixgrace deserves any or not. the Chicago } newspaper peas. Melts m-] (0. a. Heath, ‘Sheriff of Lake County ; ( pumptian, ve Metday, Pad pet, Mire MAKY 4) i va _ a

— daitov wrong, as society is constituted, the nolly of the Tribune and finds of Lhe Ti {a Buell, Deputy ; J. M. T esdell, Cle JOUN, app d yours, wile Of Me. Kolert Jobe

: yitiee auiafly punished by an executioniare visited him lant evening | Cirduit Court ; George Tho son, Aapistu t la Wauke o, July 26m, at (be seedence ef wir oy ne '
tic qourlerer'@ kicdrad-and while the ying put the torts ware Clerk}, Revs. Charles Sticashurger, and

CT years. | Fondral frow his bto piers, at 2 e choot |
{hl S atier: an.

a as a: |
f FINANCIAL.
Gold Maser vm t» New Yor.

eclingt thay be copdemned, it is [ustinctive

\ ; and he refuse 4 ty have M. Kenney, Clergy in ren Dra, B,
ity mee ind. Yenee the feverdkh cager- tlic up. This 9 will, ho ever, maak ie Cory and M. Evans, Surgeon b attendanc (
ale f the publig to read the last words of The following newspapers Lice represen
| bing husu ; lionee the necessity of news. sty wit Inventan acedupt which: wil aii | 0d: Wavknqay Gazerre, Chicago Kepy
fai, teers tp: pub tioly hy eer today bee Chieazo people bettdr than #he truth, | 948 ‘Tribune, Ties, Post,
docs nots cannpt guide, but sigply reflects | wihidcnte hinre ter genvathon than fact, : {| THE JUKY. | pany duly * Givers po. cece =e sy
' : om f » * ; 3 e Oe Ube é teronvowevicmces ',
‘ [ ovinibas, men and manuery. Tue Ties reporter, sin Be blication “a L. Williams, Mun. E. I. Ferry, BW, Yon neaddy, Ln : SMe re Peer errr rs SL
| | INTRMS IA Wo WITH RENN ROY. of the exurzeruted, dist rted,) bogits letter, |Bdwards, Dennis Marr, Ged. G. Furgusof,. vmreday, * =. Me ne aah , ately
| . Thre writie Vian rit two Visits to the con- e hie h iennedy regrettdd, jsoomd to have L, Stevie, I. A. Hinckley, M. 'Dulaaty, 1M
| dewned jaan. One, which Was noticed in.s been tnidaneckil bad tor lite tee pepe el Taylor, W. W. Hastings, k, C one, ee }
are ies : : : ‘ | Orion on ras ss Wt chaenas et asf Wy wibeQaiens © 8) Rte beeen
Pelionary W lriting. i ' duty ¥t, Dee

araide _ %
+ he

OD oe a pweg
er

4 bretuer George, JAIBUR BTAN FORD, bay sera |}
5
p'

—
4

WAUKEGAN MARKET REPORT

iP oViOUS TbBUd | the other The Tuesday, aud ;
f , dials sat viet A man, far Noo sdoner hac

% }
ithe results of seh ich are subjoine ak ig i eee
| “ ‘ veh an 4 hi ie at jutro daced. hirnse lf, than invade Tt . CUTSIDE THE cou nl BHoOCay | OAI1S—S'nehengrd glade our tent, a he hy '
Sih @ his Conn me annedy , oO . el n vabT’- “ ¥ ,
1 lost eal a eure 1 ta tormined nas WAHT suid, PR ave. pothing to “hd ble perhaps” three hundred pdr fell ge “1 es he we.
vourse, lost Qesh> and grown ve ‘ele. 1 RAR LAY. -Neme po t =
"1 ‘aterval ‘tele es the} teateatten aAY: to you.” This wil I ne na four ace yn one half of Whom were wp | he abe 7 we on . -
He 1ON gS IEEE VAL CEWCOR WO perperran y,! o ’ cls sep Qh ltarted) 4 fetta eye
“ 4 | ae column conversation in that) vera ous sheet. map.) Ata ifr. m, whoa We | weight full, trate i, tee EE Yn a na ne
of the eye and the arrest of the criminals | were rst Wire. ao its vpund, mktled by the rppes | and ew | " iy es »
} pably le len i | Wij ho squatetions pe
hadppolpably led them ot a ln tigre tihat Konnedlaccad lea'chack thatardad onl cou be heard with a dull} hvy thre r i 7 :
Joatde wos deaf. as well lie! I’ atal Wen ty ph Ob Choek M Sher Manin g, ' f I, h ; \ Np TC Niene- deme s 1 7
J ’ ’ ' i . ae +f ‘ A - ¥ ib :. if > > . ‘ .
eof eri | 4 lnophbeal had hte tinal interview lL with, fils friends, eq fll, Abe rope could 4 pron fom daa z ” 1) ‘on
eS ee Wue-~alwiosd laplileophyfe ‘ sz 2 ‘ ' ride Co .
F nth sous Hib Geile a or : ‘ ‘i : \« vathely, his wile, lis prodher and pwite, and northe raatloorper of the aquafe, swaying : YY — i. P . .
ae contpary t mnie Sane gliri oe ae : My ‘ , VAN we De rine et ben
tie) % ihn Nonsrnin af | Gardai odata Lis brother-in ee Moat parting defied de i ind fro, to amd fra, and qyon fustenes Ipn Sasi. writs we oe . \
H ‘ C ‘) fe Welt! Wr 1G U , : R f i. eran 7 io ey gece i aier e . P
sciiption, Eis poor wife et fais Pian, and pte Peps howl phey loti tin the spr ine ‘ PTMaree
: erp! ne «ly | ' , wrejehed yan Mi { of tbe F wiblees ate . be : oo
' 1 horvously Melt ae ghd tel the @ha low at POT ATOR New om
Wien we eatiodon the: cou lemaie truant : j eld af the wenn we te Tih i
7 , a, ig p be Rk syva took be deife ets wt pit, . thepte mrt ; i ' ih '
Fon theambrotie ed Duewthiy, he was reqdinges Yee iy 1 1 o\g
F catielia athed _ . lee Vhepeitoe, ada aye Lining White teint Wa! servali'y i t ; pus Ke
rete ey Can ’ ecnapen pit Sune | if : :
41. | i | 1] 1 poh: i hor ulterveanc an a J he teat't fe the awial
Rear es © Cy cary ok he ebb pide aid fo. F ania
7 . | - feel {: ihe of alt bay) sk | isl he iene \
nda of children weg blitiely tharanygh po : v
; , | fyennesty tt the fowuewe } at hindly, Guede | New Sopa Fouatai Mekore: Clewe! and q '
the Geurt Ttouse + jars cou ly neltriate even ae 4 _
' f they nd Pwerds were Tove sul hie phower tafewal Mi) Prtothers haven pew Sade Pbuntdin arape
to the @b& ‘ heow. ot ree Ti senmeddy | ' . { ; ;
) is ° aU : ; j ; 4 ng Could dee this eeene ! end peg Bt - Prokced Yh custard « vealiOd nd pontedts |

f
’
f

white, hanged Carmi, Illinois, on April 30, #93 19 BS

362 HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.

remained in this region tor a few years, and then left for other
parts.

MERIDITH AND MARTIN, 18381.

Some time in August, 1831, one Saturday night about 12 o’clock,
the cry of murder rang out vpon the midnight air. It was clearly
the voice of a woman. As the night was very dark no investiga-
tion was made till morning. It was ascertained that in a drunken
family quarrel the night before, William Eubanks had been slain
by the hands of Charles Kershaw, and William Meridith and Jack
Martin were accessories to the homicide. It was the murdered
man’s wife that aroused the neighborhood. Meridith and Martin
were captured that night, but Kershaw made his escape and fi-
nally died in Texas. Meridith and Martin were tried in their pre-
liminary examination before David Thompson, then a Justice of
the Peace in Edwards County, and committed to jail at Albion by
that?good citizen, Major James Stephenson acting as Constable by
special appointment. At a final trial William Meridith was sent
to the penitentiary for five years, and Jack Martin for two years;
but they were pardoned out by the Governor in less than twelve
months. Meridith went to Texas and Martin to Arkansas, and
each have long since crossed beyond the river.

WILLIAM B. LEDBETTER, 1834.

In April, 1884, William B. Ledbetter was indicted for murder,
on change of venue from Gallatin County. As itis the only case
of hanging in this county a full account is here given.

After the adjournment of court, the condemned man was guarded
int he court-house by armed men, the county having no jail. Col-
onel Hosea Pearce, the Sheriff of the county, selected the place of
execution at a point some 400 yards northeast from the present fair
grounds, and had a scaffold erected in the woods, some sixty yards
from the present State roads, leading sonthwest in a line with the
main street of the city of Carmi. On the 30th of April, 1834, an
immense crowd of people assembled in Carmi to witness the exe-
cution. At the appointed time, the armed militia formed at the
court-house, when the condemned man was brought out and seated
in a wagon, the militia formed a hollow square around the wagon.
The cortege moved in solemn step to the music, to wit: the muf-
fled drum and the shrill note of the fife playing the dead march.

HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY. 863

On arriving at the piace of execution the militia held their position—
a hollo wsquare around the scaffold. The condemned man walked
up to the platform with unfaltering step and took his seat. The
Rev. Charles Slocumb delivered an appropriate prayer, and pro-
ceeded to preach a powerful sermon to the vast concourse present.
While he was preaching, a gun in the hands of Wm. Dosher, one
of the guard, was accidentally discharged, but without injury to any
one, the ball taking effect in one of the posts of the scaffold. At
the conclusion of the address, the hour had arrived when the
immortal soul of Wm. B. Ledbetter should depart from earth and
appear before that tribunal from whose judgment there is no appeal.
His arms were pinioned, the black cap drawn over his face, and his
position taken on the fatal trap. .

The sheriff failed to sever the cord that held the trap until he
made the the third blow, when down shot the body through the
drop. He died without much struggling, and in about twenty-four
minutes the body was lowered and placed in a plain coffin, and by
Colonel Pearce delivered to the wife of the deceased. She, with
her little son, was there with a wagon drawn by a yoke of small
oxen, awaiting the sad result that would make her a widow and
her children orphans. After the coffin was put into the wagon,
she and her little son started for their home in Gallatin County,
some six miles from Elizabethtown, now Hardin County, and near
the Cave in Rock. That night they camped out by the roadside,
near New Haven, as no person would let them stay in their house all
night.

The charge against William B. Ledbetter was for killinghis brother
on Christmas day at his father’s house. He and his father had
some dispute, and William was ordered from the premises. When
in the act of leaving his brother took up the quarrel of his father,
and the result was that he stabbed his brother with a knife, with
fatal effect.

JAMES STANLEX, 1845.

Some time in the fall of 1845, while Daniel Charles and wife
were absent from home, his house was burnt with all its contents;
not only were the house and contents lost, but quite asum of
money was added tothe loss. It was a crushing misfortune to
the family; they lost all the savings of thirty years’ hard toil upon
the farm. All they had left, except a spotless reputation, was the
land with a cropgrowing thereon. The sequel of the conflagration

08 RRR aia
Bee” Saale ed
" y ue gil dehy a ye ae


LEE, William W., white, hanged Aquawaka, IL on June 16,

HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY

much parley and solsy demonstration, shots
were fired from both the outside and the inside
‘of the‘house, Thomas Johnson Was dangerously
wounded by a bullet through his breast; one
of the posse was killed and'another badly wound-
ont: ‘The officer and his men then retreated and
waited: for daylight. In the morning the of-

“Weer returned with a great crowd, and ll the

inmates of the house were arrested, and the
‘meg sent to the county’ Jail, except Thomas
Johason and the women who were left‘under

oe

‘At the March term, 1871, of the circuit court,
“Pheeags Jotizson and Joseph B. Johnson” were
; ‘by ‘the Grand Jury, for the §Jlling of
persons as above stated. They both had
(nets removed by change of venue to War-
ren” Qounty; when Joseph Johnson was dis-
cbarged. Tbomas Johnson was put on trial aod,
Afterten days exemibation of’ witnesses, 9 junge |
wan taken “yeriously dick and the fury Gf

changed. ‘it the ‘same. term ‘of court the case:

wee emmt by enother change of venue’ to” Mc-
Debengh County, ne Judge Smith, "who presided *
at the tial, became am important witness, in
1878 the case was tried before Judge Higbee
and a jury at Macomb, and resulted, after a
protrapeted trial, in the acquittal of Mr. Johrisen.
In thin trial ‘the people were represented by
JOA. McKerjsie, John J. Glenn, and Mr. Wheat,

and the defendant by Oot. Robert G. Ingersoll,

Jonathan Simpsoa,' J. H. whore and Col. J.
W. Davidson.

William Lee was Indicted at the March term,

1876, of the Circuit Court fer the murder) dur-
ing the previous fall, of Jessie McCarty, at Hast
Burlington, by beating her to death and throw-
ing her body into the river. Lee was arrested
and confined in jail until his indictment. The
court appointed a special term during the month
of April following for Lee’s trinl. At the time

of his arrest and indictment the body of the
victim had not been found, but a few weeks
before’ the trial was to take place, the body was
found and fully identified. At the trial the

1876

131
most intense interest was manifested, the court
room being crowded by the excited people, who
seemed to fear that the prisoner would in same
manner escape the justice which they believed
‘should attach to his fearful crime. He was,
efter a hotly contested trial, convicted, the
jury finding, as a part of their verdict under
the “law, that the defendant should suffer
Geath. Judge Smith sentenced im to be hung
on the 16th day of June at the county jal. The
Gay arrived and the town was filled to over
flowing with persons attracted thither by a mor-
wid curiosity to witneasthe death penalty in-
Hicted upon a fellow being: The’ Bheriff of the
county, George Bell, exeeuted the order of the
qwort by banging Lop atthe :time appointed by
the court,’ ‘In this cneé’ J, H. Jennings, State's
Aftoriiey;‘and J. H. Stewart appeared for the
‘ Daopie and Jonatban Simpaon for the defense.

‘“Lapey O'Neil, who had been indicted ‘with Lee
“qu Fagceanorai-ta the sagavign of Jessie’ McCarty,
wag, in” August, SVG tried’ and acquitted. (at
_thp sage tent: Chinrleei Stilts of Bagotows, vas

“indlegel for the, murder-ef hig wife by wabbing
het with a table knife. Reing put on trial. be-

‘fore 8’ jary, they found the peisouer’ not: guilty.
‘Bhe'pebot was very strong,’ yet he was acquitted,

but ‘was constrained’ to’ fea! that’ Hendersen
* Comite was nots hesithy lotation' for him, and

he left the oqunty. In this case J. H: Jesinings,
Stgte's Attorney; and ‘Gonathan Simpson ap-
peare@ for Cie" peonle, and Raué Cooper for the
‘defendant.

July 4, 1877, a young man was killed at Car-
maa by a pistol shot, and Jease Asher, a young
man living in the country near Carman, was
arrested for his murder. In March, 1878, he was
put on trial on an indictment charging him with
the offense. After a warmly contested trial
‘the defendant was convicted of murder in the
second degree, and sentenced to confinement in
the Joliet penitentiary for the term of ten years,
but was afterwards pardoned by the Governor.
J. H. Jennings, and Raus. Cooper appeared for


262
Monmouth Weekly Review, cols. 2-5, pe. 1 (23 June 1876).

BILL LEE.

His Execution at Oquawka Last Friday
for the Murder of Jessie McCarty.

Particulars of the Crime and Scenes
at the Scaffold.

A WARNING TO EVIL-DOERS.

Early in the month of November last, and for years
previous, there stood upon the east side of the Mississippi
River, opposite the city of Burlington, in the county of
Henderson, in the state of Illinois, a notorious house of
prostitution, well and familiarly known by the title of the
“Gunboat." This vile den, the abode of impurity and sin,
and the resort of gamblers, vagabonds and thieves, had long
been a terror and annoyance to the people of the neighbor-
hood and adjoining State. Thanks to the efforts of the
Vigilance Committee, so opportunely called into being, it
no longer stands to send forth its streams of vice to scourge
and pollute the land.

Here under the sombre drapery of night, in the seclu-
Sion of the dark but picturesque autumnal foliage of the
forest trees which skirt the river bank, on the 6th of No-
vember last, was perpetrated one of the most brutal and
hellish murders ever recorded in the annals of crime. It
was here that, “Bill Lee,’ the keeper of this vile den of
infamy and shame, debased by lust and inflamed by passion
and strong drink, stamped the life out of a frail but de-

fenceless female, to whom at least he owed the duty of pro-
tection.

The recital of this shocking and disgusting crime
caused a thrill of horror and indignation to permeate the
entire community, and aroused a spirit of vengeance which
followed him to the scaffold. And here allow me to remark
that grave apprehensions were felt during the progress of
Lee's trial that this feeling might culminate in violence,
but a better understanding of the organization, aim and pur-
poses of the Vigilantes, has shown these fiears to have been
almost, if not entirely groundless. Composed of good and
worthy citizens and law-abiding men, their plans and pur-
poses were unhesitatingly submitted to the courts and pro-
nounced lawful and just. They have given valuable aid to
the officers of the law, and to-day Henderson county may
justly feel proud of her Vigilance Committee.


72

amplified the statement with the asser-
tion that she believed a man “too drunk”
when “he can’t walk and has to sit down
on some steps.”

The case was given to the jury at 4:35
p. M. on Wednesday, November 26th, and
a verdict of guilty was returned at 11.20
p. M. Metelski smiled as the jurors filed
in but shook his head when he heard the
verdict. In a minute or two he had _ re-
gained his composure, and in the next few
days seemed much more upset over the
fact that his mouth organ had been taken
away by jail officials who feared he might
use it in fashioning a weapon for a Sui-
cide attempt.

Eventually the musical instrument was
returned and he played at a concert
given for the prisoners of the Erie County
Jail. The number that brought most ap-
plause was The Prisoner's Song.

Metelski joked as he discussed the ver-
dict. “Maybe [ didn’t pray enough or my
luck was bad,” he said in jest, referring
to the fact that two members of the jury
were George A. Pray, 328 Bedford Ave-
nue, and Clarence F. Luck, 168 Timon
Street.

Dr. Conrad E. Wettlaufer, 1234 Dela-
ware Avenue. wealthy head of the Library
Garage Company, expressed satisfaction
with the verdict and announced he wou'd
be responsible for the future of Mrs. Feist

and that man, Odum. discovered, was
Tom Lehne! ;

And now Mrs. Puhse was accusing Tom
Lehne of killing her husband!

The Deputy Sheriff and Officer Rowden
continued their questioning of the woman,
and she finally acknowledged that she
and Lehne together planned to kill her
husband, but that she couldn't go through
with it and backed out at the last minute.

E took Mrs. Puhse into the room
where Lehne was being held.

“Well, are you ready to tell us what
really happened the night Charles Puhse
was murdered?” we asked.

Stubbornly the — forty-three-year-old
widower shook his head. :
“You might as well come clean. She

has. .
“Gertie couldn’t have done that,” he

irly spat at us.
fatty Tevine. he looked at Mrs. Puhse
for denial, for reassurance that she had
kept quiet. But she made no motion and
something in her eyes must have told
him plainer than words that she had
failed him. . ea

Softly he spoke to her. “Gertie, did you
do that?” raat

She nodded her head. Her “yes” was
scarcely audible. ;

Her confession was read aloud to him
and he listened, without emotion, to the
end.
Then his anger broke, and he shouted,
“Did you say that? Well, d it, now
I'll tell the truth—lI'Il tell the real story.

He sank back in his chair and gazed
at her for a moment reproachfully and
then said, “Gertie, they could have ques-
tioned me until hell freezes over and |
would never have confessed. But since
you have talked, | am going to tell them
the whole truth.” . .

And Tom Lehne kept his word. dictat-
ing the following confession, which drew
a picture of the ghastly business far dif-
ferent from the one she had painted:

“[ was at the Puhse home the Wednes-
day afternoon before the killing, while

Detective

Master

Patrolman Ronald Sauer of Detroit,
Michigan, who arrested a man for
breaking into a restaurant, a man who
had a secret and significant reason for
committing this felony

and her children and look after them.

Metelski was lodged in the death house
at Sing Sing Prison but the case was not
ended. He made one last bid for life. It
was a statement that his confession had

Design for Death!

(Continued from page 19)

Puhse was at work. On Thursday after-
noon Mrs. Puhse and | planned to carry
out the killing that night. We had been
planning to do it for about five months.
Gertie informed me where her husband
kept his revolver—in the bedroom on a
shelf.

“| then left the Puhse home and went
to my home at Fourth and Hampden
Streets in Venice. | slept until eleven
p. M. and then stole from the house with-
out arousing my mother, and walked to
Granite City, purchasing drinks at several
places on the way. Nearing the Puhse
home, [ waited until Mrs. Puhse sig-
nalled to me from the kitchen by turning
the lights on and off twice after raising
the blind.”

So that was the meaning of the flash-
ing lights—one to get ready—and two to
go'—One, that the family was asleep—
two, that the stage was set for the murder
of Charles Puhse!

““& T the second signal, I went to the

front door of the house. Mrs. Puhse
met me at the door and kissed me, and [|
said, ‘Gertie, do you still want me to go
through with this?’ She said, ‘yes,’ and
led me to the bedroom after telling me
just how her husband was lying in bed.
1 took his gun from the shelf, and, lean-
ing across the bed with one knee upon

EEEEF Ret oed'

PEG RAG

IT

om

tf

Madison County Courthouse at Ed-

wardsville, Illinois, where the trial was

held. From here the two murder plot-

ters were taken to the death house at
Chester Penitentiary

been obtained by the use of brutal third
degree tactics. Pointing to scars on his
face he declared they were inflicted when
he was beaten by Buffalo policemen.
Glibly he told his tale. So convincingly, in
fact, that Warden Lewis Lawes sought to
have the matter investigated.

The coup fell flat, however, because
Buffalo police were able to prove that
Metelski’s confession was given volun-
tarily. To begin with, he was in Buffalo
police headquarters less than ten minutes
after being returned from Detroit, and
it was his contention that he had been
beaten there before being taken to the
District Attorney's office. A newspaper
photo, snapped as he was leaving for the
atter destination and the official police
picture taken on his return, both showed
that the scars Metelski contended were
new ones, were old even then.

Metelski was electrocuted the night of
June 23rd, 1931. He died with Herbert
Johnson, negro, sentenced for the slaying
of Sheriff Henry Steadman, Schoharie
County. Metelski entered the death house
with a forced grin on his face. He waved
a greeting to the witnesses and mur-
mured “Good-by” as he was strapped into
the chair. Seconds later his body strained
forward under the lethal impetus of the
current. The bloody thumb print had
taken its toll.

it, | fired one of the bullets into his head.

“I then fired a second shot into the wall
of the bedroom and placed the gun in
Puhse’s hand so that it would appear that
he had committed suicide. Mrs. Puhse,
after the first shot, fled into the front
bedroom where Earl and Mildred Puhse
and a girl friend of Mildred (the cousin,
Katherine Wolfe) were sleeping. Then |
escaped through the front door, jumped
over the bannister and ran around the
side of the house to the alley, and went
to my home in Venice, where | imme-
diately went to bed.”

IX years before, Gertrude Puhse had

met Tom Lehne, and during all that
time they had carried on their illicit ro-
mance, unsuspected by her husband and
children, and hoodwinking Bessie Baker
Lehne, his trusting wife. He had been a
widower, for only two years; his wife
passing away at the birth of little Billy,
their son.

Lehne told Deputy Odum and Officer
Rowden that for several weeks during
1933, when Mrs. Puhse left home “on a
visit,” that she lived with him in an
apartment in East St. Louis, just a few
miles south of Granite City, and it was
there that their scheme to do away with
the inoffensive Puhse began to mature.
From time to time they discussed every
possible phase of murder, abandoning
plans to have Lehne, in the role of hold-
up man on a lonely road, shoot him with-
out warning.

We transferred Mrs. Puhse and Tom
Lehne to the Madison County Jail at
Edwardsville. about sixteen miles north-
east of Granite City, to await trial after
indictments of first degree murder had
been returned against them.

Despite their difficulty and the accusa-
tions they had hurled at one another dur-
ing their questioning, they still expressed
love for each other and asked to be al-
lowed to get married on their way to the
jail. Their request denied, Lehne con-
soled his paramour and partner-in-crime
with the reassuring words that “as soon

September, 1935

as their short sentences were over, they’d
be. married.”

_ Their joint trial opened at the Madison
County Courthouse at Edwardsville dur-
ing the May, 1934, term of Circuit Court,
with Circuit Judge D. H. Mudge presid-
ing.

John Nickoloff, who had presented
Lehne’s “murder contract” to Deputy
Odum, together with Sam Wilson and
Emma Farmer, the colored fortune teller,
were Important witnesses for the State.

Both Lehne and Mrs. Puhse repudiated
their confessions. Mrs. Puhse declared
that it was only fear of Tom Lehne that
prevented her from telling her husband
of his visit that afternoon and of the
plot to murder him as he lay sleeping.
She further denied the story of the flash-
ing lights, explaining that she had gone
to the kitchen soon after midnight for
a drink of water and that Lehne, lying in
wait, had misconstrued the act as a signal
to come in.

EHNE was just as emphatic in his de

nials. He claimed that he had nothing
to do with the murder of Charles Puhse
and that he wasn't there that night to fire
the shot. He stated that he originated the
confession at Headquarters during Odum’s
questioning only to save Gertrude Puhse
because of his great love for her.
_ Whether or not the twelve jurors were
impressed by their emphatic denials and
the impassioned story of their love for
each other was hard to tell, but when
State’s Attorney Lester M. Geers, in his
closing address, asked for the death pen-
= at the aes pire be they sat in-
ent, losing no word of his stirrin
for justice. Raha

“Tam fully aware that the execution of
Mrs. Puhse would leave two children
motherless,” he said. “But it is better
that way. If the mother goes to the elec-
tric chair, they can forget her memory
but they will not forget her if you send
her to the penitentiary to languish. Blot
her out as she blotted out their father.
According to law and evidence, this is the
most atrocious, brutal, bestial and revolt-
Ing crime ever committed in this County.
I ask that you do = duty. I’ve done
mine. expect a verdict fixi ish-
ment at death.” _—

And _ that is the verdict State’s Attor-
ney Geers received when, four hours
later, the jury returned to the crowded
courtroom.

“Guilty” was the verdict read by the
foreman, and the penalty was fixed at
death for both. The date of execution
Was set for October 12th, 1934, by Judge
Mudge. Mrs. Puhse and her lover were
taken to the Southern Illinois Peniten-
tiary at Chester to await death.

Later the execution was staved to per-
mit the Illinois Supreme Court to review
the case on appeal. However, the Su-
Preme Court upheld the decision of their
guilt, denying a new trial, and Gertrude
Puhse and her illicit lover—for whom she
gave up family and home and plotted
murder—were doomed to forfeit their
lives on Good Friday, April 19th, 1935
to walk through the door of the death-
house to the chair.

Master Detective

But, again, a reprieve was granted and
on April 17th Governor Henry Horner
commuted the sentence of Mrs. Puhse to
ninety-nine years imprisonment without
eligibility for parole, and delayed Lehne’s
execution for four days.

Mrs. Puhse’s son and daughter came
down to Headquarters to learn if the ru-
mor concerning the commutation of their
mother’s sentence Was true and, when
we confirmed the report, their sad faces
broke into smiles and they made no ef-
fort to conceal their joy. It was a happy
hour for that brother and sister. Their
mother’s life had been spared.

And so it was that Gertude Puhse sat
alone. with her thoughts in the Dwight
Illinois, reformatory at 12:30 a.m. Tues.
day, April 23rd, as Nearly fifty witnesses
to her lover's execution were ushered into
the death chamber on the second floor
of the death house at Chester Penitentiary
by Warden Joseph E. Ragen. :

When guards entered his cell a few
minutes after midnight, Tom  Lehne
smiled as they slipped the black silk mask
over his face. An Easter basket that had
been sent to him by a St. Louis welfare
organization, he requested to be sent to
his little boy.

Preceded by the Reverend S. EF. Mar-
shall, prison’ chaplain, and five deputy
wardens, he entered the death chamber
between two guards. Clad in overall
trousers, socks and a_ striped, short-
sleeved shirt, open at the neck, he walked
erect and with a steady stride. his stock-
inged feet making no ‘sound upon the
floor. The right leg of the trousers had
been cut off just below the knee and the
black silk mask covered his face from his
forehead to his chin.

With his arms handcuffed behind him
the two. guards led him to the chair,
turned him around and sat him down. He
made no sound and followed their un-
spoken directions like an automaton.

At the close of the Chaplain’s prayer,
Warden Ragen asked, “Have you got
anything you want to say, Tom?”

HE condemned man shifted slightly

" In his chair and his chest heaved with
his heavy breathing in the brief silence
that followed.

“Well.” Lehne, in a low, calm voice. re-
plied, “first I want to thank each and
every man in this institution for their
kindness to me. I want you to quote me
as saying that I have no hatred in my
heart for anybody who caused me to be
put where | am at this time. Although
she knew It was perjury that put me here
vet I forgive Gertie and all others who
had any connection with this. I would
rather go this way than do ninety-nine
years. :

_It was evident that he was controlling
his emotions with great effort. He paused
for a moment, taking a deep breath, and
then, in a low voice. made his last Te-
quest.—“Bury me beside Bessie”—the wife
who sacrificed her life to give Tom Lehne
a son.

The warden raised his hand in signal
the Chaplain turned away—a_ red light |
flashed, and Tom Lehne had paid his |
debt to the State of Illinois. d |

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ve. He turned to the youth beside
im.

“Can you tell me what happened?”
The lad looked at his mother and
aswered:

“J really don’t know. I was awak-
ved by hearing what I thought was
1 explosion. Then Mother screamed
id I ran into the hall: She was out
2re trying to barricade the bedroom
»or with the phonograph. I helped
2r without knowing what we were

xing or why. She told me, finally,-

iat Dad had gone crazy and was
1ooting at her. I shouted for Mildred
. go for help and she came back with
ou. That’s all I know.”

Rowden regarded the distraught
ife sympathetically. Even with her
ar-stained and terror-stricken face,
owden noticed that she was attrac-
ve. The boy had placed a chair for
2x and she sat huddled, rocking back
id forth, weeping. ©

“Try to control yourself, Mrs. Puhse,
id tell me what happened. It is most
yportant,” the policeman urged.

)ABBING at her eyes with a small,
wet handkerchief, Gertrude Puhse
tered:
“T’m not sure what did happen. I
as sleeping beside Charles when I
ume to with a feeling that I was
sing choked. Thinking I was having
nightmare, I tried to wake up. When
opened my eyes, I saw a huge figure
nding over me. Its hands were
‘ound my throat. I knew someone
as trying to kill me.”
She paused and Rowden leaned for-
ard, waiting.
“I fought frantically to free myself,”
e continued. “I thought Charles
ust have gone suddenly crazy. I
vuldn’t scream. My throat was too
y- and no sound came. I wrestled
ound and managed to loosen the
inds. I leaped out of bed and ran
r the door, but as I ran, a bullet
hizzed over my head. I jerked the
sor open and banged it shut behind
e, shrieking for help. I saw the
1onograph and tried to push it.in
ont of the door to keep Charles in
e bedroom until help came. As I
as struggling with it, a second shot
ng out. It must have been that one
at killed him.” ; :
Rowden’s eyes narrowed. “Are you
re that the man who tried to choke
»u was your husband? Could it have
‘en someone else?” f
She stopped crying and looked up in
tonishment,

Who Dared Offer a Murder Contract
on This Man's Life? Why? How Could
Granite City, Illinois, Deputies Prove
the Victim Had Not Killed Himself?

“Why,” she said in a perplexed
voice, “I don’t know. I just took it for
granted that it was Charles. The room
was pitch dark. I felt as though it
was all a dream. I’d been sleeping so
soundly and everything seemed unreal.
It didn’t occur to me that anyone else
was in the room.” +

“Is there another door, or entry to
that room?” Rowden asked.

“Only the window, and it would
take a ladder to get in that way.”

Turning ..to the girl and boy who
stood listening to the recital with
chalk-white faces, Rowden asked:

* “Did either of you hear anyone en-
ter or leave the house?” ‘

They shook their heads and then he
inquired if there was any reason they
knew that might cause their father to

(Contenued on Page 42)

Mrs. Gertrude Puhse: “My husband
committed suicide... the case Is closed”

Tom Lehne: He was astonished when
officers told him it was not sulcide


“If what we believe is true, Puhse was murdered,”

said Chief of Police John H. Tappel (above) who

tells the story of the amazing plots and counter-
plots unearthed by the investigators

had made the proposition to murder Charles Puhse and
it fitted Thomas Lehne. whom Sam Wilson had mentioned,
perfectly.

Lehne, Deputy Odum knew, was a former policeman who
now operated a filling station in Venice, a sister-city of
Granite City, and one of the tri-cities that also include
Madison, Illinois, and are separated only by a boundary.

Could it be that Lehne, carrying some secret grudge
against the inoffensive Puhse, had schemed to have him
put out of the way? And had he accomplished his pur-
pose? Had he, in some mysterious way, been responsible
for the sudden: “suicide” of the man?

The incidents related by Wilson and the Farmer woman
would certainly indicate that this was true, but Odum de-
cided to learn more of the actions of Lehne and he con-
tinued his probing as cautiously as before.

So it was that a friend of the Deputy’s, discussing the
“suicide” of Charles Puhse, advised him to get in touch
with evi Nickoloff, who might have something interesting
to tell him concerning the case.

Consequently, Odum made it a point to meet Nickoloff
without delay and the “something interesting” he had to
tell was startling, to say the least.

“Deputy Odum, what would you say if I showed you a
contract calling for*the murder of Charles Puhse?” he
asked.

Another plot to do away with the easy-going man? And
we had thought Charles Puhse had no enemies!

“I thought the whole thing was a big joke at first,”
Nickoloff continued, “and here’s how it happened.”

Deputy Odum sat quietly listening.

“I walked into the store of a friend of mine one day in

October, 1933, and he called me aside and said, ‘Tom
Lehne wants to have someone killed and is looking for a
killer.” He laughed and added, ‘I told him I thought you'd
do the job.’”

“So Tom Lehne was looking for a killer, was he?” De-
puty Odum asked.

Detective

“Yes, and Lehne was there at the time. | thought it

was a joke and | wanted to have some fun with him, so

I walked over and told him I was the man he was

looking for. Lehne said he wanted Charlie Puhse

killed and would pay me $100 if I’d do the job,

— me five dollars down and the balance
ater.”

Nickoloff said Lehne told him to meet him
several days later to discuss the plans and
details of the slaying.

“I agreed to meet him, but | didn’t, of

course, as | thought the joke had been
carried far enough. The next time I saw
Lehne he said that he didn’t have five
dollars to give me just then, but he
tried to give me a revolver and asked
me to kill Puhse that evening.”

that he had considered the whole thing
a joke and refused to have anything
further to do with him. And Nickoloff
then produced the contract calling for
the murder of Charles Puhse in exchange
for $100, and bearing the signature of
Thomas J. Lehne.
At this point Deputy Odum decided that
the time was ripe to face Tom Lehne, and on
Saturday morning, February 2nd, we planned
to bring him into Headquarters. John Nicko-
loff and Police Officer Ray Williamson were in
the office with Odum and me and when we learned
that Nickoloff was going to drive over to St. Louis,
just twelve miles away, we asked him to stop at Lehne’s
place and let us know if he was at home.
He agreed and we sat anxiously waiting for his call.
Police Officer Rowden came in to report before going
home and when we told him what we intended to do, he
said he'd be in readiness for our summons if we brought
Lehne in for questioning.
Time passed slowly and we heard nothing from Nickoloff.
But finally, after what seemed hours of waiting, the
sharp jangle of the telephone brought us to our feet.
Deputy Odum reached for the instrument and quickly
placed the receiver to his ear.

OVER the wire came the voice of Nickoloff. “He's at

home,” he whispered briefly, and Odum made a dash for
his car, driving to Venice alone. Armed with the docu-
ment from Nickoloff and damaging information supplied
by Sam Wilson and the fortune teller, he drove swiftly to
the home that Lehne, a widower, shared with his mother
and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Bevans, and his two-
year-old son, Billy.

Evidently the visit was no surprise to Lehne; as he saw
the Deputy Sheriff standing there, he nervously and rather
foolishly exclaimed, before the other had an opportunity
to speak, “Harry Odum, the first thing you know you'll be
wanting to charge me with murdering Charlie Puhse, and
you know well enough that Puhse killed himself.”

Deputy Odum, without further ado, brought Tom Lehne
to Headquarters for questioning.

Upon his return from St. Louis, Nickoloff revealed that
his mission for us had almost ended disastrously for him.

“Lehne came to the door in answer to my knock,” he
said, “and he certainly wasn’t friendly. ‘You’re here to
bother me about that Puhse case,’ he accused.

wor Tom, I came to see you about that fender
toller—” :

Nickoloff’s reassuring speech was cut short as Lehne
whipped a knife from his pocket and advanced menac-
ingly. “D— you, I'd kill you if | thought—”

But Nickoloff waited to hear no more. He hurriedly
sought a telephone, tipped us off and was on his way, avoid-
ing further contact with Lehne.

Meanwhile, Lehne had gained his composure and _ his
nervousness had entirely Eoecetind. Coolly he denied
any knowledge of Puhse’s sudden death and laughed at
and ridiculed the statements of John Nickoloff and the two
negroes.

Odum realized there would be little gained by further
questioning of Lehne until later and he decided to pay a

According to Nickoloff, he told Lehne ,

Design for Death! 19

visit to the Puhse home to talk to members of the slain
man’s family. I assigned Police Officer Rowden to work
with him.

Mrs. Puhse, a comely forty-three-year-old brunette, re-
ceived them graciously and when she learned that they
wanted her and her son and daughter to accompany them
to Headquarters, she immediately consented.

“There are some questions we want to ask you,” Deputy
Odum explained.

“We'll be glad to accommodate you,” Mrs. Puhse replied.

Back at Headquarters, Odum took Earl aside first for
questioning.

“Sonny,” he asked, “did you ever see a strange man call
on your mother in your father’s absence ?”

“T can answer ‘no’ truthfully, Mr. Odum,” the boy re-
plied without hesitation.

Next, he spoke to Mildred.

“Miss Puhse, |’ want your frank opinion. Do you think
your father committed suicide and that he first shot at
your mother?”

“Yes,” she answered, “I think my father committed
suicide and [ wouldn't be surprised but what he shot at
mother.”

And then Mrs, Puhse was called for questioning.

Quietly, and entirely at her ease, she replied to the
queries of both Deputy Odum and Officer Rowden and
reiterated her story that her husband had shot himself
after firing at her.

It was evident that Odum hoped to gain something
definite by questioning the widow of Charles Puhse, but
things didn’t seem to be working out in the way he had
planned.

He looked into the large, dark eyes of the woman before
him and renewed his questioning grimly.

“Mrs. Puhse,” he said, “you were in the house when your

hushand died. You say he killed himself, but ‘we believe
that somebody else fired the fatal bullet. Furthermore, we
are convinced that ya know the identity of the slayer.
You do. know the slayer, don’t you? Tell us the truth!
Clear your conscience!” :
* Suddenly, unexpectedly, the Puhse widow’s poise was
shattéred—xone was the calm, cool, almost indifferent atti-
‘tude she had maintained—and she slumped, cowering in
the chair, covering her face with shaking hands and weep-
ing bitterly. ;

“T will tell everything—everything,” she moaned.

“It was—” she faltered and began again—“it was Tom
Lehne!—That night | woke up when I felt someone pulling
at my shoulder. | saw Tom. | leaped out of bed and |
didn’t see what happened afterwards, but I heard two
shots——”

Deputy Odum had had just cause to suspect that Mrs.

“The most atrocious, brutal and revolting
crime ever committed in this County. I
expect a verdict fixing punishment at
death!” announced States Attorney Lester
M. Geers (right) who prosecuted the case

Puhse knew the identity of her husband’s slayer. Early in
his One-man investigation, when he had devoted his time
to chatting with neighbors, friends and acquaintances of
the Puhses, he had reaped a rich harvest of information
and had won a real insight into their family life, in addi-
tion to uncovering valuable knowledge concerning the “be-
reaved” widow.

By piecing together bits of information, he soon realized
that Mrs. Puhse was living somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde
existence. Keeping engagements with another man during
her Husband’s absence certainly didn’t stamp her the re-
spectable wife and mother she pretended to be, and Deputy
Odum, keeping his counsel, decided that she knew more
than a little about the murder of Charles Puhse.

Not for one instant did he doubt that the man had

been slain. He pointed out the fact that, although Mrs.
Puhse said she had been asleep and had described the strug-
gle with her husband when she awoke to find his hands
about her throat, her pillow had not been dented and the
room, with the exception of the bullet hole above the bed,
was in perfect order when Officers Rowden and Hahn
arrived.

“And besides, Chief, there were no powder burns show-
ing around the wound on his right temple,” he had told me
when we decided to reopen the case. “And how about the
gun found at his feet—how did it get there?”

Odum's belief of foul play had only been strengthened
when, early in his probing, he found that the married life
of Gertrude and Charles Puhse had not been quite as ideal
as they led others to believe and that they often quarreled.
He learned that Puhse had carried a $4,800 life insurance
policy, too.

Then there was talk of Mrs. Puhse taking long automo-
bile rides with the man she frequently allowed to visit
her when her husband was away— (Continued on page 72)


eile

Ml OME quick! bee terri-
ble is happening’

4 Without ‘sear explanation,
'< the girl in the white nightgown turned
~ and sped back toward the brick house
*; near the corner of Madison and 25th
= Streets in Granite City, Illinois. Patrol-
: man Al Rowden pounded after her,
#7 took the front steps in one bound and
» ~ ran to the foot of the stairs.
: A sharp scream—a woman’s—came
=| from somewhere in the upper hall.
# Rowden had little time to think. He

: looked at the girl in the nightgown

vie ; and saw that her eyes were wide with
a fright. She was scared speechless and
va only could point upstairs. Rowden
'> took the steps two at a time, coming
* to a stop on the landing.
Near the end of the passage, at a
= Closed door, stood a woman wringing
her hands and uttering helpless cries.
A frightened young man—perhaps
~ about seventeen and obviously her son
by —was trying to comfort her. Abruptly,
Rowden became aware of a strange in-
Leis) congruity in the tableau.

A heavy phonograph, the cabinet
type, was pushed flush against the
Patrolman Al Row- -edroom door before which the woman
den: He found the nd the boy were standing!
fatal weapon hidden These observations registered on
under the blankets Rowden’s mind in _ lightning-like

flashes. He hardly had time to think

—certainly he couldn’t stop to figure

- out their meaning. He ran quickly to-
More than friend-. ward the woman and the youth. As he
ship IInked the lives approached, the woman sent him a
of Mrs. Gertrude look of frantic appeal and motioned
Puhse, center, and toward the closed door behind her.
Tom Lehne, right, “Quick!” she cried. “He’s in there!”
shown’ here with “Who’s in there? What’s the mat-

their attorneys ter?”

By Marga

LEHNE, Thomas J., white, elec IL (Madison) 4-23-1935

ret Vogdes

Special Investigator for
ACTUAL DETECTIVE STORIES

“My husband, Charles Puhse. He
shot at me!”

The woman’s voice was rising hys-
terically as Rowden—his bewilderment
increasing with every passing second— .
strode across the hallway and put his
wide shoulders against the heavy»
phonograph. All the time his mind
kept asking this question:

Why are there no sounds coming
from inside that room?

Rowden flung the door open and
was keenly aware that he was a per-
fect target for any waiting gunman
as he stood silhouetted in the doorway, ©
He ducked back against the wall, drew.
his gun and cried:

“Come on out! I’ve got you cov= |

ered!”

But there was only silence from
within the dark room. Rowden edged
closer to the door. All he could see
in the bedroom was the square of light
on the blag, Praca by the hallway lamp.
What lay beyond in the deep ow?
Was death lurking there?

Rowden took a chance. He quickly >

leaped through the doorway—into the
shadow. In feverish haste he groped in
the darkness for ‘the light switch.
Snap! The light came on with fright-
ening suddenness, flooding the room in
a white glare and highlighting the
pajama-clad figure of a man sprawled
in an unnatural position on the bed.

Was this Charles Puhse? What had
happened to him?

Patrolman Rowden walked cautious-
ly over to the bed, bent. over the quiet
figure and knew instantly that the man
was dead. He had been shot—the bul-
let left a round, ugly wound in the
right temple. A crimson blob, almost
» black, trickled down the side of the
man’s face.

Straightening, Rowden let his eyes
travel around the bedroom while his
busy mind recorded the things’ he
saw: The double bed with its partially
disordered blankets ... the depression
where Puhse had been sleeping...
the smooth pillow-case on the far side

the wall above the bed. It was

here that Rowden’s eyes came to rest

_ on a tiny round hole in the plaster—
_ a bullet hole.

+ tao shots, at least, had been fired in
» § this room! ,
Rowden sniffed the air—the smell of -

~ gun-smoke was barely discernible.
. =. The open window cn account for
, ‘> that. But from where had the shots
* come? Who had killed Charles Puhse? -
3 Why? Why had the phonograph been
» pushed against the door? Where was
‘A

»the fatal weapon?

© Rowden knew he must not disturb

«; the body until the coroner had arrived
‘and he knew he must leave every-
' thing as he had found it until he had
more help. He made certain, however,
that no one was hiding in the clothes-

* closet before he walked out of the

‘ bedroom door. There he found the
frightened woman, her daughter and
pad ed They looked at him ques-
oning

4
% “He's Y4ead,” Rowden announced in

| acalm voice. “Where's the telephone?”
“In the hall,” replied the youth. .
. Rowden went into the hall and
closed the bedroom door behind him.
“Don’t let anyone enter that mieten
he said.
Then he called Headquarters. Turn-

3 ing from the tele ey he took out a
~ note-book, jott down the date—

2 January 25, 1934—and the time. It was
ooo after midnight. He knew it
would be only a short while before

the coroner and the others would ar-


we

KAMMERER, John, white, |
» White, hanged Wheat :
fle heaton, Illinois me
is, on 2/13/19
9 oi

easements — , ects.

MASS KILLINGS Al
VILLA PARK

By Peter J. McDonnell

Former Chief Investigator, State’s Attorney’s Office,
Du Page County, Illinois, as Told to

> Harland A. Merrell

Ss CHIEF INVESTIGATOR for the room was in ordinary condition—noth- I immediately went to work looking my office in Wheaton, seven miles or
State’s Attorney’s office of Du ing out of order, apparently. for finger-prints, but had no success , so away, taking the hatchet that I had
: Page County (located a few Then we entered the dining room. whatever. With very little hope I be- found under the kitchen stove with me.
miles west of Chicago), Illinois, Ivhad The sight that met our eyes was ap- gana search for the weapon, but found Careful inspection revealed that

been working for several days on a palling! Of all my contacts with death nothing except a small hatchet in a there were several strands of hair
bank robbery, with very little time in various forms, I had never seen narrow space beneath the kitchen caught in the wooden handle at the
for sleep. And on the night of June a human body present as gruesome an stove. I thought this might possibly point of entering the hatchet blade.

30, 1924, I finished some last details appearance as this one. And I knew have been used, but because of its This led me to believe that I had
on the case and left for my home to that this was but a grim sample of clean appearance I couldn’t be certain. found the murder weapon! But—the

get a much needed rest. f other horrible spectacles that were to 1 laid it aside for the moment and de- hatchet was devoid of finger-prints or
“Anticipating a few days of leisure, I follow—a thought that would all but cided to do some inquiring among the any other mark that would offer a
strolled slowly along the shaded street unnerve the most hardened law-en- neighbors. clew to the murderer.

toward my home. Walking up the forcement officer! A thorough canvass netted only one I caught a few hours sleep, and early
steps, I could hear my wife singing at On the floor, over in the corner, lay family who could give any helpful in- the next morning went to Chicago,
her work of preparing dinner, and the the body of a woman, her torso par- formation. armed with the meager description

children romping about at the side of _ tially covered with a rug, apparently Mrs. Jessie Buck, wife of Otto Buck Mrs. Buck had given me_ of the
the house. The contrast here, and my |. drawn over her in a hasty effort of who had discovered the bodies, though stranger she had seen at the Eders’ on

daily work, was most welcome. the murderer to hide his ghastly deed. rather nervous, succeeded in answer- the day of the murder. :
Just as I arose from the dinner table She was horribly mutilated about the ing my questions. I spent two days inquiring in Chi-
the phone rang, rather insistently it head—she evidently had mercifully “When did you last see Mrs. Eder?” . cago loop restaurants for a dishwasher
seemed. State’s Attorney C. W. Reed died without knowing what struck her, I asked the disturbed neighbor. with bushy hair—a tedious piece of
was on the wire, and the news he gave routine work without much hope of
was electrifying: ; ’ success.

“Hello, McDonnell? _You’d better Then Prep pg wri of lk psi ae
get right back to the office! We have received a telephone call from 'it
a murder case on our hands—a bad Mother, Father, Three Sons Beaten to Rockford, Illinois, Police Department

one! We’ve got to get at it tonight...” . ° stating that they were holding a man
Co veieing at the office, I didn’t Death with a Hatchet — Brutal Crime who had confessed to the Eder mut

ders. By this time the affair was in all

like the, haggard, worried look tx: , That Chilled the Heart of Even the Sea-  fuit, “The man th throughout, the

mediately into the story: country. The man the Rockford Police

entely inte the 20% ved at 215, soned Investigator Who Workéd:on the. weet ere

E. Division Street in Vil
E: Division ‘Street in Vive bape: Rey, Cc d Tells the St Calling for th
who is twelve; Harvey, nine; and = ase an ells the Story, Calling tor € | PROCEEDED immediately to Rock-

Jackie, seven—have not been seen by °
neighbors for several days.” Most Unusual Third Degree on Record — taived with him for some time, asking
““But,” I said, “I thought you told me : him about the location of Villa Park.

this was a murder case.” : the first names of members of the Ei
Wait a minute—it is!” Reed was ° : . family, and the description of the Lac:
pacing back and forth nervously. We inspected one of the bedrooms “Why, I believe it was the other home, "T realized he was not the man

“Otto Buck, a neighbor of the Eders, _ next, and there, sprawled on the bed, morning—she was hanging out clothes. i isfac-
detected a bad odor while taking a were the bodies of two of the children. It was the twenty-eighth, I believe.” toe ante, Se toy a OF mores
short cut through their yard. He broke Their appearance showed that the “Did you notice whether or not Mrs. jt later developed that he was men-
down the door. There, McDonnell, he killer had attacked them in an even Eder habitually wore jewelry of any tally deranged, and he was sent to ge
found the bodies—of the whole fam- . more vicious and frightful manner! type?” This question because there state institution for the insane.

ily!” Aghast, we searched further, and in was no jewelry on her body when The fact that this imposter had
another bedroom found the body of a found. claimed to be the man for whom Sie
JUMPED from my chair. “Come on! . man who had been beaten to death “Why, yes,” Mrs. Buck replied were searching, had raised my hopes of
Let’s get going—we can talk on the evidently while he slept—his head quickly. “She usually wore a wrist progress rather high, and it was a real
way. I want to get in that house while : face battered literally to a pulp! cch and two or three rings, and gisappointment to find my trip was for
there’s still some chance of picking up _ But we had yet to find one remain- raed quite proud of wearing them. nothing, with time _so precious
evidence!” mec) . ing member of the family—or had } . her clean her rings often.” From Rockford I returned to Villa
Mr. Reed, Sheriff John Hesterman, escaped the clutches of this fiend’ Park to make a more thorough search

Going into the: bathroom, we fou - UE was the robbery angle to

and I jumped into the car and drove ~
to Villa Park. I was tingling all over’ ee by Mel eer A be agg Fey ; ider.
with the enormity of the crime. Five peek hele eo ry 1 ody of a Puel, have you seen any sus-
people killed! A whole family! We with his throat cut clear across; ‘s people around here in a corner under a stack of rec»
were met there by Chief of Police Lame five gore were all that re in a phonograph cabinet. Amore
bbe and Ly ogee of us sagem to mained of the Eder family! i neusing to refact, these was one which I thought might
e scene 0 e crime on the outskirts : rviend of the Eders answer Mrs. Buck’s description of the
of the village.: court CORONER W. V. Hoft ar- “hicago as a dish- man she saw on Eder’s Front porch.
It was quite dark by the time we rived almost immediately, and nw. He came here I*took them all to Mrs. Buck and had
arrived at the house, but the blaze of quick checkup by him told us that th saber distinctly that her look them over. When she came
lights shining from every. window of had all been murdered within a fe: on the front porch to the one I had thought of as a pos-
the building seemed to reflect only hours of one another, and had be © geth, around the time sibility, she exclaimed: “There! That’s
cold, stark death! The usual crowd of beaten to death with some blunt vas hanging out the wash.” the man I saw sitting on the porch
curious villagers were being held well strument. Roy, the boy found in ¢t .. deseribe him, Mrs. Buck?” — steps that morning!”
toward the lot boundary lines by sev- bathtub, had met his death from 1! sginning to become interested At last we were getting somewhere.
eral white-faced patrolmen, As I severing of the jugular vein. The tir) ver answers, The photograph was on a postal card
- passed I remember overhearing an of death was placed at June 28th, tw: Vell, he was sort of a sickly-look- which had been mailed in Chicago. It
officer tell an over-persistent citizen: days before. sun, quite small, and he was about was addressed to Otto Eder, and signed
“Stand back, I tell you! If I would let In all of my twenty-five years of vy 29 years old. He had bushy hair “John Kammerer.” There’ was no
you look in the window you’d never criminal investigation, I had never but no mustache. I’d say he’d weigh street address on the card, but I did
thank me for it!” been connected with the solving of so about 130 pounds. He wore a brown find the photographer’s name and ad-
A deputy sheriff guarding the rear - fiendish a crime! In addition to its suit anda Fedora hat.” .. . dress affixed in a corner. I was very
door opened it for us, and we entered utter brutality, there remained the dif- After another half hour of futile anxious now to find the man of this
the house through the kitchen. A ficulty of conceiving'a motive for such questioning among friends and neigh- picture for questioning, as Mrs. Buck
quick glance around showed that this wholesale assassination. . pors of the Eder family, I returned to was most positive of the identification.

30

°

Lf frccel lot eur | SUL
List, / 7F A


nhs sh wn
Path af hath F
d akan s a 1

chy tha 2s (ait

eon aM ies

rpg ys
Bk ies, court, be csfaran?,” bad a

a » Sow @ill bavy tho qrvarbonel ta privibew
ae a ules that ond got Just allah
ae | aN leek taken ba thie cetter by
at the public wilt lawvitnbly ba very grew
i ‘and ls haema) there ering bo ad ob
“Stalin ba eloargge to net firey, poh ve
\  desrestiy. There be a0. wecumaty ba

N Say very voorsal cacltemeat, god bi)
ci wploriunste that charg bea bern ¢

mF 7 i Saft ngs i ren ea We
¥ 1, andl ng

“<8 or

HN
’

Any military display in order to et
foros the law must be prralelons fe il
results, Toa people ever have bee
very jontous of the miliary, Tbey ar
60 GOW.
in aug ateps by the miliary while aid.
ing, or imagining that they are aiding,
the civil eathoritles to eufores the law.

Ben have been executed Ja Ulinots
Withont the aid of tho militery, and
etd the same thing may be

dons agais, They have beea execated
“fa other tates -withour any show of
anlformed men and glistening bayoucts,
Oar people are at pence. There is

no' insurrection bers. Tbero are no

threateniogs of any serious revolt!

Oar civil offi. }
~———0eb6-a30. nob_cowards; tha arm of the |:

against the authoritics,

rest castion chould be taker |

law io nos paralysed, and ear courts!

Go not hesitate to do their duty. Tho \

law of tho laud provides for the severe
puvishment of all lawless acts, aod it |

provides: fur ¢he appointment of a

baficient number ef officers to see

the peace oo all occasions, and to arrest |

slinbomsy attempt to engage ia any |
.Figt or ito aaa mon yinegee

» an whould be carried ost by)
0 givi) authorities, The poople re! |
a the olvil susborisige, and there tn
oe : De acucu at any eorlous broach of tbe
a peace ow thet dey; Gt ay rate, ha Ve

ee woeld be none la the absences of the)

ye

clade penta bry Dosa

a auy hied. If ur
a, E  adiviend ,crsns have made sa) ap
ar to prenere the lackeure wikia wih

es Fa ae piteation ehosld have boon La Ee

aa rah The caly procanttea :

nappies beea the hevingy

a 6 nowhar of avi:

inp tho proce. Thise te at , th i . nor
pepe be a vindloutoe “ce = ae Ape Sa

Sie
ed

| aia bh pe

wee a
‘Lot the law whic b ordered this en
eution by its oflicere pevform u, a
di will bo well, “Phat law will th
be vindicated and will presevve ie re
spect of the people. ite voire Wer [*

tent bef re our great Siete 504 ao.

each military organlisaion #6 2 )
ent, and ite commends were ae

‘Ip will ba unfortanate whea the ev
aw must invoke the aid of the mi)

tary to onforee its authority id tines «
profoundcer peace. The same prin:
plo which perdits any roilltary bate
ference in euch av eyont as this, pert
it in all other. matters relating to (
enforcement of the law, eq this &
people will not eadure.

We would again urge the ceorte
for wise and discreet counsel and :
tlon in this emergency. Let the ¢
ple know that the law will be pt
by ite own instruments, the officer:
dhe law—and rigidly enforeed. Th

will then bo no need of asy mili:
jaterferonce, and the good eenso
law-abiding prisciple of the pe
may be coniideuily relied upes. if
militsry moot take port in this «
proceeding, Jet that part be an inf
one, Ant the soldiers remain at i
headquarters cntil called for ia |
emergeacy. If shia is done, ‘ige
bo sewed there at the om of Gah;
tramp, woloss rent to qaall sams
eoraion other thaw phat which ie
corm the execution of Fredacich
~1 tte? AE bs ho « faor thes the ofice
hb lew eannod exforee tha doer
§ the humiliatiag
> fosgion barinade entil the bast so:
bia then only ia shame, - In ver
MMe oyfales thane praia of Vary

~

eo annaman eo Gare 6:

ules. Dhoni

Cabiake

= Fpertllga 64

lahat ra Rnghotsaw wt ghs ‘grongha a! i

ey, Gag gos tee baonetnly are.

iby way at whieh moantforta a iy

eonidance, in iho owrga_oe Bieh
|ghona whoes thep bate cated to vi
the taee

mph ieee aiasncuncneanti

4

; KOESTER, Fred, white, hanged at Danville, Illinois, on Janudrl 21, 1881.

, t

his pos segs; ee i.
lly tested, ie Ee as REM iy an teal

been fy

either arrives

» 44 the .
Of differen kinds nthegae of rope

pa


Or tintin Stal

‘ARRISBORG, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1911.

os

On

KING EXPIATES CRIME -
HE GALLOWS

re

Murderer of -Father-in- Law ‘Goes | to His
_ Doom cae pm In-

‘

are ie!

| First Legal Haugles Ever Held in Saline. County Drew

j Nise. Crowd—Life Extinct in Thirteen Minutes—
Body Taken to 9 Lyles, ind.; for. Burial. .

The hanging of Alex. King last
Friday morning for the crime of
‘{murder drew to our city a vast as-
semblage of people anxious to. wit-
‘{ness the event, which was the first
,|legal execution that ever occurred in
Saline coitnty. ‘The day dawned fair
|and warm, and “the -streets, and
public lounging places were’ ' filled
jwith residents and strangers at a.
very.,early--hour. By 6380 “o ’élock.
{people were seeking, out pofats: - of |
vantage ’from which ‘they’ might “get,
a fair view of the-scakoid v which had
been: erected in the rear of the jail,

and although the: jail yard was in-
closed ‘by a solid board fence some
yeighteen feet in height, there were
yet many places in the vicinity from
which spectators might look down
into the yard and witness’ what was
itranspiring ‘within the enclosure... ne
Housetops, high porches, telegraph
poles, the: water tower and other ele-
vated points were crowded to'the, last
|degree‘ of comfort and ‘safety, and
even a few degrees beyond ‘hese
‘oints. _No one ated at wr our

ress f
“ected itewould ‘ee early,

arly scramble for the w mfort-
aple and advantageous } ons. <As|.

‘.@ day advanced the s\a’s rays be-
came more and more intense and the
,discomfort and restless anxiety of the
‘crowd about the jail increased ac-
cordingly. *

| At a few minutes before 9 o’clock |.

Circuit Judge A. W. Lewis, who had
“| pronounced the sentence of death up-
ou King, entered the jail. County
.jJudge K. C. Ronalds, the jurymen
,ywho chad returned the verdict. and
‘fixed the penalty, Coroner Baker and
|Drs. Turner and Capel arrived:a tow
Yminutes ‘later.
The jury summoned to omcia}ly.

R. 9% os

Po |

place and the. grave: importance of

se the| hor .

“at 9 o’clock the door ‘to the stock-
ade was opened and court officials,
attending physicians, : jurors and in-
vited. witnessess “were admitted.
Sheriff Joel Mooneyham ascended the |,
scaffold and examined it critically.
Then Judges Lewis and Ronalds,
State’s Attorney Kane and ’ Coroner
Baker’ walked up. ‘peside the sheriff,
the former. delivering ‘ a‘brief address
to those’ present upon the seriousness |
of the event whicli;was about to take
a rigid enforcement of law’ to prevent
the commission of erie: and to. pro-
tect society. °° |

At 9:10 the doomed man,:* with
calm demeanor and steady tread, was
escorted up the flight of stairs lead-
ing to the trap.’’Standing erect up-
on the trap.door, and ina voice low
but clearly’ audible, King: said;

“ey. am prepared to die,’ 1 ha've. no’
fear. -T’am an innocent man’ «lam
going. to heaven ‘and. L want to meet
you all in glory. I want to: meet my
wife and children in heaven and if
they send he ihecthse af lite 1 am now

The black cap was then drawn over
King’s head by Deputy John: Cum-
mins, straps were placed about his
knees and ankles, and the rope was
adjusted to his neck by Deputy Geo.
Russell.

At exactly 9:20. Sheriff Mooney-
ham threw the lever, the trap door
swung open and the body of King
shot downward seven. feet, and his
neck was broken, ‘Not the twitch’ of
a muscle indicated that life remained
in the body.

““lt-was & tharough job, and 80 Care-

avrra hingd

Tso oe ea pTatoT” ;
lof ‘him ‘the Rriticeton’ (Id. ): Clarion:
'|Newg ‘sald, in’ ‘advance ‘of the’, exe-

' Alexander King, alias Lyles. sa

held, after which the remains were
returned to the undertaking parlors, |
where they were viewed by hundreds
of morbidly curious people before be-
ing shipped- to King’s former home ;
near Princeton, Ind.; Saturday morn-
ing where his people took the corpse |
in charge and gave it burial. , Rev.
Douglas accompanied the remains to
Indiana. (
. The sheriffs of the judicial district

‘iuasiy all came to Harrisburg to wit-
ness the execution and the chief of j
police’ of: Mt. Vernon.’ was also |, .
present. oe
Several persons-front-Marion were |
present. Charley Miiler represented
the Post of that ‘city, which states |:
that ‘The Marion Evening Post was
the only paper, as far as could be:
learned, that had a special represen-
tative/there. To the Marion parties,

——

can, the Saline county officers and
people were-royal in:their treatment.
They were shown every. courtesy pos- |
sible to be shown and’ by far, more
than was expected, considering the
large crowd of people that the officers {
were forced to. move about in and|'~
work.” ° a /

King (or Lyles as he ‘was’ acileet r

in Indiana) was of Indian, Mexican
 Sabes

cution:

“Alexander Lyles, entered: aged
46, long a resident of Gibson coun-
ty, will be hanged at Harrisburg,+:
Iil.,tomorrow for the murder of his"
father-in-law several months ago.
The crime was said to have been a,
most brutal and cold-blooded one.

“The body is to be brought to
Lyles station for funeral and inter-
ment. It will be taken to Mt. Carmel
over the Bie Four, and will likely +7
brought by eonveyance from there to:

fully had the sheriff looked atter+tho-

details of his trying gay tyat _

het a a Oe |

Lyles. The funeral will be held Sat-|
furday afternoon, it is expected. It
will be in the Lyles churei>~ The

according to the word of Sheriff Dun-

wae.g orac. ”

ce

. [ba accordingly to his:.works,

Ciguvcuad feel in height, there were
yot many places in the vicinity from
which. spectators might look down
into the yard and witness: What was
\transpiring within the enclosure. 1)
Housetops, high porches, telegraph
Bice the water tower and ‘other ele-
lvated points were crowded to the last
|degree | ‘of comfort and safety, and.
even a. few degrees / nd these
oints. No ad knew what hour

%/

“ected erould! be 'e hence “ther

Game more and more inténse and the
discomfort and restless anxiety of the
‘crowd about’ the jail increased ac-
cordingly. ,

' At a few minutes before 9 o'clock
Circuit Judge A. W. Lewis, who had
pronounced the sentence of death. .up-
on” King, entered the jail. County
Judge K. C. Ronalds, the jurymen
yeh. shad returned the’ verdict. and
fixed the ‘penalty, Coroner Baker and
Drs. Turner and.Capel arrived a tow
minutes later. : j

The jury summoned’ to officially,

witness the execution. was as follows:

“WwW. J.. Wiley, John Murray, John Jack-
json, Geo.
Lemuel Farmer, Malberry. Gaskins,

Gaskins, ‘John I. Nery,

David W. Dove, Geo. Puckett, John
McGee, C. H. Lemons and J. A.
Willis.

| ‘Rev. Fred Douglas, King’s ppirite

ual adviser, and Rev. Emanuel Breeze
were preparing the condemned man
“i, face the ordeal and stand before
ar of final judgment on thé last
t day when ‘‘to each . shall” be

vs

v
Mtg Fs

darly ‘scramble for th fe’ comfort-
sple and ‘advantageoug itions. As |.
fue day advanced the ’s rays be-

Gulia demeanor and steady tread, wus
escorted up tho fijght of stairs lead-
ing to the trap. ‘Standing erect, up-
on the trap’ door, and in a voice low
put clearly audible, King. said:

oid & am prepared to ‘die. "1 have no’
fear. “I'am an ‘Innocent ‘Man. - Isham
going to. heaven ‘and I‘want to meet |:
you all-in glory.” I'want to meet my
wife and children in heaven and if
jon ete ad kind of be Ti ar8, now

‘The black cap was apis drawn over
King’s head by Deputy John’ Cum-
mins, straps were placed about his
knees and ankles, and the rope was
adjusted to his neck by Deputy Geo.
Russell. ‘

At exactly 9:20. Sheriff Mooney-
ham threw the lever, the trap door
swung open and the body of King
shot ‘downward ‘seven feet, and his
neck was broken, ‘Not the twitchiof
a muscle indicated, that lite remained
in the body.

‘li-was thorough job, and so care-
fully had the sheriff looked aiter the+—-.
details of his trying duty that not
the slightest hitch occurred. any-
where. Each of his assistants knew
‘just what he had to do and went
about it unflinchingly, as did Sheriff
Mooneyham. ris

Thirteen minutes later the attend-
ing physicians officially pronounced
life extinct and the remains were
taken down, conveyed:.to Pierson &
Rude’s undertaking establishment
and prepared for burial, i A

“In the afternoon: pall bearers con-
veyed ‘the’ body to, | ithe A, M, «5B,

Good-bye. mt, ot: ee Sha tee ae ste

“ON THE § BCA FROLD
‘Reading ‘from lett. £0 > Hght-—Sherift ‘Mooneyham, Deputy John Calmmbins:
a iN ae King series his last age pat Russell ministers,

i services were,
t

‘|one who. was’ ancien The ; only)

laway with the horse and was never >

can, the Saline county ollicers aud
people were-royal intheir treatmont.
They were shown overy. gourtesy.. pos- |
sible to’ be shown and’ by far, more
than:was expected, considering the
large crowd of people that the officers [
Were forced to move about in and
work,” ;

King (or Lyles as he was known |___——-
in Indiana) was of Indian, Mexican

ern hinnd ee as we
*Tsh or wHEEM Ist tol

of hia! ‘the Princeton (Ind,) C18 51014, peo

‘|News said, in ‘advance of the.’,". exes:

cution: :
“Alexander Lyles, colored, cual
46, long a resident of Gibson coun-
ty, will be hanged at Harrisburg,“
Ill.,tomorrow for the murder of his
father-in-law several months
The crime was said to have been a
most brutal and cold-blooded one, «+
‘The body is to be brought to
Lyles station for funeral: and inter-
ment. It will be taken to Mt. Carmel
over the Bie Four, and will likely ~
brought by eonveyance from there to,
Lyles. The funeral will be held Sat-}
hurday-afternoon, it is expected. It
will be in the Lyles c yles churcis—the
burial will be in Sand Hill cemetery. |
“Lyles was born in Vanderburg]|
county, but lived at Lyles off and on
for a number of years. He is re-,
lated to some of the most ROR cromnceusal
nent colored families of the county. |.
For several years he worked, with |
the Irvin Bros. sawmill in the
Wabash bottoms, and he was also
employed by various farmers in the |
Lyles neighborhood. He was not:
known ' as a drinking, carousing} ~~~
negro, but was regarded as a thor-
oughly | bad ; man when aroused ‘and J

ago. | amin ecitentestetioee

serious * ‘trouble. Lwas known.'to

u have gotten‘ into in: “this” ‘county, : Mar

the alleged ‘stealing, ‘ot a. “horse ‘neat:
Lylos several years ago. He got

eavtured on that charge but later

chal a
“Tho condemne man’s namo Mas
been variously stated as Clark, King
and other names, but relatives here
say his name is Lyles. He has a
wife and two children. 2
“~The crime for which Lyles will
die was committed April 3, last,
when he went to the home of his

1

’ -| father-in-law, John Mitchell, a well-

to-do and respected farmer ‘of Car- \t==—-—
rier Mills, near‘ Harrisburg, Villed
him, then set fi'e to the house to

\cover up evidence of the murder.”

Whi eer tne ee ene Sibel ee hae ee oe ae =

263

Jessie McCartney, or McCarthy, the victim of this vile
monster’s terrible lust and hate, at one time bore a good
name, and resided as a servant with some of the most respect-
able families in Burlington; but in an evil hour she yielded
to the voice of the tempter and entered upon a life of shame.
Thence her course has been swiftly downward, until she en-
tered the habitation of “Bill Lee,’ an outcast from society,

a confirmed drunkard and a slave to opium. Begging for a
pittance to purchase the stupefying drug, Lee ordered her
out of the house, and when she refused to go--for where could
she go--he kicked and beat her, and when she further, it is
said, refused to gratify his brutal instincts, he seized her
by the hair of the head dragged her down stairs and stamped
upon her prostrate and almost inanimate form until life was
extinct and he had reduced her once comely features to a
mass of quivering flesh. And Bill Lee to-day stands upon
the gallows and tells the assembled multitude that he has
found peace with God; and Jessie McCartney, his poor victim,
so abruptly hurried into eternity, where is she? Spiritual
advisers of Bill Lee, can you tell?

The details of this bloody work are known to most of
your readers. How Lee compelled his partners in crime to
convey the body, at the dead hour of night, in a skiff and
toss it into the river, and how he called the inmates of
this hell-hole together in the morning, and with revolver
in hand and dreadful threats compelled them each to take
an oath of profound secrecy. How Dan Brazee, under the lash-
ings of a guilty conscience, divulged the dreadful secret
to the authorities in Burlington. The subsequent arrest,
trial and conviction--these have been given so often that
I forbear to repeat them. Suffice it to say that he had
a fair and impartial trial, was faithfully and honestly
prosecuted, and ably defended by experience counsel. The
prosecution was represented by State's Attorney J. He Jen-
nings, assisted by James H. Stewart and J. J. Glenn of Mon-
mouth; the defense by J. Simpson, of Oquawka.

After a two days’ trial, the jury found a verdict of
guilty, and sentence of death was pronounced by Judge Arthur
A. Smith, to take effect upon the 16th day of June.

How well that sentence has been carried into effect,
the lawful witnesses thereto within the enclosure, and the
thousands addembled outside, can truthfully testify.

During the entire period of his imprisonment, Lee
maintained a show of bravado, and boastingly said, on more
than one occasion, that they would never hang hin.

He made one or more efforts at escape. On one occasion
he had raised a couple of boards in his cell, and with a bit
of wire and part of a stove hearth contrived to remove some


264

of the brick in the wall, but his attempt was frustrated
by the vigilance of the jailer. After that he was kept
chained to the floor.

During all this time he stoutly declared his innocence,
maintaining that he was the victim of a foul conspiracy,
and that Dan Brazee, Larry O’Neil, Perkins and the girls,
had combined to ruin him.

He cherished hopes of escape up to the evening pre-
ceding the execution, when he broke down and seemed to
fully realize his situation, all hopes of excape being cut
off.

All day, on Thursday, armed members of the vigilance
committee kept arriving in town, and driving straight to
the jail, until by nightful the guard must have numbered
three or four hundred men.

A strict watch was maintained during the afternoon
and night, and no one allowed to approach the jail without
a pass from the officers in charge.

Friday morning, although the sky was clouded, in
fitting harmony with the solemnity of the scene about to
be enacted, the streets of this usually quiet village wore
a holiday appearance. Crowds of men were almost constantly
arriving from Burlington, Keithsburg, Monmouth, Galesburg
and other contiguous points, until by noon it was estima-
ted there were near 5000 visitors on the grounds and in the
immediate vicinity of the jail and county buildings.

The enclosure built for the occasion was constructed
of rough boards; its dimensions four rods square, and about
nine feet in height. The scaffold was built close against
the walls of the jail, and immediately in front of the south
door, the platform about six feet high, leaving fourteen
feet in clear to the top of the structure; the entire height
being twenty feet from the ground; two upright pieces of
timber with cross-beam at the top completed the framework.
Attached to the cross beam were two strong iron pulleys,
through which the rope passed, connected with the drop
weight under the platform, just beyond the right hand up-
right beam. The combined weight of two heavy pieces of iron,
360 pounds, formed the drop. These, when freed, fell about

six and a half feet, which, allowing for slack, caused a
lift of five feet ten inches,

The rope, a new, three-quarter inch one, was repeat-
edly tested during the forenoon, with very satisfactory re-
sults to the spectators, by attaching to it two heavy bags
of sand, weighing two hundred pounds each.


266

Sheriff Bell then read the death warrant in a clear,
firm manner, after which Lee took a step or so forward, and
in a faltering voice and with quivering lips, proceeded to
deliver himself of the following harangue:

"Friends, you see before you what I am called on to
stand.

You see before you a young man in the prime of life--
right in the prime of life, that has got to leave this world,
and I should like to talk to you if I felt able--I don't
feel able to stand before you and talk.

I would say that I have made up my own mind, and I
hope it will be well with you.

I have no malice or ill-feeling towards any of you.
There are some here who have met me before, and when they
look on me, I mean it will be a warning to them to undertake
to check their course.

I went among prostitutes and wicked people of the
world, and if they themselves go on they may be called on
to stand where I am to-day. I can't say all I would wish
to my friends.

I have made my peace with God, and expect to meet you
all in heaven. I would say to the young men here, when you
look to-day on me, take warning; take warning, and don't
go on in my course; take warning, or you may stand where
I am to-daye

I would say to you that I have, during my confinement,
written quite considerable for publication for the benefit
of young people, and I think for all people and especially
the young; and I hope when you read it you will take warning
by it. I have given a history of my life for the last three
years. It is a history of my life and also a history of my
life in that house of ill-fame, and you will find what kind
of a man I was when I was led away and got into this place.

Young man, it is a very easy matter to get led away
and go on, on--till it is too late, too late. Young man,
beware: beware: I would say in regard to this girl, that
I have made a full statement in my manuscript, where she
was till she came, when she went away, and all that was con-
nected with that affair--and you will find the true disposal
of the girl as stata there.

Oh, my young friends, beware, be ware. Little did
I think a year ago that I would stand here to-day; Oh,
little did I think it. God knows that I have not a mur-
derous heart. God knows that I have always had a


265

Before the hour for execution arrived, the neighboring
trees and roofs of the adjacent buildings were covered with
spectators, in fact, every available point of space that
might possibly command a decent view of the situation was
called into requisition. Your correspondent, through the
courtesy of the officers in charge, occupied a seat within
the enclosure, and directly in front of the scaffold, about
10 feet from the platform.

The evening before his execution Lee had an interview
with his attorney, Hon. J. Simpson, and confided to his keep-
ing a manuscript account of the last three years of his life,
with verbal instructions to open after his death and dispose
of as seemed best. In this, I understand, he strongly im-
plicates others in crimes, and relates, as he says the true
story of the tragic fate of Jessie McCartney.

After makingthis disposition of his manuscript, Lee
rested but little until 12 o'clock, when he dropped into
a profound slumber and slept until 7 the next morning, when
they were obliged to wake him. After this he partook of a
light breakfast, dressed himself in a plain but rather neatly
fitting suit of black cloth, and received the consolation
of his spiritual advisers, the Revs. W. S. Taylor and D. H.
Perschin, who were his constant attendants toward the close.

I understand he made a confession of his guilt to his
two brothers, but this is a mere conjecture. He also had
an interview with Miss Lizzie Thompson, one of the principal
witnesses and an inmate of his house.--This was only a short
time before he was hung, and I am informed that they were
both very much affected. This may account perhaps, to some
extent for the lack of nerve he evinced upon the scaffold.
During the rendition of the weak and miserable harangue
cooked up for him by the preachers, he betrayed much un-
easiness of manner, pausing frequently until prompted, and
casting furtive glances about him as if he was endeavoring
to take in the situation, and showing plainly to the close

observer that his mind was not fixed upon what he was about
to say.

The arrangements for the execution were thorough and
complete, thanks to the prudence, care and foresight of
Sheriff Bell, who in this most delicate emergency showed
himself to be a proficient.

All things being ready, at 2 o'clock P.M. Lee was led
through the corridor of the jail to the south door, thence
on to the scaffold, where the jury required by law, the
attending physicians, Willis Carmon and B. F. Hamilton, Revs.
Taylor and Perschin and the officers of the court were in
waiting. His manner as he approached the scaffold seemed
dejected, and his step unsteady.

CComlbinted frome Page dat)

a story that was almost identical with
the facto Thad been convinced: for
weeks that they really occurred,

“She collapsed in the big, ehair in
Deel oof ter, (he youtnp man contin
ued. “After L struck her, 1 was. still
mad—mad enough to kill, and it came
fo me that | had seen the chloroform
bottle somewhere.

“T got in my car and drove across
the road and got the chloroform bottle
from the barn, and when I got back in
the house she was standing in’ the
archway by the stove.

“Evidently she smelled the chloro-
form before IT got into the dining-room,
because she took up the telephone and
took off the receiver and screamed.

“ET held a handkerchief over her
mouth and nose. The handkerchief had
chloroform on it. When I was sure she
was dead I put her in the chair. Then
something seemed to tell me to get rid
of everything.

“I threw the bottle in the stove and
went out to the kitchen and got the
fuel can and poured kerosene all over
her and the chair. Then I set fire to
the chair. I remember taking the oil
can back to the kitchen.

“And then, if I remember right, I
called Dad. It seemed that I should do
something.

“T think I went outdoors. I began to
realize what I had done and I went

back and tried to pet her out.

“She had fallen out of the chair and
Was Lying face down on the floor tna
hol cert how ft tried to rel her out,
I was overcome by smoke and T do
not remember when PE let loose of her,
but Po remember vaguely at was meat
the stove.”

Thus without a trace of emotion did

young Blank confess one of Michigan's
most horrible crimes. “I guess I’ve
talked my way into jail,” he remarked,
And then added: “f wonder what'll
happen to my new car now,”

Great credit should be Hiven lo Sen-
ator Fehling for obtaining the confes-
sion. If he thought more of profits than
of the cthics of his profession, as crim-
inal lawyers in my opinion frequently
do, he might have dragged out the case
for months, collecting thousands of
dollars in fees from the Blank family.

Praise should be given Prosecutor
Arnold, too, for bringing forth all of
his evidence at the preliminary hear-
ing, while he might have covered him-
self with glory by withholding some
evidence until the trial, and then ob-
taining a conviction against what
might have seemed to be overwhelm-
ing odds.

As soon as he had finished making
the confession, Blank was taken to
court before District Judge Kelly Searl,
who had been summoned to hear a
plea of guilty. The elder Blank, a fine
and upstanding man, had pleaded with
Judge Searl that George be sent to the

Jackson prison, only cighty miles
away, instead of to the more distant
Marquette penitentiary,

That request’ was granted on the
frounds that his ailingg mother would
he ounable too ovinit trim frequently in
the more remote prison. ‘Then George
stood before the bar of justice to hear
sentence pronounced. Almost out. of
sight in a doorway at the rear of the
court was Ada, her face twisted in
pain at what probably will be the most
awful moment of all her life.

Judge Searl, in passing: sentence, ab=
solved the neighbor girl of any im-
proper relationship with Blank, and it
must be said of her that she was loyal
and brave in the terrible ordeal.

“T have no alternative than to sen-
lence you to prison for life,” Judge
Searl told the defendant. “This is the
most atrocious crime I can recall in
this country in the fifty years that I
have known its legal history,

“This woman, your wife, who was in
a few days to become the mother of
your child, you killed deliberately.
You went to the barn by your own
confession, and came back with the
chloroform to kill her, and you did kill
her.

“Then you poured kerosene over her
in an attempt to cover up your crime.
You have deliberately lied to the at-
torneys, to the law enforcing officers,
to your foster-father,

“It is fortunate to have here tireless

law-cntorcing oflicers who insisted an
autopsy should inquire into the real
Cotiae OF Crime tind: brig you to jas
lice.

“Your wife's condition was such you
should have veatized she tovipeloet doe
petulant, You struck her, but you did
not injure her so badly that she would
nol have recovered. Nobody would
ever have known, and you could have
patched up your diMiculties.”

The Judge then sentenced Blank to
the Jackson prison.
Late that afternoon there occurred

in the county jail one of the most
touching scenes I ever have witnessed.
Tt came when Ada Reist spent twenty
minutes with the man she had loved.
She left the building in tears. I have
pledged myself never to reveal what
Was said in that tragic farewell.

Robert Blank, bent, broken and aged
by the shock of what he had heard
from his foster-son’s lips, also bade
George goodby that afternoon.

“I’m going home to break the news
to your mother,” he told George. “I
hardly know how to tell her.”

Twenty-four hours later George
Blank entered the Jackson prison to
spend the remainder of his years. He
grinned when I left him there and
said: “So long, Sheriff. Happy days!”

He was the most cruel and remorse-
less murderer I have known, Again,
through this case, I am forced to think
we should have an electric chair in
Michigan for men like him.

$72,000 — or Else!
cash

from every manager of every se

This extortionist who preyed upon bankers in Los A ngeles was no piker.
parate bank in a chain 36 strong.

He demanded $2,000 in

And he meant business! His methods, and what was

done to catch him, make one of the best detective stories OrriciaL. DetECTIVE has published so far.

A. “I did not.”

Q. “What time did you arrive at the
hotel night before last?”

A. “At about 11 p. m:”

This was about the sum of the ques-
tioning of Kammerer at the Chicago
Detective Bureau. There we decided,
because of manifest discrepancies in
his story, we were justified in taking
him to Du Page County for further
questioning. We felt that by taking
him to the actual scene of the crime
we might elicit further information
from him. We also wished Mrs. Otto
Buck of Villa Park to identify him, if
possible. Therefore we notified Mrs.
Buck that .we were bringing Kam-
merer to the Village. ‘

When we reached Villa Park, Mrs,
Buck was waiting for us. Without the
least hesitation she identified Kam-
merer as the man she saw on the
Eders’ front porch. Mrs. Buck’s daugh-
ter Eunice also said she saw this man
the same day at the Eder home.

After Mrs. Buck’s positive: identifi-
cation, I determined upon a drastic
plan to break this man down. -On the
12th of July, I took Kammerer into the
Eder house, scene of wholesale mur-
der. By order of the State’s Attorney,
the household effects and conditions
that had existed on the day of finding
the bodies, remained exactly the same,
even to the bedclothes saturated with
blood and the bathtub filled with
bloody water. By the time we arrived
at arg Eder house it was nearly mid-
night,

alone. ‘ .
It was a clear summer night and the
bright, silvery moonlight shone

through the windows of the bungalow,
casting a ghostly light into the room.
The effect was an eerie appearance to
the ordinary
nished room, :

This was truly an ideal setting for
my purpose, so I determined to take
Kammerer through the ordeal with
only the cold light of the moon! This,
I reasoned, would go farther toward
making him break down and _ confess
than anything else. - :

As we stood in the living room, he
said: “I was never here before, and
please take me out.” He was tremb-
ling and I could see by. the moonlight

36

but. comfortably. fur- °

Mass Killings at Villa Park (Continued from Page 31)

that he was perspiring freely, although
up to this time he had been cool and
collected.

“You don’t have to go through this
ordeal if you will tell us the truth.”
I put a friendly sound to my voice.

He made no answer.

After a moment's pause, I spoke
crisply: “All right, Kammerer, now
that you won’t talk—we’re going into
the room where Otto Eder was mur-
dered!”

And, although he resisted feebly, I
forced him into the bedroom.

We sat down on the bed—on the

; ems jig saturated with Otto Eder’s
ood! :

._ I suddenly barked: “Why did you

kill Eder?” ;

He shivered and answered: “I was
never in Villa Park.”

For the next twenty minutes we re-
mained sitting on the bed. I plied him
with questions; plead with him; begged
him, barked at him. But his only ans
Swers were the monotonous reitera-
tions of: “I was never in Villa Park,”

Suddenly I said, “Come on! We're
going into the bedroom where we

‘found Jackie and Harvey—staring at
the ceiling!”

The effect of the experience was be-
ginning to show on Kammerer and he
seemed to be glad to get off his feet
even though by doing so he was forced
to sit on the blood-stained bedclothes.

Quietly I asked, “Why did you kill

., these two little boys, Kammerer?”
and with Kammerer hand-..
cuffed to me, we walked into the house :

.-“T was never in Villa Park!” .
Taking him into the dining room, I

showed him the large bloodstain on

the rug in the corner where Mrs.

Eder’s head had lain. By this: time
Kamimercs «ss in a state of collapse,
but he wists admit nothing.

We proceeded to the kitchen. where
I found the hatchet (planted for the
occasion) and produced it. ;

“Was this the weapon you used to
slay the Eder family?” I shot at him.

“I was never in Villa Park! Please
take me out.” a

I ‘then took him to the bathroom
where the body of Roy had been found
submerged in the tub of bloody water.
I asked Kammerer to place his hand
in this bathtub to see if he could find
anything under the bloody water. As
I was handcuffed to him, I could feel

.

him shaking violently, byt he would
not touch the water.

As I was about to force his hand
into the stagnant liquid, I noticed that
noises of movements in the vicinity
were steadily getting louder—now at
a point to be almost alarming.

During the tirne we were in the
house, word that we had Kammerer
in custody had traveled to the neigh-
boring towns. A crowd of over two
hundred people had assembled, and
there were threatening cries of “Lynch
him! Lynch him!” Realizing the im-
minent danger in remaining longer, I
thought it best to take the prisoner
immediately to.the County Jail at
Wheaton for his protection, so I took
him out the back door while the Chief
of Police talked to the crowd in front.

It was nearly three a. m. by the time

we had Kammerer safe in Jail,

My “ace in the hole” had failed! To
go through an ordeal such as Kam-
merer had gone through in the Eder
home without confessing, meant one
of two things—either he was a crim-
inal of the most hardened type—or
he was innocent.

So, there remained nothing to do but
let the law take its course, and tire-
lessly continue questioning him, hour
after hour,

I kept at him the rest of the night
and all of the next day. I could get
nothing from him but his monotonous
reiteration “I was never in Villa
Park.” And the Grand Jury, feeling
certain that he was either guilty or an
accomplice of the murderer ‘due to
his unsatisfactory si his
at a special session

There were too
merer could not ¢
faction. For insta:
his hair and grow
had he changed !
ing at the Lafa:
not explain t}:
the Eder hou~ 1h
edly his liken: ynad
identified hir we
night of 7 ac he
had slept

Kamm: Y he.
fore Jui: On
ber, 19°
State |
Was bv

nae A ae i

During this time, I went to Kam-
merer’s cell and engaged him in con-
versation. I remarked about his un-
kempt appearance, presented him
with a new shirt to wear the next day
in court. This small kindness seemed
to touch him deeply, and he said, eyes
shining: “Mr. McDonnell, you have
been very kind to me and I will tell
you the story.”

This was what I had been hoping
for, and desiring to have someone
from our office beside myself hear
him, I told Kammerer I would call in
someone else. F

He replied: “I will. not tell anyone
but you.” ;

“All right, you tell me the whole
thing. I won’t let anyone else in.” -

As soon as I had heard Kammerer’s
confession I reported it to the State’s
Attorney, and the following morning

_I related the same story to Judge New-

hall. Judge Newhall asked me if
Kammerer had been warned as to his
rights. I said he had not, and for that
reason I could not relate his confes-
sion to the jury. :

Kammerer’s motive, he said, was to
be avenged on Eder and his wife be-
cause they spent funds he had left
in safe-keeping with them.

Being unable to understand Kam-
merer’s reason for wiping out the
entire Eder family, I asked him why
he killed Mrs. Eder. He replied that
she had taken the money which he
had loaned Otto and used it to buy
clothes. For that reason Eder had been
unable to return the money. I then
vcked why he killed the three boys,

en though he thought he had a good
reason to kill Eder and his wife. He
said that after he had killed the par-
ents he had got to thinking, and after
some time had concluded that the chil-
dren would be better off dead: than
living without their father and
mother.

A ‘quick verdict
merer guilty of murder in the first
degree and demanding the death pen-
alty. Judge Newhall therefore. sen-

tenced him to be hanged.
Kammerer was hanged in the jail in
Du Page County, Illinois, in February,
1925. The body was unclaimed an
was buried in Potter’s field. © +

found Kam- ..


CRAZY FOR M

, INSIDE DETECTIVE MAGAZINE, JUNE, 1956,

OMEN WAS

-by NATHANIEL PENNYPACKER

w As the investigators moved through
the suburban cottage, their flashlights
pushing aside the 11 p.m. darkness, they
came upon fresh horrors in every room,
appalling sights which would haunt
them for years.

The first shocking. discovery was
made in the dining room where the
probing beams of light focused upon
two slim, silk-sheathed legs protruding
from beneath a sheet. They lifted the
covering and exposed the corpse of 33-
year-old Mrs. Frances Eder sprawled on
the carpet. Her head had been bashed in
by savage blows and her dress and
slip ripped down the front, baring her
breasts.

Ten paces farther on, from the open
doorway of the front bedroom, the
shaken detectives caught sight of a
sheeted mound on the bed. It turned out
to be Otto Eder, husband of the slain
woman. The 40-year-old man. was wear-
ing pajamas and seemed to be sleeping
quietly in a relaxed position, but upon
closer examination they saw that his
skull was crushed, his body cold and
rigid.

On a cot in an adjoining, toy-strewn
room, their sun-tanned arms frozen
tightly around each other in a frenzied
embrace, were the Eders’ two youngest
sons, Harvey, 9, and Jackie, 7; also bat-
tered to death and veiled with sheets.

Unlike their father, they were fully

dressed.

In a nearby bathroom, a deputy
sheriff raised a spotless sheet which had
been spread smoothly over the bathtub.
Almost submerged in bloody water was
the slain couple’s remaining son, Roy,
12, his jugular vein severed by an ear-
to-ear slash. He was nude and his
clothes were piled on a chair.

“Five of them!” said Sheriff John F.
Hesterman of Du Page County, Ill.
“This isn’t murder; it’s massacre!”

“It’s the work of a madman,” a dep-
uty added with a shudder.

A detective called attention’ to what

sheets, spread neatly and evenly, as
though a professional morgue-keeper
had been on the job,” he pointed out.
“They were completely hidden—except
in the case of the lady, and only her
legs. ...”

“She was concealed exactly like. the
others,” Sheriff Hesterman interrupted.
“The folks who discovered the crime
moved her sheet.”

Outside, in the soft summer darkness,
three policemen tried to disperse a mor-
bid crowd of about 300 people. “Get
back,” one of the officers snapped. “One
look through that window and you won't
sleep for a year.”

The mass murder scene was the Eder

family’s residence, a comfortable five-
room East Division Street home on the
outskirts of the tree-shaded town of
Villa Park, 18 miles west of Chicago’s
Loop. ‘ ‘
The investigators set up temporary
headquarters under a tree near the cot-
tage and summoned neighbors for ques-
tioning, while fingerprint technicians
searched for clues on light switches, fur-
niture and other objects inside. The
official group consisted of Sheriff Hes-
terman, State’s Attorney C. W. Reed,
Peter J. McDonnell, Reed’s thief inves-
tigator, and Coroner William V. Hopf.
Illumination was provided by flashlights
held by three deputies. An assistant

prosecutor, using the fender of a parked |

car for a writing surface, prepared to
take notes. :

“To set up the story in its proper
chronological sequence,” announced Mc-
Donnell, who had done some prelimi-
nary spadework, “we'll talk first to a
very sweet young lady.”

Led forward by her parents, an 11-
year-old girl, who lived two doors away,
covered her eyes with her hands and
began to weep.

“Don’t be frightened,” said McDon-
nell gently. “Just repeat to. these gentle-

men what you told me. Start with the ;

trip to the woods.”
Stifling her (Continued on page 86)

He didn’t look the part, but they found enough love letters to back him up

when. he said, ‘Call. me Casanova. | got fifty women—all crazy for me!”’

«he regarded as a weird ritualistic touch.
“All the bodies were shrouded, with

He sent out a hundred photos, and
one of them sent him straight to hell,

me!” she said in dis- .
gust. “That gruesome looking thing!”

“We're the best of friends,” Eder said, - “He touch
laughing at his wife. “He couldn't...”

He couldn’t stand being rejected by a woman—even his best friend’s wife—
and before he was through he’d killed every last friend he had in the world!

57


follow

morning at seven

te Torenached the Dhotorrapher
rT otraete Che ened, ned lathe
fa ta dias place of business, on
th Clark Street, in Chicayo He
mhered: the preture and sud he

John Kammerer, All he could

of him, however, was that he was

Corman who worked as a bus boy
und the big loop hotels.

Tosearched through the Pures of

miticntion records and talked with

Chief of Detectives, Michael

rhes, who sent out an order to pick
for questioning,
the
pielure

Kammerer
had
Her {oO

Jobin
also an order
te have

sent to
Kammerer's

Investigator McDonnell:

He
had to break a mass murderer

ted in the Police Bulletin. Having
imerer’s photograph, I then made
her visit to all the loop hotels, but,
out results. I continued to look
my man in all of the cafes, later
ing a Police Bulletin with Kam-
2r’s picture at every stop.
short time after publishing in the
’ papers the picture of Kammerer
the statement that he was wanted,
ceived a communication from a
® who did not sign his name.
information was that John Kam-
vt had worked in a lunchroom on
1 Wells Street, about the first of
Not having the name or address
is lunchroom, I started north on
from the Chicago River, show-
he Police Bulletin in every rest-
it and asking if a John Kam-
° ever had been in their employ,
‘ careful to leave a Bulletin with
hotograph in each place, feeling
<ammerer might have given some
name when employed.

3COVERED nothing until I en-

When T showed him the Piefare OF Mattias: trance SOR yee
Warmtmeren a the Peatnes Phathetan HOT jaan Pyntebanny YO eorits Tenclyeunaye
exclauumed: “Why, b know thy fellow! foo and asked yf thy “pal? bad. regis-
He worked as a bus boy for ne in this tered There within the peecl Pew weeks
Very place. 1 haven't seen iim foro | Showed the clerk the handwriting on
couple of weeks, when he told me he the post ecard and stated that T wanted
was going out of the Cily.” fo find Tit tose Wet for the ran

He then showeet the preltrres for one harvesting: season,
of the countermen Who said he had
seen Kammerer at. the corner of Jet TU register showed Kummnerer’s:
forson ane Madison Streets Just two handwriting under the name
nights before, Tohn Coleman, Te had registered the

Feeling that T was besinning: lo close night before!
in on my man, 1 left the ‘Phompson Reasoning that he would still be in
restaurant and went to the wost side the Vicinity, To spent mast of the fol-
of the city, where J procecded cast lowines day in cheap restaurants near

from Halsted Street, on the north side

Diagram of the murder house, made
porated in the official records.

the flop-house,

at the time and incor-
In connection with murderer’s

BATHROOM \

_tua®

©zep \
©)

BOYS’ BEDROOM | CLoset

Cy

EDERS BEDROOM |

confession, this takes on a most unusual significance
BACK
PORCH
STOREROOM
KITCHEN

i are

en ne ie

RECORD

CABINET

DINING Room ‘

LIVING ROOM

EDER'S Bopy
MRS. EDER'S Bopy

DIAGRAM OF OTTO EDER'S HOUSE

‘d a German restaurant near
on Street. The owner of this
ishment informed me that Kam-
had worked for him during the
vart of June, but had been dis-
2d. because of a brawl with the
Anna Fallinerayer, Over some
3 disagreement, Kammerer had
ened to cut her throat,
same night of his dismissal he
wait for the cook with a club.
lately, the cook saw him waiting
loorway and, terrified, returned
‘restaurant. The owner called
lice, who caught Kammerer and
med him, but finally released
The restaurant owner told me
t that he never had seen him
he night of his discharge.
investigating the hotels and
n the loop, I entered a Thomp-
staurant one evening. There I
id talked with James C, Lucas,
cvice superintendent of all the
‘son restaurants in Chicago.

©) JACKIE'S Bopy
(D) HARVEY'S Bopy

of Madison, going into all of the lunch-
rooms and cheap hotels.
do more—I had to find where he lived,
so I went to the Poorest section of
town. Disguising myself as a derelict,
I entered a flop-house about four doors
west of Des Plaines Street, known as
McGuire’s Ironsides Hotel.
registered, and as soon as
disappeared into a washroom, I
sneaked a look at the register, start-
ing as far
reading forward. I came to the name
of _ Kammerer, registered on J une
28th
“Revealing my
I found that Kammerer had checked
out the following morning.
The next evening I visited the La-
fayette Hotel, just a few doors west of

But I had to

There I
the clerk

back as June 20th—and

identity to the clerk,

® rov's Bopy
© PHoTocRapHs

QWhHERE HATCHET Was
FOUND

into a Greek restaurant, and finally
aroused the suspicion of the proprietor
who threatened to call the Police. . He

To my surprise he said: “That man
just walked past the window!” And
together we dashed to the door.

The Greek became excited, and
Pointing at a small man—answering
only to the description in a

A mur-

The slight man took one frightened
glance backwards and broke into a

I made repeated trips

night
A.
ister

Q.
hotel?”

bor tithes Chae vnon Ot er ee CC 8
peloton the comert

After the suspeet had been toleen
fo the Chiesa deteetive Diese deve
quarters, tl was found that we had
Our quiarey, all ripedet Ue dich curt dis

Deshy tiaa clown Close, and raised a
small mustache,

Tochanped inte Fespeelible looliny:
Clothes, shaved, cleaned up and went

to the office of Chicf of Detectives
ashes, where in the presence of
Chief Ifughes, Deputy Chief Shoe-

maker, Sherif! Testerman and States
Atlorney Reed, | questioned him as
follows:

QO. “Do you know a family by the

Dishwasher Kammerer: He
wanted funds he had left in trust

name of Edér in Villa Park?”
A. “No ”

Q. “Where were you on the night of
the twenty-seventh of June?”

A. “TI slept on a bench in Grant Park
in Chicago.”

This statement by Kammerer was
a lie! It would not have been possible
for him to have slept in Grant Park
on the 27th of June, as a driving rain
had continued throughout the night!

W!THOUT mentioning this discrep-
ancy to the Suspect, I continued

my questioning:

Q. “Where did you go after leaving
the Park the next morning?”

A. “I went to the South Side look-
ing for a job as a dishwasher,”

Q. “Where did you sleep night be-

fore last?’

A. “In a hotel.”

Q. “In what hotel?”

A. “The Lafayette Hotel.” -
“Under what name did you reg-

es
ister there?”

A. “John Coleman.” :
then understood why the élerk at

the Lafayette Hotel had not recognized
my “pal”
cutting his
tache,
penne as to be almost unrecogniz-
able,

from the photograph, By
hair and growing a mus-
Kammerer so changed his ap-

Q. “Where did you sleep on the

of June 28th?”

“At McGuire’s Ironsides Hotel.”

Q. “Under what name did you reg-
at this hotel?”

A. “John. Kammerer.”

“When did you leave McGuire’s

A. “The morning of the 29th.”
Q. “Where did you sleep on the

‘night of the 29th?”

A. “At the Lafayette Hotel.”
Q. “Under what name were you reg=

istered at the Lafayette Hotel?”

A. “John Coleman.”
Q. “Did you continue to live at the

Lafayette Hotel until last night?”

(Continued on Page 36)

31

{
MW


Women Was

Crazy for Me

continued from page 57

sobs, the girl related that three days before—
at about 2 p.m..on Friday, June 27, 1924—
she had gone berry picking in a nearby wood-
ed tract with Roy, Harvey and Jackie Eder.
_ “Their mother didn’t want them playing
around the house because their father had
worked all night and was in bed,” continued
the girl. “We were gone at least five hours.
It was dinner time when we got back.

“I had to go on an errand to the grocery
later. As I passed the Eder house, Mrs. Eder
stepped out and asked me to buy her a loaf
of bread. She gave me a quarter to pay for it.

“Jackie and Harvey were on the front porch
with Mitzie, their dog. They wanted to go
with me, but their mother said they couldn’t
because they had to take baths as soon as their
brother, Roy, finished his.

“When I came back, the front door was shut
and all the shades pulled down. I rang the bell,
but nobody answered. I went around to the
back and knocked and knocked.

“Finally, the door opened a crack and a
man peeked out. I asked, ‘Is Mrs. Eder in?’
He said: ‘Come back tomorrow. The whole
family has gone to Chicago.’

“J handed him the bread and told him it
was for Mrs. Eder. He took it and slammed
the door- hard. I knocked until he opened it
again. I gave him the change from Mrs. Eder’s
quarter and he said: ‘Run along now or you'll
get wet.’”

“Wet?” asked McDonnell. “What did he
mean?”

“Jt was beginning to rain,” the girl an-
swered.

“Do you remember what he looked like?”

She shook her head. “It was dark. I couldn’t
see his face very well.”

“Was he Mr. Eder?”

“Oh, no. I’d know Mr. Eder.”

“Did you ever see any of the Eders again?”

“Never.”

“Was there an auto parked outside the Eder
home?”

“No, There were no cars on the street at
all.”

HE next witness, a neighbor woman, had

been in her backyard when Mrs. Eber
asked the girl to buy the bread.

“Five minutes later,” she said, “I heard a
man in the Eder home call out: ‘Come in the
house, Jackie.’ The baby, who was playing in
the yard, did as ordered. A few seconds after-
wards, the same voice called Harvey.”

“Was it their father?” asked McDonnell.

“I don’t know.”

“Did you see the speaker?”

“No. He remained out of sight inside the
cottage.”

Now the 11-year-old girl’s mother was
summoned. Pale and trembling, she was given
a seat on a folding chair provided by @
neighbor.

“When my daughter told me the Eders had
gone to Chicago, I was very much surprised,”
she began. “Mrs. Eder had promised me earlier
she would be over that night to help me sew
some drapes.

“I watched for their return on Saturday,
Sunday and today, but there was no sign of

them. I thought it was strange, but I con-
cluded maybe they'd been called away sud-
denly because of some relative’s illness.

“I was bothered by the barking of their dog,
Mitzie, a fox terrier. She was in the house.
She kept barking, day and night. At first her
bark was sharp and loud, but it gradually be-
came weaker and weaker.

“I supposed they had forgotten about Mitzie
and had shut her in when they went away. I
tried their doors, intending to let Mitzie out
and feed her, but they were locked and the
shades drawn.”

“Do you have any idea of the identity of
the stranger seen by your daughter in the
Eder home?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Did the Eders have any enemies?”

“They never mentioned any. But, come to
think of it, there was a man Fran—Mrs. Eder
—didn’t like. A friend of her husband’s. He
had flirted with her, she said . . . and touched
her.” ‘

The woman went on to say that she believed
the man to be from Chicago.

“Did she describe him in any way—as to
age, perhaps?”

“She termed him gruesome-looking.”. The
woman frowned in an effort to recollect more.
“Oh, yes, she said she’d show me a picture of
him. But just then her husband walked in and
she changed the topic of conversation. I gath-
ered that this man was a touchy subject in
their home. And, though we had chats after-
wards, she never again mentioned him.”

Two other persons were called forward—the
11-year-old girl’s father, and a middle-aged
neighbor.

“Tonight, as I sat on our porch, I heard
Mitzie acting up, barking and whining,” said
the girl’s father. “Hour after hour, it went on.
Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer—I
figured the dog was suffering from hunger and
thirst so-I called my friend over—” he indi-
cated the middle-aged neighbor—‘and said,
‘We got to do something!’

“We agreed that the Eders couldn’t have
known Mitzie was inside when they went
away. They were kind people; they’d never
leave the poor pooch locked up that way un-
less by accident. We decided to force open a
door and tescue her. Eder, we felt, wouldn’t
mind our doing that.

“Well, we didn’t have to break in after all.
One of my keys opened the old-fashioned
front door lock. Mitzie came charging out,
ran between my legs, and disappeared. We
haven't seen hide nor hair of her since. She’s
probably still running.

“Right away, I knew something was wrong.
There was a terrible odor, the kind I used to
smell in the trenches overseas during the war,
the odor of rotting bodies. If you smell it
once, you never forget it.”

“What did you do next?”

“We went as far as the dining room, using
matches to light our way. There we found
Mrs. Eder. We lifted the sheet and made sure
she was dead. Then we called you.”

“Did you touch anything?”

“Nothing. Nothing, that is, except the door
and the sheet. We didn’t know about the other
bodies then.” :

The 11-year-old girl’s father and the mid-
dle-aged neighbor had been acquainted with
Eder for two years, but he had never ex-
pressed fear of anyone to them. They had no
idea of the identity of the man who had
flirted with Mrs. Eder.

Eder had been a night chauffeur for the

a —

EP ssi:

Checker Taxi Company. He had returned
home from work at 10 a.m. Friday, the last
day he and his family had been seen alive.

“Here’s how I figured it,” said McDonnell.
“Eder came home and hit the hay. During the
early evening, his lovesick friend visited the
house. Eder was still sleeping, his son Roy
was taking a bath, and the two other kids
were playing outside.

“Full of passion for Mrs. Eder, the Romeo
made passes at her. She put up a fight and
he got rough. Her dress was torn open. She
tried to scream to her husband for help. This
fellow socked her over the head, killing her.

“Now he was faced with a problem. The
kids had seen him enter; they could identify
him. He decided ‘to murder them too. But
first, his friend Eder must die, for there was
danger he might awaken af any moment. He
killed Eder while the hackie slept, slit Roy’s
throat as he sat in the bathtub, and summoned
Harvey and Jackie from the yard to their
deaths.

“Why are you so sure the killer was Eder’s
friend?” asked a detective. “Couldn’t it have
been some stranger?”

“Hardly,” answered McDonnell. “Don’t
forget, he was heard calling Harvey and
Jackie by name.”

Hunting for clues, McDonnell came across
a small, bloodsmeared hatchet under the
kitchen stove. He was sure it was the murder
weapon when he found three long brown hairs,
which matched those of Mrs. Eder, caught at
the point where the handle fitted into the
blade. But no trace was found of the sharp
instrument used to cut Roy’s throat.

DENTIFICATION technicians finished dust-

ing the house with white powder and an-
nounced failure to bring out any fingerprints
of value. ;

In the meantime, Sheriff Hesterman in-
structed deputies to gather all photographs
in the cottage. “Remember,” he said, “we've
been told that the murdered woman had a
picture of the guy who was making passes
at her.”

His men collected two albums of snapshots
and 45 other photos. These included framed
portraits of a score of men and women which
had been hanging on the walls.

“At least 60 different fellows are in these
pictures,” an officer said wearily. “Checking
them all out is going to be some job of work.”

“Forget these two gents,” said the middle-
aged neighbor, picking up a pair of pictures.
“They’re dead and buried—the fathers of Mr.
and Mrs. Eder.”

Six of the other photos were of the mur-
dered man. But none of the neighbors could
identify any of the remaining pictures.

The rain which had begun when the 11-
year-old girl returned to the Eder home with
a loaf of bread, had lasted for 45 minutes

\ and had thoroughly soaked the ground.

“That was a real break for the killer,” a
detective said. “The streets would be just
about deserted for his getaway.”

“There was no car parked outside so he
must’ve left on foot,” Sheriff Hesterman mur-
mured. “But I can’t imagine a guy calmly
going out the front door and strolling along
the sidewalk after butchering a family of five!
He’d be more apt to sneak out the back and
slink across the fields.”

“If he did that, he left footprints in the
wet ground,” said McDonnell. “They would
still be there, for it hasn’t rained since Friday
night. Good thing we posted men to keep the

’

villagers from swarming all over the premises.”

Searching at the rear of the death cottage,
officers came across footprints made by a man
immediately after the downpour. The shoe
marks starfed at the door, led across the yard,
cut along the border of a field and entered a
wooded strip beside Salt Creek.

Following the footsteps further, the search-
ers zigzagged through dense clumps of bram-
bles, climbed three fences, went up and down
the steep sides of two gullies. Finally, a mile
from the Eder home, they lost the trail at
the beginning of a cinder path leading to a
paved road.

“Can we be sure these are the killer’s
tracks?” an officer asked as he scraped clay
from his shoes with a twig.

“I think we can,” Sheriff Hesterman an-
swered. “Only a man who wanted to remain
unseen would follow this muddy route when
cement sidewalks would have brought him
here in half the time.”

The concrete highway on which they stood:

was close to a suburban station of the Chi-
cago, Aurora & Elgin Railway, an) electrified
line linking Chicago and towns of! the west-
ern countryside.

“My guess is that the murderer left the
cottage immediately after the rain stopped,”
continued Sheriff Hesterman. “That would be
about 10 o’clock, Friday night. Chances are
that he headed for the railway to catch a
local to the city.”

Calling two deputies forward, Hesterman
instructed them to investigate the escape-by-
train possibility.

“Few persons ride into Chicago at that late
hour,” he explained, “so a conductor or pas-
senger might have noticed the killer, especially
since his shoes must’ve been caked with
mud... .”

The bodies had long since been taken to
a mortuary, and now Sheriff Hesterman locked
the death house, stationed a guard at the front
door and started for his auto. Though it was
close to dawn, lights burned in almost all
the houses in the area.

“Folks around here, especially the women,
are afraid to go to bed,” observed a deputy.
“They feel they’ll be murdered in their sleep.
Guess they won’t get much rest until we cap-
ture the killer.”

“Neither will you or I,” the sheriff intoned.

At his office in Wheaton, seven miles west
of the death cottage, Sheriff Hesterman re-
ceived an autopsy report from Coroner Hopf.
Hopf set the time of death at approximately
the hour the Eders had last been seen alive—
9 p.M., Friday.

Through old utility bills found in the vic-
tims’ home, Sheriff Hesterman learned that
they formerly had lived on Lexington Street
in Chicago. He drove there with a squad,
arriving just as most residents of the West
Side section were sitting down for breakfast.

Among those he questioned were a young
couple who had lived above the Eders in a
neat two-family house.

“Fine people,” boomed the man.
friendly. We were sorry they moved.”

He knew of no enemies, and couldn’t even
guess at a motive for the horrible crime.

“They had visitors here, quite a few of
them,” he said. “I never met any of them,
but those I saw going in and out seemed like
nice folks.” .

His wife provided the name and address of
Mrs. Eder’s only sister, and police went to
her South Fairfield Avenue home.

Upon learning of the tragedy, the sister

“Very

screamed and fainted. Her husband revived
her, then whirled on the police.

“Leave her ‘alone! She’s in no condition to
talk!”

“No, no,” his wife objected faintly. “The
killer escaped. I must cooperate!”

She was carried to a couch, where she lis-
tened with eyes closed to the full story of the
horrible crime.

“We feel that the murderer is a man Eder
regarded as a friend,” the sheriff told her.
“We believe he is the same man who made
passes at your sister.”

“I can’t imagine who it would be,” the sister
whispered.

“In talking to a neighbor, your sister ge-
scribed the man who got fresh with her as
gruesome-looking. She also indicated that
there was a picture of him in her house.”

As he spoke, the Du Page County official
opened a brief case and dumped the snapshots
and other photos taken from the murder cot-
tage onto a table.

“None of the gents in these pictures is what
I'd call gruesome-looking,” he went on. “How-
ever, an offensive act committed by a person
might stamp him as gruesome in the eyes of
the offended party, while to others his ap-
pearance might be perfectly normal.”

GIFTING through the collection, the sister
identified every photo. Most of the men
pictured were relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Eder

—their brothers, uncles and cousins, a major-"

ity of whom lived in Bavaria, from which
Eder and his wife had emigrated 15 years
before. The remainder included 11 family
friends who lived in Chicago.

“All persons of fine character,” maintained
the sister. “Not one of them would do a thing
like that.” :

“Nevertheless,” said the sheriff, “we must
check them.” ;

“You'll only be wasting your time,” the
sister muttered.

This turned out to be the case. Each of
the 11 men had an ironclad alibi.

Discussing the case, Sheriff Hesterman de-
clared: “Either the wool has been pulled over
our eyes or the killer’s picture is not in the
collection as we assumed.”

“But Mrs. Eder definitely told her neighbor
she had a photo of the guy who gave her the
hard time,” pointed out a deputy. “And that
was only a week before the murder.”

“Maybe she hated him so much she de-
stroyed it,” a patrolman suggested. “Like a
dame rips up the picture of a boyfriend who
turns out to be a stinker.”

“And maybe it’s still in the Eder home,”
observed Sheriff Hesterman. “Maybe we
missed it.”

He drove back to the death cottage with
his men and they began an_ inch-by-inch
search. Two hours later, they gathered discon-
solate and empty-handed on the porch.

A deputy noted for his shenanigans swag-
gered up with a framed sketch he had found
in the bedroom of the slain 12-year-old boy.

“Could this be the guy?” he asked, straight-
faced. ‘

The crayon-colored drawing was that of a
buckskin-clad frontiersman with a goatee and
mustache.

“Cut the monkeyshines,” commanded Sheriff
Hesterman testily. “You know as well as I
do that this is a kid’s drawing of Buffalo
Bill!” He grabbed the sketch and threw it

on a table.

The picture, flung with more force than

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Daily Commercial

eD

. PDanwiiie, EAVRune on,

BY THR COMMERCIAL COMPARY. © {0

In the hurry of going to prew yee °- ee

terday afior the execution, we were |
enable to include in our eport certain |

AC) gaattors relative to Keator’s leat nighta :
b. These we give briedy to-; oa bin,

$

Kester ate bat title, About 8 o'clock ©
ho retired to bla coll where he tay for ©

1 a, ©. CHONABITH, Wn oe. Helitor. Sage ,
~ daTORDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881, ie us

Bs om Peek availa. before. the execution. |

some time, then got up and sinoked a EE

@gar, snd then lay dowe agsin. He |.
scomod in a good spirits es usnal, aod |
would at times beonme very talkative, |:

alwaya declaring bis innocence, At 9

“be went to hie coll, where he remain. |:

ed until 12 v’olock, midnight, part of

Brow 2:30 a. m. to 8 he rested quiet-|
ly and slept some. Prior to 2:50 sev-
eral representatives of the prose called
but ber vourmubitated ugibiog
tothim. At 8:30 a.m. he ste » bear.
ty breakfast, before eatiog, bowever,
be took a drink of epwite, aad com
plaived of great thiret sod @ severe
headsche. He seemed very impatient
"with those who had remained near him
during the night.

It way Interost some to know that
before bis arrest in Towa, bo attempted

ee es

Shoat p absee dra times to

the timo belng apparently asleep. Itt ate.

was noticed that he moaned) as if in . i
Hu sieop was troubled. ||

great agony.
Aboat 10 o'clock p. m. be

ed by the unusual” éxchomeot and.

great siraio Ups his nervous oyntem, | a
Ie will be remembered that on last .-

Moaday the shorif changed bim frow

the call then occupied by him to an.»

cther, and procured a now suil of |

elothea, whish he wore aatil the tine

cealed it lo bie slipper, Tho dowa of}
morphine bad the effeot to make him) *
very thirety ood reales, fied there)
bees a litthe more of it, the execution. ;

2 ge bi acaprerto pled,
. SS] fomod in bia possersion, He had coo:

ere service would not bave been neod-|

4
ed yesterdny. 6
we 4 vis Ss ; ‘ } ;
an al * hy . . ry © . 4
ote eae | ¥ eee, wie F Ht ed
te ee . ees ae roe a
‘2 t . ‘ *} “9 4
“ Se Ba hae! AG. oe i whwe
4 ‘ ;
, ; é . , aed
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R page mr * Sa: .
M Pee aes ee . Waly "ye
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Bes - ¥ hay
heey th OS : {: Go gg bee's
ae * ‘ ; :
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9 =,

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ue |
at
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wh? 8 : ace
7 “ fey ie
Ais ue ‘ge Te ad
why 1 Semi ee RAaT Say
ue * 5 hy ee Pe >" 4
$ (a Ra ehS Leah el ae
ey Led La oes Fae
‘ ‘ $ 4 4 ‘ c :
hee “ ng aay & ‘|
“7 Sie ; 5 Oe hk
Had bat te of i ae}
May , #e ot heh 4
Vd « ~ 4 seit hi
: “Aid : : nis |
vt? i H
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ett
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if
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i } }

om es

“he made intense olfurta to breathe, anc

ing was distincily audible to some o:

SOE ee

dt, I am_not guilty.

: thing on the galiows, he said:

COMMIT Bu cpl, é
once by hanging, ence by shooting
himsolf, and onve by drownieg, bus
his courage failod hin exch time The
attending physicians at the execution
are net positive rs to wheiher or not
bie nook was brokew by the fall. Is in
certain thas for about seven minutes

Pe anal

during auch offorte a smothered, whees-

the bystanders.

Kestor dented to the inat bie guilt,
aud there is aotbiog about the case
that. cannot be explained under the
theory of bis inuoscoce. His conflict:
joy acoounte of the matter are bo o6w
thiog io crimins) law. Persons have
done the same thicg before and been
executed, and afterwards shown t
have been innocent by the conviction
or confession of others. Only a fav
moments before Kester was taken from
ihe prison, hie attendant minister enic
to the writer firmly and positively ix
answor to the question whether be ba:
made any confession.

No, bo is nn wad igne
cont,

You thiok, thes, be is not guilty?

Tie to not guilty; be is innooont,

Kester, in answer to # question b:
the writer eald; What Ltold. you yes
terday {s true, ali truce. I never dou:
That ia_all trae
When asked if be would say av)

Idon't know, Lcan’teay anythin;
woro than I have said, That is a!
true. I nover done it.

The jury said

KESTER WAM GUILTY,
and their opinion way have been oo:
tect, - Their opinion was the only on:
considered by tho law.

Mowever be it, of bir wo may nov
cay:

Life's Givul scene is o're, |
Ue teste well.”

“One more unfortunate
® & # oy

Gowe to fia reat.”

ed 16 wave Deen coomeiited, and at the time
, whoo the murder occurred, thie doponent
“\ was specu by the above about one milo dis.
_ & fant from where deponent resided; and
@ . there are no other witnewes of whom depo-
- nent heth knowledge by whom he can prove
- o> euch fact, and the game will be hy the prose-
¥ | cutlon disputed. Within the past # monthe
y » “0 hha witness hea left lroquois county and
| 3, went to the eounty of DuPage eg he is in-
“* formed aad believes.
[Hove follows o statement concerning the
4) beane ofa subpanato DuPage county, and
the failure on the part of the sheriff to re-
! oy) born ft]

fe ie None of the witnenees herein mentioned
are shzent through the procurements or de-
Ser elgn of geponent. They will each swear
. 7 apon the trial of this cause ee atated hore-
 tofore, end the facts deponent can nnd will
el by them, arg absolutely true. Affiant
need all diligence in his power to be pre-

“7 * pared for trial at this term.

Last Reka,

- +). Tho application ie not mate for delay,
>» but that justice may be done.
i FRED KORSTER,

> [sumar) RB
“~ That part of the above affidavit
“7. which purports to be a statement of
aaa = the circumstances of the murder was
Maa emitted jo-evidence against ‘Heater nt
__ the trial of the cause.

At the Octoberjterm the ense came
: on for trial, The cose wan called Oo-
tober 25th, A ‘jury consisting of
_ Caleb Albert, Georges: Woolsey, H.

Morxmiller, Wm. |W. Love, Jes. H.
Lamm, John H. Phillipe, Jacob Ernst,
Lovi Béikman, Jobo Smith, jr. J; W.
Fox, Jomes Lee.; and H. B. Kester,
aves chosen without mach delay, The
trial; continued aatil the moroing of
the 28th, when a verdict of guilty was
“soturoed into court. The verdict waa
in the usual form, vis; “We, thejury,
find the defendant guilty in manner
‘and form as charged 10 the indictment,
and Gx the putishment he eball suffer

j,at death.” Par
Py A motion for a now trial and in ar-
“i rest of judgment Was at once made by
2). Kester’s counsel, and the following af.

OED yt
4 Ra
bie

fdavit submitted in ald:

BTATE OF LLLINOIG, _) Ciroult Court, Oo.
» Roehiieg a: he } tober Term,
Vouossn:0n Cover... 18H,

Foreunicn Mesvan being sworn, states:
That he is the defendant in the case of The
Poople of this Biate ogainst himec!f, charged
‘with having mardered ove Minnie Kester,
“PDevfendent eaith that:ag he le taformed and.
‘believes, of or about the 22d day of Auguat,
‘1879, one Minnle Kester, who was formerly
tha wife ot wflant, cams to her death In Ire-
queie county, Iiiacls, by violence ia some
imanner inflicted upon her; that afiiant about
(bho time last afuteanid discovered the death
ef esid Minnie end the injuries ebe had re-
vod, and becoming frightened ns to bis
eafety fed from the country, and pro-
_oveded, a he belioves, into the state of Lows,
Vi Mwhere, ea be to informed and believed, near
~ fig the northera part of eaid state, On or about
i the Std ef Beptembor, 1870, a person call-

Toth Kant? tener CM TE SRA Baba ORS

Mi
te
mm ee

» th Gh TNE RY

[of said Minnie that it exched the suspicion

fis OF Tera ser, soo, Bas
cause waa called for trial and » jury empan-
eled and the trial procerded tom verdict on
the moraing of the 28th of October, 1A8U.
@ " # %
Affiant segs that he is tnformed for eevernl
months Inst pant, and for some time privr to
the death of said Minnie, be was unconscious
of his true situation or relation to others ;
that his conduct was auch before the denth

ofa nnmber of persone; that affiant was not
in the posression of his mental faculties, and
particularly one Charles Myor and David
Miller, residenta of Delmard, Hlinois, and

William Falbeving of Watseka, Illinois, who
forinenly ved ta the nelghborheod ef affant,
hed noiloed rach acts aad cozduct ef ofians
that Infneed them to believe that afient wns
not jn ponsession of bio mental facaliies ;
but affient saya ho..wne not awere ef the
opinion of aaid D ech in respect to afant as.
wloreonld, aod di

defense was guing to bo urgrdin bis bebalf
upon the trial of eald ennss except the posi-
tive dental of said charge, which affiant eays
lantrue plea, But since esid trie) affians is
Informed and believes one Willholmena Fol-
beding, whe had been acqnelated with efiant
gaveral months prior te the death of eald
Minnie, aad had noticed the acts and con.

and to now of the oplolon, that afliaut at the
time leet aforezald was not of eound mind or
responsible for bie conduct, but affiant enya
that being eliimated as heretofore otated, he
could remomber very little of what hes oo-
earred to him or to othere immediately sur-
rounding bim, and therefore did mot know
ofthe opinion entertained by any of said
poruee relative to aflants mental condition,

t now, as affiant is informed and believes,
enid Willholmena Felbeding will testify that
on one particular ecotmelon which occurred
Just a few deye before the death of sald Min-
nie afiant appesred nt the house of sald Fel-
beding on @ pleasant afternoon when the
doors of sald house were open, and proceed:
ed toa window in anid house and rapped
upoa esid windew, and then stood in front
of ald window aad stared at her, the eaid
Fulteding, who wae then in said house, in a
wild and mysterious mannor to auch an ex-
tent that it excitod the curiosity and Interest
of the eaid Felbeding, and particularly called
her atlention to affants mental condition ;
and che, the esid Willhelmens Felbeding,
thew became fully convinced that affiant did
not know what he was doing at the time, but
on account ef the clreumstances heretofore
stated, a@ont did act kuow of, nor had he
any means of aseertaining the existence of
any of enid evidence; but afiant is now In-
formed, and verily belisves, the enld Willhel-
mona Felbeding will testify to the matters
above stated as knownto her. -

' Affiant further states that John Burmns
ter, the father cf sald Minnie, stated In the
presence of his son, John Burmneter, jr.,
sometime, and es affiant is lnformed, only a
as fow months before aMants erty trinl, that
he knew that offiant was Innocent of aatd
charge, and that be, the eald Jobu Burmas-
ter, ar., had to get afiant out of the way, or
convict him [afiant) in order to olear hitn-
eelf; and thea and there he, the eatd John
Durmaater, advised his said son to egeiet in
getting up and organising & mob for the pur-

# of lynching offiant and killing him, The
nformation of thege facts came to affiant by
one W. B. Pylo eince eald trial, and wag not
known to him before, And affiant rays that
if thie court will grant him en attachment for
the sald Joba Burmaster, jr., and have him

R

| brought inte court hore before he te counse!-
“7 #4 Ce Sg ”

@ tol kaow what partieular |”

iihwet of afitant before yaid tars; ~wae-then; 7

Cy grr ; : fh frye

trial, and therefore he woe 4 }

to pronure the evidence of tha facta nt
stated.

Affiant further states that po list of jin
was ever given to him or his counsel cou:
ing the names of a traveres jury, nor no |
writing, sel of names, or paper purpor'
to be, or contain a liet of m petit jury,
ever shown, handed to, or received, or |
by affiant or his counsel as required by
statute in euch case provided.

But affiant further enys that the eaid J
Burmaster, jr. is co bitterly opposed to
ant, and interceted in the protection of
father, that it is impoesible for afiant to :
cure or produce the affivavit of #aid J.
Burwaater, jr. to the facts above atared.

FRED KUSTE
Bubseribed and sworn to this @rd dag
November, 1880, j

GEO DILLON, C!
Tho motion for » new triel wet 0:
ruled, and Kester was asked if be |
anything to say why judgment ebo
not be pronounced egaiost him.
cited the court to certain scrip!
references commending a practic
Hmeroy,~--Ho-- wad --reminded-- that
titan for morcy was when Minnie
beiog murdered, Ho wos then :
tenced to bo hung on daanary 2
at h o'clock p. m. Ho received
sentence with almost stelid indi!
ence, und roturaed to the jail.
order entered of record, was as ‘
lowa:

Itis, therefore, ordered and adje
ed ty the cours that the defend
Frederick Kester, bo remanded to
county jail of Vermilion con
whenoe he came, and thera confined
safo and secure custody until
o'clock ia the afternoon of the twer
firet day of January, in the year of
Lord one thousand eight haudred
eighty one, at which day and hour °
raid Fredorick Kester shall bo te
from anid jail by the sheriff of
Vermilion county, and hanged by
neck until ho is dead; end for ao ch:
this order and judgment eball be
aufflcient warrant.

Tho evidence of the prorecution,
though entirely vircamstantial, was:
Clusive, as that kind of evidence »
well bo. The verdict of the jury
with universal approbation, and
punishment is regarded by sll’ as
and merited,

Two human lives bave been blo:
rout, one by the hand of #-murd:
the other by the judgmpat of tho !
That low has been vindivated, =
waroing,& solemn warning, (0 :
doers han been piven, and it car


ee

$a

- ben fo foil, w
| Gohl aniil wbout the Lith day ef Beptembder,
1870, where, aa nMient fa informed, John 7.

i county, came to oni

ve eas Orwaay Uae Abia
hes need all diligence in
pared for trial at this term.

Thio application is not mato for delay,
but tha? justice may be done.

{svar} oy FRED KORSTER,

That part of the above affidavit
which purports to be a statement of
the circumetsoces of the murder was

~ admitted ia evidence against ‘Kester nt

the trial of the cause.

At the Octoberjterm the cose came
oa for trial. The osse was called Oo.
tober 25th. A ‘jury consisting of
Caleb Albert, George: Woolsey, LH.
Merxmiller, Wm.\W. Love, Jas. H.
Lamm, Joba H. Phillipe, Jacob. Ernst,
Levi Batkman, Jobn Smith, jr., J. W.
Foz, Jemes Lee: and H. B. Kester,
was chosen without much delay, The

trial continued watil the morning of
.... the 28th, when a verdict of guilty was
. Foturned into court. The verdict was

-in the usual form, vis: “We, the jury,

his power to be pre is Pewee ort ,
eforeseld, aud did ort knew what particular}

hee ow (ite iy fToepect toatjant as

defrare was coving to be urgedin bie bebalf
vpom the f)'o1 of eald enuse exeept the poei-
tive denin vf eaid charge, which afliant eaya
jantrue ples. But eines sald trie! afians ja

| informed and believes one Willhelmena Fol-

beding, whe had been acquainted with affiant
several montis prior to the death of eaid
Mingle, and had notloed the acta and con.

and is mow of the opinion, that affinut om the
time inet aforesaid waa not of scund mind or
reeponsibic for bis conduct, bat afiant eays
thas being situated ag hereiofore stated, he
could remember very little of what hea ce-
curred to him or to others immediately sur-
rounding him, and therefore did act koow
of the opinion entertained by any of said
parties relative io afieates mental condition,
but new, as affiaat ts laformed aad believes,
eald Willbelmeas Felbeding wi!) testify that
on ope particular eceasion which eccurred
just a few deys before the death of eaid Min-
pie aant appeared at tho house of said Fe!-
beding on @ ploasant afternoon when the
dovrs of eald house were open, aad proceed-
ed ton window ia eaid house and rapped
upos said window, and then stood in front
ofeuld window and stared at her, the #aid
Puiteding, who was then in aaid house, in 5

find the defendant guilty in manner Vid aad mysterious manner to such an ex-

and form as charged in the jadiotment,
and Giz the pusishment he shal} eufver
at death.” : gs
A motion for a new trial and ia ar-
rest of judgment waa at once made by
Keater's counsel, and the following af.
fidavit submitted in ald: |

BTATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Circuit Court, Oo-
' *, } tober Term,
Vauminsou Covntt.. 1880.

Facrssicn Keeras being eworn, states:
That he is the defoudant in the case of The

Poople of thia Binte agniast bimeelf, charged

“ with having murdered ose Minnie Kester.

Deafendant saith that-a9 he fs informed and
believes, on or about the 22d day of August,
1878, ong Minnle Keeter, who was formerly
‘Uhé Wife of wflant, coms to her death in Iro-
quete county, Illinois, by violence in some
wménner inflicted upoa her; that affiant about
the thme laet afy discovered the death
ef eald Minnis and the injurica she Aad ro-
ceived, and becoming frightened as to bia
ewa safety Ged fromthe country, avd pro-
cvoded, an he believes, inte the state of Lowa,
where, oe be ls informed and belleved, near
the roribera part of eaid state. On or about
the 22a ef September, 1879, a person cail-
Log Dimeel? Joseph Ould, whe calmed to be

- ea Cheer whh anthority to arrest affant,
 @vised adiant and immediately conducted him

to Maeen City, lowa, and there incarcerated
here he remained confined in a

sheriff.ef eaid Iroquois
Meson City aad took
charge of eflientand immvdiaiely conveyed
him to Wateeka, Minols, and there confined

thea —

\. blu ia the common jail ef said county of Iro-
+ Quel, acid from the time of defendants first
‘ orfeet 29 aforeanld affiant hed no communi-
* gatley with aay one as he rementbers con-

corning his kituation exorpt the esid Cole

a _ td Pierson wntil about the 2d day of Octo

bor, 1870, be applied tem practicing lawyer
of Troqceis county, Minos, for assistance ;

tent that it excitod the curiosity and interest
of the eaid Feibeding, and partioularly called
her attention to afiants mental condition ;
and she, the eaid Willhelmeng Folbeding,
them became fully convinced that affians did
net know what he was doing at the time, but
on account of the cireumsiances heretofore
sinted, afientdid mot know of, nor had he
any means of ascertaining the existence of
any ofeaid evidence; but affinntis now in-
formed, and verily believes, the eald Willhel-
mena Felbeding will testify to the matters
above stated as known to her.

 Affiant further etates that Joha Burmas
ter, the father of said Minnie, stated in the
presence of his son, John Burmnster, jr.,
sometime, and as afiant is laformed, only a
a few moaths before affiants said trial, that
he knew that effiant waa innocent of anid
charge, and that be, the eald Jobo Burmas-
ter, er., had to get afiiant out of the way, or
convict him [afgant]} in order to clear bim-
eelf; and then and there he, the eald John
Burmester, advived bis eald son to assist in
getting up and organising a mob for the pur-
pose of lynching affiant and killing him. The
information of these facts enme to afiiant by
one W. B. Pyle since eald trial, and wag not
known te him before. And affiant eays thal
if thie court will grant him on attachment for
the eald John Durmaster, Jr., and have him
brought into court here before he {s counael-
od or advised by any person, that ha, the
eald Jobn, will testify to these facte; and

hereat once without further notice,

the father-in-law of afiant, and from the time
of afient’s marringe to sald Minnie, which
was something over a year prior to her death,
he, the esid John Durmsster, st., was almost

the Int
from Gi

yof March, 1879, affiant removed

ter, or, and went with hia

Buckley, Illinole, where Bant purchared

thwet uf niisnt- before suid tims: -wae--then;:

Suse ie

GEO THLLOS,

Tho motion for a wow trial wea ov
ruled, snd Keator wan asked if be !
anything to say why judgment eho
not be pronounced aguiast him. |
cited the court to certain ecripte
references commending a practice
maerey, ---He--was —reminded-—tbet—:
tite for morcy was when Minaie wv
beiog murdered, Ho was.then a
toaced to be hung on January 2)
atl o'clock p. m. Ho reeoived |
sentence with almo:t stolid iodiff.
ence, und roturocd to the jail, 7!
order entered of record, was as f
lows:

It ia, therefore, ordered and adjud
ed ty the court that tho defender
Frederick Kester, be remanded to ¢
county jail of Vermilion covai
whenes he came, aad there confined :
safo and eocure custody until o:
o’elock in the aftarnoon of the twent
first day of Jasuary, in the year of o
Lord one thousand eight hundred a.
eighty one, at which day and hour ¢!
eaid I’redorick Kester shall bo tak
from said jail by the aberiff of «
Vermilion county, aod hanged by ¢i
neck until he is dead; and for ao dai
thisorder and judgment eball be |
sufficient warrant.

The evidence of the prosecution, |
though entirely vircumstantial, was ox
Clusive, as that kind of evidencs ¢
well bo. The verdict of the jury m
with universal approbation, aod ¢!
punishment is regarded by all’ ax ju
and morited,

Two human lives bave been blott:
rout, one by the haud of n murdere
the other by the judgment of the la:
That law has been vindicated, and
waraing.w solemn warning, (o ev
doers has been given, and it caoo

afiant verily. believes that raid Jobn will eo mm
testify on another trial of this court; and &
the atfiant is eure he will oo testify if broughs

Afsant eays that sald Joha Burmester, er, |

continually quarreling with aMlant, and im- ky
posing virions burdens on him watil about

s small farm; but the aid Burmaster, or , pe

well be without its good influence.

an, Kilinvia, where he had been | ‘
living in thegame house with sald Burrmae. Bae
affiant’s wife] to

Aniggh

ava 0 nee fron sepanent'a hues,
where porated, deponeat proverding
el band torha ronidenes of m
Ax qwalghbor. about one mile divtant, heaving the
oi Getno in the road near where he raviddd.
vn tut wae aboont-for about two hours,
bine “and, ratnrning to his home, dinouverad_hile-
vce. Rho Restor dead ; phavjeatd Geiss naw depo-
Vo age whee be wae reagrning to bis bome sad
oS) heat twe hours afidt-they had separated
‘\ "‘Doponent enya that id
Gets is material ia bia behalf aa hereiu eet
forth. 8 5 fie eed tt.

ations Yi)
thay ae

‘e

i

‘ —— Peponent etates that he has been facarcera-
eas tod ever vince and long prior to the finding
of the fadiciment in ible caro; that he bas
beon deprived of securing exculpatory evi-

. Genes necessary vn the trial hereof, as been
: to depend entirely upon the ener:
tlona of bie counetl; thatelner hie eanfine-

_ ment doth beand his eouns:] bave endeny-
ered to have said Goise come fo fie jail to
____..._eea.gnid deponent; but fa tbls respect their
waited effortg were fotile; but-erid Geine

r promined deponent’s eounss) that he would
4 etlend 6'@ trial and testify in behalf of de
“ponent ns cece as thie cave wee oct down fur
ly after the venue bad been |

act nena

| aboat the 2d 6f May, 1880; when be waa tax

al

m e hy ‘
TR REN SQW ERP Ee ITI Lg oR PR MN EEE SONI LG 5 1

hot #4 the cheoe lant afergcaid atiant, eo far
wa he tec: bad ov moune or maucy to ¢na-
ploy Giere cye oF covne) in his beluif, or to
desroy any enponres in defeading the charge
ngman 814) exespilog eniy the charhy ef bie
friends. And pian enynanatihe death of
sald Bilinnia ps aferesetd, aap he is infermed
and believes, onmied @ bitter prejndica
ageinet afient io the viginkty of whera be
resided, nad left offant estirely wiuhout
+ felends or aympathisera ia anid county, and
afheant knew of no person to whom he could
apply, or source fo which he could resort in
this world, to asaiet bim in makiog bis de
feneo Affiants father was wt the time reaf-
ling la Washington county ip the state of
Kanvas * ad But on account of the
great prejudice sod excitement exigtheg
against him in sald Jroquets county the cir:
cult court of said county awarded nfiiant o
change of veoue of maid cause and the same
wes broeght to thin eeurt, but the efiant was
confined in tho Irequole county jail unit

ken from anid jnil and confieed tothe county
jail of Vermilion county by the eheriff of
lroquols county, and hae remaiued in raid
Inat mentiono?) jail ever since the time Inst

* © deponent caused o subpwcd
Bes tobe lerved. © * * Quthoe morning of
. zz the i7th for the fret time deponont learned
thet eald Getes had away from Irequols
county. * * * papain upon finding
thas onld Geiae waa notin the gounty * *
immedictely enueed diligent, inquiry and
search to be made, aad traced the sald Getss
fe the city of Chicago. © © At what place

Pu ois deposent bas
thaa far been uaableto ascertain * * but
every effort to being mado ond his eznct
whaeresdouts will be discovered aad bia at-
tendance eeeured of the ment term ef this
court, ® ® Beponents mater thes he be-
’ Heves anid witneas waa induced to leave as
the instance ef one of the procecuilag wit
nesnes in this case; thet an extremely biter
Mi, feeling has prevailed egainet deponent, and
4 eevers] attempia te mod him have been
made, och med being led by old wiiness

for the pieweution. — —

@ns etates that he cannes proced to
trial without the aos of Jobn rove and
David Miller ® who have beea Iniimaro-
ly acquainted with defendant, and will testi-

to the fact that depenent bas borne at all
mes on exesilent reputation for being a law

ebiding peaceable and orderly citizen. De-

fy to the came etahy
paps ome doho Beckman, &

ber of years re:ideuta of Gilman, ed

{Here follows an account of ieeving of eub-
porens for the lest named witnesses and cf
their being returned ‘not ecrved,''}

The evidence of eald Gross and Miller is
material to deponent on the trial of this
OausE®,

Deponent-van prove by one Berths Grow
that on the night when the murder ts claim-
ed to have been committed, andat the time
whee the murder occurred, this deponent
was seen by the abere about one mile dis-
tant from where deponent resided; and
there mre no other witnesses of whom depo-
nent hath hnowledge by whom he can prove
euch fact, and the same will be hy the prose-
cution disputed. Within the past 8 months
thie witness haa left Iroquois county and
went to the eounty of DuPage as he is in.
formed and believes.

ae

other witnesses whom he

Witucnos now and have been fer a ee |

wforreaid excepting only io be conducted to
thie conrt for trial. Duriog all the time last
eforesald bo has had no means of communi-
cating with any persons or friends in sym-
pathy with bim but ea afiant is informed
ond believes, the prejudice ezisting agninst
him laeaid Trequois county wes so great
that @ mob forces of armed men was once or-
gonized to rescue affant from eald vounly
jail to lyrch bim and bill him. and thas eaid
prejudice haa in no manner abaiel until at
to the present time, but on the CSntrary every
net of nfliant, and evary w rd spoken by him
for ot least m yenr before the death of aaid
Minnie, has been consirued Sy the perzous
witnessing the esme ha jadicaring the guilt
of affient of the murder of said Minnie, and
fortified by this unjust prejudices against
affiaot the prosrenmting atiorney of vaid Iro-
quoia county wea eusbled to array against
affent, as he fe informed s vory large num-
her of persons at the trial of eald cates in
this court to testify to whut they heard, saw,
thought, felt, and wanted te secure the con-
vietion of afbant of eaid charge. An sffiant
io informed, about thirty were brought from:
said Ir quoia county, a large number of
whom knew nothing about afhant, ur the cir-
cumbtances of the death ef said Minnir, ex-
ceplibg only the prejudice th

munhiy against affient, aod expecially the
minds of the jurors earpaneled to try causes
at this term of the court, aod aa affinot is in-
formed, the story of the death of suit Minnie
was extensively circulated throughout the
city of Danville for several days priar to the
commencement of the trial of said cause, and
the story thus related fized the guilt of snid_
charge upon affiant ja a most unjust manoer,
but on the 25th day of October, 1880, snid
cause wes easiled for trial and s jury empan-
elod and the trial proceeded tom verdict on
the morning of the 28th of October, 1n8v.
* * % * *

Affiant saye that he is informed for revernl
montha Inst past, and for some time prior to
the death of eaid Minnis, be was unconscious
of his true situation or relation to others;
that his conduct was euch before the death
of waid Minnie that it exchted the suapicion

(Here follows a statement con

cerning the
TrsPere + Pee, a

Reem ial wm wes Pos priest 9

ofa number of persons; that affiant wae not
Fay hime peepee Lan

#3 a re ie + ol

fio mg whort dime afer affana'e removal

nforcenid came ded commensal Vering
to or withla a bell mile of oGamt'e—bou:
thet et thet time afGant ead ralt Boren
er, wee Hiiog on Tarmaadjaiaing mah oth

and from the tinge fast aforeretd, enid Bi.

master, st. continued quarreling with an

and done allin his power to separate Bf

aod rald Misale, and from the time teas ¢
ted tothe death of esid Minnie, the a
urmasier waa in tho habit of drinking |
tozlesting liquora to excess af times, »
very frequently becoming intosleated, 2
in such etate he, esil Hurmaster. er, 1
very guarreleome, and even very dangere
and on several diferent occasions during |
time Inst mentioned the sald Burma’
threatened to kill affiant and a'eo to kill |
gald Minnie if she would not leave eGiant,
if she persisted in hiving with affiant
janger. Afiant aleo further states that ©

Sing the time tart named, one Louis Fe!

bing, ® young man living near Buckley, |!
nois, was paying attention to oreourting «
Caroline Burmaater, a daughter of said Jc’
Burmaster, er., ond esid Burmaster, er, +
bitterly opposed to the practice that »:
Felbeding then bad of visiting said Caroli:
ead refused to sliow anid Louis (o-cont
his, eatd Burmaster’sa house, and said Cs
line after euch refusal, al various times +
ited effiantia house to meot anid Felbedis
al} df which was contrary to the wishes
said Burmaster and which he bitterly opr
ed; and on or about the middle ef Ju
1879, enid Burmaster, er. to'd the eaid hi:
nie, Inthe presence of affinnt, that if
continued to harbor the said Caroline os |
house, or encouraged her, the gad Cerolir
in coming to esi} Minnie’a house to m
said Feibeding that he, the eaid Burmes:
would kill her the said Minnis, and tis
would pat aMiant out of the way; and fir
ly, only a few days before the death of ve»
Minnie, the said Hurmaater, er came to «
Minnie'e house in the evening and fov
enid Felbsding there in company with a
Caroline, and then and there the eaid Li
master told eaid Felbeding that if he «:
caught him with enid Caroline again that
would kill him; and this fact. or the ai
stance thereof, the said Felneding tearifies
on the trial of said cause; and the snid L
master then and there told afhant and a»
Minnio that it waa the fault of nffiant «
said Minnie that said Caroline and Kelhedi:
was permitted io visit togeiher et affisn:
house, and that he would avenge bim-e!i
the wrong thus done patton arms
verily believes, it wih tiv" tulauaimativs
this threat that resnited in the death of
Minnie; and verily believes. though the
John Burmusier, jr. ia bitterly oppored
affant, and would do all iu his power
Bhield his mal faiher, yes if he, the &
Joba Bursnaster, je. shall be placed on t.
witness etand and submitted to an exami:
tion, he will esiablieh the guiit of bin fail:
pf the murder of arid Minnie, but the «
missions of said John Burmaster, jr. ner
came@ to nffisnt’s knowledge till afier »
trint, and therefore he was entirely una’
to procure the evidence of the facta abo:
plated.

AfMfinnt further etates that no list of jur
waa aver given to him or his counsel conts
ing the names of g traverse jury, nor no ii
Wriling, sel of names, of paper purport)
to be, or contain alist of m petit jure,
ever shown, handed to, or received, or se:
by afiant or hia counsel as required by 4
atatnte in euch case provided

a o Rn sik ow

me Tis '

ee

KOESTER, Fred, white, hanged Danville, II January 21, 1881

2 cain. ee ee ee ee nh til lS a i il ii is i cl hich aan «a tia “ é dil ilk lil AN lb -

i
HANGING ROPB

GH AUGUST 26, 1879, FRED KOESTER, ALIAS FRITZ RAFTER, MURDERED HIS
WE¥E, THE FORMER MARY BURMEISTER.

* 5B COUPLE LIVED ON 4 SMALL 11 ACRE FARM LOCATED NEAR THE RAILROAD ABOUT
3 MILES NORTH OF BUCKLEY. (THIS LAND IS NOW OWNED BY THE MERLE HARTEE
FAMILY). MRS. KOESTER'S PARENTS LIVED NEARBY ON THE PROPERTY NOW OWNED
BY EARL RUST.

MRS. KOESTBR, AN EXPECTANT MOTHER, FELT SHE WAS UNABLE TO WORK IN THE
FIELD. HUN SHE DECLINED TO HELP, HER HUSBAND BECAME ANGRY AND BLAMED
HER FAMILY. ON AUGUSI 26, Hii DREW SOME MONEY UN FLAX SIED STATING HE
NEEDED TH) CASH Tu rAY A LOAN. THIS WAS THE LAST THAT WAS SEN OF HIM
UNTIL HIS ARREST IN EOWA.

ON THE » URNING -F AUGUST 27, MRS. KOESTER'S SISTER «EXT 7 THE HOUSE FOR
A VISIT. FINDING NO ONE AT HOMR, SHE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND INDICATIONS
QF THE MURDER. A SBARCH atoULTED JN THE DISCOVERY CF TES BODY IN A DITCH
IN THE ORCHARD. KOESTER, AFTER COMMITTING THE CRIME, RODE HIS HORSE TO
ASHKUM, wHERE HF sBANDONED IT, WALKED TO CLIFTON, BOARDED A TRAIN FOR
CHICAGO, AND ¥ROM THERE WENT ON TO IOWA. A LETTER WRITTEN TO A RELATIVE
IN NEBRASKA: LFD TO HIS APPREHENSION.

FOLLOWING HIS ARREST, HE WAS RETURNED T0 BUCKLEY. AFTER A SHORT TRIAL,
HE W4S FOUND GUILTY, AND WAS HANGED IN DANVILLE.

THIS IS THE ROPE THAT WAS USED FOR THE HANGING.


264 HISTORY op IROQUOIS COUNTY,

years, and sold and went to Indiana. Mr. Whitehead has about 400
acres of land, with fair improvements, He has one of the finest
barns in the township.

Jolin Montgomery also had a farm early in that part of the town-
ship. Reuben Durbin lived south of Hults. He Was noted for raising
the first and the tinest pair of twins in this Part of the country. He
died here, and his widow lives in Onarga. Mr. Griffin commenced an
improvement near there, and George Underwood, trom Georgetown,
Vermilion connty, moved in about the same time,

Lewis and Michael Borlein vommenced a tarm on the Prairie, where
Michael now resides, ag early as 1856 or 1857, James Carter, from
Belmont county, Ohio, who now resides in Buckley, came to the west-
orn wide-aP Ash: Crave in 1856. Hig sons, William S and Andrew L,,
Went to the army. The former died soon after his return, Andrew
resides on the farm, lj Strawn, from La Salle county, who had been
a pioneer in that part of the state, and who belonged tu a family which
had a national reputation for energy, enterprise and Vast business
undertakings, came here in 1869 and pureliased a half section which
lay cast of the creek,

Very little of the farming land of this township is owned by non-
residents, Messrs, Koplin, Strawn, Hartshorn, McClave, Lincoln, and
other business men in Buckley, own considerable land. The former
has sixteen tarme in this and adjoining townships, They consider them
good investments, and expect to see them stil} more valuable.

One of the most shocking crimes, and in its circumstances one of
the saddest that was ever committed jn the county, was the murder,
by Fred Koster, alias Fritz Ratter, of hig wife, Mary, on the night of
August 26, 1879. Only a year previously Keoster had married Mary
Burmeister, a pleasant and agreeable girl, the daughter of parents liy-
ing near by, and lived on a small place of 1] acres which he owned,
near the railroad, three miles northeast of Buckley. So far as the pub-
lic ig informed, no unpleasantness existed between them unti] shortly
before the crime wag committed, when her condition of approaching
maternity rendered her unable to work in the field, and she declined to
help him, Naturally avaricious, he seems to have ‘become incensed at
this, and complained that her family were *ncouraging her in her
Course. On August 26 he drew some money on hig flax-seed, saying

until his arrest, a month later, in Towa, where he had taken refuge.
The next morning Mrs. Koester’s sister went to the house and found
it vacant, but with stains of blood and other indications of the terrible
deed. Search was made by those who assembled, and the body was


ARTESIA TOWNSHIP. oe
found with a gun-wound and horribly chopped with an ax, lying in &
ditch in the orchard. There could be only one theory, and that was
that Koester was the author of this terrible crime. The horrible story
of Mera was retold, and his tragic death. Vengeance was pledged
from month to mouth, and had the criminal been then found, there
can be little doubt what the result would have been. Fortunately,
before he was found the feeling had considerably toned down. Ten years
ago hanging for murder had well-nigh, as one criminal actually said,
“played out * in Tllinvis, but the recent execution of several who had
been proved guilty has very much changed the sentiment of her citizens
in regard tolynehing. The story of Keoster’s escape and capture is short.
He rode his horse to Ashkum, where he abandoned it, and walked to
Clifton, the next station north, where he took the train to Chicago and
went directly to Towa, trom which place he wrote a letter to some rela-
tives in Nebraska, by which tell-tale letter he was traced and arrested.

Artesia was set off from the townships of Loda.and Onarga, March
17. 1864. and organized by the election of J. 5S. Pusey as supervisor ;
W. G. Riggs. clerk, and KE. L. Gibson as assessor. The principal offi-
cers of the township are at present: J. Gr. McClave, supervisor j M. M.
Meacham, clerk J.C. Harlan, assessor, aud J. M. Lindenmeyer, col-
lector. The justices of the peace during the political lite of the town-
ship have been: Ira A. Manley, Tapheth Hull, J. K. Smith, 1. Grove,
Calvin Newun, Samuel Kerns, J. M- Rives, M. M. Meacham and John
Newlin. At the tirst election, in 1864, there were seventy-six votes
east. At the last election the number had inereased to 271, which indi-
cates an increase in population Sf about 100 per cent every ten years.

BUCKLEY.

Ira A. Manley. who, during nearly all of the lite of this village has
been a prominent business man here, came to reside here in 1856. He
lad entered into a contract with the railroad company for the land
npou which: the village stands, and rightly judged that this would be
the place for a shipping point. He proposed to lay out a town plat
and make this the central place for ‘business between the two, Loda
and Onarga, on either side. He secured a station, and named it from
a relative in Philadelphia, Bulkley. The following year Franklin
Pierson came to visit him. This was a queer place to come on @ visit.
There was nothing here but a station, not even 4 switch, and the scat-
tering farmers back a few miles had hardly heard either of Bulkley or
Manley. But Pierson was captivated with the situation. It was good
hunting, and that was enough. He concluded to remain. They two
did the grading and furnished the ties for a awitch, and then Pierson

~~.

sie

GAT as?

; A YUL
Hf
aR

Pawvnle inom

me

WALTER MURPHEY

EXECUTION
FEBRUARY 167H, 1917

YOU ARE INVITED AOMIS6SION BY TICKET ONLY

Ot (mamoremaare

OG Wi tame Baenee
er eee oe a

ae rac “+.

This is one of about 100 invita-
tions to the hanging of Walter
Murphey, who was executed
Feb. 16, 1917 at the Vermilion
County Jail. He was one of five

men legally executed at the
jail, which soon will be
demolished. The invitation is on
display at the Vermilion County
Museum.

Jail wall paints
vivid picture of
county lynchings

@ ‘Five jails ago’ and
“Fear of kicks,” page 17,

LISS
C-N Staff Writer

. For more than a century the walls
of the Vermilion County Jail have
stood mute while legends, lies and
half truths about it have spread to
new generations.

But now, on its deathbed, and in
the shadow of the modern yet
colorless upstart that will replace it,
the walls themselves feel an urge to
reminisce, to relive the good times
and the bad for one last time.

Our story begins recently when a
reporter was roaming through the
halls of the jail as reporters have
done for five generations, looking for
news.

“Pssst, hey you,”
from nowhere.

“Who's that,’’ I said.

‘If only walls could talk’

“Right here, the wall. Aren’t you
the one who said last week ‘If only
the walls could talk?’ Well, here I
am. What did you want to talk
about?”

“That's only an expression, walls
can’t talk,"’ I countered.

“Who do you think you're talking
to? Of course walls can talk, they
just don’t do it very often,’’ the wall
said, somewhat indignantly.

“Okay, okay. What I was wonder-
ing about was some of these tales
I’ve heard about hangings and
lynchings — historical stuff that
everybody talks about. No one seems
to know whether those tales are
true.”

“Well, if that’s all you need to
know,” the wall said, ‘‘I'll fill you in.
But please don't interrupt.

“First of all, the city’s had only
two lynchings in my lifetime, and
only one where one of my prisoners
was killed.

Two men hanged
“That lynching was on ahed ei
1895 when two white men yore

raping a young Indianola gigl
hanged from the newly tna

came a voice

es

-News, Danville, Ill.

A C-N ;
Sunday

Special

Gilbert Street bridge, also known as
the Southtown bridge.

“The pair had attacked two girls.
One girl ran away but the men got
the other and dragged her off into
the bushes. A search party was
quickly formed and while the
hunters were crossing the bridge,
the heard the girl cry for heip.

“The two rapists filled her mouth
with dirt and sand to hush her up and
took her to a hideout. A little while
ljater the search party found her

_/ Staggering around in the woods.

“Police arrested the two men, who
were well known in the area, and the
second girl identified them. The rape
victim herself recovered and lived to
a ripe old age.

“That night angry crowds began
forming in Ellsworth Park. Most of
the people were from the Indianola
and Sidell area. About 9 p.m. the
crowds started rushing the jail.

“Attempts to batter down my door
with a wooden pole were unsucces-
sful. But someone arrived with a
section of steel rail and after a little
more effort, the doors gave way.

Sheriff's pleas unheeded

“The guards were quickly over-
powered and the men taken from
their cells, Repeated attempts by
the sheriff to convince the crowd to
‘let‘the law run its course’ fel! on
deaf ears.

“The men were marched north on
Vermilion Street to Main Street and
then west to Gilbert and the bridge.
When asked if they had any final re-
quests, both men asked to see their
parents. The crowd readily agreed,
but as the wait for the parents grew
longer, the mob grew impatient.

‘‘Rinally, both .men un-
aa o> pe were strung up and

| (Spl, page 2, please.) ©

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1975

The Commercial

Ln ¢

, i

———


paper orpey epee
tee Week, execpt Sundays. froat tho liiacis
Printiag Com eany’s Rettdtag.— fe te delivered
by curriers theougbout the ot. er Gout free
by mad ot
‘RN CENTS PER WerK.
CINE CIRCULATION OF THE DAILY
BEWSA 18 MORN THAN DOUBLE THAT oF |
any OTHER DAILY paren PRINTED 1m |
Tu1s OTTY.

_—— paperpaieentecebaarend

KESTER’S € HIME.

Ver Whieh Me Yesterday Sameored
the Peannity ef Death at the Maude
ef the Kxucentiover.

ny

Betaste of the Trial fer Que ef the
Meet Diabelicai aad Bieedy Trage-
@iea ia the (Criminal Annals of the
meaia

The Religices Exercises tw the Jail
aad at the Gailews—The trmeaa-
er of the Reemed Nan and ifte Final
‘Taking of Bote meee

Verederich Mester Dies Leaving Ne’
Werd Behind Him Bat a Melterated |
Aseortion of His Inmocence

The Great Crewd About the Jail-The
Perfect Order, aad the Admirabie
Detaile of the Sheriff's Werk.

4

+ hats BR EAS ‘i F

” A HAKOMAN'S DAY. \
‘The day opened Gull as bead nad evntinued so- a"
feguier ‘eday. Yo the erewds of pevp'e
came the trees ond im wageus, an4 by we
o’psect there were knots of people ugom eur etreet-
sorners, and @ large eed curteun crowd surging
edout the jell, whieh the aufitia begs sf @ proper
Gitence frem the butkiing and the enrlasnre in
which was the cceMoid. Ac Une time for the sracu-
teve drww near

,

THE CROWD -~ -
abdoat the jail tnevessed until by nord Vernfticn
treet was blocked, and crowds were urging shout
tm every eveilable spot, with @ quiet determination
te get ae clues a0 pussible, te ese and to hear every-
thing. ah’ wan coveted: het. frome Sve te ois
thuwsand were om the atreseg
IN THE JAIL.
- Within was o soleus scene, and two persons thal
little heeded the notes without— ev, Krasé Martena
0nd Vrederict Kester. Mr Wurtona came about ¥
0. mm , end was met by Keoter tw teare, seeming ai-
most broten doen, Tha man of (bod gave all the
fort be could, r 4 with him, sscept a few
minetes, unti] be wae lauvrhed into eterufty.

Mr. Martens foand Kester ty the full faith of the
Evecgeiical Letheraa charch, Me confresed that
he feared very muck to die - feared slernity

The fullowing questions by Mr. Martens, and
Keoter’s anewern, reveal hip faith :

Do you believes you tre a poor sinner, anf that
Jou will be conmdemeed fer all your eine if sot fve-
atvea ?

Yes, I da

Are you sorry fur your sina?

Yes, I om

Do you believe thet Jeeus (Chrict ts the Rod tin,
and bere all your efns, and that yun can be saved by
his from ali sins, if you rrpeut?

Yoo, thie ts wy ouly Bupe
KEATER RE ASMERTA HIS INNOCENCE

MAM Kester would mot confess He insisted that
be was swey tm an eyyle orchard stealing sypies
stont Quarter of @ mile from bowe When he
tame home he could wot fad hie wifn, end lighted
the lemp aad sew the bloody dour, and other things,
and Geely fount where she had been Gragg-d and

t Tatherts Wyant tor, ws ftottowe+—

' penn ; Jewus uiwre

-trep and was etreached tightly over @ block, with a

The praper reectuded oth the Lords pesyer re-
Pented in German from Lake }i.t-4. —

The preyer ended, K aster wes placed of the trap.
where be sgo0d trembling end trarinss §=Mesare
Gregory snd Lister tied hte feet an4 heada, adjusted
the noeee ebous bie mock, and Mr Gregory deftly
sitpped the bleek esp over his fave and shut ont

given to the jury. Four ballots were tehes, the
verdict hetag fdr marder as er Pborving Be ued Sart
the j-ueleh ment of death 4
THER CRIMY. oe
Minute Restor wae murtered on the wight of pee
guet 71, I-19. Tne Nuws geve the evidence in de-
tal! ot the time, sad was the only payer thel dxi 20
The first tmportant evidence wee ghwun by Mr.
Horese Liuceia, a metchant of Iroqaeis county, one
of the Coruser’s jury (et bold an icquest ey the
ing ¢4 the Bind, following the murder.

Aeylight forever. Daring three p. lings, Mir.
Martone reat in a clear tomethe 772d hyati from he

1. Jesus in uont din Minder an, seget doch dies
Trost wort elen, welche vom der revhieon Keha euf
verhohriem Wag yrtfallen. liar iat, wee sie retien
dle sunder an

2. Kettner Goade atud wir werth doch hal er in
evtvem wurte eidiich ah dase rebhlirt Bebet aur, die
Quadeapforie tes biew viiltg aufyetan, Jesus
Bimiot dle Hinder an

& Weun elo Schaf verioren tet, sorbet on cio
teruer Hirte; Jpe Get ups ute vergiast, sucbet
treulich das Farirria, dasz ce uicht verderben kaun :
Jeave plinrot Glo Kinder au

b

Kester ocoupted 8 smell farm im Waterks, tiring
wit be had beet married
shout oue yeas. They hat frequeot litte quarreia,
tut pDething to excite @ suspicion of vigleuse It te
known, though 1 wae uot s@ statet during the trial
thet the wight preeading the wuries, Keser «jnar-
relied with hie wife ou he sut)jert Of veligios. He
wee e (berman Latheran, ohe @ Methaiiet. Kester
wae naturally brute), sod incoumiderate of hia wife's
oupdniioe and bediiy weaknese Had Minnie K ee-
tee lived three or four monthe lonwer ehe wonid
beve been comterd with hee firetchlid Kester re
quired her to work oftegtisres lke 8 farnu Bac), 014
thie cncesiona! disputes between them He wae ig-

4, Tevengeful, and when w anger would

4. « 4 alle, & t her, ot ihr be.
trirtes finder, Jeous rufet ench und or macht aue
elndere (bottes Kinder Glaabetea dub and deuket
drem: Jeeus oiroint die Sinler sa

LY
meine Minden [aes, mein Helen4, mich bet dir |
Onede sur Fergebung Gnden, deas diese Wort aie
tr stem kann: Jesus nimwmt die Biiader an,

6 Ich bin weos yetrostes muthe. Ob die Ain-
deg blutroth waren, mfierten sie Kraft deines Miuts
depnoch sicdfin Hchnewwetes behren.delch gliublg
eyprecbeu henm: Jesus vimmt die Hinder an!

All wee treaty. I+ paty Mherif Gregory took tha
hatuhet, nncoversi the rope which enyported the

blow it parted, and Kreter, with the words “Jeans
nimint die Sindee au’ —Jeeus recetves the sipners
- in his eare, the last he ever heard, darted {nto
Aferuity, an hang by the neck, dying The breert
heaved severe) times, the shoulders slightly ralaed,
the lows, being uutted, swayed slowly to and fro

Not 6 sivn of intever enffering ; the drop deetroyed
eensatius, and he never felt a papg f

HE DIFEX IN EIGHT MINUTEA,

The Gret minute the pnise wea 70.

Kecmd minute the same and fechie

Third minute- 64 end ferb'a

Foaerth minute—a, hardly. perceptit.le,
est irregular F

Vitth pulse failed et the writ, amd heart beat
irreguier .

Min and thrve-quarter minutes —beart slowly fail-
ing, and bmating eucttretly. :

Meventh minute—geaptng four of five times per
Minute; beart beating excitedly, laboriously and
trrequlariy

Righth minute deel

Dre, Barton, Leavitt aod Worebouse attended aut
tou the e!ove obenrvetions

felling

Ich Betrtttsy Yorome hier wnd bebenne

The buly bung some thirteen minntes, when it
wae laken down, the bieck cop taken of, and placed
in @ cofia. Dre. Kerton end Ieervitt thought the
neck «ne not broken, bet Dr Murehoase rather
theught 4 wee

+

THe CROWD ADMITTED.

Mherif Morehouse had the eager crowd taformet
that they shoukl be permitted ww fie through and
look at the body, which they did fur some time, un-
der reguiations of the Bherif The fede wae caim
aad neture! except the ryes were consiilers! aly
ewullen, snd bine a@tecolwration ereuod them
There were no traces of blood, aad the pour fellow
hooked rather asleep theu deed

After the people had done looking ef him, be wae
tazeu by nnderieter Kimball aud buried in the put-
tre feild Ju reply to 8 question of hig apiritnal
@ivieer, Kester male ao request relating to the
Meposiiion of the boty,
@the curiosity of the peop'- onesie tneetiete All
the afternoon they visited and gazed at the galiows
They also thronged the court house to gate ow the
bleot-etsined Guvr apd the broken blanty qun,

threaten Bodily violence,

Mer Lincuin testified thet on the moruing of the
Tri of Auquet, Minnie Keeter's desd body was
found some distance from the howse, tu & furrow
in the Geld, The of thee
od thet the body had ben draggei ly the fret, the
civthing hotng pulled abave the sBirte aud under
the arine of the body. There was @ guuehut
wound umder the left car and jaw, wany ebot hav-
ing gasceed (hruugh the cheek, displacing some of
the taeth The skull wae brokeu, ae though hy
some binnt luetrument, proven afterwaris to hare
been from the biow of the pole of an a1

The development of the case showed that Minnie
Kester wae shot while lying In bed; thet abe at
tem ved to escape, aud fed to anather room, choe-
fog the door after her, sul placing her bleeding
head and shoulder againat it, enleavored to prevent
the pureult of her murterer; that Keater assaultat
the door with the gun, that tn this way the gna was
broken; that he forved open the door, setsed the
fatntiny forts uf the dooined woman- now weak
from the lee of blood —by the heels, dragget the
bedy through the yard into the fleid, aud then
ornebed her akul!l with the biow of an as

Words do not paust the awful Brutality of the
bloody crime, a duuble murnter se it was that of
his wife and nuburn child. That he left the body
naked and exposed a2 it was from being dreywed
by the beals, wae to create the impreseinw that the
woman had Leen ontraged fret sad thes naurdered

The evidenve was circimetantial, but mot wholly
fragwentery; it was like yathering bere aud there
the loet meabere aud partic'es of & broken statue,
which, whea replacet, furmed the aumisteBable
fignre of hoes ideutity there could be po longer 8
dvubt. ;

>

VLIGNT OF THE MJ RDRR ER. —

The murderer then fiat the place. Tebing @
horse, bis parpowe eerinad to be to resch @ rediroed
station, About 3 o'clock tu the morning, he called
up @ ealova-Ber er fn Ashhom, oa the [Uiote Cen-
tral reed, abont 25 miles weet of Weter8s, and ob-
tetmed a lunch, saytng be was from Kaubekee and
wee gving to Gilman. HKomewhere neer thie potat
be pbandowed thy horse and suught eyertior Might
by the care

Keeter took the ‘hin of Jotn Carter. He wee
tracted to lowe by detective Jamee Cale, whe
found him by means of decay letters. He wae
lodged tm jail ae Rarson City, Ives, and returved
to Watecke jail by Hhenff Jobu Pearson, of Iro-
mole ovunty,

KEATFR'S STORY.

Keeter told eimp'e 80d unconnected atorics of the
motives that prompted himto Aiht Mis Intellect
wae potin beeping with hie bentalty His tnven~-
tion of espetiente was weet, and served moreto
betray the murd+ rer than comoral the ertme

Be sald bis wife reynceted him te gu toe netuh-

et ta thee Ne OF Me tie es wth mene bake

bor = that night, to get her oom eppiee: that be aid

Inficei-

wee 6 traiup that done pa
botberag B.th traroge,

longer they have onapean
® burne a oid it,
so; the here must be betwera midtia
KenBek-e ‘There have I taken the cass, there bey

Joh it gos Wes 1 | Walerion there wes
| lewren: there that tort ine the ‘pollte sald that .
mats ip Filinots Led wurdere! hw wife spl took coe
hors, aud weetto lows Their teleyraphing don't
du taem anyuod Now l wien thet yuo teke the.
suthorny over the thiugs Bod sell them al) ead pay
Sil dete end what there is more thal send to
fatber He lathe nearest or Lent to all;
buvee end barn, foie, well-piye, corn, fie
Hed I treo thle 1 wid have sold the oasis
contracted the fies eed and tabeu (he muney; this
can @ man get goekly pane Ol4 Burmeister hee
aogerei we wrech, fur during lset winter he would
strike me dead {suf four yeare agohen attempted to
shuvt hw faruily dead, amieo he attempted to ao
me Youu cast wote agsisivr aus ptur | yo oe
ww Celiiorule *

Moverel witnesses tratified to Keater’s gerere!
reputetion for peace end uletnees Fred. Vot=
bruning teetided thet on ome occasion he heart
Kewter way that befure loug something would Le
duoe Ww make pouyls open their eee

THK CLOsR.

The case was Cloant here and given to the jury. as
wlisew bere stated, aul & veTdiit returuel a sireeds
atahet

MOTION

Kester’ coupes! mate @ action
sul errest of jadymerat,

On the éth of Noveruler, Jadge Wilkin heard the
aryuments of Keetes s counee!. Ali tbe objections .
nraA—amony CtLers thet the jury had been preju
Mood by outesde interference; that the door, gen.
ko , tented to create prejudiie when exhibited be
fore the jury; were al] eet aside ae untenshlie = The
Jadye heid that no evidwoce uf tpesnity wes shown
thet whoevertcurnmilted (be murder showed methet
in hte cumres, citing the compcealment uf the body
sud the fight of the prianer.

The late Peter Walsh, roy , made the ablest ar
quneut ta bebelf of the prisuvuce He said the pe
ture of any specific snd single inatrament used by
the marderer waa not saMcently shown, and the’
the lewstiw of the wound, “upon the beck side of
the beed,”’ wae put apevific, while the law required s
Specification bu mtuule that one’s foyer ould be
Hiaced upon the wound. Mr Walsh also used the
ettreme aryument thet the offouse of marder is &
eteltutory ome, thet iLe statute says that manies tx
the enlewfal kilnog of a human bctug im the peace
Of the peuple; and that there is nuthing is the ale-
eatin es | show tha’ Minuie hewlee wae s bamas
betng

Jutge Wi'kip overruled the motions

THE SENTENCE,

Sadge Wilkin semmoned the priconer b fore
hima. After citing the able oforw of bie cune-el ia
hie bedalf, Ghd remjodiog bim of the Anding of the
verdict, he asked Lim Wf be bad anything to sey in
his owu defeuse.

Kester spore of the e'ze Of Bia own and of ‘iur
tmeister’s boots, aud called Lis bonor’s altanth i to
certain pecnages uf the Libie, asking the Juuge f be
comida sentence him ow that boos 7

Judge Wilkin seid:

“Me Reeter, you bave het @ fair trial tefore &
Jnry; stte aod uubtes~i couneed bave prodaced al!
the defeasee you evuld propose, aod mete ay shieg
defense thes you sau The book yuu cite the
Coart to, from which yuu pleed for mercy, alec put
worde in the month of Minate Keeter, aud aleo tne
vuked iu bee bebalf merey ot atime when she » wl-
et mm rvy mach more than you Lead N new. foe
tre here @ith the beat of couned to present 7 sur
veces au4 plead ve yvur Dealf, aod they have ume
er ehiy. The protwtion of the laws hes teen
threwe arouwd you every hour and momeut siscs
you were arrested; and your eent: nve shal! pot be
erecistet anti! the judgment of thts Court ia re
Lo-wed Py the Hupre me Coart of thy Mate,

Ailth e mercy did sot extend to pour Winnte

KRoater, butin the silent hwure of might, defer se-
fooe - nme ts lowk to thet defevee Lat a hustand

te

FOR A NEW THEAL.
for a uew trie.


~~

|} Perere wee hover if, bus thet be could wa aon free

te one feee He totered Lie wife © falner bidind her,
bet 414 Bot see him do it i

| MP Wetoas sated wre, teeter, who het benn
ae tam for as 8 mother te the anfortanate men, wed
whom he came ta love ae if his mutber, to go sad
ere tf be wound ermives to her. When Mre Lister
opoks (him ehent tl) eo. um. he burst ints toare and
brotestad his \neovemn - saying thet if there was a
yore ip the world te whem he would confess thet

fo whet be didnt do. Me tuid bor thei he drneriedl
the greek eternity

’ We must cag thet nhertf Morhouse, Deputy
Mbeord Gregory, aad Jefler Lister, aid ail they
euuld to re Beve these anne; ences. Jeg before gu
fe OO) on tee sel ad ie Martens rend te in tke
Or7™h bywe frow the Lethores tyme bot *
, “Reve Joae Cortet, eer wener® ved tictt, deo da
WAM Werte, Aeqet ptt, fr pated acm Brews earn
entite® ctertt amd mir datos Voters uid or-
wert *
Tht tyme wes read te the cises, and given riese
Stewiion by K wte
"ROM THE sath Tr TUR &AVVOLD,
Ad eight miowtes ts one the Bhert® told My

Aarrved epee the conf Ad, Doy-aty Hhe el Gregory
fend the deel warrant te 6 Mmtinct voles, bat Slag
by tomctad by tine or conten, Konto standing eit bis
temnd bower, ture Viens amd wares, hee bet of ine
rad ctightty ativrung bis tatr, oud bis moeth eel
fees he Bods age 2

TRS DEATH WaRRawr.

Pe en pene
. 6 ee send
Prater Raster one Ong orrmgqned betce the
Cour toy segtenen, end wes then ond thers by ihe
Ooh i Gunter ecapeen een tonne Cee.
sia - wed st eiget ew
ee Prereree Cater, bo ve. |
@ “y nd 9
fmm vewens be sens, toe wader! mm mate
Cad eure cmmtet; Gxt ane of <tes8 im the ofeo
tue of ie Gay of sannsry, in tes pees
eat, ot via ant Bouse om cud PF tederie
Gud bo ules Fem ond bul by hs Shared
of cxbd Vertnitinn Gesty, und tamed ty ke pont
SUS be Ww Sunt, and for a> deing (hs ested und
PO ees te eet wares ~ a
seetans comand 75%, we purcnene of anid
Pete sed chat 4 ee Tet of e
tae ercleweten pee cane es

_—-——— — ss eee,

ot the BieNty Gow “The form of the Sumca
pefated te bint aod Being throagh 6 Beld of bicod
wee 8s: -erta! ob ject of awe.

The janttor lorted the d00r snew, tut so greet
wee the desire to ane Ht thet he hed to unlock it aed
j take It down upon the sidewsik nest the ewurt house
and ket the multitade gaze and question § To-
warts night thes crowd shrwly dapereed to thetr
homes. te tall tm the shaice of bigat, to shivering
letemars, of what they had seen and beard ef the
eritpe of the wife-tilier and his banging fur bie
biondy dnod

There wore fully . «

- THREK TNOUSAND PRorLE
im the city, bentdes the citizens 1 waa the first
eterution in the runnty, aud that ese imported,

AN EXPERIENCED KOE.

Upen the acefsid woo 2. A. Heater, shen! of
Livingston eousty, whe broaght Ube rope eth
which Kester wae bneg, and eth whieh be heed
bung e man Ho gave tte benel of hie eipert-

[marie sews men titiie ou s Clara herve: thet be

told the man what ned happend, sho edvieed him
trum ewsy Hie eturion have teen wees, bus dus-
tag AMT (hs tre fhe hae eserrind Oe terme wre
THK WUTE BUT BLOODY EVIDENC Fa OF
THE MURDER.

More eloquent than the “ damarcd ont” on Leddy
Mecheth's hand are the blooty eviteaces uf Kass
ter's crtine §=6They are Ijke the hand of fate in the
shy, unmoveble, silent, mate, yet peintng to @
boactusion from ehich thore te by eerae In on
enle-froom of the Mhepifl'¢ office euriuns poopie by
bendreds have viewed the broken gun, to the bate
of which, Guring the trial, wee attarbed, by booty
atus, fregmeantee! Minoie Krater’s hair
The door, thrvugh which che attempted to eecape,
bears tp 2 ove corner the indenture of 6 strokes mate
Vy the macale of ven uf the qum-berreie, Cancel by 9 |
turctdle pueb, the stroke Caneiug nywanie, leaving }
@ qrucee im the jAne wood, showing the rapitity of H
the eeseult aod ite viPatuces fures Upea the ;

eay You are @otity

God coytug thet
crime.

tert faint te do

“Whe tte paiafal
thie sentennes ape xr
| 978 1.90, the tow whird ebuuid have

bre.

THANKS TO THR MILITIA.

breaking throagh 04 imte the thie beer encievera,

oxtty Had there tows @ fence arvund oar jal the
SRaty would hove been greatly icec-unt The
Btenf «:.4 bie aide and the peeyle are oWiged to
j the militia, @he @id ov muh 00 mane everything
pare Of smasthly

RXCPDITIONS AND COMPLETE.
All details were ww well arreaget that there wag
Be halt, no bell, wo mmumtaba, Be me eet Mesare
Merchense. (iregory ead Lister ram be scored that
O° crorution sus bave heen tatloy evetucted ty
the last Gedal!, and wth more thowgt! as te tre
fouet jareebie pen i» the unfortunate was Be
Oaid inves wt. hel © tmenerd severss be fure,

BPY. MR, MARTENS ‘

‘biew performed hie estes Guty with earnestness
Rar tincdness 86M ie Torte ware te 4706 1'.6 preere-

wp—wted! heart Ms sspremnes ou openien os te

wer head yew tim teyund 6 remmmedte 4 ahd

touwte the pret fcfieg.

pe te 4 a"
Drejetine eqatedt tin te the matghh~whent te very |
emer. Ove good wan pumarted thet fT be wee

iit
i!

i

|

Sotlant, anys, of Wotets, 20d the fete Petey
Weted, ony., of ce omy. ty Went mted seme
Grosvelly i procusing Gee puty and 0s os cartotent,

The offirers end mem of Bettery A and DanviBe
Oraanisa behaved moat edmired)y, duing thets @aty
quietly bet e@ertuaiiy, One who 34 aot wltncse
the pores entect tne how diMruld eee te beep
the vest croed, lneted wth eager euticeity, from

14 wee 6 mess of Rementty shovel fore ced by ewet-

or '@ piace b's trea m Sed end Ate wth ce Renest, ;

ft. wrietry world te thred the tiowg be ©
eos saan r ws eusieanen on Riles tenieus coat cae!
te Kester, eRe bas te tested with era bind. | ae
sant the pompic bere Seating Be pre jeties whatever | T™ ‘BO! the Sager-coarts bas rere
© diee7 STE Cime. BoTer Bias In toe Latividmase
From wtel we beerd |

qymate quuaty sey, tae}

@ute'de of the dour, whieh ie uopelnted, yet
Swxthed by the carpenter's pane, as theagt pre-
paret by 6 catasic providence fur the breach of the
bloudy artist why wae to palet with @ bloetdy brush
the Wwerery of his crime, are the mute yet shuj sent
Ovidemoes of the stragyia of the sefaj arora) t
Phere, oreyoned im Minnie Keeter’s Blowd, t2 tne
Vcture, svmplete in ite peepective and oatiipes,
thet euefrontoed Koeter Nhe 6 grin Peeut-m je the
eoartceom = Flere, comdcneed withis the pansie
Of that rude eanvas, are the frightfel ye sileut or-
tdencen of 0 tragedy that roumdet @ iifetiae inte s
¢ Dtrody seoment
Upon the deer, shove and to ihe right of the
beet, ore the inger prints of Minate Kewter’s right
Reed, preseed ageimct the panci Lewes, and evar
| the Beet. abe preaced bar shonidere aud the left
| ede of Ree fase, tras whirh streamed th bic of |
| ofan ctot wend, ctsmang the ved wart to the | "<=
| Geee When this evideome @20 unvediad ts tne |
| Cwtwt rome, Kester views @ euth acon |
commnonaare, Jot SBb eeteiit immutaty whe od |
tot Ganert bie antes he trembiod im the ererwtion. |
ws bends

MATUBAL AND PRY ICAL OMe
| Med tee powers of the mie $e end the
| of om ¥ ham cwphvyed te tyene the guiny mar.

a
e
=

896m the 26 -hamdia, the gus-stus® and the duce) |

There wore vinay speech nae senteunes of tee:
twagety the conditicn af Che resee where @ oorne- {
vad, aad other wilenred tems wf © materiel te |
puerta + of tele tens.

THE DEF KNaK

at be meerend to be house chentty afer ame
Seta®, heving tous steens shoul tye boars: thes

epem bie wwhere he fowad Wwole Kester bond
Kasten, im hte eihGerm, cbt be het opret the
The tos.

meay of thee, Doing tbe ecighb=tesd, was
thet they baoe a0 permenky 62 exw af Foing

toy ree

Sara

ay wo
° Keoteg

a Nene Bem
sey thet hand was yunire
were you im that tervitle moment?
th thse geee hetye you i
Pomnd you thet the )

ing proecuseed upos you

“Yount defene-icea wife, your umn chiA, ding
thet wht et your own &
thed yo fof ae if chatmet, and heard the emcee of
you should be puniehed fer this
The bit ima of Mi
feb ert, 8 ewid fai murder,
thet yom might be ehte to

yee thes thts Court

clear yuureel!, or to show
Some mittee! o of the crime, best this you heve wee

2 if not, where |
Circametan co
ead ey Ranpeteiy sir.)

ary & wid che itttie eles t ass!
They Baveeoy said tn the bap
anege of the tag hich hes teeg
years the tanyuege of civiteatica: '

“0 ioenven *MEODETS wan a BLOOD, AY Maw i
ALO0 OM ALL MIM FLOOD Bae anan |

eute ite pot streiee

ile Keoter wise Bend
The Court hes hoped


2 The Commercial-News, Danville, Ill.

il wal

(Continued from page 1.)

tossed over the bridge by what a cor-
oner’s jury later called “party or
Parties unknown."’

“Danville’s second mob execution’
Started down at the city lockup, but
ended in a full-scale riot at my door.

“On July 25, 1903, a fellow named
John D. Metcalfe killed Billy Gat-
terman in a saloon brawl on East
Main Street. The City police took
Metcalfe to the old city lockup at
North and Walnut where the parking
Barage stands today.

Racial differences

“Billy Gatterman was a member
of the Leverenz family and he had a
lot of friends. Billy was white and
Metcalfe was black. which made
things worse.

“A crowd of about 200 people
Stormed the city jail. After a two
hour siege, they overpowered the
Police officers and got Metcalfe. One
man killed him instantly by crushing
his head with a crowbar. Then Met-
Calfe’s body was dragged down East
Main Street where the crowd hung it
in front of the tavern where Billy
Was killed. Then they riddled his
body with bullets.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1975

“By then the blood lust had really
Gotten to the crowd. They decided to
Cut Metcalfe down and drag him to
the County Jail. They were intent on
lynching every prisoner in the jail
and I had a full house.

“When they Bot to the jail, they
burned Metcalfe's body. Then
Someone came with a rail to be used

as a battering ram. They assaulted
the South door..

Prisoners protected

“The sheriff was a
the name of Hardy Whitlock and he
Was intent on Protecting his
Prisoners. When the boys with the
battering ram came at him he laid
his shotgun on the rail and fired. The
birdshot hit their hands and they had
to drop the rail. Later on, those who
had their hands treated by doctors
were reported to the sheriff and
eventually 14 men were Sent to jail
for rioting.

“The siege lasted all night and by
the next day the militia arrived to
guell the disturbance.

“Of course, I've seen five other
men killed. But that was all lega}] —
they were hanged after a formal
trial.

bird by

“The first one was Jan. 21, 1881, of
a man named Kester from Iroquois
County. He was brought down here
because the judge felt he couldn't get
a fair trial there.

“He was supposed to have shot his
wife through the heart and then
crushed her skull with an axe. Then
he was said to have dragged her out
into a field.

“After his trial he went up to the
Ballows protesting his innocence the
whole way. Ironically, years later
Mrs. Kester’s father allegedly con-

—erime-from his
deathbed. The Story was that he had
become angry over her refusal to
leave her husband, so he killed her.
The Kester fellow was convicted on
circumstantial evidence only, so it
will never be known if an innocent
man was executed.

Portable gallows used

Watching. They used a portable
gallows that was stored on second
floor, but it's long since gone.

“The next hanging was on Dec. 8
1893, when Harvey Pate and Frank
Stires walked the 13 Steps for the
murder of Henry J. Helmick in an at-
tempted robbery.

| paints picture of count

smoked cigars,
chatted and made jokes. They ate
like horses the next morning,
climbed the Steps of the portable
gallows and kerplunk, that was it.

“One of the most interesting cases
was the hanging of Walter Johnson,
alias Walter Murphey, alias “Big
John’’ Murphy.

“He was hanged Feb. 16, 1917, for
the murder of two railroad workers
in the yards at Hillery. He confessed
to the crime. Another fellow who
was convicted with him was sent to
prison.

Hanged in elevator shaft

“Big John’ was hanged in the
elevator shaft of the new section of
the jail, which had been completed
earlier that year.

“He got religion and went to his
death with a half-uttered prayer on
his lips, every inch a man.

“The hanging started on the third
floor and finished up in the base-
ment. That allowed three floors of
Spectators — about 100 were invited
— to see at least part of the show.

“The last legal hanging at the jail
was April 11, 1924, when George

=

4

Barber was hanged for the murder
of a Vermilion Heights grocer. An
accomplice, Elgin Watson, got a 20-
year prison sentence. Barber had in-
sisted throughout that Watson had
done the killing.

“But on the night before his execu-
tion a reporter asked Barber if he
was going to his Maker with a lie on
his lips. He later signed a confession
and gave it to the sheriff.

“Once again the elevator shaft
was used for the gallows. The
elevator was never installed.

Seatence commuted

“Richard ‘Preacher’ O'Neal was
Supposed to hang on Nov. 3, 1919, for
murdering his wife. The Tope was
erected in the elevator shaft and
O'Neal was headed for a neck,
Stretching when word was received
that the governor had commuted his
Sentence to life imprisonment.

The sheriff left the noose hanging
there for five years — until Barber's
execution — as a warning.

The last hanging at the jail was
scheduled for April 22, 1927. Nate
Harris was convicted of a double
slaying on Oct. 5, 1995. But one
month to the day before his sched-
uled execution, he tore up his
blanket, tied one end around a ceil-

y lynchings ;

ing bar and the other around his
neck, executing himself in the
privacy of his own cell.

“Your newspaper said the reason
he didn't leave a note probably was
‘owing to the fact that he could not -
write,’ which I thought at the time
was a brilliant deduction. Shortly
after that, the state decreed
inhumane and went to the electric
chair. 7 ¢

Well, that's it, any more ques-
tions?”

Rope-cutting rumor

“Yes, there is,"’ I said. ‘I've heard
a rumor that one sheriff didn’t want
to cut the rope himself, so he ran it
outside across the old Inter-Urban
Street Car line and when a train ran
over it, the rope was cut, the man
was hanged and the sheriff didn't
have it on his conscience.”’

“That's a good one,” the wall said.
“It’s not true, but it's good. When
I'm gone, why don't you keep that

_ Tumor going, at least it will help me

be remembered.”

“In the new Public Safety Building
there won't be any executions, and
there won't be any more here either.
I guess those days are gone for good.

“Oh, there will be one more execu-
tion... mine.” ;


pounds. He had whitei-h-ycliow
emair, a full round face, a florid com- death Warrant and asked him if ho had |

——_— Oe

.
ee
ee

Y EVTaSiiaug

as

WEEKLY FATARLISNED

wt

: i

DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY. JAN
oo a eee

ommer

27, 1

vaky

SS ce

ial,

881,

for the present they are withheld,
He was dressed in asuit of black

a was in good spirits, and with earnest.

| Frederick Kester, ‘the new spoke hizhly of the treatment he

bad received while in the jail. As the
Wife-murderer, is eriver loft hin’ Kestor extended his
-. + Killed,

band, aod Warmly bade him Roud-byo,
During the day he saw sovera! vie
‘ itors, The ministers ot tho Gorman

By the Law for the Merciless] me:todiat, the Leet, eet eongre
+ Butchery of Minnie, Se eational churches had called on iw ;

‘ but be prefored 10 wee the Lutheran
_.». His Wife,

@inater, 4.

The doomed man passed a restless
FULL ACCOUNT OP RIS night. He was up and down at in-
EXECUTION TO-DAY. tervals, and conversed with callers
hata and with the guard, saying nothing
F 4 needa . | dew, however, bearing upon the crime,
petails of a Most Revolting end In This morning at 8 o'cloek hé took his
: aman Marder, breakfast and ate but little. At that
. hour the Rev. Ernst Martin, of the
‘The Murder, he Geltows ang the Law. Luteran church called on him, and

* Spent au hour with him.
Frederick Koster was bang io thie! At qyejy he dressed himself in a
@ity to-day for the murdor of his wife, | neat suit of black with whito shirt
mear Bactley, Tilson the bight of jand black tie He ate no dinocr. At
Aggun 21,1879. The crimo, as do- | 12:15 he came into the dining-room

nce ne oe Ne

. \tailed below, was One of tho most re-|and soon afterwards returned to his

tieg crimes in the annals of erime. } cell and precurcd his hat. In his full
Whe execution dicw to the city an im- | suit be looked fresh and Vigorous and
f people frum all por-/ very little like a murderer. In an-

tions of the surrvaniin;, country aod /swer to a question by the writer he

‘every traio arriviog on the several | said: “I slept well last night.”
“weads, brought additions to the num-| At 12:20 the attending minister
Of poople in the city. Tho crowd ' engaged in religious services, in which
baged the sireets and crowded {ho manifested sume interest. These
od the jxil aod about the Incloaure | services continued until 12:30 and wero
Which the execution took place. held ia the dining room of the jail.
Frederick Kestor was in his Slt

h was 18 Fears of Ont. | *be diniug room wes led to the gral.
‘ Kester was a German, short andj lows. The Rev. Mr. Martivutprecded
Udly bailt, and 5 fest 4 inches high, | him, He walked alone, and wan tol-
weighed one handred and on lowed by Depuy Gregory and Jailer
Lister, Deputy Gregory real the

D, and steady blae eyes. Much anythiog tu say why sentence should
Kreater part of his head;was in not be Performed. Ia a low ,tuno he

p indicated a stubboro disposition, do it, and I never did.” The minister
th @ tendency to act firmly but say then made a prayer in German, ooo
little : and yet he did not look like a j clading with the Lord's prayer.
maa who would casily commit murder.| At 12:55 he tovk bis position on the
ia face was unshaveo and his whi-k-/ trap and Jailer Lister bound his bands
were short but curly as if civeciy | ®bilv Deputy Gregory bouad lis feet,
ipped. then adjusted the rope around bis neck
He gave toa repre-eotative of this) in the usual maneer, aod at 12 5s,
per yesterday a fu!l and willing ao- | Chicago time, the trap-door’fell.
Gant of the details of the uffairas ho} Tho pulse was as fullows: Ist mio.
ted they were. He denied all | ute, 70; 2d minute not Riven; 31 min-
and feelingly conounced the in- | ute, 64; 4th nioute, 30, scarcely per-
jertico of hanging him fur 8 crimo | ceptible and irregular; 7th minute, lit-
jeh be pover committed. He said it | tle pulse and tremor of -Mascles; Sth
had made him feel bad, but be Wasget-| minute, barely percoptible At tho
tieg over that, aod felt bad only at} end of the &th minute, tho attending
times. His frame trembled an ho de- physicians, Dry, Bartoo, Morehouse
tailed his finlinz of the body and the| aod Leavitt, Pronounced him dead.
indications of the crime; and he be-| Ninth minute, v0 pulae. Ho died
came almost wild with anger an ho| slowly from strangulation, the neck be.
poke of the trouvles with his father. | ing unbroken. .
-law, and rebearsed somo converaa- At 1:12 the body was cut down and
with the old gentleman in which placed in @ plain black coffin. It was
eats were mado by the latter to kill | exposed to the view of the people for a
Misnie and himself (Kester). He | tine, aod thon buried at Spring Hill
ptalted very freely and drew a plan of | cemetery, north of the city.
Bouse and its surrosndings, ani TRE GALLows
Tern, WhOw the falecbood and | Upon which ine eefertunate man was
'radictory sia:emests of Barmaster executed, im @ structure substantially
hen giving evidence sgsinst him. | aod Plaoly built. The main portion
t plag ie now in the writer's POs- | of it has dune service bofore, In 1879
peeaion, and, slthough rade, gives a| a criminal way executed with it at
‘g0od idea of TP vurroundings Ae atated Newport, Ind, and two others made
97 Kester. their Bual leap from it at Varia, 111,
Much has been ssid about hie wowil-} It consists of two pright posts about
lingzese and isability to talk. To tho eighteen foet in length. Around these
writer he talked Willioxly and freely,| aboe: seven feet six inches from the
d plainly enough to be well under. groued Is built » Platform tes foot
ood ‘one having @ slight know! square. Frow this leading oaat to the
© writer oply bad window Ip tho jog in the aorth wall of
to draw | the jail is built So olevated walk. This
the crime] window Communicates with the kitobeo,
it, He retotd | and this with the laterior of the prie
. Through this window the con.
with him and that/ demeed maa was brooght and lead
y | slong to the walk to the platform aad

rope Wea passed and tied through a
Vistually abowing its| elmiler ring sboat two fort from the
OB@ Of the 19th inet. | Gres, f

The trap-door fe tour feet equare and
He made many made of beavy lumber. It ba hinged
the abore, bat to that portion of the platform next to

eat of bis ears, and his general make- said: “I have all the time said I didn's |

| Kester yesterday stated, now bolonged

tho jail, and was hold in placo by a
Pope attached to an arm extoudins

Clothes and a dark woolen shirt. He from tho sido o posite that to which

the hinges are alizod. This Topo was
tied to une of the Uprights, thus secur.
ing the trap-door in its place,

A rope was brought from St. Louis,
and wus alleged to havo been manu-
factured expressly for the purpuss,
That rope was tested yesterday, and om
the fire trial it broke. A sack Gf eand
weighing 160 pounds was attached to
it, and allowed to drop. The ropo
bore tho socund trivl, but feanay to
tirk the St. Louis tops, Deputy Gregory
procured anuther yeutc rday, Which swod
all tests, and it wan usod to-day.

Tho iuclosure is eighteen by forty.
four fect, and is built of pine boards»
tweuty feet long. It adjoins the jail
on the north sile, the prison wails
forming one side and Partof one end of
it, To the east cud was a door, thruuzh
which thone having pares wero admit.
ted to tho execution. ‘Through this
door many persona Kazed at the gal.
lows for many days prior to the execu
tion, Nearly all of sesterday @ curious

as of meo, gathered in frout of this
door and within the inclosure and: crit.
ically viewea the gallows, and talked
Of the execution, and of what they
imagined the feelings of the condemned

hiv to return early next morving and
aid ber in doing ber weekly ironing

Kua, already mention d, and which she
and Sophia had the Previous vveoing
observed setting in the bedrvom, lying
Upon the flor broken ia two pices;
she als» found blood Spattered upon
the fluor aud against the walls of the
sitliox-rood, agd also against the ride
of the door in the Partition separat-
ing the two rooms, of which the houre
Conristed. She became alarmed, aud
calling tor Minuie and Koster, but re-
ceiving bo reply, she ran howe wnd re.
ported what she had seen: Her father
OF once started towards Kester’s house
jand @as jrived on the way by some of

bow neighbors, When they arrived at

the howe they found maticrs as de-
seribed: by ‘Curslioe The bed had

heen eoiled bur showed no signs of
any strugele, Bloo! was found upon
ee floor and opon the walls, while the

ertting-room waa fairly covered with
marks of Lioody hands and blood aa
it had flowed from aome wound. The
shot con was ying upon the floor,
Seok in two feces, and ou the bed

throeg, cousisiiug aa well of fa side of the partition door towards the

man might be; while within in the | roow wide of the door wers indenta-

south row of cells, on the tirst floor, nat tions made by

Frederick Kester, apparcotly calm aud
uncoucerned.
THE Chula

At 12:50 the condemned man was, for which Frederick Kester waa to ay |
+ Hie wife at the timo of ber led from the jail, and passiog through | executed was committed in the town. |
‘Si [rsecutetw

| the night of tho 21st of Auyust, 1879
It was one of the mnae more}

“teas and
| iubuman murders koown in the history
of crime.
The particulars rurtouoding the case,
| as developed oo the Uial, were gub-
| stantially as follows: One year and
threo days before the inurdor, av stat.
jed by Kenter himself, on yesterday, he
| was married to Minnie Barmaster, near
| Gilman, Ill, Mingie at that timo ho.
tog 17 yeare uf aye. He aad hin wife
| fora time lived in the house awonpicd
by Jobn Burmaster, Mirnie’s father,
and his family. At an carly period in
their married life it Sppears, they had
frequent troublen, among others, cer-
tain onos caused ty Kester ou ao-
count of cortain expenditures niade by
Minnie fur articles of dress,

) About March Ist, 1879, Kester and
his wife moved from Gilaan to a
small farm near Buckley, which be
bought. This farm c@utained eleven
and one quarter acres, and at tho time
of the marder there was only one pay-
ment of $100 back on it. This farm,

to one of bis attorneys, of Watseka.
Io @ short time Kestor’s father-in-law
moved from Gilman, and settled on «
farw adjoining Kester’s, aud tho old
troubles between thom came up agaio
To add to their Complications a young
man livioz near Buckley commenced
peying bes attentivos to Carvlise Bur
master, sister to Minnie, aod was for.
biddeo her company by bor father.
Caroline met bor suitor at Kester's at
differrent — timen, Mr. Burmaator
caught him thero in hor Company about
three woeks boforo tho murder, and
scene occurred. During tho atterca
tion Burm.anter and Keater mado re-
marks conceroing each other pot ea.
tiroly complimentary to cach other,
and efter Murmaster had gone away
Kester remarked that ho would “do
sumothing soon that would make that

Sopot Neteaia in Troquois county, on!

y Violeat erokeon with it,
Further search re Vealed the mark of a

bloody hand Upon a Corner of the .

hou, and tay Poole of blood near the
chopping block where Kester bad al |
Wayshept hit ace. The body was
wore dificul to tind, nor was it dis.
) covered unul a shy pherd doz was call.
ledand led to the pools of blood, from
which be sooa struck the trail, and
shordy atterwards camo npon the life
less body of Minsiv Kester, lying a tow
| rol south of the house, The body
j Wan dressed in night cluthea only, and
these were dawn clus: ly up under the
arow. On the ‘ft ene of the neck
{and lower jaw was a wound produced
j by a ohare: of hot, and on the head—
j left sido~ were five or six. wounds
Tprodneed Be merdinu, Uiowe from ao
axo which was found about three paces
fromthe body, tho pole being covered
with blood. Sono of tho blows had
fractured the bones of the head.

Kester could not bo found. Ove of
his bores was cune. Ip the slerping
room was foun! a wo'oin his hand-
Writing steliog sMoog other thioga,that
“Hed it not been fur the old man
[meaning Mr. Burgaster) this would
not have occurred,” and ulao making
800 allusion tw alleged attempt of
her father to induce her to separate
from him,

Tho news of the murder opread
tapidly, and bad Keater been fouod
ho would without doult’ have beou
lynehod. His flicht and tho attendant
curcumstances ‘poicted to him as the
author of the murdor,

The incidents of the murder as ind:

cated by all the CHeEM tances seem to
have beca about as follows: 3

Kester and his wife had conn to bed
alter bis sisters returned to their father's,
sod none dispute had araen between
them. Minnie Probably jumped cut
of bed, possibly with the jotontion of
going to her father's, when hor hayband
seized the gun and shot hor, am already
described. The wounded woman then |
ran into the front roum and In her dee
pair attempted to hold the door agaivst
bor merciloss porsuer. Striking it
with the gue ant throwing himelf
ageiont it, he ford it acainat ber,

Commaaity open its cys,”
About this time Keater borrowed «

bis neighbors, making protense that
the mush-rate were killing bis chickens.

She thea ran out of the house, and
pasiog tho corner, placed her bloody
haod egainst it. Her murderer pur.
sued her, and as bh» reached the chop-
plog block, seized the are and deal

The house ie which Koster lived, ia
8 ema! trame building aitoated aear
aad on the east alde of a road runsieg
Berth and sosth oe the went side of
ble farm already meationed, The
frowt part was used as siting room,
while the rear one served Ae © sleep.

maleed until asa 10 O'clock, whee

her a crus! blow Spon the head, felling
horto the ground. Btruggliag again
to ber feet, be sgain parsued ber and
mode certain bis Scadish work of death.
After abe expired he drag ber body to
the apot where it was found.

Tt te not deemed netemary here to
detail the alleged facts in the matter as
given by Kester himealf yesterday to 0

who vielted him a4 the jail, It le prop
or to sate, however, thas daring that
interview he desied a! guilt, and ve

horas away. Jle

Vo the morning of the 22d, in purau- | Jaze named Clitton
ance of her Premve, she weut to Kos.
ter'a bowse betore it way entirely day. | tho rulwoy track

She feund the doure of the house /aorth (Chelan, ),
“pen, and entering whe fi und the shot] trary for Chicago.

ed bis horas and

sumed nawe, ana

sherif of Troguvi

mob wan feared at

at the water tank iy

| tho train, and in
sheriff walked to a
ed up.

Alter hin arrest
coficting accounts
doings on the bibt

of which is set forth in an alti davic
~ printed further on in thee

which
columns,

ere M
An indictment wos found against |,
him at the November teria of the Ero. | county afore

qao's county eireuit

day of November, 1479),

STATE oO

Taogrors County,
OF the November term of the Iroqucie | more fy
county court, in the year of yur lord one ch

thousand eight hun ire
The ¢

the name and by the au
vt the diate of Lilieus
Present, that Frederick
feed ouounty on ile’

August ta he Year of our Lord, IATY, om the

| tuwhebip of Artesia,

ow and State of Jassuues,
Minuie Keater in the perc

ple, thea and there

then aud there bold ip

malice a rethought,

the shot gun @foresail,

end there felonisusly
wmice aforcinuugtt,
and wound, aud that

£40 10 his hande. then
held im aod upon the
Minnie Ketter, dad the
there with » certain ag,

bead of ber, the sad

Minnie Koster sever
Uruimea she, the said

and county Jas afere,
erand jurore afirena

ship aud county afore

of August, in the year

Kester, a certain shit

shoot off ta, again

aforeeald out of th
aed there by force
waid diecharged and ah

her, the maid Minnis

im oeck enete made and

hemenrly Protected his Innoceson

: ~
the murder. fo rode dne vf hie own | and wound, Kiving to the said Minnie

Weut into Iowa, thence iato Kao-as, “ and year last aforeng
and thence to Mawn City, Towa, near | errs, ualawtully, ere, a
which he was working under BO an | such cases, made and Promded, and a

arcested September 22d, INT The

him from Masuo City September 25h
and lodved him to jailat Wateks. A

oe
Was adopted by which be was rately
lodyed in jail, The train was stopped

of town, there he Won removed frum

tawfuliy, wilfully, te ontously and of hie

said Frederick Kester, with the asst gn,

1y, eto,, strite, heat aod wound, and thet adn és d
the said Fredetice Kester, alpy thea and | wee made, And rante

and there taken and bell in ant upon ihe

sfuresail, do say that the ssid Frederca | the house of deponent, and
Kester io the manner ead fori Sforewid, on | BeDt wont away frum the jbouce sub anid
the day aod year lest afvresart, al the tuwa: | Gerad, ead that wan shout Y o'clock ie she

the lownship of Attenia, ia ihe om
Iroquois, in and “poo one Minaie Ke
the peace of the People then ant there te
ing, aod then and there UBlawfally. ete,
Mmakr an aeweult, and thet the aaid Preterieok

loaded with gue Powddr and leaten sh 4. | that ead Ueree therev pom wal
which ahe: gun he then and there held im hie} withia Mi pnts ef tbe house
bends, did valawfully, ete dise harge and

maid Minnie Kester, and with lomtem shot | into the road about @ or hf

Sad wpon the side of the deat end jaw of
Keater, then and there
felomiounty, wilfully, ere, did Ptrite. pene
trate’ Wound then and there with the

eferenait,
Mianle Kester, 414 ealawfally, ote. bill and
murder sestrary (0 the form of the stacute wocent of the crime

, pif. | {OPP Bed there with the sbetgua aforesaid,
Went to a amall vil nent several mortal wounds aad bruises, of
» Where be aband.n- | w; Ch mortal wounds aud bruises sbe, the

theo walked slong
to the next station
where hoe tuck a»
From Chicago he

atthe county
‘and mur

@ sintute ig

caine

farm Iaboror when |! Henity of she sane bevple of the cise
’

BTATE oP ILLINOIS,
Trogvose Cor aTy, }a

raed jurore aforesail, ete. w

8 sforesail. do farsher Prevent tha

of ead coum.

i County removed

Watuka, and a Tue

| dle then and there teing, did thew and there
the western past | nts fulle, ete, make an assault; and thas
do bre tench Kester, with o« certals

hohe the eaut brederich Kester a
his bande then and there bad and held, ia

Company with the

€ jail and was hk the heal of her, the paid Minole

er, did thea ant there tolawfully, rte,
wribe, beat and my, und. giving te the and

be Kare at least two} Minnie Kester then and there with
Afutesail,  ervergl mortal wou

ot bis concuce and Meise, of whieh ead martal

of the murder, one |b

i.
she the said Minnie Kester, on
4 yesr fast af resail, atthe ex
hed. And ew the rand jurors
pon their oath aforesaid, do eay
Fretericy Kester, ber, the anid
mB macrer ant form afore
em the dar and Year aforemait, at the
1, unlawfully, et . did ot
. and murder, eontrar to the form of the
court, on the tih aes in such aoe made and provided,
and ngsinst the Peare and dignity of the
came people of the Mate of Trevose.

November 1h Keater’s counard
Fwrule on the preecution be
cone Under which of the above counts

¥ ILLINOIS, }
me,

1 and soventy uine |

sud jurora, chosen, setected and [1 the inditment the case would be
work tm and for the COUHLY Of Lrg

Yds. 18! Drecuted The monog Wee over-
thority of the people

°. Un ther mathe | ruled by the court Tha counsel thes
Kener, Inte of the | :

beeniy-ere in day |

Sts, ganda: tdest twafetment, and om

the JIeb thie neoD was overruled,

ta sant Now 17th the Precver was arraigned

uty of Ire.

he ad jee | and or quired ty plead, aud made the

wt then and! plea, “not yu ite. he the special term

bern

there uulastuily, wilfully, feluniousty, aad | ia non * ‘i *
of bis milace sforethuaght make an « naule, f th Ir salts oamty  Cirewis Cours
ted Liat tbe maid Frederik Kester. acerian | Coun~l for tho defeuse moved furs
shot gun them and there be ded with Een change of y hur from lev
powder aod lealen abot, which wt ot gun he wey ee ae

bis bands, dad uw [Judicial circuit, on Account of the proja-

dice allesed ty (dist Avainat Koster ie
lscharge and shoot of ry .

bee the avid Minoie Keater | tho Minds of the Judges of thay circuit

shot aforenaid, out of | ard the inh bitaats of fr, {P2008 co

unty
discharged and shot

Of ae Aleresast, tue said Minuse Kester ia] Phe chance of venus wae Kant, mud
sad upon the side of the bead of Ler, thea j the camo was seat (0 the Vermilice

wHMNY a Of te Sofia wt Co

Wh strike, peuoirare | OVD Cireut Court, ;

thea and there the} Ouihe 2d day ot May Kewor was
i brmght te thin ey and placed ia the
by County jal May Ith, May terta, a
tmoliow Aor @ coutinuance Of the caue
This mvtion,
as the law requires 'q such cares, was
Mindve Kester. then (*'P potted by an oMi Lavit, which,

aul there bad»

au bie bauds, then

and there dil further unlesfully, eto. atrike OW Certain Uuinteresting pottguns
beat aod wound then
lemon shot, vo direc
shoul gun ay afurenaid

Ho ibere with the
reed fron the maid
A with the maid ote

Wat ad fulluwe,

Frelerick Kester being duly ®Porn, states
“pon cath that he eanaot oalely proceed te
al aU the present tera of the coart, owin

Dortal wounle ant

Urutees, of which said mortal svunde ant | to the aleewce uf material eitnemes tn be

Minuie Kester, un the | bebalf Deponeut stares that be can prove

day and year laxt aforesaid, at the ¢ venchip | by eee Nugust Geta thet on the wight mbes

maid, died, anden the | © murder was clamed to b
4, upon thew oaths | mitted, the ead August Get

been com.

wail, did Uniewfully, | evening; that at the tiie there was ne other

etc, kill and munder Contrary to the form of | Persea prevent at the house *Erept the de
the statute in such ease male aud provided, | comed Minnie heater, aod that ot thet
agaiust the peace aud dignity of the | tine she, Minnie Kester
samir people ofthe State of Ihinvis well, That when Gete

RTATE OF ILLINOIS '
Iaoqvoi Courty F foc
Aodt the grand jurore aforesat. ete :do fly
farther present thet the seid Predesich Ken
ter, late of the aid county, om the td

distance from the ouse they obeery
Hace from the highway inte the

of car Lond ys

mum then aed there | sited ent where Minnie kh

°°
heard the ecream ant discharge uf « gun;
stent wpom the | iba be eee 8 MAN Come oul of the corefleld

gan aforeesit then |b ruse, aot weld person
the euspower efire | Thie mae the eaid tier
Ob of Os aforesast in

7 8 8
ll wee perteetty

Vredertek K enter.
Tile depowent says thet be be eosively le.

guest him
Provided and ageinst (he tedietment ta thie cumee ; thet on

|.
ber, the said

the ead dignity of the some te of Bight whee Minnie Kester sume to her dash

tne bossa of tae nm 4 opent the evening wu Ages

STATE OF ILLINOIS, Octee 04 depement's boas, vhere the anid

Iscevers Coerry }= Minnie Kester one to ber death} thet aban

An@ the greed Jorers aforesaid, ot , de | 9 o'clock im the jm eserpney with mid

farther prveemt thet the onid Predesioh Kea 4 Ovtee bef the bese and pope.

ter, ote. om the TB day of Avgust. ote. ie od worth te the place where Getse pas.

end wpen one Miaate Kester. im the peace Sod. © short @istanes from depeatst’s hows,
of the onld poeple, thee

i
i

sbeat one urfle distant, @s
whieh be, tbe said mld Getse in the rend weer whore he
he heeds then and | Depoeces wee abeant fog sheet tee
Nd tm wed mam heb emd cotmnnt eww,


* Serene eee
_iperencon ttre gerins

THE DANVILEE COMMERCIA THURSDAY JANUA RY-27, 188]
ee. :

eee |

DANVILLE. ILE.

te fectede in'car report certain
rebtive to Keorer’s leat a
St. These we give ‘briefly to-
se LR ee
kf ScO8 The evening befiew the exeeation,
SS }Rkuieer ate bes tine. Aboet 8 e'clocs
hb tetired to Bis cell where he tay for
Bhome time, then Rot Up sed emnked »
» wed then ly down Qgain. Ho
: &s good spirit: a9 gens), and
Would at times become very talkative,
© F abways declaring his innucence, At 4
Tbe wont to his ceil, where be Temaio.
. Sed eatil 19 v'clock, midnizh, part of
the time being apparently asleep. It
Wes niticed that be moaned a, if in
i “greet agony. Eis sleep was troubled.
=~ © Aboat 10 o'clock p. m. be
{) mupeavoanp to potson HIMSELP
< With’ a large dose of mer hine, but
© Without effect. His fuiluro wan caus
, @@ by tho unusual exciemont end
~ -) great strain up.n bis nervous aystem.
<4 At will be remembered thas on Laat
-Mooday the sheriff changod him from
, the onli then occupied by him to an.
é and procured a new suit ot
,- Sothos, which he wore until the time
+ @t bis execution, No poison was then
' " found in bis possession, He hil con-
@raled it in his slipper, Tho dose of
_ Morphine had the effect to make him
¢ Very thirsty aod resthes, Had there
bese a little more of it, the execution.
, @'s service would not havo been nocd-
@d yesterday,
From 2:30 a. m. to 8 he restiod Quiet.
By and slept come. Prior to 2:30 sev
@al representatives of the pross called
“ea biw, but he communicated Dothing
“to thom. At8:3U am he ates hear.
ty breakfast; before eatiog, however,
he tok a drink of spirits, aod com.
“plaieed of great thirst aod a severe
og Weadashe, « He seemed very impatient
: ete thove who bad remained near him
© darieg she vight,
"Is may interest some to know thar
efure bis arrest in Lowe, he aiompted
@4 three diScrovt times to

at the execatiun|
‘Bre vit pasiilvs 2s to wheber of not}.

| Kester deni to the last his guilr)
+ kod these Is sothleg about the case!

5° ead exnnot be explained under the
Ri.’ Bheory of bis tuscvense. Mis confict-

the same thing before and been ?

; abd afterwards shown to

°F Bese8 boos tne by the iction tee

ra @? .coafenion of others, Only a fe ES ann
nee Woemente before Kester was takes frem ; “

czy) + Me prince, hie attendact minister said

Ate the wilter Braly aed positively in

ley he ts tarccent, entirely inae
~ “ya t i

4i'- {Mou think, thea, be ts not guilty?
<f' Bia le aot guilty; be ts inncceat,

SA Renter; tn anever to 8 question by

a> the Sater old, What Lrold you yee

Me is trae, all tree. 1 never dove

ej X aan got gaitty. That to all tree.

‘ poked if he

thing os the hk
“Ldve'L knees, Lean’t say anything

ord shia 3 have said. The


symghzhivers in sald comaty, and
ef no person te whom be could
be could resom ta
|, to Rasiet making bis de
% Loreta father was at the time resi-

aahingtoa cousty im the state of
Kanes * * ~ But on account ofthe
great prejodice and existing

a

i

——

taat sta-
ted totbe death of paid Minnie, the sajd
Burmaster was in the babit of drinking In-
foxteating Mquore to excves at times, and
very freq iy wg fh 4, aod
in ouch state he, said Byrmacter ar, tae

uarrelzome, sad evea very dangerous,
and on several different occasivus Uuring the
time last mentioned &he ecail Lurmaster
bh J to Kil affiggdé aud a so to kill the

tgninst him im aaid Iroquois county the cir-

confined in the Iroquois county jail antil:
Ghoat the 2d of May, 1680, wheu he was ta-
ken from said jail aad confined tothe couoty
Jail of Vermilion county by the sheriff of
troquais couaty, and hes remaiued in said
fast mentioned jail ever since the time last

id pting only to be 4 to
this court for trial. During all the time lest
aforesaid ke has had no means of commuai-
eating with any persons or friends in, aym-
Leaty oe him but as affient is informed
and believes, the prejudice existing against
him imaaid Irequois county was so great
that @ mob force of armed men was once or-
ganized to rescwe affiant from said county
jail to lyxcb bim and bill him and that said
prejudice bes in no manner abstet until at
the preweat time, but on the contrary every
aet of afhant, and every word spoken by bim
this | fr at least s year before the death of said
be- | Minnie, bas been construed by the persous
witneering the same as indicating the guilt
of effiant of the murder of said. Minnie, and
fortified by this unjust prejudice against
nfhant the prosceuting attorney of said Iro-
quole county was enabled to array against
athant, ashe is informed a very large num-
ber of persone at the trial of eaid cause in
thie court to testify to what they heard, saw,
thought, felt, and wanted te secure the cuon-
victiog Gf affiant of: nald charge. Aa altiant
is informed, shout thirty were brought from
said In quols eo.
whom knew no
cumatances of the death of said Minnie, ex-
cepting only the prejudice they entertained
aguinet aftiant, but were brought to this court
an aforesaid for the express purpore of prej-
udicing the minds of the peeple of thie com-

? : Scars ‘ebidieg and orderly citizen. De
4 + pee a) ef mo other witnesses whem be
€88 produce to testify te the same state of
afurs, except one Juba Beekman. Said
‘witneasts are now and have been for a num- 4 v
ber of pears residents of Gilman. ry munity agutest-affisnt, and especially the
[Bere follows an sooount of issuing of sub- | Minds of the jurors empaneled to try causes
poses for the lact mamed witnesses and cf | * this term of the court, and as affiant is in-
The

returned ‘‘not served,”” formed, the stery of the death of said Minnie

eatd Groes jo | vee £ the
material to prec Bec on srdigell prog oiry of Danville for several dave privr to the
OEE

commencement of tbe trial of said cause, and

- Depenent . he G the story thus related fized the guilt of oaid
thet on the prot ay agar . ute obarge upoo affiant in a mget uvjust manner,
4 to haze been committed, and at the time

bat ow the 25th day of hie 18s), aaid
. when the rd cause was called for trial and a jury empan-
‘Was soca gpa ay by ny eled and the trie] proceeded to a verdict on
from where deponest: reskied ; ‘aad the morning of the 2sth of October, 1440.
are of whom depo- bs s i - .
keeosledge by whom be can prove
on’ the same will be hy the prose
ed. «Within the past 8 months
bas left Lroquvis county and
@ounty of Dul’age as he {s in-

Hy

Affiant says that he is inf.rmed for severa!
months last past, and fur some time privr tu
the death of aaid Minnie, be was unconscious
of hia true situssion or relativa to vthers;
that bis eonduct was such before the death
of sald Mionle that it excited the suspicion
ofs number of persons; that afhant was nut
in the possession of hin mental faculties, and

a

he

believes.
Hews follows 0 statement concerning the
issue ofa subpaneto LuPage county, and

al

{anid Minme that anvd Caroline and Felbeding

said Minnie if she would out Irave effisnt, or
if she persisted in living with alail “Any
longer. Athaat also furiber states that du-
ring the time last named, one Louis Felde.
hing, @ young wan living near Buckley, Iii-
nols, wan payiug attention to or courting 006
Caroline Burmaster, a dy oghier of said Jobo
Burmaster, sr., and said Burwaster, a, was
bitterly opposed to the practice that paid
Feibeding theo bad of visiting raid Uarohne,
and refused to allow vaid Louis to come to
ble, said Burmaster's house, and said Uaro-
liae after such refusal, at various times vis
Mted affiant’s homse tu meet said Felbeding,
all of which wasconirary to the wishes uf |! .
said Barmaster aad which he biiterly uppow |).

ed ; and om or about the middle of July,
1879, said Burmaster, or. to'd the ssid Min-
nie, in the presence of affiant, that if she
continued to barbor the sad Uarclive at ber
house, or encourage her, the said Caruline,
in coming to said Minnie'’s houre to meet
said Feibeding that be, the said Burmaster,
would kill her the maid Minite, and thet he
would put affisut oul of the way; and foal

ly, only « few day before the death of said
Minnie, the said Burmaster, fF came to said
Minnie’s house in the evening and found
aail Felbeding there in compauy with said
Caroline, and then and there the sal Bur
master told said Felbedting that if he ever
caught bim with said Caroline again thet he
would kill him; and this fact or the sub
staace thereof. the weid Felveling testified to
on the trial of said cause; awl tbe said Bur-
master then aod there told atiant aod said
Minnie thet it wap the fault o

Was permitied to visit togeiher at uffeut's
house, and that Le would avenge him-elf of
the wrong thus dove tu bium, aud aa aihent
verily believes, it wasthe consummation ot
thie threat that resulted in the death of raid
Minnie; and verily believes, though the eaid
Joho Burmaster, jr. ia bitterly opposed to
@ffiant, and would do all in tis power to
shield hin said father, yet if be, the said
Joho Burmester, je. ahell be placed om the
Bitness stand and submitted san examina
tion, be will establish the guilt of bis father
of the murder of sail Minuie, but the ad-
missions of nail John Burmester, jr. never |
caweto affienut’s knowledge till after sail
trial, and therefore Le was entirely unable
te procure the evidence of the facts above
stared,

AfSant further atates that no list of jurors
was ever given to him or hie counsel contain-
ing the names of @ traverse jury, nor no list,
writing, set of names, of paper purporting
to be, or contain a list of w petit jury, was
éver nbown, handed to, oF received, of seen
by afbant or his counsel ag require! ty the
statute in such case proviffed,

Rot aMiant further vaya that the raid John

| the failure om the part of the sheriff to re-| particularly one Charles Myer and David Burmaater, jr. is eo bitterly opposed to af
tera lt. - 4 7 orereereretant, anit i fin the protection of bis

Mone of the wi herefn janed || Miller, residents of Deimard, Ilinoie, and [father, that it is impossible fur afiant to pro

William Falbeding of Wateeka, Illinois, who [eure or produce the affitavit of «ait Jobo

formerly lived {u the neighbor hvod of affiant,
had noticed euch acts and coaduct of effient |
thag Induced them te believe that affiant was
net ia possession of bis meutal faculties;
but affiant cays be was not aware of the
eplaion of gaid parties in reapect to afiant ax
aforesaid, and did not know what particular
defense was golng to be urg:d in oe behalf

@ posi-

oe AR Ha BARE A 4

ication is not mate fur delay,
may bedone, -
FRED KORSTER,

apogee Pa etry

vpon the trial of sald cause except t
tive dgnial of said charge, whicb t mays

OP oes j noe aaid tri Lis
Baa pet of th ove ant |e try erates von Fe
@ which parports . had been acquainted with affiant
has to be a statement of} peding, whe nalated with afiant
Ge ecm ofthe mand wo | rt NF taeda
pr ttoh ta evidence against Keator at | qact of affient before sald time, was theu,
ce pe be on fee ot pe
E o
at £8 October term the caso. came vaveasitle for b og wese are vig be
ga fortridl. The cass was cailed Oc- | that being situated as heretofore stated, be
ei ey F d ber little of what has oc
“tober "35th. A jery —_ ting - a Ito him 1 0 eee haweadlaialy aur-
Caled, Albert, George Woolsey, H-

<, Marxmiller, Wo. j\W. Lovo, Jus. i.

eras chonae dethoat mech’ delay, The ale a
Sgelat “dontinted : until the mornieg of | Goon’ “Sink ;
2ouh  whes a verdict of guilty was | ed to widow ouse and rapt
aa bean bea,cte Verdict was  bmeeie ie the
Are fore, ¥

i

“We, the jury, | Fetbeding, who was then in exld house, in

her attention te ata mental conditioe

and she, the sald

Sk ioe for «new tris) and is ar.
Yost of Judgmens wee at once made by
~ Reses’s pi aininte +

ak he wes doing a the time,
the circumstances hereto’

any ef seid’
Oe patos best will
Tore,

2 teber

rounding him, and therefore did not know
of the opinion entertained by any of said
1, Philips, Jacob Ernst parties reludive be Stee aco prorat
Leno; Jobo H, aco! Tost, | but now, as affiaat ie ipformed sa: eves,
ast iskeia: Joba’ Seth, jr J. W, | eaid Willhelmens Felbeding will teatify that
: 7 e* '* Lom one particular ocoasion which occurred

w deys before the death of sald Min-
ppeared at the house of sald Fel-

on a pleasent afternoon when the
f ald house were open, and Frases

‘ons | county jail

bh ex-
Se } the, defsadans guilty ta myancer harder wie aad tus anstents ead snlovess o’clock in the afternoon of the twenty-
4 of CBatged ra the indictment, | of the eald Pelbeding, aad particularly called

ilbelmens Felbediag,
then became fully convinced thet efiant “
fore | said Frederick Kester shall be taken

Burniaster, Jr. to the facta above stated,
i FRED KOSTER.
Bubecribed and eworn to this Srd lay of
November, IsNO
GEO DILLON, Clerk,

The moticn fur a new trial was over-

rul
anything to may why judymentshould
not.be provouveed sgaiort him. THe
cited the court to certaio scriptural
referencys commending a practice of
mergy. He
tiwe tour mercy was when Minnie was
being murdered. tle was then sen-
tenced to bo hung on January 2)s!,
at 1 o'clock p. wm. Le received hix
sentonce with almo-t stolid indiffer-
ence, nnd roturved to the jail, The
order entered of record, was as ful-
lows:

It in, the-efure, urdered and adjudz-
ed ty the court that the defendant,
Frederick Kester, be romanded to the
of Vermilion
whence he came, and there conflocd io
safo and-sécure custody uatil one

AL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

e3, and Kester was a-ked if be bad|

wan reminded that theh~

ebunty, F

first day of January, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eizht buudred aod
cighty ove, at which day and hour the

jz

3
?

pe

A

esa

fiir
2xPseg
# uti

i
fi

|
B

F
st

L
ivi
3

Barmas-| well bo. The verdict of the jury met

eway, orl with universal approbation, and the

Med Juba | punishment ie regarded by all as jast

H

The evidence of the prosecution, al.
heugh cotirely circamstautial, wax con-
clusive, as that kind of evidence can

well be without ite good influsnes.

eo aPe

t

Two buman lives havejbeen blotted
out, one by the hand of @ mardercr,
the other by the judgmeat of the law.
That law has been vindicated, anda
waraing, 8 solemn warning, to evil-
doers bas been given, aod it casot

Mrs. Barnard, the wife of a wealthy
tumberman of Greseville, Mich., enter
od the house of the Rev. Mr. Cartisr,
Daptiot minister st Lapeer, Micb.,
Sunday evening, while the reverend

rit

|

f

|

Fy

nays = caligphiany She throw

the
lag,
Usa

Cdvtles, 00 aged lady of 65, on

, poured gasoline on ber cloth-
end then set fs of Gre, Mrs. Cur-}.
was co horribly berned that she
died a few board efter, Mrs. Barnard
by some to be insane from re-

EA RELIES GTS


at

~~ famous who painted the great Preneh
£. picture dt the Prodigal Son.

His eyen are amall, and they will
look steadily in your face, finpres-inw
yon no further thao that they look and
look at you, without changing,” and
~ that te all. His forehead is yacant of
= apything that it imports save that ft
is unintellectual and speechless nau
2 dead oyster. He te cunning, with no

=| wpen a

LJ excitement. That be aboot what Fred-
jerick Keater is. :

He said be had bis suspicion of the
1 murder, of who the murderer was—
but it was all suapicion —all suepicion,
he repeated.

After @ panwe, and again picking
the ashes from hia lifeless cigaty he
aald the murderer was his father-in-
law; that he, himae!f, wore a No, 7
|gaiter, und that it wack No. 16 feat.
print stout the dead body.

fle said he hed wever had any
trouble with his wife “before,” on any
pecasion, exsept once, and thon ateut
some property matters.

Ile sald his reason for running away
was through fear, thal he went b>
Chicego first, and that he never
thought, before reachiog there, they
wonld pursue him aa the murderer,
and then the thought came to hin
that he would be pursued.

He said he atill haf bopes of a par-
don, of that be would not be executed
to-day. :

He aaid the itev. Mr. Martena, the
Lutheran mintater, had told him that
‘three hundred farmers abunt Wat-
223 gee were coming down here to rescue
him, to tear down the gailuws and
save him from the law.

His said he beard tie Governor had
sent @ regiment of troope here, to
guard the gailuws ;

ile said be preferred life impriaun-

ment to hanging; that he wanted to

Hee, hoving the fea! murderer would

be revealet. | + PA ee
He spoke tn high ae of Mr. and

Mra Lister —that y had treated

him as though they were his father

In anewer to the question direct,
what he thought, whes he saw hia
wife laying there befote him, wangied
antd dead, he faltered, tis lige and face

a eis


ate ee en ae

LINOIS,~ FRIDAY. MORNING, JANU

ef ty Lhe time of our vutt, but said |e Sie ; Pie ee 3 Pay may a . : . aan a

_of cigarettes handed him at the time,
and drank freely of water given him
by the tarnkey, thirety, ashe was, from
«fever naturally caused by seetiess-
ness andantiety, et.

He sald he waa tired, and he at first
ahbowed a taciturn and reserved dispo-
eitien,and an apparsot unwillia
neas to converse freely, He said he
had- been “bored” nearly all day yea-
Yerday, mostly by newspaper men, who
wanted to “puinp™ him and get his
“histerv;” thet the newspaper men
talked and talked, and be had nothing
tosaytothem, ----- :
| We told him our-tuniness with bim
was in the capacity of a newapaper
man, and we succeeded in making
him underatand fully our motive tn
visiting him. }

We asked him, directly
any statement that he wistied to be
roade public thia morning; not a con-
feasion necessarily, but anything else
he might wish to communicate.

His reply was that he head sald all
he wanted tothrough the newspapers.
He afterwards said, though a little
reluctantly at first, that what he had
to say, he would say at the gallows.
Again, some time afterwards, he un-
mistakably sald he would have some
thing to any at the hour of his execu-
tion. In answer ton question, he re-
plied that he thought he conld speak
English aufliciently plain te make
himaelf well understoud,

Se ea Cire Upon directly referring to the mus-
ec oigheter ate = : We ise der of his wife, he lapsed again into n
PAS Y Hsposition of silence; he had allowed
hia cigas to lose its fire, he drank from
the cup of water, and adjusted the
clotijag about him. He reached over:
head for «# match, and in doing so un-
consciously showed his fall) face and , : aie
the expression it wore. He has a B- ;: Re ee or a
weak mouth, that bears astriking re Be - Fe ay eh
femblance in its formation, and the
expreasion it iuipartea te his face, to

ey zge' the historic one that 4
fet FA oak re ater

#

Sih
Les


244 LEGENDS &.LORE

Judge Thomas C. Brown, presiding at this July session of the court, then
proceeded to sentence the prisoner.

The balance of John Killduck’s story is easily gleaned from the follow-
ing paragraph taken from the records of the court's proceedings: “It is
therefore ordered by the court here understanding all and singularly that
the said William Killduck be taken to the gael from which he came
and from thence to the place of execution on Wednesday next, the 14th
of this inst. between the hours of 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon and
there hanged by the neck until dead.” -

After the pronouncement of the sentence, the court adjourned, It was
Saturday afternoon. Killduck had been first brought to trial on Friday,
July 9. His second trial had been held on the next day, July ro, and
sentence had been passed. Four days later the career of John Killduck was
ended. The record book contains no further information of the fate of
Captain Thomas and Big Panther.

g OLD JAILS

WHEN NEW ILLINOIS counties were formed, it became necessary to have
county buildings. Strangely enough, jails held high priority on the new
county’s building program. In numerous cases, they were built before the
courthouses. A room to serve the needs of the county officials and to
house their meager records often was found “at the residence of” some
citizen. There were no places available, however, to serve as ready-made
jails, and it was necessary to erect them. |
In almost all cases, these buildings were small, separate structures made
of logs. They obviously were ‘ntended for security and not for comfort
or convenience. No indication has been found of a plan to heat one of
them. They were not meant for extended confinement of prisoners—
there was no such sentence as “ninety days in jail.” Jails were intended
only to hold culprits until a speedy trial could be held and those found
guilty could receive a prescribed number of lashes or could spend a cer-
tain number of hours in the pillory or stocks, or even could be hanged.
A number of specifications for early jails are found among the records ~
of older counties. Those for the jail erected at Brownsville, county seat of
Jackson County, in 1825, illustrate very well the manner of their building.
Perhaps it was better built than the average. On December 6, 1824, the.
County Commissioners Court of Jackson County voted to build a new
two-story jail-at Brownsville to replace the one erected when the county

Fohn W. Allen

This Special Edition

is published for members of the

ILLINOIS STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Ke

Legends
eS

Lore

OF SOUTHERN I1LLLNOIS

Occasional Publications, Number 53

ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Springfield, Illinois’
1964

Publications Editor: Ctype C. Watton, Executive Director

Area Services Division

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Carbondale, 1963

¢

6LQL ‘HL ATne II ‘ouTyseTeg pesuey *yN ‘uyop *yonqTTy

Law & Order 243
1819, and requested that his certificate given. by the Virginia court be
recopied because “From the long period since it was written... the

words are somewhat effaced and obliterated.” In addition to a copy of the
papers granted in Virginia, there is. added the information that Hamp
had lived on the Wabash near Vincennes for many years and that he was
a good citizen. The names of the other members of his family also are
listed. At the end of the records concerning Hamp on page nine, an
entirely different type of record begins. It relates to a murder trial and
indicates the speed with which justice was dispensed. The following is a
condensation of several pages.

On June 12 the sheriff was directed to summon twenty-three men to
form a grand jury and thirty-six men from whom required petit jurors
could be selected. These men were to assemble in the county seat, then
at Palestine, on July 7. They evidently were on time; the grand jury
returned its first indictment on July 8. This was against John Killduck,
Captain Thomas, and Big Panther, three Delaware Indians living in
Alliston Township. They were charged with the murder of a man named -
Thomas McCall a short time previously.

The next day, July 9, the three prisoners were “led to the bar” for
trial and pleaded “Not guilty.” A jury, composed of the men who had
been summoned for jury service, was impaneled and the trial began. It
ended on the same day with the verdict, “We the jury find the prisoners
guilty in the manner and form as they stand charged in the indictment.”
A motion for a new trial was immediately made. It was alleged that
the verdict was “contrary to law and evidence.” It also was alleged that
the indictment was defective. At this point, the judge must have decided
that a day’s work had been done. He adjourned court until seven o’clock -
on the next morning. hs

When the court convened on July 10, the judge ruled that the indict-
ment was defective and quashed it. On this same day, however, the
grand jury reassembled and returned another indictment against the
Indians. The judge then remanded Captain Thomas and Big Panther to
jail to await trial at the next session of the court. John Killduck was
immediately tried separately. The trial proceeded with all reasonable
speed. Before the end of the day, it had ended and the verdict was:
“We the jury find the prisoner guilty in manner and form as he stands
charged in the indictment.” A request for a new trial was made at once.
“After argument and due consideration” this motion was denied.

The prisoner was then brought before the court and “was asked if
anything he had to say, why sentence should not be pronounced against —
him, saith that he has nothing to say further than what he has said.”

ee

‘Z Ww MAQ—Town “and Farm program.

, WIND—Yawn Patrol.

'-WLS—Mae, and Bob.

'<{W<4G-N—News brosdcast. |
WMAQ—Alex Dreier, news.
WLS—Gil Hix, news.

'-WBBN—First Edition.

'j~W-G-N—Record Reveille.

i WBBM—News of the World [C].

WCFL—Daily War Journal {B).

; WMAQ—The Suburban hour.

WLS—Morning Devotions.

WIND—The Hour of News.

WIID—Waka Up Time.
'.W.G-N—News bulletins.

WBRM—Newa reporter.

WCFL—Halloween Martin.
| WLS—Feed All Three.

W-G-N—Record Reveille to 8 a. m.

WBBM—The Wishing Well
WLS—Chuck Acree program.
WJJID—News reports.
WRRM—Munical Clock. ‘
WCFI—Moulton Kelsey, news.
WIID—NMorning Serenade.
WLS—Dr. Preston Bradley.
WMAQ—Clifton Utley, news.
W.G-N—Vour Morning News.
WCFL—The Breakfast Club [B}.
WMAQ—Your Neighbor program.
WRRM—Robert Hurleigh. nawe,
IWIND—Newe: U. 8. Marines.
IWLS-—-Red Foley, Range Riders.
WGES—Z. Georse Jaworowsk!,
WJJD—Newa reports.
WILL—Musical Masterworks.
W.G-N—Two Ton Baker, singer.
SW BBM—Mursical Clock.
“WLS—Gil Hix. news,
'JJD—Make Up Time.
SIND—Coffee Time.

/ VaAIT—Christianity in Action.
\-G-N—Viector Lindlahr,
VLS—The Breakfast Club (B).
TMAQ—Newe reporte.
VBBM—Paul Gibeon program.
TAIT—Heaven and Home hour.
SIND—Newe: musical program.

“MAQ—Ciifton Utley, newe,
‘-G-N—The Wishing Well.
vYMAQ—Your Friend. Bob.
“BRM—John Harrington, news.
vIND—Current news,

N-G-N—Newe bulletins.

SMAQ—!. +a Lawton, serial (N).
RBM—Va-ont Lady, serial (C}.
ES—_Me Tene Story TRI,
‘CRIA! atee He Smart
INT Sr ss) Start the Day Right.
AIT nf Reet
ieN—ow ss of Maoate,
; MAC. --t St John. comment
| PRM--  . .: of the World [(C).
“CFT ~ © Touglas, comment.
Int Time.
VAAR-~ voure Serenade.
(LS -as s: enema Shew (BI.

ze aataete er See Musical: news.
1MAQ—F cere Keepers (N].
/RBM—T!:s Changing World [C)
1}CFL—~La‘e Risers’ Clud.
LS—G1l Hix, news.

-{JID—Show Time.

| GES—Swedish program.
_IND—Newa: musical program.
JOB—Memory Lane.

,G-N—Jane Raker program.
BRM—Bachelor's Children [C}.
1.S—The Listening Post (B).
‘CFL—Jimme Dorees's orchestra
IND—Stretly Instrumental.
IJD—Sarred Heart program,
.GsN=ThHE'Mnaleal Milk Wagon.
i'MAQ—Rogd of Life. *werial [N).
BBN Amanda, serial (CJ.
‘L&—Breakfast at Sardi’s (B).
CFES@Newse: Guest Spotlieht.

“IID 2* WIN D—Newes reports. -
WAQ+Vic and Sade, rerial (NJ.
RBM—Second Husband [C],
CFL—Don Artiste, pianist.
iJID—Len Cleary, organist.
IND—Take It Eary.

-G-N—Get Acquainted, Neighbor,
MAQ—Star Playhouse (N).
BRM—Bright Horizon [C).
LS—Gil Martyn, news [B).

CFL—Your Neighbors’ Problems.

‘IND —Newa: Record Session.
WIDJune Mernll program
-GeN—What's Your Jdea? [MJ].

MAQ—David Harum, eerial [N].
RBM—Aunt Jenny's Stories [(C).

“Fl—Serenade program.
;LS—Gil Hix, news,

'JD—George Carrol, songs.
AIT—Bing Crosby. recorde.
'G-N—Charlotte Deeble, org. [M].
G-N—Boake Carter, news (M].
3BM—Kate Smith Speake [(C}.
MAQ—FEditor's Daughter, serial.

LS—Martha and Helen program.

“FL, WJJD—News reports.
FSES—The Polish Reporter.

MBI, WDLM—Morning Songesters
'ND—Newa: Dance and Romance
.G-N—Broadeast Rhymeeters.
3BM—Rige Sister, eerial (CC).
i*FL—Rendezroue with Romance

MAQ—Linda's Firat Love, serial.

‘ID—Muric Goea Round,
“ND—Quiz Time.

G-N—John Holbrook, news.
3RM—Helen Trent. serial (C}.
MAQ—Newe reports.
“FL—Makehelievea Danceland.
“S—Markete: Farm program.
‘ID—Croonfest.

°ZR—Music for War Workers.
NN Naw: Sle Ba nane

¢ Hee ets Gam ADEM ee Re a added
Henry and Homer hare girl trouble.

salutes Henry J. Kainer.

Gardner an Archie. Guest: Rudy Vallee.

John Reed King. and premiere of
Merry Monahans”™ from Civie Opera house.
9:00—WBRM—Moore-Durante show.

Wrnn,. Evelyn Knight. and Jerry Wayne,
A 3O—WABM—Canteen’ Mady Christians,
Alfred Drake, Marion Hutton.

MUSIC,

Noon—Symphonie hour: Franck's Sym-
phony in D Minor.

4:00—WCFL—Mutic Lovers’ Matinee
“Peer Gynt Suita No. 2"
415 po m—W-G-N—Harry Sukman, pt
anist, presents works of famous compneere
& -30—WENR—Spotlieht Rande, featuring
Bobby Sherwood's orchestra.
€:30—WWZR—Composers’ hour: An al!
Johann Strauen program.
10:00—WMAQ—Murle Shop. with Jonnns
Mercer, Pied Pipers.
10:08—WIND—Ssmphoniec hour: Wieniaw-
ski's Violin Concerto in D Minor.

WMAQ—Stella Dallas. serial (NJ.
WENR—Don Norman's Show [B).
WRAM—Robert Hurloch, news.
WCFI—Ray Bloch Preeente

3:30—W-G-N—Judy and Jane, serial,
WGNB—Rbythm Matinee. i
WMAQ—Lorenzo Jones, eerial {NJ
WENR—Views of the News (BI
WBBM—Meet the Minsus.
WCFL—Lean Rack and Listen.

3:45—W-G.N—Real Atories from Real Life.
WMAQ—Yonng Wilder Brown [N1
WRRM—Mineie (neg tn a Party.
WCFI—Don Artiste, praniat,
WENR—Rhythm Edition,
WJJD—Barebdall Interlude.

8 -85—WJJD—Cubs va. St. Louis,
WAIT—Jive Briefs.

—W-G-N—News: Musical Moods.
WGNR—On Wings of Song.
WMAQ—When a Girl Marrice (NJ.
WBRM—Paul Gibson program.
WCFI—Music Lovere’ Matinee,
WENR—Mystery Chef,

4:15—W-G-N—Harry Sokman, pianist,
WGNB—Pop concert.

" WMAQ—We Love and Learn [(N).
WEDC—Hot and Bothered,
WENR—Late news.

4:30—W-G-N—The Mosie Mart.
WMAQ—Juet Plain Bill (NY.
WENR—Blue Pointe.
WBBM—Presentung Michael Scott.

4:45—WGONB—Console concert.
WMAQ—Front Page Farrell [NJ].
WRBM—De You Remember?
WENR—Dick Tracy. serial.

—W-G-N—News bulletins,

5] WGNB—Soft Swing.
WENR—Terry and the Pirates [B]
WMAQ—Keleey-Dreier, news
WBRBBM—Capt. Michael Fielding.
WCFL—News reports,
WIND—News: Scoreboard.
WILL—Muale of the Mastere

6:18—W-G-N—Jimmle Allen's Adventures.
WGNKR—Tet's Go Latin.
WBBM—lyn Murray's orch, [(C}.
WM AQ—Sweet and Spanish.
WCFL—Life Fashions Stories,
WAIT—Arlington Park race.
WENR—Malcolm Claire, stortes.
WJJD—Swing It.

6 :20—WIND—Club AN,

8:30—W-G-N—Tom Mix. eerial (MJ.
WONR—Rhythm Cocktail.
WENR—Jack Armatrong, serial (B)
WRARM—John Harrington, news.
WCFI—IT4t'« Dance
WIND—Double Feature.
WWZR—Hich Jinks Tempo,

& 4N1—WMAQ—Don Elder, sports.

5:46—W-G-N—Superman, serial.
WBBM—The World Today [C],
WENR—The Sea Hound [RB].
WMAQ—Hub Jackson. news,
WCFI—Orchestra program. ,
WIND—Musical Motorcade

6 :35—WBBM—Joe. C. Harsch, news,

EVENING.

—-W-G.N—Johnny Betts. songs-patter,
6) WGNB—Falton Lewis, news,

WRRANM—News: Sports Reel.
WLS—Julian Bentler, news,
WCFI—News reporte.
WW2ZR—The Masters’ Album.
WJJD—Sporte Renew.
WIND—News; Thjs Will Happen.
WAAF—luke Rox,
6:16—W4i-N—Totephone Quis,

WGONB—Coneert Hall,

7:30 — W-G-N — Freedom of Opportunity
7: 30—WMAQ—Duffy'a Tavern, with Ed

7:30—WLS—Meet Your Navy. The rescue

:30—W-G-N— N ing, with
8:30—W-G-N—Double or othing . wich 6:Ab- Wai. NaMosieal Notes, caus:

\ 9:30—-WENR—Happy Island, with Ed!

WMAQ—Jim Blade and hia music |

WHKHM--So the story “Gore, and
WENR—Herbie Mints Show. Tt
WCFI-~—Richard Harknese, news(N)
10:30-W-G-N—News bulletins, a.m
WMAQ—Juat for Fun, ‘ation
WIRM—FEuisene Read, newe.
WOCFL—Mirue Lovers’ program. Shor

WENR—Story: Footlicht Favorites.| by p

of Ensign Donald Brandt from Japanese. WHEC—JIrish program. der."
7:30—WBBM—The Thin Man: “ The Case 10:48—W-G-N—World's Front Page. i
: ” WMAQ—Quarter hour concert. Ne
of the Peaty Painter. WRAM—Salut v

’ Be to Be Ignorant. RE cn ter: tay WACtOTY, last

8 00-WBRM—It Pave \ WENR—Newa: Rhvthm at Random.
with Tom Howard, M. ©. -W-G.N—Newa hulletine, tectl
R-1K—W-G-N—Screen Teet, with Lorraine @ WMAQ—Don Elder, news nour
Tommeraon, soprano, | WREM, WENR, WIND—News, State

WSRC—Music for War Workers. -

H WBRM—Dean Hudeon's orchestra. | out 4
WIND—Muric for Everybody.

1, 11:10—W-G-N—Fightera in the News. ?
11:16—W-G.N—George Hamilton's or, (MI. Mi
WMAQ—Sam Ralter: aporte’ muaic

WENK—Gay Claridge'a oreh ; man
11:30—W-G-N—Denny Reckner's orch. i recoil
WHREM—Rot Rerker's oreh IC).
| WIND—Newe; Jotinny Long (Cl, cust¢

WMAQ—Author’s Playhouse Mr

; WENR--Emil Vanda‘a orchretra at 2°
WOFL—Hans Muenzer's orchestra ! '

(SRE WEN Nice regiitte trans
—Wt) N—Newe balletina, i dJabor
WHEM Sewe teperta fC), '

«2 WhANK--Say Tt with Muse (RB). ; mall

WM AQ- News Promenade Concert. hack
WIND—Newe: Night Watch, ingto
12:05—W-G.N—Lawrence Welk’s arch, [MJ
WRBM—fill Bartos arch, (¢1., had s
12:30—W.-G-N—Renny Strong's orchestra, j gation
WRBM—Donny Kaye's oreh, [C],

WENite Lee Brown asorcheatre,. | SNe.
12 53—-WMAQ—News reporte, | drunk
WENR—News reporte. | Poll
| 2:00-—W-G-N—Carl Ravarga’es orchestra, |
WEEM—Newa and music (C1, | Mrs.
D—Newa, alan 2, 3, 4, 8,
| 1:30—W-G-N—News Nidal pee
; fleld
ON SHORT WAVES | °°
could
the
LONDON, men's

The North American Service of the BBC his g
from London includes the following pro- }
grama today, The frequencies (in meee: the b
evclea) emploved after 4:18 pom, are: ahot,
YEA, NOM, wes, HHL, F.36, Hot, OO found
P. m.—PFront Line Family: 445 p. P|
Newe; OSU pm —Kadio Newsreel, &:40° herse
p.m—Dance Muwe: 915 p.m.—Freedom i ghot
Forum: 11.30 p. sautinasedutee |
beste heat gece tee ott: SU range

ie s. Posa

ALVIN KRAUSE |,..0
EXECUTED FOR (tic

soe

; quest

HOLDUP KILLING 7"

_ that
Alvin Krause, 29, was electrocuted. found

iin the Cook county jai! today forthe heard
‘murder of Walter Bush, 50, of 5347S, _ How
Sawyer av., in a robbery of a cur. Nels :

| rency exchange at 5151 S. Kedzie av. sin
(on June 19, 1945. The current was sounde

| turned on at 1:06 a. m. and he was fing
, Pronounced dead nine minutes later.' Hooke
| Krause’s hope to escape the elec-' Atty, |
tric chair began to ebb on Tuesday. can be
when the Illinois Supreme court re-| gunfir
fused to grant a writ of error and! inconc
supersedeas and A stay pending a
review, but deputy wardens quoted YO
him as " feeling fine" before the exe- |
| cution. His final meal was a steak TC
; dinner. Later he reccived the last
, Sacraments of the Roman Catholic S,
ij church, Hear
The execution canceled a life sen: Jane |}
tence imposed by an all-woman jury charge
which convicted him of the “ poison: 44),
gas" murder of Miss Agnes Olsen, ' | Chief
oe in a currency exchange at 311! ‘Crimir
. Pulaski rd. July 3, 1944. Krause's! Dybic2
scents Edward Damiani, 28, who’ Kill he
confessed in court he sprayed a re-| peared
frigerator gas into Miss Olsen's cage: Cheste
during a robbery, also received & life! grante
‘sentence and jis in-~ollet peniten- jer co
tiary, to und
Krause was found gullty of slaying | mothe
; Bush after he ha dspurned an offer; baby, |
‘to plead guilty in exchange for an|and le

| additional life sentence. iribs.
Se ——— |

[—


>

78 Frontier Law and Order

River boats. pandering to appetites for vice and gambling, were nothing
new on the Ohio, Mississippi. and Missouri rivers, but in the prewar
era thev were relatively few in number and, if referred to at all in polite
society, generally were called “disorderly” river craft. After the war,
they increased rapidly, and the new coinage gunboat came into the

langua ge 9

From 1865 through the next decade and on into the 1880s, river
towns were plagued not only by gunboats but also by their inmates,
who, when not rollicking in vice on board. went ashore to steal, rob
assault citizens. and. what perhaps was worse. to compete with land:
lockec whores. A gunboat, anchored for two years | and more oif
Winona, Minnesota, sent its “flaunting denizens” to parade the streets
clad in “gaudy clothes*to attract, allure and debase those who are
Susceptible of their temptations.."°9 Near Red Wing, Minnesota, the
owner of a gunboat shot and killed a customer.*! Inmates of floating
pleasure palaces believed themselves immune from arrest if their boats
were anchored bevond state boundaries, but peace officers of Red Wing
took into custody occupants of a Vice raft tied up on the Wisconsin side
of the Mississippi. justifying their action on a provision in the state
constitution which provided for concurrent jurisdiction in cases of
crime committed on the river.52 In March, 1868, a father in Winona
Swore out a warrant for the arrest of his own daughter who had slipped
away to: begin professional lite on a “floating hell. vee

Now and again the sword of retribution was swung not by lawmen
but by trate patrons. A group of disgruntled raftsmen in i869 went
aboard a gunboat. drove out the bartender, drank up all the whiskey
and then doused the establishment with kerosene and burned it to the
Water's edge. On another occasion a gang of toughs, swearing they

a Evidence for the procuring of girls for prostitution is difficult to come by, but
now and again, glimpses of the trade are found. See, for example, the Valley Whie
(Keokuk, Towa), May 3, 1858, which relates actions of local police, who Sette lat
a flat boat, which was floating down the [Mississippi] river, with two men and a
young woman on board. An old horse, seventeen carpets old and new, and one or
two trunks, said to be stolen property, were taken. ... It was reported that the girl
also was stolen. Her father was after her. . . . One of the men, named Rankin, had en-
ticéd away the girl, named Hall, sister of his wife.” ;
a — the Democrat, August 7, 1865; Winona Daily Republican, Novem-

3! Winona Daily Republican, August 17, 1867.

52 For the Red Wing arrests, sce ibid.. March 28, 1868. For gunboat arrests
generally, see ibid., February 18, March 24, 25, 26, 27, 1868. :

53 Tbid., March 30, 1868.

Bavonet, Bowie Anife. and Bloody Jack

would kill a gunboat’s manager. swarmed aboard. Seriously wounded
the manager, threatened to. slash the throat of one of the girls with 2
razor. and were about to tire the craft when a posse arrived.*4
Perhaps the most spectacular. vicious, and bloody gunboat muras:
was the slaving of Jessie McCarty, soiled dove. by Bi ll Lee. Lee, pre
prietor of the boat, was believed by some to have celle in dic. Con-
federate forces and by others to have been in the Union army. He spoke
with a soft accent and frequently spun yarns of his heroic miditars
exploits.55 He employed on his gunboat four males who mingied

pimping with gambling and four ladies of such easy virtue that it 's |
possible they never comprehended the full meaning of the term, Among |
the girls was a comely lady of the evening —aithough she was on call |

twenty-four hours a day—who was deaf and dumb. Her closest frend
was a co-worker by name of Jessie McCarty. |

In November, 1875, Lee’s bagnio barge lay at anchor near the
[llinois shore between Burlington, lowa, and Oquawka. illinois. One
evening, for reasons wholly known only to himself. Lee stormed inte

rea

the crib cabin shared by the deaf-and-dumb Mary Magdalene anc
Jessie. Lee seized Jessie by the hair, the better to pull her from bed.
dragged her downstairs, and then, to quote the record, broke both her

q
> miss
uid

back and neck, stamped out an eye. crushed her tempie. and so
figured her face that it was unrecognizable. He then carted the body to
the river bank and hid it until such time as it could be tossed into the
stream. A few days later one of the pimps sque ed to the Burling:
police. By the time the gunboat was aplet bv fond rand I|linots office

the body had disappeared. A few weeks later it was found floatins

some small boys. Meanwhile. the boats inmates were arrested and
eventually corroborated the pimp’s account. Lee was lodged in the
Oquawka jail.

tt ort

Lee was indicted and brought to trial. A jury. deliberating only fifteen
minutes, returned a verdict of murder in the first degree. He was sen-
tenced to be hanged on June 16, 1876. When that. day arrived, Lee “as
escorted from the jail to the gallows by a German band and a military

sear 2

$4 1bid., May 6, 1869; June 5, 1870; La Crosse Daily Republican, June 28
Minneapolis Daily Tribune, teas PF 1870:

55 Interview with John W. Murphy, Burlington, owa, June 20, 1930. Murpr:
‘many years was editor of the Saturday Evening Post, published in Burlington. and
was considered an authority on river history and crime. He was the author of Our.
of the Fox River Country: A Tale of the Whiteford and Spencer Murders (Hann:cai
Missouri: Hannibal Printing Co., 1882). The author of this article feels that tne
belief that Lee served in the Poniederste army is an apocrypha alness.

-Ar


£30 Frontier Law and Order

A boat wintered near Winona for some two years, and. said an
editor, visited in the summer other cities and towns to “sow its cor-
ruptions.”” Then, waxing moral, he went on to complain that “numbers

of young men, and even boys, have been drawn on to ruin from our |

very midst, by means of this infernal crew.” which paraded Winona

streets in gaudy clothes to “attract, allure, and debase.”34+ Gunboats.

were all he described and more. Fights occurred, gambling was crooked.
whiskey was rotten. and murder was not infrequent.

During November, 1875, a gunboat managed by Bill Lee was moored
between Oquawka, Iilinots, and Burlington, lowa. [ts occupants in-
cluded a deaf-and-dumb prostitute, a ppmp named Dan Brazier, a girl
of the line who went by the name of Jessie McCarty, and several other
soiled doves of each sex. One evening, for reasons known only to
himself, Lee burst into Jessie's crib-cabin, yanked her from bed, broke
both her back and neck. stamped out an eye, smashed her temple. and
disfigured her face beyond recognition. He then hid the body, wrapped

in a blanket, near the bank of the Mississippi. Later, with the help of
Brazier, he placed the body in a skilf, rowed into the middle of the.

channel, and tossed it into the water. Somewhat later, plagued by
conscience, Brazier squealed to authorities.

Peace officers from Illinois and Iowa then raided ‘the gunboat,
arresting all on board. Under pressure, the girls corroborated Brazier’s
account. Lee was lodged in the Oquawka jail, was indicted, and
eventually came to trial. Meanwhile, Jessie’s mangled body was found
floating in the river. A jury found Lee guilty, and the judge sentenced
him to be hanged on June 16, 1876: A crowd of merrymakers witnessed
the hanging.+>

Denizens of gunboats, as well as inmates of joy-houses on land, came
and went, for madams considered it good business to offer new wares
from time to time. The migration of girls was determined by the seasons,
by the occupation of their customers, and by demand for their services
in certain places and at certain times. Thus, many worked states with a
warmer climate during the winter months and, to escape the heat,

, 1868; April 22, 28, May 6, 1869: May 24, June 5, 30, 1870. La Crosse Weekly
penal August 7, 1865; Minneapolis Daily Tribune, June 21, 1870. For gunboat
activities in Illinois and Iowa, see the Saturday Evening Post (Burlington, Lowa),
October 28, 1911, in which a steamboat captain writes of gunboats.

34 Winona Daily Republican, November 13, 1866.
33 For the Lee affair, see Keokuk Daily Gate City, November 25, 27, December 1,

| 1875; February 29, March I, April 30, June 16, 17, 1876. For the ShROMOE of a

marshal by a keeper of a gunboat, see ibid., July 24, 1872.

a 4 we

“Come Back Soon, Honey!”

journeyed northward during the summer. Minneapolis and St. Paul
houses. increased their statfs just before crews of lumbermen went |
the woods in the autumn and shortly before they returned from the
pineries in the spring.

{i much the same fashion, nymphs of the prairie followed the « annual
cattle drives on the plains “like vultures follow an army, and ib boks

at the end of the cattle driving and shipping season.” Cowtowns of

Kansas and Colorado, before the arrival of the first longhorn herds
from Texas, said one account, were “invaded by a horde of desperadves.
gamblers, saloonkeepers, and filles de joy, most from the underworids
of St. Louis, Kansas City, and Memphis.” 2°
When, during the early decades of the twentieth century, Oklahoma's

oil boom attracted men and women of every description, gamblers.
highjackers, and prostitutes swept into the state, resulting in confused
lawlessness.37 The rush of ladies to. Oklahoma is reminiscent of the
influx of women from China, European countries, and the states of the
Union to the California gold fields.28 Far on the other side of the
country in Michigan’s northern peninsula, rich iron-ore deposits wer
beginning to be exploited toward the close of the nineteenth century.
This was wild country, and. miners were not averse to relishing the
pleasures of the flesh. They were not disappointed, for canny madams
and the girls made the most of each new market, moving in with
astonishing swiftness. Just as the broad Middle Border furnished
prostitutes to stock Belle Breezing’s “most orderly of disorderly house”
in Lexington, Kentucky, and just as the same fruitful area sent pioncer
whores and reinforcements to California, the cowtowns of the South-

west and West, and the pineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota, so did it

supply hustlers to Michigan’s ore fields.°°

36 Pueblo Chieftain, 1878, quoted in Miller and Snell, Great Gunfighters, >. \4:
Parkhill, Wildest of the West, pp. 216-17; see also Ronald L. Davis, “Soiled Dos
and Ornamental Culture: Kansas Cowtown Entertainments,” American Hest 4
(November 1967): 20-21.

37 Stephen B. Oates, “Boom Oil: Oklahoma Strikes it Rich,” American !tesr 5
(January 1968):11. For Oklahoma’s early statutes relating to houses of ill fame and
their keepers, see Will T. Little, L. G. Pitnam, and R. J. Barker, comps., Staturfes of
1890 (Guthrie: State Capital Printing Co., 1891), pp. 484-85. Note that the act, in
part, hinges upon the element of “annoyance,” as indicated earlier in this articie.

38 Herbert Ashbury, The Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisce
Underworld (New York: Garden City Publishing Co., 1933), pp. 33-34.

39 For Belle Breezing, see William H. Townsend, The Most Orderly of Disorderly
Houses (Lexington: Privately Printed, 1966); for her obituary, see Time 36 (Aug

26, 1940): 56.


80 pe as . '
Frontier Law and Order

/ company. Before the trap fell, the condemned man made a ten-minute
speech ~he had asked for three hours—during the course of which he,
with excessive piety. confessed .that his fall from grace was due to
prostitutes and whiskey. Finally, he gave thanks to his military escort
for the “honor they had paid him as a soldier.” Se |
4 throng. come to see Lee “jerked to Jesus,” thought it good rid-
dance. Perhaps some, caught in the postwar crime wave, echoed the
sentiment of a wagonmaster on the western plains. Exasperated beyond
endurance by the antics of troops supposed to protect his it tre
the tribes, he burst out: “God preserve ie Be the sles eae
: e us fram the soldiers, we can
take care of the Indians ourselves." 57
ee account of the Lee affair is based upon the Acokuk Gate Ciry, November
=>, </, 1873. Pebruary 27, 29. March 1, June 16-18, 1876.
: >* Quoted in Henry P. Walker. The Wagonmusters (Norman: University of O\la-
homa Press. 1966). p. 266. .

CHAPTER SIX

“Gimme a Hoss I Kin Ride!”

The horse thief sneaking a pinto from a corral, cutting a branded roan
from a free-running remuda, or stealing a mount from a hitching post
in front of a frontier saloon came by his larceny dishonestly enows4,
Judge and jury and vigilante committee might charge such a rascal

with all manner of lawless conduct. but they never could say truthtuls
that their victim had not comported himseif.in the American tradition.

This, of course, did not deter lawmen or impromptu preservers oF

property from hanging the guilty—and sometimes the innocent—trom
the nearest tree.

But “jerking to Jesus” a horse thief was also traditional. [t satisiied
justice, and, so far as anyone knew, was fairly final. But the silhouette

2

of a body swaying from lonesome limb somewhere in the far-wesiern

country after the Civil War symbolized the close, not the beginning. of

a practice old as the nation was old. This account traces the early Gass
and decades of the illegal taking of horses and not the end of a shady.
but lucrative, practice of making away. without benefit of purchase.
animals belonging to others and then galloping hell-for-leather on
stolen steeds toward the setting sun.

Like the common law, Shakespeare. and brussels sprouts, statutes
forbidding and prescribing penalties for horse theft were imported into
the American colonies. Blackstone, in his widely read. Commientartes
cited a statute from the reign of George IV: “That if any person shall
steal any horse, mare, gelding, colt, or filly . . . every such offender shall
be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof, shall sutfer death as a
felon.”! Colonial barristers, turned legislators, aped this statute and
enacted it, or something akin to it, throughout the English settlements
in America.

1 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, ed. with an introc sc
tion and notes by George Sharwood, 2 vols. (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co
1872, 1873), vol. 2, bk. 4, p. 236, n. 20.
: ; 81

tate a alt ii

p. §

| eh RECOIL, AND SL ate V5 Nr oie
| PUBLIC sf D Vi ere ——_
| CGE. A fee ah
- : i
et
oa GV see Th
940m: " sin
fed POX Fo BR ys
A ie a Feat wn ‘ i - 5 Ww t5
ies Sek OTT Hav Lag prime VE aa
Oe spo eid LUTE te LI Vine
Le han yf aoe ni ha vnighied gee Rhee TSS Ae Quarry 18h by Chivage THEwoe €, Pat Bs
Ne RL IR cae ae ee Tent aa Ran edit 0 Ley eh at dildos (MEQ TCHE ON: Fat
Vhile Huey Long, with his lack ef dignity, can pack the galleries. 066 baa ste
———

-@ Tribgne Press Service.)

-e group of professional and

en of Racine had sharply

im and threatened to form
ssociations to enforce the

William J. Swoboda tonight

hi ar sentiment and
ral iid maintain order
xe ting the J. I. Case

or also let tt be known that
lice Grover Lutter had been
to use his own judgment in
isorders growing out of the
therto the chief had been
{to keep “ hands off” in the
oversy. The Case company
1 all operations here, hut
been complaints that their
as unprotected.
Wanto Mayor's Office.
in .00 of tue citizens’ ,roup
ate the mayor's office with
ande this afternoon.

3 order was restored and a!
stol permit is take from
er, leader of the : rikers.
:woboda declined to talk with
. group, but agreed to meet
eelof five this evening. While
ttorney Jacob Welsman, his
adviser, and Harry Scheck,
adbator, talked the crowd of
\rder enthusiasts, now grown
aited In the council chamber
ecizion. Numerous speeches
fe in the chamber in which
rs declared that communists
ting to. prevent a settlement
trike.
onfer for Four Hours.

¥

iv t that the mayor
! measures to pre-

ras favorably reé-
hh nee with the citl-
imi.

_sted more than four

se company 1s one of the larg-
‘oe indystries in the city, em-
mor’ Fthan 2,400 men.
ports are that it has been
g and ts in fact, moving some
ffaira to its plant at Rock-

lers Force

ne Mayor
urb Strike

They
i that they intended to furm
law ‘nfercement organiza.

“SCHOOL OF FINANCE.
“FOR ALDERMEN IS
PROPOSED BY ARVEY

Ald. J. M.Arvey (24th), chairman of
the city council finance committee, an-
nounced. yesterday that he would ask
the committee tomorrow for authority

‘tto establish a school to instruct alder-
Vis, April 22.—(Special.J—

men in city finanoe. For - several
weeks, he said, public officials and out-
side -experts would lecture on tax:
ation, bonds, tax warants and other
details of fiscal operations.

“Then,” Ald. Arvey asserted, qwe'll
give them examinations to make sure
that the lessons take. I'm sure that
the school will prove very valuable
for every one concerned.” yee
Chairman Arvey will also ask the
committee to authorize him to name
twelve subcommittees to inveatigate
various “administrative branches of
city activity. The subcommittees, he
explained, would be assigned to the
departments for a year, and would be
required to supervise budget making
activities of the. departments. One
such committee would be asaigned’ to
the Municipal court. ’ aie

‘GRANT DIONNE’S
| PLEA TO CALL IN

a

| SECOND DOCTOR

sultation i¢ necessary In treatment of
the Dionne quintuplets was given
tonight to Dr, Allan Roy Dafoe, physi-
clan to the babies, by Premier Mitchell

elegation today went first to

TORONTO, Ont. April 22.—-}—AU-
thority to call another doctor into con-

Yaw

ssh

Two Slayers
Executed at
State Pr

Cana
isons
Two ines, convicted iy murder, were

une

nois penitentiaries carly todays os
“oThe first to dle was Thomas J. Lehne,
43 years old, a former policeman: at
Venice, IL He was strapped into the
death chalr at Menard at 12:13 a, m.
and was pronounced dead four minutes
later. The other man, Fred Blink, 427
years old, Whiteside county farmer who
slew five persons, was given the first
shock in the chair at Stateville prison
at 1:11 a. m.-and was pronounced
dead at 1:16 a. moo eae
Both executions had been set for ¥Frt-
day, but Gov. Horner ordered # brief
stay because no convicted criminal had
ever paid the death penalty on Good
I'riday in Ilinols. Seer Ware
4 Woman's Sentence Commuted. a

Lehne and Mra, Gertrude’ Pubse of
Granite City were convicted of the mur-
der of Mrs. Puhse’s husband, Charles,
after they confessed. The woman was
also sentenced to death, byt by execu-

whit

to 299 years in priaon. Selita Se

The ex-policeman was calm as he
went to his death.’ Previously he had
chatted for hours with his guards and
had received vialts from his relatives,

In # final speech in the death cham-
ber Leune declared that he had = no
hatred in his heart for any one and

Hepburn. ay ; ?

The premier’s action was taken in
the absence of David A. Croll, minister
ot welfare for Ontario, under whose
department the guardianship of the
quintuplets is administered. - Oliva
Dionne, tather of the babies, had ap-
pealed to the government to bring in
another physictan to be named by him
and his wife to examine the ailing
pistera: 2c We FR.
“It I had ever thought it necessary
I woula have called in another doc
tor without waiting for the goverm
ment to tell me to do it,” said
Dafoe at Caftander, «86005

He admitted Marie was
bit under: the weather”. but
other four were

¥

said the

nicely to

progressing
recovery from. head colda which they upo

caught last week, He predicted

Dr. if

that he preferred death te spending
many years ia prisom:” he arses ala! fats
. Thanks All for Kindness...»

“1 want to thank cach,and every
man jn this institution for the kind:
ness shown to me,” he ended 1 for-
give all whose perjury @#ent me here.
and I leave this earth in: the arms of
Jesus, going to my ‘eternal’ home.

Good-by.” ae eta Sapa SLE att Saas Nae
Blink, wao quarreled -with “Jahn
Hamilton, a neighbor, over # $35 debt

and ended the altercation, by shooting
Hamilton, two women, and two more
had blamed his act on poisoned

alter

éxecuted in the electric chairs. of We |.

tive order the sentence was commuted |:

. Truculent in his manner as iy

Another ¥ran

tives fn ‘New York sald he knew. Mae;
eut | qurtet:.well,. but that; they 400

yer hebrd'ot! his: being maenartd4
1) PRIS

He elfvema ‘star, tet bs SE
Miss West wouldn't talk avout the
odd ‘coincidence. that’ the 1911, license
svovered’ In Milwaukea. by” reliet
lockers suarching the records ‘showed,
se puren:s of ‘the’ bride were Joba
est und Matilda Dilker West. These
are the names of Miss West's parents.
what nut is pulling this on me?’
‘demanded the actress, “Why, I was
practically a child in 1911.) And I was
never in Milwaukee until four years
ago, Besides, I'm not 42 years old. eo
Back in January’ a’ woman called.
me up and said she was 'my mother
My father and mother are both dead,
“2S Name's Not Exclusive.’ /::: se
“if a Mae West was married in Mil-
waukee it was another Mee West. 1
can copyright my name./for profes
sional purposes, but I: can’t have the
exclusive right.to put it marriage
Licenses.) FGA
“J don’t drin
out a license wi

py SORES

Kk and if I had taken
th Mr.’ Wallace I'd
have known it.” Whenever I take &
husband I'll tell the world. | ‘It's noth-
ing new to me to be told I’m married.
By actua} count eight men have called
me up since N Year's to tell me
I'm their wife.’ Cea tee ate
The Wallace. and:

wate

West married in

“Milwaukee were playing there at the
tment ’*. “#8

the name of Wallace
marriage license, the
not requiring ; the.
pride.” The name Ma West.)

“THE WEATHER

vy | MUESDAY, APBUL 23, 1938. one

“Moon rises at

t,. 6:40.%

’ perature Tue Oday;
omostty fresh gouthe:.
“east: winds Tuceday a. §
{linots) =. Generally,»
“{aic: extreme eouth, « Da nha
showers cem frre

saptnede O32

provement tn Marte, the tiniest"

1] ) Gardter, w

| sion.
tat no time, the ph
‘jner ever mention suicide,
= | ald that while riding home on

O49. %

O where  yaypliur

hei *

te a
lathe abdomen” while. dlaacm
mci and preventing ~ him,
bhooting’ the .wife ‘and- mother,
farnbly.:, Mrs! JOtisa Gardner,’ 4
‘old. She wag unharmed: © - eit
o in addition to 1.

pt hia, family and then end
life,” Young ‘Kenneth’s here
grappling with his frenzied fat.
vented thia coinpletion. of the '
{S740% Mrs,’ Gardner on Stand
‘pMre, Gardner was the first |
summoned" when “* Deputy NG,
Louls J. Nadherny convened :
quest: session yesterday af
Bhe. blamed the. tragedy on L
bands: fear that the family |
danger. of disaster from. ilin:
insanity, 50° 0 Poa ;
eA trail, grief stricken wom:
has been tlt of tuberculosis |
eral years, Mrs. Gardner told
oner’s jury of her husband's f
he and she would die and leave
dren unprotected. “Gardner hb

‘

months ago, she sald. Ask
had ever previously suffered »
down, Mrs. Gardner said that
In 1905, two years before th
riage. “At that time he was {:
tarium for two years, but a}

|phad completely recavered by

were wed in 1907, she

2: Doctor, Tells of Mines:
2 pr. John A, Gariiner of La
the Gardner family physician.
that he had been treating ¢
‘teller for some time. He diag
case’as melancholia, nervou:
‘and finally a nervous br
ysician sald,

“put

they

he télt something “ snap oth
‘two months ago, Dr. Garé
Gardner took his gon Dona’
physician's office. * At that
doctor. said, the boy . was

cn tonights Be ara top WOFBIBE | 1 OS moodinens,  depresal:
“ gtar. * : 4 ké inher as

2 ’ anger. a oN Fe ee j
aera rs ‘|e Young “Kenneth Gardner’)
“showers ‘Tucsday oF prevented bis ca 8

“if quest, but physicians at the j
“) ganitarium,..wb

the ¥° |

taken, reported that they th
r appereypor

would = recover.” There
Coroner: y.continuc |
May. 14, at. whl:

net)

“Hie algo is expected to
nese: when the- Inquest is.

oe Barlier ‘Gardner had told |
ent a story a4 be could.to P-
of Le Grange |

he was to the chajr at Stat | 7 BemicrsGl 3) noticia! award Jon ¢
ville, he stuck to the story . pears Sp enmacal Nop. ma.49 x >: mai r4 of the first to be summor
whisky, asserting qnat ft) ha ep 1.6 amie 42 | 2 po mbes O Pe Bhess abene of the tragedy. Go
him tek, bean: . ra eae 247 1 ore > | ; “*
«., th y: gto buen dof ss . Base“ co mache dried “43 Chief. Jones ; have been f
one of the slain EOE! gal miigs8 | & pe ttegs erry Oh ae times’ eurtag:
raps” placed 48] 6 ‘ yn: yours:
ong heap sty Ect het 2 Rabeshs Sere ns it Sores TP mle Bh tad er ~ ing sin =f :. chief's offic:
on ish bad. Corrick apd Wyno| Yor 30 beste voded 7, p- Mee Apel 731" | ppemed, bewilt ered, but at |
(I. L. Wynn, who prosecuted, the Mabe jerveraterys et Ae; Oehciens | chents bis miod cleared and
vaurdar charge) on mY JAD Moly iis le: peal eRe iets was lucid. Sy
— a 1 was dotr

{Shere gfelt that”
neon

going to see a physician every \—
‘lowing # nervous breakdown

a eee. Lae ; 4 \ ralled } , i jierrow | i pee tony al | eine batt
ore ewese The Meawortal | Ny Chiftainky, the case presenty nisy vingud| Vhken we ealladlon t : con denne doman, teers duende nt sills «aed etal) of the
Herero on the lad land lar’) unis, and in giving thesaf diferent | aie ihe pabraviuig B of Tucstay, he wpa reddi me, sft tit mn sated tnd irs ! Wh, teuy pit - nality 9 tt
Soret ae Piaenta, de hin red epe¢glitions the Gazervrr, in this: report, ia, iw ret hia book i his elven: .+4 Wi ee pb horouteeronce = #Ora cad babe, Lola | pented ty feo
woe wmmens ec Ca TA OF Pe DPR munfily fulfilling its duty as a joprnal, at. Vi ‘ Pt ie the cart ery ad ill take gute of you fae pues piusturds | Me 7
fy wiblor of bath bite VP eomdips the fucts of the hour, presvnting, | jrovnla Of shitdren wocng plithely through Kennedy trled ta guswer hee Indy, buethe: SEW Bona Far
Weare cath td te Phon pista ;

a u 7 ‘ S . ‘
Wo Mispeak, aumirver of the pasnipe day. ~ | th = words wer Levond his power to i rah. Ne i Piethers haye as
Tha Present occasion is ha hitting ue 10 dis- | j ee et eye could gee this seoned end pr nin aliw oy tbe edo in ontwas

COgNBhe dommes of guilt of the has af, pho peg. | ud by, Ho means a Dratal gr coarte fice, Is brothprelo bk blah ib with ry word : ‘worthy ofall pa

tery paid the orfeit of his lifoghte Bering | but iC was for ‘biting from ite wapt of can- VEL feelin

ve rare could pendtrate gven
eecgy The Cromtleplede pat sof the wictehel tan.) Kennedy
Le tthe toacty rend Pre mbelefayt, ih

eee leg @ yer tied ob the my

wf Was porhiogs da doog ay it babyy, :

: dar, auc eoyert ex pression, re Jind wiarked y ve4 a, cHiwhuy Dor

«Hepes, i of ¥ ich he has been le ‘gatly praven guilty ; at \i oh a - treet — 7 been more domonsteatize, Kennedy. re, ' ' 7 a "
e Pees lescwiye ge Company, | hoew this a momedt go wrangle on the. a a ‘yeu by i i |. me i. i al? oUded to his brothes dQ silput ceood byge! SPAS aes eT
¢ ty weaken yy dissipation, had) sulleres | F ca nels | ib te

stay Yiae Vhe love of thelial | rightor the wrong of tha De atl Mghalty. ae e We Sohedense ” Th ore, Was every Han [othe Drother aed btother iadaw both , . a " “ |

‘ Le mepamy by the recent Porta] SoHI@ be a bit of great impertinegney, wit ingons if Phissed his pale brow thaqueh She terathor efy a enka
ate { , [senaee ta behieve that the or af ghation wae! ' Cr IEEE EOETT gay om tue abet iy

eee PAM Large aa thig ome the dying man's ugonies fresh in mind { 1 i | Phhe coll dqar, aller whichthe ee totir unh Ip-

9 olvms 5 yer ewnl uf the Pernt | “ug what Je wish prophet declargd to, Tom aa y “ aud : eam me t Orting: . | pay person Mioved 4} wily { In tbh Cortideor | an aur \ YESS) ay

ti-, “wt lund To ve words came slowly, merge | 1 ‘ eee VE COE COT | —

tf «ae wo@ mach uiere than) thes Fie thy luw.’? Raually ont ol! ph Leo | would it i rf f ji ' ein Ute Tite Vy aoon air witli lidnvy dye Wits or! 11) thie Card of M ‘
cmeas sud Sata tag laot yoar try be tf argue (quoting tho parcagin of thy poles ae nae eal sons "i bis wile the whole work wis in aunts a a Meee

; tered by din vere js a certain mojyesty in | " SA EEE ES TAAL Ue _ _

pug copltly ood promptly, el Kren th Thinker, CON GE rhing th itwo rie, abjeat lwibry that defies a reporter's ne sunshine eoukd notangke i spy: Chad ) Whetel will di OL
» statement af the \Etiag! shipwrecked, who finding lund at) Ist, roneid.  (¥o Gould better bear to. sce a! help her -Man cannot, Was the geeirg of bi wet eth price

——— sot one val Hes os wh * were they hate i atolliad ar heniianl, aw chabne:s d enemy of society | avery kindly heart, ! { Ob « maar pie Te

dl 0 w I wa @xcliaime on saein iY | yopeg | al tare

a iasares ie Neath vat Se aewice ave hil FP ih with cultpea at his tongue’s end, than this | ; Wig LAKT NEU ST {ryt qi render
seer ue sae ! | 4 comng y 1) that uwiurderers: should hat | bee /  apecka of a weak, bgnoramt- main Albne | Ive nnady had ri Quucsteck there a Y oe Yee syee fever dita wath th
vee | | cout). While it is true t v ie whe P | with hip oe —frightened at the ptex dy step | jHelay in the excention, itp le etre fn. a a Va ft)

‘ ‘i « BT The won i ty

P pred last Week pire Watts ties

of tRel Fafinite lighted to death by the | It seemed ak if he were det termingd to hav |
t : eho ‘
rafnyate obleet of alf honer Puslahmnent may op +A tore ab doa ages, and toa blind to gee the dien}ty to die der sy i Wobe thal hy ;
be the. prevention of erime, the pr beet my me” fae = roCeunty
A even onoitithe of their brilliancy, errinely, Te Desged Speman bet

soctty and the reformation of hich wende hy éulveresd no vawi‘lin nee. to I, rel ta Chi a oe on ete

b PG hg INTE 27O, And deeaped t@ foetus
only Pgcossary to say, that W wit ude ig A ” HERS, BDU Ree aed 1 i

t

‘eee’ ud when he ‘lonrngd we were not there the Chisneo pros were rediv bie th ahiae
Penigty isthe Law of the yreq jo Te end ee eet we ware nee Proks Phila Pniened Pree whRY gebily Hie tet ytipe

r¥ ugtee@a ole cutertat pti
Wwe J 4 1. eer ahd aanist 1. tb ,
Me MW Toston and py) Pla

oAther tleath, forthe t jg 4 ling soowhilielt ramalnece tl it: a rf i, on b¢ al of the Chicago press. Hesayshe!ers. The followin letter ocds np Cxpanae | bi i
Cured “Phe youl tapual ig it rakdst be enforcod, exeppt mi) ay ate " 1; wag rrepted on the 4th of July, 1856, and! tion: | . '
eowere both tost enjo wl Hh Ph, afl op ei ' ‘was ti ely, unacqhainted with Maloney, thal Wivkraan far. g os | .
thé Bhse of wife murdefers like Joppa, wh layason 6. M0. 00H, Ret.. Abe hr of aos Ih i,
ig ty state Chat the measqlt had|¥een ‘on the Police Force, er like: i jourdoreg nN That he is» native of the |My pep Bim, tation sings . © a | 7 |W" co
y comtor@Hy ald bon fending i it | Honth off Tre ahd and ¢ ame to America some |! tive fr any teasing Ms Bl Be pou '
y J 1 whg as simplytinsang onthe bu th efaing toot drs ay i a oe nf
. wagtle editte of our l avin } \fiftoen y uraago in tha ship Guy Manner- | os yoketor Phe mene, moans ki Ras ‘a rt Fynee ]
1 | poo wictim, the mothor pf his. obi l at oil cw Gaia ree at \
t. ' dng.) tithe present time he pbeliesed he reel Rony yar DALE Beir led oh eit Weg we x Ts (rk areas ta
. adv ates and opponents of, Capt ab I ‘ve nb H vd J ns efatincw mental ip @ tyra | nt mri
| | | i W: as h t Dt ears of age, He chad married th ‘pratitude of my heat. Tlie yur eoe rh } oes Po
We tee Ak it would bf well | maptiare ¢< 0 equally. balanced ip | ia oa ‘ ieuEN KON py. |} 5 tM
1 # ah Lafay tte, Inid., and seemed to entertain : ; i aiy See | Wh 1
ey lets wouldaee to the fiastenip too | ell fortified in authoriti at Jaw wish, | ; f ‘ ki ‘lest feelin TI : Vather Charles of St. Michevs (lier hy in | Cor reese r
sacl windows thenselves ial Pagnh, Chri tian and ¢ statistionl be wee ‘hig h . es ~ gs. wee Chicago, arrived by the gaat ainedrrein vis ver atter t
‘ Yr \d ‘ ° . t . . 2
emight A peglectot th 0) Wi pond , of by & text, a & leader, a ki rm sah aphid " a * rid ne A es ry ent ! terday, Rey, Dr, MeMullh ¢ al the She “city | Ce Sa Pe A
nay ooeult in sertote loss as tl irq i ii auy | nere arrogant agsertion, iin ‘ard a rot "F ® ' icago, ane Wag also expecicd but dig gut at hive to as 1 tliat bette e
tmrr oto twlleve thae the |g wap it t built i Ina day, an Prat bh Beh ilfed ie 1@ Spoke of them. It was sist.im the Iast eeremonicd Cred y Ving fs a
srk In and abomt. this. eftty, i] andieh bt-sore, has com@ Along wa ih ors nb dive ae the sunshine of humanity in LEAVING HIstiren. been atolon GG
gwiy) 1

uni
so owe, bet especially ip
to ffoe isk wt present. At

( oreeadtion is worth oa

tare) jetake™ and: fa the miter pe

ial \ fidldarkened moral nature to Both pripsts, Father {
and t he private execution:

| hear | k of them. Ho d,eply regret-
wi thet ye of had bern addicted to drink and

pWenabyp al [be Reet asses cod t
Porr¢st and Pather Ar los ot Lat Ldeacoa fabs’ ,
were clyseted with the ipa am eter: estunates The &a

a

| A THE koapenen (way. | f
ee wed hehe to aheul horses, withi (hi 1 Nor Maloney, as the victim pe. bd h & Men on the night of ithe Une he le ft hha cc 1, for the Cita rf he fini. ex | “4 well i
eo fowl cee houses have been e 7 t from) his oceupation, an inoffensiy i pnd 1 fortanat ol ari; although claiming to'be j ims | ag thie} ats ad mites of thag chu: oy in a aol | |
ima bho retnoved there ‘from, | Is cant man, was murdebed in h cout fithe J urder of Maldney, he was eran thanber. ; ulcer eh i
| ess he had beqn too fond of der Chere see

onthe Sunday night of beret
j| die fe had been teo hu % to af
-poapepeions. One fact was clear. from fhe | ''
J] begining, vis: robery Was not thoplesign of °*US
higidpanilants, What sectets he ndght hay
kept what camities he :
ened nny never be fully kp
pretty cloarly proven -t
bore): im no good will, -ralthe
¥ oihiedy denies having knot
tale ey was aroused on iN a

| abhambd con

A five minute. rast 9 ‘ wey ma iy, _
Hig was wy his friends had pub. | I OP Me eb Peas, Wise no

py Mpa left his Cark prisaayand ppescdooutoue cca
@ haw written them, ef into fhe. iM ushine, so on to po mee Li | the oe
written, on the 4th inat,, im the darkness ‘and wot. athounabie elit of te

apers., It bhd not been sent BY | Gioat Uninon n.

tended a form. Howeve r, as he Depety Sueitirr
hen makes little difference what You ready?
ehy of mei ; I arm going to God who

fate rhittarl aatr bccad
pthiens : at PoclG
bebe sti t. asd
Bi fet Lb edy, are peal the cones r:
Pttig it19 dy for taper
Kew: TEDDY —Yes si, Ohi ai “cots es uid |
saarcely bo ‘heard, bat Fagber Chagles Stiass
mariner replied for him) |
Keuned, thea tld the prisouerstg oy] bee,
and walked mapfally up aaira, thd Catholic
elerey mon Teading, thea Hower the Sherif,

renee (oe hae The “EInguiry «

> Powers of the United States!’

wl wit® great interest, “Nev jae

» «© 4s iklostelous commatenatic 4 e
ar he and endea = The Edi

swrr «@ i voaally racy with soto

‘ Was Stuyvesant’ evidently p Tent

* + prectiond pen. Aaa whole, the b1

* 4) average one, and ‘Herper i t

« 9 feed a9 4 househokl friend to

Mie dank, @

Thay ring to his past life, ha was reticent,

Hor matked that he had formerly’ kept a
| gal boatding house on the corner of
ellersqn streets, in Chicago, and
milly on Canal strect. He had

ie ing at his door, wheh,
to on tt it until he knew who.

bruthply shat down by ont th i

Wauhegan, Pal

; thore de

| if } A t 1. Y i ee 1 . }

| oramenmis’ ob thie thane.  clookd doo i jwot 4 «dines Yoana: 8 at on, about ithen the « iomed man, betwee Deputy LAKE COU
_— rok Pris “YA 1 sae Hitthbungh & Fors Waynd ruitroad deyer { RMCTHT Wok sed the Tuite Me, Toque Heath Kis eiud

+ Rvmna ~-Shertfl Heath's avi tl! Kexnmpe's mtai Sa tae Gray Fallon) Gepet Pitan) hy the reporter oftae Gagma rant tA OuUd oO

. poy
Sth doa

Constebles,  Tige dp nica nor of Cherwretelied
man wes firm and evinced Bs qoation t | . . fio bag 0

er bale rres
appeal his Case toon hieher trilftat tan | Corny
Marth, ; t , ’ 6 te yaued
m ‘ : r by ‘oul with any rt
“His browcr fn law was, at his OWD Mr vest ' Re ) ‘ "
admitted tov mess th Ceeeution.” His own | ee .

' the av i a} Ne,

brother, Jan qs Kennel vy adn ma HTQ ©

8 man, Corbett, Was

jin ty, and hie hands arc thoed of a
with Ny
ond; cui othe th lat

fin | mAh necustomed to hard mannal labor.

| the ptisoner spoke yory kisdly of both

tbh heir tual adviser, Father Kenney, of
‘Hor at, who has been untiring, ia his

d cr trations, aad also of Sheriff oath aad

bat deni Weary, hopeless—his words wore

~~ oan oibee ere believes! to 1
r ae publle anfety, has three: Chidugo. nedy hy
“(fs cage Mot ia German , at day ni on ty } rie

_< wed Martnieg Lang He hal hia and! thongh laiming fo h ;

ete mere ley af Cheage, whe Re cond f erinin: 1 intent, has bk pa ,

by chain! evidence, circams

ot

: C4 agree with him Hel! ]
Sree yp ove lenge! to (io Kf the Bukd| W

| Lee Gl ’ » vk Mer
sas Intuasee Neemahe tte aie by i vet quite strong enongh ta 90 | re wlefed and be seemed to wish to im: conrse fo Witte. aso terre a sceqe. hh twee 2
_ 7 ue ' -_ mu " WH] in the mind of an impartial jury, | ad| Pro moment of his few remaining | LL ysT Mo Mgy TE i j and large farm rir

4 "> ' : | | howe . be O48
, “i Met i, til =" wey) PBT thamdrvices of counsel ekillful in dirimtnal | seria v eprth toldeyoto to prayer and medie| anys. ae) 7 oe . Fn aypoat fre hf be

= e=

1 = VA te De ee ~ =
Nahe MAY AUS pa ee
ete . tte it MED TC DIE. mt an hour when they re-| and his deputy, Mr. 0. G. Buell, werp simple] the vertebra of the
CoO | ! ‘d \ | ict of guilty, and the list bart effective, and every precautt bech | @ moment, at Inter
Wa -_— I Lbreeed eure highly respectable | taken to prevent any of these} ng | Shaking as if in os
ITAWIHER MAN'S ure. ve ditizdnsiof this + The nemies upon the | mishaps which are too comin ane | ine ane Fates
“na evmey 2eey mm fetes t | | Ape were H. Be Monten, J.P. Brown, Cor-| cution of the Death Penalty. wee phe see wep ie
. tr hrough the jceiling aljove thet fora few momen i
CO re Pape of 10: CWE aed © » sil The Second Fohatog" : sad bia en st oddia Rewer! Genes vie canine howe Ging He fra A Hla court) body of the maa
aeege and Horthwostern eileen County of Take, { dt f oF pate Stentord, L, D. Warren, Walter | room door, termipatiqg inp nose. At ears fed a bial
ice oraen oevision -| 1 ad ad 1; | Beott a artin Abbott. This liet shows | otha eri of the rope, which pasded over a sennedy ¢ aj)
Lettba | ks of John Kennedy for Complicity is tuab thelPaedict was an hpnest one. pulley in the tower, was 4 heavy.iton weight ban sing tive minut
cen wd! onre Woadegee eur iu ithes potle (ho Marder of Tailor M ¥, re eatiinn aa | " |mts SENTENCE, | weighing two bundred an seventy five ts.) Ab precisely lia
—— woreg Sout 4 “7 1. teen thee, i yl yA ma | | Keuned was sentenced to be angod on upheld by four girdiny hopes 80 atrdns ced gs ie a ee L
ert ReneS WT || bee Appearance of the Prigoddm-> lithe ad ah 1666, pat his cus wae cer-| to sustain a Ingge portion Of the ytrain ~~ | Evang, examined th
Se, bm omen nf | leterviews with bm aii ied up fo the Supreme Court who gonfirmed |The weisht was adjusted tema geyen fort fil examination eta
es 4 of the: Gime, | oun the decisiig previously made inthe Cirenit| from the tloor of the lower and. astenesl. | of life, |
Oo aang tt ee Beene ae eto., | | 18 ‘| Court, pplthat both judge and jury have the) though not ealely hekl there, ail ne Us "ef
agin tall 4 om A batinfact}d of knowlug thattheir agtiun wae} which was secured to (he casing of the | Tnmediately atte:
, lah Soper es, 1 et é win certain stormy in yh ni ne ithe a and quetained by a higher tribunal, south door leading to Aho tujpola. aM down, ash piace i,
; “gh Mepeeey ay cree DO HET month of November, @ place oal fed | Bpnd he for we execution, postponed by this ap-|course when Us small rope w4sicut, 1! he anda walnut and
ee BG) Ridyy, in the town of Cicero, colnt; of k, pesl fo pnother Court Te then fixed for} weight above would fall, fut wis pry vente: | wit tends) on the |
Da DEOUUNTT Agel. | wan Hae theatre of » horrible traggiy. Fp? Friday, quly Z{tb, 18086. V1) [from striking the floor by | the tpur)joche | allver crags with th.
~ SS | ol tanves under which | an D | @ bu bh for the history of the case, Kear| ropes which held it a few inched bieuie JOHN |
Le 9 we etee of sooner mous Lo ni ilor residing at that) ng ee Re ot ned 1 siuly no cause for domplaint | (hus) pre ve nting any sound other tyan tho DIED 4
ese’ sr ine onme ond cddrems' teolerbal | G0 In higeown house, eviticed piptemedi- Se dh cats tk eter etl etiesun rial: “F : aon
-_ mn Paves eon: PES eee ge | toting? which wae sufiigiontly ® rovone te af the urt which sonteaced him tb death. hood, in the corridor, eurfouns tog the erin. Hin wace of the d
. = teaming coatsibutions most be roub to ti wal even Chicago slpddgr, | ne H I" ; i i)" SOME REFLECTIONS.  . inak would be drawn up frost aptly, pad tie | Caly Wis Fruoved, ‘
tee tae ce ante eTnmy OrPnT ISTH | RoTHAY matter, the frequency | fey on ty, owever, idle to deny! that it ie no | slack of the rape came alfall of sgipe thir jie away after hy
cad deteenattnat Tata: eokemes ied ipeceptacle of the F PY | as mate rye quuvidt 9 man of muriler.—| fot. Ik Was believed Put thig meted) va. “Tove was a
- spe temye) 0. 0n08 be reberned to their Writ world sufficiently attests. Ta | fat \Ou i ‘of; thé number wht belleve the | would iysy re more apecd yi and certain d dew | Geuutenagce whic,
: "s S.gagpente weep Ne inc same werk Th wrah neq d in this entire affair such a devi tht na Oh shy Arous there { a lingering than the paraplernali a the Crops beatae | Mot have died hy m
‘ Ab ithe speed | codlites in design on the p hd pf § th g of doubt in many rnings, where the} and trag, The preparations werd in faci | Wyast have been al
Lites core of » Geserte of th pire vlog hat itfis no marvel, paplip ir hig sen ¢ idaho ix tia circumstantial, ‘that similar to those made for the exe¢ution F hands alias NOU Wi
way it head by callbng ima wanigrovees, Is ie eaey|to undey¢ 34 fda cause aifeveridh intérest to know whether Bel], but avoiding the hodvy jar (guise by Phe cotta _
eer af FOOmn. } a whqH by the yoluatery | action hai bel nel the fitiegner will confess, The moment @) the fall of the weight, he rope wes tented | BIven ty the tiieiwds
ee a mad iho drove Corbett and Fle q the oan is chndemned to death the publig are} soveral tines befure the che culign. had Gt rempoved tot
' toe lavemesring Inatallme neliborbood of Sand Ridge, *| ie vN lee! o prong to forget the victim in thir pity | eeeaac BUN EMIANS, j Whence ik Wiss tal.
ted trong: my. Plagy,” by ony ip the Gam obteined, which ered tho. ulin i e ender Especially is this the} Kenuedy has menilesiqd one gypod teas, [tary near Fy anuten
ore ce eet er 6, poltey of Chisago, (usually toy bg py in a | case Where the éfender has wife and chil-| ang that ix a wholesome dversion fo being | o'(fock pom. train,
HOG Uf TNE nest a tb Mada rodtifg the more inoffdngive lava (of) i" dren, really heed sympathy whether the dissacted alive by the imofal ataujm’ sis at| WEENR SSH
a saad—Persons desiripg te BEAR » dragkarde, proptituten | by Ht ‘wus of their’ dixgrace deserves any or not. the Chicaga newspaper peess. Mey rs. Cone OU, Heath, Sh
so oo @ pianos, of the latest an rogi # to pay ranch attent| on Eh 4 if hl dur ng, a4 society is constituted, the nolly of the Titbane and Tings of fhe Timea | Gy bw, Deputy
( patterns, would do wellto ¢ 4|| sen piities, could nap wink, ‘partion idly punished by an cxegution are visited him lagt evening and Fridiy morn | Ciramit Court, Gee

voforo making purchases, a (ae reeteivere praia oF “coy ot ti dh
onder 1s that ayy: o

ou the “joy de re kicdrad,—and while the ing, Wut their etforts were with¢mt uyail, Clerk, Teves Char
cats made with large houges jn ing y ¢ copdemned, it is |nstinctive add Le refOsed to have apy thine fosty to] Mo Reamey, Cleryy

|
. : wen@jarrested : for it must be'reg i i t Poury ack Scroud
eév, we ape @nabled to/ offe: tl I his did A aud if han ap hind, enee the feveribh cager- Hin. This will, however, iasko ge bier | ar) uit { i Evan
sip pg o Gret ¢labe inatrampnt va ! 8 hot occur M § 1 ¢ I he nblig to read the last words uf , te hemaoinntiahe np fettit ae hice Pullowimg as
: ee | mort] vr) ‘after the crime. | Inde er a! Jo &| 1 ence, Us their Naha deas ard fom add, | .
<8 lle ; H ng iu; he nee the necessily of ne wis- eds WathEGan (ra

they will invent an aceoupt which will sac!

if ° {
Li I tinge, | oun, Tribune, Tin

) os betas The August ngint if
jar monthly has yeen recqi v4
septeaiber nainter, the P ig

toeluce fell page illuatr i
‘i omitch to ite attraction

y showhd take it, for it ia or ly
cote per number. Tickdor
here, Boats on, Maaa.

are those who still doubt ifthe b rae ‘rnbiint them—Forthe Frpay ponlay bi, Chicago people bettér Mian the  Arath,

the case seemed euwr pt | id fi wide | ta
id the affair has been nt it th i i digs Mt cannpt ayite, but simply rellects who eare more for sets athon tlian if, | 7

Flt - oy) oh D. William
fren intly the case in ¢trimin 1 tri bay er api » bea a mone ery The Tins Feporter, sil inge thie pyc il bok} 1 Wi u
INTERVIEWS ifm IKHENNRDY,

of the exe rrerited, ut sia bogtis letter, | Baars, In mes
"The pwpitae has pid two visjis ta the con- which Keanedy regrettad, omg te law | t. Sterne, EA

been in gspeci bad & loyiwieh thd Coonied Payor, WW. Tha
man, fir No sdhoner bad tlhat (pres CHITY | I Wihiting,

dembed fnnn, One, Which was noticed ins

are those ars will refus to be ir a y
i ‘b fr rviogajissud ; the other list Tuesday, and
h

pal guilty, so great ]
: by iy arb’ of

1 Punishment. Th

I] (oapdeially o maids, And: diiildte qrives poet pul which ae geiyoine® has, of utr nccd himsell, than Kennedy tesa dk ac “ ramihk 9
~~ an | ' F Hace this -econline men unnedy ha gh hohe , bhere Were perk
termined manner said, pa Ah Cube thd
eay 7 sample of new rth whi uld dopm any one td death | here and pouree, lost fle sh end arowe. ve ry ale. at Q : eds . uVe 4 tik ccuearia ony
' After on the merest vreath of @ epiclon h , say to you. This will! result Boy tuu
Tato” vanity was If ay | { 1 I " 1h he Jong interval between the perpetration |” dung converartiun dad bat workup sbeoy (Eee ALE pe at
reday by Mr Chas. F. Hiv 7 agree y if thay were’ frei nvm of th ms and the arrest of the criminnle} ? eae jut oe, its: Siyantyel: rut
cewoort The aample is very thd { | ret yng, Some persons holigve pvt with had. pire ‘aly led them all to beliqve that] | Ko: bee ; POT ~ terdavtn. ence + Lemmy be
’ Mr oy saya promigcs 8 td ined ath of Kenae ‘dy, the Jat of, ; e guilty Justida us deaf, as well as Lind! Haital } , ni i‘ " 7 nte wk Mie tit 1, LC ba, !
’ orf , t va 4 nal intervie \ 4 fliers. 4
. We hewe of rust in jromg | Ot] ngage in Maloney’s mirdet have per migtakl) j of trime--always unplilsophieal ‘ne part beg ne
isted while to some minils, it is qhite: Clear Lt ! . : nathely, his wile, lis brog! Hie raml With.
‘* ertrhent and ont Th tl at he real tigat f the 1 ! on Rontpary Pe par Morel organization. | As hi bratl hinedlaw., Phe cparcis lelied a i a
bbe: ts i | a eo) eT ee re padi pe igedd «
m tha Cane Swill not eel ee instigator of the ‘dee Neon if. wilged, the Nemesia of the Actual could ; ” . ; eh th es , ed !
ee¢ppand never will be discovered. i fi le del | seitplion. Elis poor wife b Wns fin “ .
COME APROU LATION, | if ce dale nervously Weld itas at shd tel tie Maa taw an bes
eerey a M. neon ‘Addl Fle ad, When jo gallon on the conlerned many} mp, .
Mhftiinty, the ease presenta nia y vinguy on the mbrniu of\'Tuesday, he was regqding | leas ale “ae ,
meraft on une lity | and larvipinis, ond in giving these) diferent w rotigions ae af hiscehurch. ‘iho oa Ite herdins, and satbthidpingty, Phi tar footie
hol incon iv Mi req epag@tstions the Gazeenrm, in Myis, Pport, ig) 4i ne ee “i fe vas io Uae vet i aa \ Doe KedeLep aytepene ~ Baad typed ,
Mh aft heb th miinfey ful fiiliag its duty! as a jon nal, He ‘ whi . oh eh Has n ie nf , - | Coal ot he Qiails of \ thar i } i }
re | eons woe Dhitiely remygh doe? poy >
rhe iof both dadithiag " condi the facts of the hour, pHesvnting, nes " . on i. \ . | Kennedy tried toanewer der h nai, Ge the “> ‘ A Fovs
, ' } 1 j > Go ‘ ( Abd penne even Le ' ¥ , : , '
‘ ail ty I] I r My oO tu cai, aiunirrer of the pasnipe Hf aad the iJ vals a oa — daaih " ki ni 1; | weirs were Pesind Bly pew er hi 1! , .
‘ Tie f Te a MD Tha TeSEDE OCCusiOon 4 BA fitrianys cae 0 His: | 0° he eags of the w. ri ne . ) Lae coull) ace tis aeene! and rat ] ret |
erat ered Prestlee}t, TG com phe degmee of guilt of the markt ho boge | UA by go means a Bentaber coarse fem pe sy Ly ‘ awe


ig

Cc,

on b
4 was

Rpereg, oP mM wenk,
i with hip We
of the! Fifini ita
Htoreliey af tle wl ages,
evan oneitithe of their briliane y>
("neal expressed no unwillingness to
see us when he Tournggd we were not. there
Hyatt the Chic ago press, de guys he |
trebted onthe stth ef daly, Iss, and
| was entinely Unacghainted with M. on
‘rourdere

tj
Ag

me]

iynor Wir rain alone

and toa blind to see

may. That he is a native “Tr the |
nth of rela at and came to Amerien some
fiftcon years ago in the ship Guy Manner.
ing. Ati the present time Le belie.cd he
‘Was abort 42 years of age. Meohad narried |
ah Lat iygite, Ind , oud reemed to entertain
foe his wire thé kin leat feeling
woman ng heen stopy s here His ‘ehil-
dren ard: wath her Lreaher in Whicago, and
bis eyes led as he spoke of them. It was
liké arny of the sunshine of Lumonity in
the night ef aidarkened moral natare to
hear Wine apeak of them. Hed. eply regrete
tiihat ho had been addicted to drink and
s idle wad drunk on the night of the une
forinnad attr: although claiming to be ime
Lb ‘ut df the Riurder of Maldney, he waa,
ashamed ta coufess he had beqn too fond of
Tiny Heo Was yorry his friends bad pub-
lished 4 (latter I had written them, or
ewused ty Be \ ritten, on the 4th inst., in the
Meas) fy Jers. It hha not been sent by
him im sd exien ted a form. Howey. r, as he
Tomakes tle difference what
nea maistsay of mes; Tam going to Ged who
isthe Jidige of myjactions,’

Re! forryu ro his pst life, Na Was reticent,
He remaghed that he had former ly kept a
$4 sow ani boatding house on the corner off’

Pati a detferson streets, in Chicago, and
Th me recently on Canal sireet. He had
[. irkieTspyue three years, off and on, about |

remarked. Make
4

ithe Pittsburgh & Fort Wayne railroad: depot

in thet ¢fiy, and hia hands are thosé of af
man accustomed to hard mannal labor,

the prisoner spoke very kindly of both
his ppirftual adviser, Father Kenney, of

_ Lala Forest, who las been untiring in his

J
al}

4

v
oT

‘9

7.

.

=

 inigt ratlons, aad also of Sheriff Hoath and
his family. Weary, hopeless—his words were
a SON uttered, and he seemed. fe wish te im.

| prove gach moment of his ‘few remaining |

dayy cm eprth to! (de rote to, breve and medi-
tatign. |

Aban darly dur’ -esterday morning, Gen,
" ) Thomson Exu., Aralstant Clerk ‘of the Ctr

yeu Court, who has felt friendly to the

‘prisoner nd taken a deep Interest jn his

unhappy fate, visited hig pt the cell whea 7

or ‘in- |

the followibg conversation ‘took place ;’
Me. T'ndMson—I desire, Kennedy, to
froin yout own lips, as to your guilt,
nocence, , | This i ia the last conyergation we
cin have gn carth, It isan awful thing fi

7 . "we

you ta goin tore your God with a falsehor
mn yout lips.

j Kaxnetiv—The world is now about closed
og me, wah I would not tgll a hie for the
whyle ot if. A will only repeat what I have
said betor¢—that I went. out With them (f c

| Corbet ark Rlewing) aud came back with

them ;
Ye te
aie it ‘it

u bie drank, and knew nothing
patie ; nor did J, until two days
urred.

na'romer dv peath

O¢=frightened at the sto. ly step |
Lij:} ted to death by the!

, the \

The peor)

the sufferer hs.

) Kexxepy.—(With a his well,
lid features) Nothing Pare | ott ae: Hydrophopia, (so galled) jat
"Thanks! were jretured (to. the heriff by | Diamond Lake, which f ve ireahy

Father Uhprles in behalf pf the debiied man, | Mentioned, i9 recovering by the aid of Ing
(ALQ:14 p.m. the sh d of camt ek besos 90 of ry |

brie waa placed about hi body, after which {82 Acquisition ta our favored \'

the me @ Tore was adj ¢d abont is neck ‘The crops look well. u ar

‘and the white cap drawn bver hid thee, the | toulatly promnisilig,” Grass

Priests assisting in the oid pifive, and) Tage crop im quantity and pe ¢ equal

phowing the vomed mau) the jieet sym’ ity. Oats and wheat Vooks . Karly

pathy, peeg merite We potatoes pre abundant aaat

| THe pasctfion, I hope our friend She will investi
eres PU] | panes ear re POP err! a ee oe Pe Oe ee te ane oe

890 Pelt, wd met os , 01 0808: 1 aoe tee.
$8, Yelle. do et ws . 900 brie de, enon el! of
71 @66e, beta Ao at 86.26; Bie bete do ot HO.

houers wae quirt bet termed, end tq bighee

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fois ing | He ret eapeed , cy Mecrtiads ae ee Cee A sawad wf cha yo M, ) Me .
tt qn arts nt ~ wn Ms, a 7 Be Teena | (a hie re Fing.t-A fiero hvok > ont but two o'¢lor } Lath fee Mp eces ba y? '
ave frei Vent ‘ \ ! is Heder vclrd a . i . \ ‘ ‘ a prs
pis fons conmturcgn omteiny Nii i. ad win § (yb, Un n Thuralay HAT WA se in the Hie and ’ pto- | Ceder prete, @ 100 ie ats pare eis vt
the titted of WY dedie DUT@ yon fer at . 4 } ’ ! ‘ |
this yratitnu ih } f its } us yy viston store of Messrs. HI. lL. iNase, oni The Wov! ‘Market Oe pes ‘
Father Charles of St. Mic haei's q hurel in | Getfessec street. The fh neal ere Guenehiga | fo Tiwould ie viix 1 4 oo
Chicago, arrived by the pid: ribs ifitra Line yes: very soon after the ou tal and the tire r ” a dla ; uv hy ahs et, A hee basp 6
tna ae HNOM LEY, 3 | * seam ts © large
terday, Rev, Dr, MeMull If qf the fame city | Company was promptly ont hpnd. [fis sup jatock accumulated a che Horton Wumebet Co pom Pp ge,
wag also expecicd but dif pla i" to ag | posed that bungl ies entered tLe store in the } poneabeot pf the tarcth bisa d thy decline tn Clibesg v1
’ - 4 -| { ‘
sist in the last ve remonied, first place, for $PO5, ure reported as havi | ot te pal $id be Lage whectet dora) merece Ake
Ly LEAVING HTS by been stolen, ' “he inearaifeo company’s | more than’ 10,000 ths. were a _ “ ait “e o-
u we leteg at ato an
Hoth pripsts, Father Wena has Lake} Agent arqensessed the dumazd on. the! goals | tae nd tween fe ik, Koti if ol onl oo
Forrest 3 jand | “ather Ch: ros ui IChicaze at about! &25 whidh scems rather A low | tee rea WL CON UM OLE wool wae ould ated The he —_ .
werela@ reptcl with the pri soner, if be fore estimate. Th building whigh is owned by | rab a tapes bavibewn ds Gd bee, bub tie be ,
he loft I gcell, for the fital s ot, aint ster hilss Kelley 19 also jays ured, Guéetionale if any: _ eden ge vey rayne Ih
ed the te ead rites of “4 church! B| 49} Capp The ladige of the Saptist Chureh flail 4 dey. ll me ait Toe core wll be
r : atreels lo day a ? a COWEN itu
aan ah bie q | tonder their bincere: thanks ito Mra. J. 10. | tendeney. Th.
{ five minute: past Jo Jock { e “unhap- Lee, Misses E, Marr, M. Burfot and L. VP. aLc4a9, ’
py me in his di ark prise 1 ‘aid j SEC out Partridge amd t e brother Teath, for the The fol ing are the (uotativas im the Ch ieng ' h t +
’ bee we '
Into ean He, SOON tb BO OU into the} delightful musical entertainent given hy | Poteet 9m) wey. uy a Nw plies bp oe
athnes nh ‘ Tuyirg “pane i o
Great n eather ple gl au iho them at Dickinson Hall on riday qvenir ff, lr rine Hes ee, Myht and whites oe 6) ,
Dr vi es di [ao ) the@0th inst., and for this putistantl fo-|| Fine Meee, babtbatecgy. .., af “PAW REEL .|
! i 1 Sill Bey rie ny, are salifof the panel ry Whibh ackts materia ly|to | Fine teeta, etty amd beavy. ce Mb “ tiers
” . 1? j yi F ' af lal . oer . bin i « ‘
7 raady® Wt os | tho funds|for furnishing! thei hew church, | Medio ie: twit * wi.
VEN NE ‘DY — Cs. sir, (‘Phe acc ts coul wld Many’ nks also to Mre Shores for th ean vee itt end - “ v3 ade Ms
. ¢ one Bite. , ,
rate bear bat Father Cha les Btigss. use of her piano, which ‘poonree uph Coane Bs ai weadi ‘bom ae 43 #4 eons nape
iiss tied for htm.) | . ‘sweet ransle uoiler the magic touch of Miss BRw vonn. eae et
ay then bid the § ood bye, | Partrid | A. M.Fhaxmam, Sec. On thaderh yuotations were as follows for gant: | HY * eso
ae ed ma pally up.¢ i Catholic’ Waukegan, Joly | Oth ‘bo, | Quiet andiunchanged ; i ame ad dome tic -—| € heih-teem tar’
leva men aan 4, then fdilow Sheriff, i dll Bl ad RO | | P@C2 50 hd ie “ heaves pr "ees vit ale
{ ? if : 4 ot A aed | ve ie «ey ¢ a itr® ee
then the doomed man, Pepa | LAKE COUNTY MATTERS, = fing fet iS Sere Or mpi:
heriff Bucli and the Jaild ‘Heath E SE a nowron te ictus
allowed by the r Thor o TTE and La.——Oud | corresponde “Mt Rg The week eales of domestic fret ap wome BE OOOT Oe y ,, ’
| Constables, The dpmeanp Fetohed |PcNds us the following items [Ths at 8 range of bog Toe for Heere, and bathe (4 Pemte wane eo om
man firm an evi tion to | ‘0 the Editor of the Wansezin Gaz te, | var ‘pradee ii polled, Incleded are bape of = oa *
‘appeal s9 to a hi ! . t } h |Your fair rrespondent tom Ela is, I old Weeteta fléeuee a Mahe ‘pew Miel gen e 9 ly . beet «>
Earth. y ABPr ay _ imagine, to. jmuch absorbed now to favior G0be ; ney Obioet 62 a1 ye. Very r@lect pore'e all
r ' ' pity of pickloc ® held at jhi@edc, but without oles -+
corres. od p are ey ;
His brother-fn- ey wank sheet, [fs with an ence 4 present, tio Puiled wad! ie in moderato deuent end the Weteey | Th: Mores
Imitt a] to wi , | venture to dr Pp you a line, opty is grades erdacarecha! flemly hel! We note sabe «fl ' oo
acdmittel to wiiness. the ¢ His own | .
brother! Jamds Kennedy, cgirg of] CO PYallable, | | | Me. 1 at abe 460; eurers at Marve, and entre mem |. ,
disliie ‘thes ; os y | 9 0 ave, the jou teste pate tor B- wheter been i for .
ol Hea 99, Ventre ua "i 1 CHICAGO URSIN BAnKET, 1
, | hast Mom Ste. ] Cnucaeo July 20% .
Tokieg hi Seat unc noobe at fae the <€ grads soperied ‘a ties aa'kn rep NM It /_~,
prycivety inntes | nek, the’ etait noo of + hereg ey Maiees obbe ris ing ray
iff read the Death i || eereeerd
ed At 1 a died \ Tips of he | | Page hp seurtst! was active, Greer, coo fn ot Present its
the condemn¢d man mov oT a 7
bug peer | ; eee pet bel Bet Jer on extran , holders egking an OH
j He seemed vite calm read. tonal advange, whi bapers ere powitting tx mert
of the warrant. but upward ‘ Bp ing Frtee 100 brie adem: Go 4 SOOTH
to the 1 for a fen Shea’ as 60.2, 100 bee “ies! Naber” 9: hf

Wairare Tie market for No 1 eprtng fo regalia

with walde ot OF O21 AT, ~-obeeing qtr

firm ef the eutei'e terre Mn @ spring endt tee

limited? chtent at Wie bn Mort, Pas. ee.) he

j Ceggd Adie be aees. Reireted’ Gan mag len ted Me
7:

adie A we: 6 gored chipping Agurend

eopaiderabie ectivilt im @ Pperetetire emy

market wine Srmer bed tye better ne Be 1 te di |

with eoteas ot Seuireee. 7 haeen 0. #8 Fy

Es. Fe

Fer (.
ces 1 oo
eta #& * -

Pere se
Paper? weno '" all
PREL GE) Ame ‘

BR bem » |
A
ee) ov tme

ete ha

a. a eee ee ee ee a ree ee ry, et i ll

burger and J. M. Kenney, Clergy in attendance; Drs. B. S. Cory and M. Evans,
Surgeons in attendance. The following newspapers were represented: Waukegan
GAZETTE, Chicago REPUBLICAN, TRIBUNE, TIMES, POST.
THE JURY |

"J, L. Williams, Hon. E. P. Ferry, P. W. Edwards, Dennis Marr, Geo. G. Fergu-
son, L. Steele, H. A. Hinckley, M. Dulanty, J. M. Taylor, W. W. Hastings,
Ke Gone, Samuel Wilding.

OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE.
There were perhaps 300 persons - about one half of whom were women, At 2:18
Peme when the weight fell, its sound, muffled by the ropes and bag, could be
heard with a dull heavy thug. After it fell, the rope could be seen from the
northeast corner of the square, swaying to and fro, to and fro, and eyes
fastened on the rope, though they could not see the wretched man. Most of
those assembled - especially the women - were of the same nationality as the
doomed maneeee"

WAUKEGAN WEEKLY GAZETTE, Waukegan, Ill., July 28, 1866, Microfilm printout
copy providedthrough courtesy of Miss Phebe Booth, Karcher Hotel, 405 Wash-
ington Street, Waukegan, Illinois 60085.

aid. -He
regative

ey were
e black
yuld see
ess.

t would
; excru-
through
ey were
ing was
{ killers.
4 doubts
did find
y assur-
he name
they did
the par-
a said it
have to
sills. But
t the ad-
me? And
might it
e end of
-yed, laid
another,
t the one

nt aggier®

ned eyes.
He closed
hem stop

wie ae

Pere ar

SF

Bataan ae F

r

2

flashing white and black; then, after
a long time, reopened them and gazed
steadily at the negative.

Into sharp focus came the face of
a little child.

As he had a dozen times, Pape reach-
ed for the photograph, held it up be-
side the negative.

The others, aware of his sudden si-
lence, were watching. Pape laid the

negative down carefully on top of the»

_ photograph and shoved his chair back.
“That’s it,” he said and closed his
eyes and rubbed them.
- They called in Bloom and held their
breaths while he took the negative
and hunted for its card in his file. They
didn’t realize how ‘tense they had been
Sen ee until he returned and

“I found it,” he said.
The name of the child was Janice

Damiani.
Friedman said: “ it’s phoney.”
Pape shook his head. “I don’t think

so. The laundry mark was EM.D. Re-
member? The last initial’s right.” He
turned to Bloom. ‘How about the par-
/ents’ names?”
Bloom said, “Look on the back of the

card.”

Pape ‘turned it over. He read,
“Father: Edward Damiani.”

Friedl said: “E. M. D. Edward Da-

miani.
They'd scored!

photo had been taken in March

TS 1941. They had searched through
two and a half years of negatives.

The officers went back to the Bureau,
their eyes smarting in the bright
September sunlight. And all the way

He found out in a hurry. Phelan got

. a fast check up at the Bureau of Iden-
tification. Edward Damiani had been
arrested previously, And he had given
his occupation as that of a refrigerator

repairman,

From official records Pape got his
address and led his squad out to the
West Side rooming-house. As he ex-
pected, Damiani had not lived there
for a long time.

“Come Kill Me!”

baie there any connection between the

Reynolds’ arrest fanned the smoul-
dering coals of hate to a roaring inferno
in the troubled city. The accused man’s
friends bitterly branded the accusation
as a political maneuver.

Dovery’s supporters gloated with sat-
. isfaction and predicted the city admin-
istration would undergo a drastic
een” a after the suspect's guilt was

proved. p

’ Studebaker and Imus were deter-
mined to get the truth and doggedly
kept up their investigation. They tried
to find some one who could verify
Reynolds’ alibi, but none of the at-
tendants or tenants of his building
could say he was in his office at the
time of the killing.

Reynolds’ hearing was held in the
Castle Rock Justice Court and, on
September 23rd he was bound over to
the Superior Court on a first-degree
murder charge.

He was released on $40,000 bond sup-
plied by his friends. who petitioned the
State Attorney-General to appoint a

Eb Fedest was ranted 8 Sharpe
=~

This request was granted. R. G, Sharpe
w the assignment,

tion. He t
dence the officials had dug up.

He studied the charges and counter-
charges which were flying thick and
fast in the embroiled city. He spent
hours interviewing persons who had
any connection with the case.

At the end of his preliminary investi-

got a list of his old associates, his
eral addresses. started running
down each of these leads. They found
that he had hung out in a certain dis-
trict on the Middle West Side.

And when the police went out there
they made a score almost immediately:
They recognized the portion of the
building which had appeared in one of
the snapshots. ’

The detectives separated and started
working separately. They inquired for
a friend of theirs named Eddie
Damiani, who used to hang ground
here; and, by their shifty eyes and
their cautious speech, they made it
plain that they were very good friends ~
of Eddie and that they were aware of
his situation.

They connected. He'd been seen
around the hotel in the last few days.

They went to the manager, and
showed him a picture of Edward
Damiani. He said, “Sure. He’s not a
guest but I’ve seen him. He visits a
guy that lives here. Wait a minute.”

Cooperatively the manager talked
to the room clerk and came back with
the information that Damiani visited
Charles Young in Room No. 121. —

The detectives cautioned him to say
nothing to anyone. Then they cased
the hotel for several days. Nothing
happened. And, as day after day
passed and they did not see Eddie
Damiani enter the hotel, they won-
dered if, after all this work, their only
clew had blown up. Damiani
skipped town? ¢

No. They spotted him as he step-
ped from a taxi with two small chil-
dren. One was the infant whose pic-
ture had fingered her father.

Pape snapped: “Let's go!” They
pounded down the sidewalk and grab-
bed Damiani.

They subdued him after a: brief
struggle—he formerly had been a prize
fighter and was heavily and stockily
built—and put him into the squad car.
Then they sped to the Detective Bu-
reau. Oncé Damiani tried to leap from
the speeding car. -

(Continued from Page 14)

gation Sharpe huddled with Studebaker
and Imus.

“Frankly,” Sharpe said, “the case
against Reynolds is weak. The woman
who said she saw him ‘running from
the shooting might be mistaken. On the
other hand she may be right in her
identification. She has, apparently, no
reason to accuse Reynolds unjustly.
That's the extent of the evidence I’ve
examined.” *

GC TURE As. nodded gravely. “The
worst part about the whole thing,”
he pointed out, “is that some of Dov-
ery’s friends might try to take the law
into their own hands. We've got to
protect Reynolds at any cost and pre-
vent any other vigilante reprisals that
may be thought up.” .

“Reynolds’ arraignment is set for
October 10th,” Sharpe reminded them.
“Before then we've got to find some-

thing that’ll prove Reynolds’ innocence
—or else tie him into the case beyond“
any doubt.”

Imus gestured impatiently. “But,
Sharpe, we've been on the case for three
months without a letup. We've followed
through on every angle we could think
of. What could we have overlooked?”

“T don’t know,” the Special Prosecu-
tor said. “But we've got to have definite
proof one way or another. I think that
the murder gun offers our only chance
to crack this case.” :

“But we've satisfied ourselves,” the
Sheriff declared, “that it wasn’t pur-
chased anywhere around here. We've
run a picture of it and complete de-
scription in all the papers in the Coun-

They locked him up at the Bureau.
Then, while Phelan and Sergeant Jack
Hanrahan prepared to question him,
Pape and his men raced back westward
to the hotel. :

They found Charles Young in bed.

They grabbed him and searched his
room. In it they found a number of
38 caliber and 9 mm, . caliber car-
tridges, a twelve-guage sawed-off
shotgun, and—a cylinder for refrig-
eration gas. Pape drew from his pocket

‘the key which they had found in the

rooming house. It fit perfectly the
valve of the gas container.

They took Young down to the Bu-
reau.

Vy tieneane at the slaying of Bush
and Olsen could not identify
Young as a participant in the Currency

teaen yout? MOUNT

LZ

fantified Damiani. was bald ASCINATIC
oung was he oe
for prosecution for illegally having | s, Li sat enh
firearms in his on. Cats My sr
Phelan, noticing the unusual caliber eo none apostate eee,
of the cartridges found in the hotel wun
room, sent them to the Crime Detec- BIG PROFITS I prick. b
tion Laboratory for comparison with Bey epee ca eae!
the single cartridge shell which had FREE BOOK zerg in!
been found when But had been killed. | gaye Art
ratory 0! c :
shells matched. A.W. Saheel of Taxtdermy, 2162 Eee:
Later, Damiani named Alvin Krause
as his companion in the killings.
“Where's Krause?” Damiani was s, f
Damiani re : “You've already 1 | |
got him pinched. Don’t try to kid me.” |
Finally they got this straightened
out. Krause had been picked up sev- Profit t
eral months earlier by police up on the of E)

North Side of Chicago after a tavern
shooting. in which a was
wounded, He was now being held in

the County Jail.

Both Krause and Damiani were in-
dicted on two counts of murder. The
Cook County Behavior Clinic found
Damiani sane on November 4th, 1943.
His trial and that of Krause was set
for January of 1944.

Men and
quickly at v
est jh.

coach you

paid opportuniti pap =: hae §
ies hii

ture. Over 500 N. Y. I. gra
Force and branches of 1
N. Y. I. trair

gel in ‘helping th
in in
” ps te asain Pinang

Police of Detroit were left to deal

“ with the Lamb_brothers and Gemmill,

who had no connection with the

Chicago crimes.

Read It First ia

OFFICIAL DETECTIVE STORIES

ty, but that didn’t do any good. And our
circulars haven’t brought any results.
What more can we do?”

Sharpe said: “It’s a cinch the killer
was certain the gun couldn’t be traced
to him, Otherwise he wouldn’t have
thrown it away. That means he didn’t
get it through regular channels, else
there'd be a record of it somewhere.”

“gure,” Studebaker remarke d.
“That's what we figured. But we sent
out the circulars just to be sure. I don’t
see how we could have covered the field
any better.” :

Again Sharpe lapsed into silence. It
was several minutes before he came up

|e

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even the most intense
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Ask your druggist today for D.:

TO BE SET TO
your Poems for our

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Hl

Next day the newspapers up and
down the West Coast carried pictures
and full details concerning the murder
weapon. Persons with any information
regarding the odd-make revolver were
asked to contact the Cowlitz County
authorities immediately. But the days
went by with no results.

Then, on the morning of October 2d,


sed for shortwave radio communica-
m.
Pape went to the Exchanges already
bbed and asked the cashiers to try to
member any suspicious persons they
.d seen before the stickups. Then he
lied up the Exchanges in the city
d warned them to be on the lookout
ra fingerman. He told them, as best
could, what to watch for.
One by one the routine methods
iled. The hoods hit all over town,
thout apparent reason, not operat-
: in any one neighborhood. Besides,
ice their jobs were big and carefully
anned, they didn’t pull so many as a
iall-time mob ‘does. They could pick
d choose.
Exchange cashiers could not spot the
igerman, though the police knew
‘re must be one. That the finger-
rk was well-planned became appar-
lt when no job was pulled in an
change where a_ detective was
inted,
Pape and Phelan were stumped.
No matter what they tried, they
led, And all the time the gang's
| mounted, They were utterly cold-
»oded—they even pulled two stickups
Christmas Eve of 1942.

Y THIS time police all over the coun-
try were watching the case with in-
est, partly because of the unique
‘hnique, partly out of fear that the
»b, successful in Chicago, might
inch out into other cities.

Chis gave Phelan an idea. “Since,”
said, ‘‘they don’t stick to any one
rt of Chicago, they may not be local

“8.

Phelan figured that most of the
icago native hoodlums who grew up
the city’s slums remained loyal to
2 section. A South Side boy might
ver go to the West Side for 20 years
his life. There were differences
ween the various communities of the
y, differences which were perfectly
ar and real to the natives. A stranger
the city would be more likely to
nder all over town, for he would fail
recognize the varying characteris-
3 of the different sections.

It hasn't got anything to do with
me,” Phelan said. “It’s just human
sure.”

-ape nodded slowly,
do about it?”

If they’re from out of town they
y go back to their home city. We
1 warn other departments. We can
d our descriptions out and ask all
tcers to study them. It just might
that we’d hit a long shot.”

Chey both knew what a long shot
t was. But they also. knew any-
ag was worth trying.

“But what can

Alvin Krause: He found jail a place of refuge
after a shooting brawl in a Chicago tavern

Charles Young: His room held the key
to a mystery that had the police baffled

Edward Damiani: He knew how to repair a refrigerator,
and had the reputation of being a top-notch prize-fighter

The circulars went out. They got a
couple of nibbles but nothing that
amounted to anything. And the Gas
Gang roared-on.

Then Pape got his first break: A
laboratory technician from the Crime
Detection Laboratory told Pape and
Phelan, “It's mainly sulphur dioxide
that they’re using. There are other
i in it, but that’s mainly what it
s.”

So Phelan asked the question he’d
wanted answered for months: “What’s
the gas used for?”

“Mixed with other components as
this is, sulphur dioxide is used pri-
marily as a refrigerant.”

Phelan nodded, looked at Pape.
Without a word Pape got up and went
into the squad-room and collected
Friedl and Friedman.

One of them went out to Prest-O-

Lite. The other helped Pape to some
telephoning. Pape started by looking
up refrigerator service outfits in the
classified telephone directory.
Prest-O-Lite, it turned out, manu-
factured the gas. It also supplied re-
frigerator repairmen with refills. That
is, the repairman would bring in his
empty, hand-sized tank and the com-
pany would fill it up again from a 30
or 50 pound drum.
This was the sort of tank the hoods
used. ;
Prest-O-Lite said there were four
places in the Chicago area that simi-
larly supplied repairmen with refills.
Pape and his men made the rounds

of these. At the Airo Supply Com-
pany, of No. 2732 North Ashland
Avenue, they got most of their infor-
mation. But it didn’t look any too
hopeful. The Airo man said, “Any
refrigerator repairman can come in
here and get a refill.”

Pape asked, “You mean he doesn't
have to sign for it?”

“Oh, we-make out a regular sales
slip. But it isn’t like buying arsenic.”

“Just the same, could we check your
records?”

“Cettainly. But I doubt if you'd find
much because of the way the sales slips
are made out. It’d be easy for some
one to give a fictitious name and ad-
dress and company connection.”

Pape nodded. “How long can one of
those tanks run?”

“About a half hour, if the valve is
set at medium flow.”

PAPE calculated rapidly. That would

mean there was enough gas in the
tank at one filling for about 20 jobs.
In other words, the mob would not be
forced to get a refill each time it struck.
More and more Pape realized just how
slick a mob this was. Gas lasted
longer than bullets.

Pape asked, “How can a man get
hold of a tank?”

“The refrigerator maintenance com-
panies furnish their men with them.
Or I guess anybody could buy one,
though that isn’t customary.”

“Or anybody could steal one.”

“Some of our men have had them
stolen.”

And that was all the officers could
learn. A gas tank was harder to trace
than a gun,

“Which is probably why they use it,”
Phelan said.

Pape said, “I think there’s a stronger
reason, I think that the fellow in the
mob who thought of the idea has
either been a refrigerator repairman or
something else—that sometime in his
life he’s come into legitimate contact
with this gas.” P

Phelan nodded slowly. “That sounds
right. Otherwise why would he have
thought of using gas in the first place? -
It wouldn’t even occur to most people.”

Pape said dubiously, “I suppose we
could go to all the refrigerator mairi-
tenance companies and check up on
their employes.”

Phelan shook his head. “That's too
much of a long shot. Even for this
case. Our man wouldn’t necessarily be
a repairman. He'd maybe be just a
clerk, or almost anyone that worked
for one of the companies. And we
don’t know how long ago he worked
there, Maybe last year, maybe ten
years ago.”

Pape said: “At least we can make
the rounds of all the maintenance
companies and see whether anybody
there recognizes the description of the
gas robber as somebody who’s got a
Yefill recently.”

“That might be worth while. But
it’s a long shot.” Then Phelan said,
“There's one thing else. We think this
man—at least the stocky swarthy
leader who handles the gas—is an ex- ’
perienced holdup man. He doesn’t
get rattled. He’s cold and efficient. He
knows exactly what he’s doing. He
impresses all the witnesses as a crim-
inal immediately, not as a punk kid.
There's a chance he has a record. That
would mean he’s been out on parole.
If he had a job with a refrigerator
maintenance outfit while he was on
parole, it’d show on the parole board-
records.”

But they knew checking the parole
records wouldn’t be easy. Parole
board records might only show that the
Gas Man had had a job as clerk or
shipping room man—the word “refrig-
eration” might not appear at all. Thus
it’d be easy for the cops to, pass his
record by.

Moreover, parole records aren’t
classified by jobs. The officers would
have to go through tens of thousands
of records, going back five or ten years.
And even at that, they might fail. For
the Gas Man might have worked as a
refrigerator specialist before—not after
he went to prison. They knew it would
be a terrific task.

(Continued on Page 55)

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The Gas Gang Killers (Continued from page 18)

That was the background of the case
up to the moment that Agnes Olsen
was gassed. When, a few days later,
she died the cops knew that they had
failed in their first major objective.

The same day, only seventeen min-

‘utes later, the mob strvck again. Then

the series of crimes suddenly went
dead. Pape said, “You don’t suppose
the killing scared them out?”

“Not a chance,” Phelan said, “They
bounced back seventeen minutes after
they gassed Miss Olsen. No, I'd think
rather that they’re out of town or
something like that.”

The quiet period: lasted less than
three weeks, July 18, 1943, the alarm
flashed out: “Holdup and shooting at
5151 South Kedzie,” and the cops
roared southward and found they had
&@ second killing on their hands.

T= Currency Exchange was a bloody
mess, There was the body of the vic-
tim, sprawled on the floor in a welter
of blood, the whole side of his head
blown away. There were the terrified
witnesses, the curious spectators in the
doorway, the district cops trying to get
some sense out of it all.

The dead man was Walter Bush. He
was a Real Estate salesman. This was
a combination Currency Exchange and
Real Estate office run by Paul Niske.
Niske told the story. ‘

He and Bush had been in the office.
Niske had stepped out of the currency
cage to talk to Bush when a short,

-stocky, swarthy man came in and

asked for a roll of pennies.

Niske headed back for the currency
cage to get the pennies. As he reach-
ed the door, a tall, thin, blond fel-
low ran in and said it was a stickup
and started through the gate in the
railing to the inner office.

At the door to the cage, Niske made
an involuntary move. The bandit
snapped a shot at Niske. But Bush
happened to be in the iine of fire. He
caught the slug in the temple. Then
the bandits fled.

At first it seemed incredible that the
Gas Gang had pulled this job. Nobody
had seen. the gas container. The
whole technique was entirely different.
The job looked crude, as though it had
been pulled by trigger-nervous kids,
not the smooth Gas Gang killers.

But the descriptions matched. per-
fectly.

Phelan and Pape were forced to
conclude that their gang had switch-
ed tactics.

But why? -

Then all at once it made sense: The
gas had killed a woman.

Phelan refused to believe that alone
would scare them out. He thought
another more serious difficulty had
arisen: They. were out of gas and,
knowing the heat would be on after
Agnes Olsen was killed, dared not go
to a supply house for a refill.

“It’s the only way to account for it,”
the Lieutenant said. “And it accounts
too for the shooting. These men aren’t
gunmen. The swarthy stocky man is

.

the brains. He always handled the
gas. Today he let the blond kid handle
the gun. The kid fired. This may
make trouble in the gang.” f

It seemed likely. Phelan figured that |.

perhaps the brainy leader would pre-
fer to take a chance on obtaining a
fresh supply of gas, even at great risk.
So Phelan put a close watch on every
known source of the gas.

Bhar nee were other angles. Pape had
picked up the single empty cartridge
shell on the floor of the Exchange where
Bush had died. It was a peculiar shell,
one which Phelan identified immed-
jately as having been fired from a Luger
pistol. .It was a 9 mm. cartridge and
the ejector markings on it were highly
distinctive. Phelan sent it to the bal+
listics expert at the Crime Detection
Laboratory for possible identification
with other shells fired in recent un-
solved holdups. This failed.

And then the case went dead. No
more Currency Exchange stickups of
any kind. ,

“Maybe,” said Pape, “they all died
of heart trouble.”

Phelan figured the men had blown
town. Maybe to pull a job. Maybe to
get more gas.

He acted on both: Sent warnings to
police of other Midwestern cities, ask-
ed them to watch their local gas sup-
plies.

Weeks went by. Then a report came
through on the police teletype that
was so brief, so apparently insignifi-

Sheriff Jesse Breshears, right, turned his office over to Deputy H. A. Clinghammer
while he went on a deer-hunt that evolved into a man-hunt. The Story Starts on Page 21

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cant that it might well have been over-
looked in the great sheaf of reports
made daily. It simply recounted the
theft of an auto from a, North Side
garage. A couple of men had come
with guns into a public garage, select-
ed a good tast car, and had driven away
in it. Nothing much—but for two
items: The description of one of the
auto heisters matched that of the
swarthy Gas Man leader. And he car-
ried a Luger.

What did this mean? Had the
swarthy gunman chosen a new com-
panion? What new crimes did he now
plan?

MMEDIATELY a tenseness came into”

the Detective Bureau. Phelan was on
duty nearly day and night, waiting by
the telephone, wondering where the
mob would strike. Detectives hung
around the squad-room after they
were off duty, listening to the short-

"| wave. There was a feeling of expec-

tancy in everything. A day passed.
Two. Three. Then came a message
from Detroit. The Chicago Chief of
Detectives, John L. Sullivan, received
it. He called in Phelan and Pape and
gave them a strange new lead.

The Detroit police messaged Sep-
tember 6th, 1943, that they had a kill-
ing on their hands. The suspects were
Chicago men, They had been captured,
the Detroit officers said, after a 8un-
fight with police in which a youthful
bystander was shot dead.

The prisoners had given the names
of Thomas and David Lamb, of No.
2942 Washington Boulevard, and Rob-

‘ert Gemmill, No. 3322 Washington

Boulevard, Chicago. Descriptions
followed. Would the Chicago officers
please check up on those addresses?

What interested the men in the De-

tective Bureau was.this: The car in’

which the men had been riding at De-
troit answered the description of the
car stolen in Chicago earlier. And
Phelan thought that the swarthy Gas
Man had been one of the gunmen.

“But,” he said, “the description of
these three men—the two Lamb broth-
ers and Gemmill—don’t answer the de-
scription of our short swarthy man.
They’re all over six-feet tall.”

Pape pointed out, “So was the
swarthy fellow’s partner. The one that
shot the Real Estate salesman, Bush.”

“But they’re not as well dressed.”

~ Chief Sullivan said: “We'll go into it
very thoroughly anyway. I want a
complete investigation.”

That’s what he got. Pape and his
men talked it over with Phelan to get
started. Phelan would wire Detroit
for pictures of the suspects there and
see if the Chicago Currency Exchange
victims could identify any of the men.

Meanwhile, Pape and his men would .

check those two addresses on Wash-
ington Boulevard. They decided that
if the swarthy man had roomed at one
of those addresses, he probably had
roomed with Gemmill, since he prob-

ably wouldn’t have stayed with the two -

Lamb brothers: Hoodlums rarely bunch
up beyond a pair. ‘

Accordingly, Pape led his men out to
Gemmill’s address. They drew a blank.
Gemmill—or a man answering his de-
scription—-had lived there alone. No-
body answering the stocky Gas Man’s
description had been seen entering or
living in the piace. “

Puzzled, Pape and his men tried the
Lambs’ address. They talked to the
housekeeper. Yes, she’d had a David
Lamb there as a roomer. And another
man lived with him—a short, stocky,
dark-complexioned man.

“What was his name?” Pape asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know where he went?”

She shook her head. .

“Can we take a look through .the

roo!
“Certainly.”
She led the police into the room.

They went through it thoroughly. In
a desk they found a batch of snapshots.
There were several pictures of a tall,
thin man.

“Is this Lamb?” °

Mrs. Toyser glanced at the photo.
“Yes.” '

They went through the rest of the
pictures. But none was a photo of a
short, swarthy man.

“Maybe,” Friedman suggested, “we
can identify something in one of the
other photos. You know—background.
They don’t look like they all were taken
out in front of this rooming-house.”

They studied each picture for -long
moments. But the backgrounds were
so blurred they were probably useless.
A corner of a building, an ordinary
lawn, @ park scene.

Pape stopped at a large, framed
photo of a baby.

“Who's. the kid?” he asked.

Mrs. Toyser furrowed her brow. Then
she said. “I remember now. I was:in
the room cleaning up one day and the
other man came in—the short dark
man that is—and I happened to re-
mark about how pretty the baby was,
and he said it was his baby.”

It was a picture of a chubby infant,
probably not two years old—so young,
that you couldn’t tell whether it was
a boy or a girl.

But—would this smiling portrait of
a baby lead the police to a killer?

Pape examined the picture closely.

Dimly printed on one corner was the’

name of the studio: De Haven. They
would check. ;

Although anxious to get hot on this
new lead, they finished their thorough
search of the room. Beneath a pile
of soiled clothing in a closet they found
a curiously-shaped piece of metal
which Pape wrapped carefully in his
handkerchief.

“Know what that is? It’s a key—
probably the key to the valve on the
gas container.”

They searched the bundle of cloth-
ing and found on a collarband the
laundry mark “E.M.D.”

Was it the mark of the swarthy man?

Had they found at last the clews
they needed?

T THE Bureau, Phelan told the offi-
cers he’d wire Detroit and ask for
further questioning about David
Lamb’s roommate. He _ explained:
“You see what they tried to do? They
were smart enough to say that two
men lived in that room, They said it
was the Lamb brothers. But it wasn’t.
It was only David Lamb and our man.”
Pape and his men looked up the De
Haven photographic studios and hur-
ried to its offices in Chicago’s Loop.
There they talked with Samuel Bloom,
the owner.

He looked at the picture of the baby,
turned it over, studied the back briefly,
and handed it to Pape. He shook his
head. “I’m afraid it’s hopeless.”

Pape felt his stomach flop over.
“Why.” ° a

“The photo isn’t numbered.”

“Well?” .

-Bloom spread his hands. “That
means you’d have to go through every
single negative in the house.”

Friedman asked, “How many nega-
tives you got?”

“Maybe twenty thousand. Maybe a
couple hundred thousand.”

Pape’s jaw tightened: “Well, can’t
you give us any idea of when this pic-
ture was taken?”

“It wasn’t taken in the last few
months,” Bloom said. ‘We've been out
of frames like that for a while. And
it wasn’t taken twenty years ago—we
haven't used this type frame that long.
It’s been taken in the last ten years. I
imagine we’ve made something like
thirty thousand pictures in the last
ten years.”

It seemed hopeless. Pape told

Bloom how important it was that they
trace this photo. It was their only
clew in a case that involved two brutal
killings. If this failed, they were sunk.

Bloom agreed to make a stab at find-
ing the negative. .

The cops went back to the Bureau.
The pictures of the Lambs and Gemmill
had arrived from Detroit. The offi-
cers took them around to the victims
and witnesses of the Currency Ex-
change stickups.

No one identified any of the pic-

tures.

Detroit wired that the suspects said
that David Lamb’s roommate had
worked in the stockroom of the Ben-
dix Company. They gave a name.

Swiftly Pape and his squad hurried
out there. Perhaps, they hoped, this
would eliminate the terrifying neces-
sity of searching the mountains of
negatives, ,

It didn’t. Nobody by that name
ever had worked at Bendix. Nor did
any employe answer the description of
the shadowy, swarthy man,

The cops sat down in Phelan's office
and went over the snapshots found in
the rooming-house. They passed each
one from man to man. Phelan said:
“On one. picture there’s a fair portion
of a building which you could recog-
nize if you happened to live right in
the neighborhood. I'll send it around
to see if any of the boys can spot it.”

LOOM called the next day. “I’ve
looked at negatives till I’m half
blind,” he said. ‘“‘The job is hopeless.
I’ve looked through thousands of nega-
tives and I haven't got anywhere. All
kids look alike after a couple of hours.
I tell you, it’s hopeless.”

Pape said: “Do you mind if we do
the looking for awhile?”

Bloom said: ‘Help yourself and wel-
come.” Pape, Friedman and Friedl
went to work, Soon there were nega-
tives everywhere.

After hours of constant searching
they couldn’t see clearly any longer.
They had to pick up each negative,
hold it up to the light and peer at it
intently.

They went home and got a few
— sleep and came back to it next

ay.

Toward the end of that day Bloom
came in with more files, and said:
“Nice work boys. You've covered al-
most four thousand negatives. You're
back more than a year.”

Pape said: “Quit kidding. We must
be. back to 1928 already.”

“I’m not kidding,” Bloom said. : He
‘showed them the date on the negative
file: August 1942.

They went back to work. They were
just staring, half-blind, at the black
negatives—staring till they could see
nothing but swimming blackness.

They couldn't go too fast. It would
be ridiculous to go to all this excru-
ciating labor and throw out, through
hastiness, the one negative they were
seeking. What they were doing was
slowly baby-trailing a gang of killers.

And all the time they worked doubts
troubled them. What if they did find
this negative? Was there any assur-
ance that Bloom would have the name
of the child? And suppose they did
get the child’s name? Would the par-
ents’ name be on file? Bloom said it
would, though they might have to
search through old receipted bills. But
what assurance was there that the ad-
dress would accompany the name? And
even if there was an address, might it
not be phony? ‘Then, at the end of
the fifth day, Pape, bleary-eyed, laid
a negative aside, reached for another,
halted suddenly, dived back at the one
he had just discarded.

He held it up to the light aggin;

squinting at it with his strained eyes.
His hand was trembling. Hé closed
his eyes and tried to make them stop

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over it with an ultra-violet ray lamp.
But it was of no help. The gas had

left no precipitate, or residue, that could .

be identified or even detected.

The clerk recovered, but Wilson shook
his head dismally.

“Some day,” he said, “one of the vic-
tims won’t recover.”

Lieutenant Phelan tried planting his
men in various currency exchanges
throughout the city, waiting for the gang
to strike.

It didn’t work. He didn’t have enough
men. In April another currency ex-
change was robbed of $3,600 as a detec-
tive whiled away his time in a place
less than a block down the street.

Phelan and Pape planned a blockade
by squad cars that would cover most of
the city. Late in July the gang struck
again, successfully, and slipped through
the blockade.

In October, two more exchanges were
held up by the gas gang. Their loot
was growing and they were becoming
more audacious. Another one was
robbed in November, and on Christmas
Eve of 1942, the robbers struck twice
within two hours.

On Christmas Day Wilson called Phelan
at his home.

“Round up all the witnesses you have to
these last two gas jobs,” he told the
Lieutenant. “Bring them down to the
Laboratory. I have an experiment: I
want to try.”

Half a dozen men were herded into the
Crime Detection Laboratory a short while
later. :

They saw a number of large black
boxes on a table. Each box had a can-
vas top with a small opening, and two
rubber tubes entered each box through
holes drilled in the sides.

“T want you men to breathe through
the holes in the top of these boxes,”
Wilson said. “I’m going to pump a gas
into the box while you’re breathing.
Don’t be afraid; I’ll pump oxygen in,
too, through the second tube, and there
won't be any harmful effects. What I
want you to do is to. tell me which of

% David Lamb was caught after race with police

these gases smells most like the gas used
in those robberies.”

A different gas was shot into each box
and one by one the men sniffed through
the holes on top. When they were fin-
ished, all of them indicated one par-
ticular box. The odor from that one,
they said, was the. only one resembling
the odor of the gas used in the currency
exchange holdups.

Wilson grinned broadly. His experi-
ment had worked.

“It’s sulphur dioxide,” he said. “I can’t
tell you in what mixture or how strong,
but at least we know: it’s sulphur
dioxide.”

The witnesses were taken home and
Phelan sat down with Wilson.

“What. does that mean?” he asked.

“Plenty,” Wilson said. ““Sulphur diox-
ide could: be almost fatal in itself. A
fairly strong whiff of it will bring a
healthy man down .with pneumonia.
You’re looking for a bunch of potential
murderers.”

“T knew that all along,’ Phelan said.
“But can we trace sulphur dioxide?”

Wilson shook his head. “Not posi-
tively,” he said. “It’s most commonly
used as a refrigerant. That’s your best
bet—the refrigerator companies. Which
one, I don’t know.”

“At least it’s a start,” Phelan observed.

The next morning Pape, Friedman and
Friedl began the rounds of the firms
which manufacture refrigerant gas.

They spent a month in this investiga-
tion—a long, weary month. They learned
several things. ;

Neither manufacturers nor the whole-
salers of the refrigerant gases kept. a
record of the men who used the gas. It
was employed mostly by repairmen, and
hundreds of them had left the various
gas firms for other jobs or for the armed
services. Many could not be traced. —

The detectives investigated all repair-
men they could find who had left their
jobs, as well as those still using the gas
for repair work. All of these were
cleared. .

The police knew what kind of gas was
used, and they knew in general the source

a 3

%* Thomas

%& Agnes Olson defied
bandits and was killed

of it. But they were no closer than be-
fore to finding the exact man who had
used this gas for robbery.

When they gave up this line, Lieu-
tenant Phelan told them, “All right, let’s
have another go at those files of ours.
Look for a refrigerator repairman.”

This was a monumental task. Police
and parole files are not cross-indexed
according to occupations. They had to
be gone through in alphabetical order.
And even then the officers knew that a
man might have been a refrigerator re-
pairman before he turned to crime with-
out the police ever knowing of it.

More months passed, and they ex-
hausted the files without learning a
thing.

Then came summer, and July, and the
gang struck again. Two men, one short
and swarthy, one tall, slender and well
dressed, entered the currency exchange
at 311 North Pulaski Road the morning
of July 3rd, 1943.

Miss Agnes Olson, the clerk, was busy
talking to a customer. She paid no at-
tention to them. (Continued on page 94)

Lamb was also linked to the robberies


—— Photo of Baby Damiani
helped solve mystery

raiding an exchange at 1347 North Wells
Street. A lone woman, Miss Ida Helfred,
was on duty. The swarthy man gassed
her and in desperation, half blinded and
semi-conscious, she opened the door to
the cage. The bandit got $3,000.

Well-meaning customers opened every
door and window in the exchange before
taking Miss Helfred to the hospital. By
the time Sergeant Pape arrived with his.
squad, consisting of Officers Morris
Friedman and Rudolph Friedl, all traces
of the gas had been lost.

The customers could not remember
precisely how it had smelled.. Some said
it was sweetish, others thought, it was
bitter. All agreed that it had burned
their eyes and cons icted their throats
and most of them had violent headaches
the next day. “th, .

-" Miss Helfred recovered before the

week was over, but she could not help in »
’ “Therefore, the doctor concluded, she had

identifying the gas. She could not re-
member how it had smelled.

Lieutenant Phelan and Wilson talked
to the doctor who cared for her and asked
him about the gas.

LA i itRSS. IS ge Le

“It’s relatively low on the toxic scale,”
the doctor said. “I found no dermatitis
and no trace of gas in her bloodstream.
Luckily she was in pretty sound physical
shape and I -don’t expect any after-
effects.” i

“Can you tell what the gas was?”
Phelan asked.

“No,” the doctor said. “I can place it
in the proper group, but that’s all.”

Many types of poisonous gas exist, he
said, but. for diagnostic purposes they
can be divided into three classifications.

One is a blister gas, such as the
Lewisite or mustard gas used in the first
World War. This produces severe burns
on the skin-and on the interior of the
lungs when it is inhaled. It can be fatal
within a short while and it can leave
permanent disabilities. Often blister gas
will form into a liquid which is just as
poisonous as the gas itself.

Miss Helfred had not been burned any-
where, and no precipitate had been dis-
covered in the currency exchange.

A second type is a paralyzing gas, such
as the cyanide used in. legal executions.
This has a distinctive odor of rotten eggs
or bitter almonds. It kills by reacting
on the nervous system and paralyzing
‘the muscles of the chest, thus stopping
breathing. This gas invariably leaves a
trace in the human bloodstream.

Miss Helfred had shown no such trace
in her blood. ae

@ THE THIRD and most common type

is one which asphyxiates by crowding.
out oxygen and choking the victim to
death, This type also has serious effects,
on the lungs and generally slows down
all muscular reactions, such as the heart.
High concentrations of this gas. also will
leave traces in the bloodstream and may
be detected through analysis of the
blood. Dluminating gas is of this type.

Miss Helfred’s blood had shown no
presence of,a high concentration of gas.

been the victim of a weak concentration
- of the third type of poisonous gas, one
with a small amount of oxygen in it.
Her symptoms had verified this—a spasm

* Officials Burke, McDonough and Lelivelt with killer (seated) Sue

nH 2 ncaa AEP OT ENTE

of the throat, coughing, soreness in her
lungs and a violent headache.

“Then this gas wouldn’t kill most
people,” Lieutenant Phelan commented.

“It’s likely to kill anyone,” Wilson re-
plied. “If you have a chest cold or a lung

weakened by anything at all, you’ll de-
velop pneumonia that’s almost impossible
to combat. Pneumonia will be the direct
cause of death but the gas will be the
originating or basic cause.”

“Enough,” Phelan asked,
murder?”

Wilson nodded. “Unquestionably,” he
said. “Any court would consider such a
death murder.”

“Could we trace the gang through the
kind of gas they used?” Phelan asked.

“Not yet,” replied Wilson. “All we
know is that this is a choking gas of low
toxic content. It could be any one of
twenty or more commercial gases.”

Gas is used commercially in many
forms, he explained, particularly gas of
this sort. It is employed in manufactur-
ing, in oxyacetylene torches, in produc-
ing fires of intense heat, in soldering, in
refrigerants, even by insect exterminators
in destroying household pests.

Tracing and identifying the bandits
through the type of gas used appeared
for the moment so remote that Phelan
and his men decided to forget that angle
for a while and to go back to more rou-
tine methods of running down the gang.
They searched through their files for
‘gangsters with similar descriptions. They
plodded wearily up and down. the streets

in the neighborhoods of the victimized
currency exchanges looking for possible
witnesses to the getaway.

Two weeks passed and they had
learned nothing.

Then, on March 18th, the gang invaded
a currency exchange at Ashland and Ful-

’ ton Avenues. The swarthy man released
the gas almost as soon as he entered the
place and the one clerk on duty was left
unconscious after opening the cage door.

“to call it

The bandits got away with $16,000 that

time. :
Wilson and two of his technicians sped
out to the currency exchange as soon as

* Alvin Krause had a good hiding place

a A ee

y mee ie

the
OVE
E
left nc
be iden:
The
his hea
“Som
tims y
Lieuté
men
through
to strike
It didn
men. In
change y
tive whil
less than
Phelan
by squad
the city.
again, suc
the blocka
In Octot
held up }
was grow
more’ aud
robbed in

Eve of 194

within tw<

On Christ
at his hom

“Round u;
these last
Lieutenant
Laboratory
want to try

Half a doz
Crime Detect
later.

They saw
boxes on a t
vas top wit!
rubber ty
holes dri.

“T wan
the holes i;
Wilson said.

into the box
Don’t be afri
too, through {
won’t be any
want you to .

%* David Lamt


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noticed a heavy, sweetish odor in the tiny
room. He saw Miss Olson’s face turn
red, saw her clutch at her throat suddenly
as the full force of the gas blasted almost

Now }
“Gimme a half-dollar for these pennies, directly into her face. The robb
sister,” the short man said, dropping a She gasped and her eyes became glazed. later- On J

handful of coins into the tray beneath the

Watching, horrified, Simmons felt his own
glass window.

The tube writhed as |
|
|

eyes smart, then his sight began to grow

Ave!

Miss Olson looked at the man in dis-
taste.
“You don’t have fifty cents there,” she

dim. He coughed.
He saw Miss Olson make a last, deter-

mined grab for the rubber hose. But ap-
said sharply. parently she had little control over her
The man whipped out something from muscles. She slumped forward against the : gw THES
beneath his coat. It was a long, cylindrical counter, then slipped out of sight. gas. Inst
object made of metal with a rubber tube Simmons could hear the crash of her ter. with 4
on one end. He forced the free end of the chair as it fell to the floor, then the ominous, made an 1M
tube beneath the window, until it pro- frightening thump of her fallen body. the pandit |
truded into the cage several inches. The tall gunman cursed. His bullet
“Here’s something else, then,” he said. “You fool!” he said. “You fool! How ush, a 52

“This is a stickup, sister. Open that door

can she open that door now?”

INVENTORS and .

other men with ideas

for patentable inven-

tions have read and 7

jnste¢e :
and let us in, or I’ll shoot the place full The short, swarthy one swung around, “That ™:
profited by our free : of gas.” still holding the cylinder pointed as if it when !
books ‘Patent, Pro- YOUR IDEA Currency exchanges have been used ex- :

tection’’ and ‘‘Sell-

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points to inventors and illustrate important mechani-
cal principles. With books we also send free “Evi-

were a gun. A Stupid expression was on
his face and it, too, was turning red. He
coughed spasmodically, again and again.

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Victor J. Evans & Co., Registered Patent Attorneys, the exchanges handle a great deal of money, Come on!” the short man said, in a barely the bec!
892-M Merlin Building, Washington 6, D. C. most of them are well protected; cashiers audible voice. “Let's scram. This stuff is more CW!
sit behind a wire-partitioned cage and keep getting me.” Then. ‘
the only door leading into the cage locked. He turned and ran out of the place. The en ent
m

The one at 311 North Pulaski was like tall man followed.

MATCHED -<

BRIDAL that. Unless Miss Olson pressed a button Within five minutes the police were there,
PAIR near her right hand, no one could open summoned by Simmons and led by Sergeant
s) 95 the’ electrically locked door. Frank Pape of the Robbery Detail. Men
an $ Each She did not press the button. She stared smashed open the door of the cage and found
s OR at the rubber tube instead, her eyes wide, Agnes Olson unconscious and apparently

1995 and she did not move. dying. They rushed her to a hospital, they

“Come on, sister,” the man said. “Open questioned Simmons, they swarmed over

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Miss Olson reached out her hand and
seized the end of the tube. She pinched it
shut as tight as she could.

“T won't!” she said.

The customer, Bertice Simmons, mean-
while, had been taken by surprise. He

But they learned nothing. Once again the
gas gang had struck and escaped, leaving
no clues.

Lieutenant Phelan and Robert Wilson,
head of the crime laboratory, arrived and
made a minute examination of the ex-


KRAUSE, Alvin, white, elec. COok Co., IL on Septembefh 15, 1944

about

mself ar-
, thing with
. n the back
, the fellow
vaatly agree-
as given to
scheme tO fool
e of joke, 1

¢ec

“Now tell

aid. ss
me to do.

making a0
<i 1 which

by PHILIP WECK

+ The underworld takes up chemical warfare

al next
nbo, if

, here fron

maybe Gul

s the proprietor
fers to rob a bank with a barrage of deadly gas
qgoOles :

sy was showing

i walked “F HE gas gang struck first on February 27th, 1942. Early that afternoon
smith.” he ae q three men, one short and swarthy, one of medium height, one tall and
rea while buyckage well dressed, entered the Central Currency Exchange at 2152 South
Western Avenue, Chicago. es

Three customers were in the exchange, He produced a long, cylindrical object
§ and two clerks. While the swarthy ban- and shoved the end of a rubber tube
th, you S@Y\ dit stepped up to the cashier’s window, through the window-opening.
age pack ik companions held the customers off. Two more ‘patrons entered. The

Then

h left he’§ The swarthy man said, “Open up the swarthy man looked around uneasily,
page 100| door or I'll feed this gas to you!” then inserted a key into a slot on the
t

t ’

¢ Smit

od on

POTN LIT TERN NR ES I

—S—

-—

Rg SAO I TET

CMR eR A, oe Saez, mz

% The murderer was sen-
tenced to two life terms

tank. The hiss of gas could be heard.

“Line those guys up!” he ordered.

Still another customer appeared at the
street ‘door. He hesitated, saw the guns
in the hands of the two bandits, then
turned and ran.

The swarthy man said, “We're trapped!
Let’s get out of here!”

He ran from the exchange and the
others followed. Behind them, just a

* faint, sweetish odor of gas persisted.

When district police arrived and heard
the story, they were inclined to take the
matter lightly. They did not realize that
there was a deadly menace hidden in the

‘eylindrical tank.

“Tt’s just a punk gang with a wild idea
about gas,” one of them said.
But Lieutenant Kyran Phelan, head of

_ the robbery detail, took another view of

the matter when a report reached his
desk the following morning.

He showed the report to Robert Wilson
in the Crime Detection Laboratory.

“Ts it tear gas?” he asked.

The scientist shook his head. “Not in
a tank,” he said. “Tear gas is not a true
gas. It’s a crystal and it’s packed with
smokeless powder into a bomb or simi-
lar container.”

When such a bomb is thrown, he ex-
plained, the powder explodes and the
force of the explosion pulverizes the
crystal to an extremely fine powder. This
scatters about the vicinity much as a gas
does and in large quantities may re-
semble gas.

‘You couldn’t put tear gas in a tank,”
Wilson continued. “It just wouldn’t come

out. This is a true gas stored under
pressure.”
“Would it be poisonous?” Phelan

wanted to know.

Wilson. shrugged. “It might be,” he
said. “Or it might be perfectly harmless.
First we’d have to know what kind of
gas it was.”

“How can we find that out?”

“In a number of different ways,” Wil-
son said. “Some gases might leave liquid
deposits behind them, as mustard gas
does, and we could analyze the deposit.
Some will leave traces of a fine powder
that can be analyzed. Other gases have
a distinctive odor or taste, or react on
people in a different manner.” _

“Then you can’t tell yet what this is?”

“T need a lot more to go on,” Wilson
said.

Phelan turned toward the door. “We'll
try to get it for you,” he said. “I havea
feeling we’re going to see more Of this
outfit before we’re through.”

He returned to his office and sent Ser-
geant Frank Pape out to the currency ex-
change, with instructions to learn all he
could about the gas used.

But no one who had been there at the
time of the attempted holdup could re-
member the odor of the gas. No noticeable
precipitate had been left on floor or walls.
No one could describe the tank accu-
rately, and the descriptions of the three
gunmen did not match those of any
known criminals.

Phelan was forced to forget the case
for a month.

And then the gas gang struck again,

ee

—

17


ne Colonel. “f
Without a pic-

me the Pregj-
pment Com-

startled for a
2 fine, high-

table, I think,
‘Ke a trip to

i0 you want

‘ one of the
conceived,
‘nds of Chi-
ners. Thou-
the treasury
Ompany. It

© of endeavor
int Career for

0 Kid Weil
sue of Trug
rn
nen, who
Simmons

mM back

{ calmly.
the end
cursed.

yr it!”

’n the side

INE sound

rithed as

suddenly

>immons
the tiny
face turn
suddenly
‘ed almost

Llazed.
nis own
> grow

‘. deter-
Sut ap-

her
inst the

‘i

her
Minous,

change, looking for fingerprints, footprints,
any sort of clue.

In the midst of this the phone rang.
Pape answered and turned to the others,
a hopeless expression in his eyes.

“That was the hospital,” he said dully.
“The woman is coming out of the effects
of the gas. But——”

“Is it pneumonia?”

Pape nodded.

“That's what happens,” Wilson said. “This
gas causes pneumonia—and the pneumonia
is usually fatal.”

“Then it’s going
Pape.

Wilson nodded. “It’s going to be murder.”

“And,” said Lieutenant Phelan, “we still
don’t know anything about this gas gang.”

Phelan, Pape and Wilson searched the ex-
change from top to bottom. They found
nothing.

As they were leaving, they heard a radio
flash over their squad-car receivers. An-
other exchange had been robbed, this one
at 4753 Fullerton Avenue. Again gas had
been used.

“Get the blockade going!” Phelan ordered.
He climbed into his car and sped off. This
time, he thought, with cars already on the
alert and looking for the short, swarthy man
and his well-dressed companion, the police
had a chance.

But it didn’t work. Phelan returned to
his office hours later, weary and disap-
pointed. The gang had disappeared again.

He called the hospital and talked to
Officer Friedman, who was maintaining a
vigil there. Agnes Olson was desperately
ill.

The next morning he summoned his men.

“Let's forget about this gas business,”
he said. “It’s not getting us anywhere. Con-
centrate on the descriptions. Put them on
the teletype and see that everybody in the
department memorizes them. Surely, some-
where. some Officer is going to recognize
one of those two men.”

Two days later Agnes Olson died and her
last words were: “Don’t tell my brothers.
They have enough to worry about.”

Now it was murder.

The robbers murdered again, two weeks
later. On July 18th they entered the com-
bined real-estate office and currency €X-
change operated by Paul Niske at 5151 S.
Kedzie Avenue. This place had no wire
cage: cash transactions were made over a
counter.

Wilson asked.

to be murder?” asked

gm THE SHORT. swarthy man did not need

eas. Instead, he vaulted over the coun-
ter. with a gun in his hand. When Niske
made an involuntary movement of fright,
the bandit fired at him.

His bullet missed Niske but struck Walter
Bush, a salesman, in the neck, killing him
instantly. The bandits fled.

“That makes two murders,” Phelan said,
when he heard the news. “We've got to do
something.”

“What?” asked Pape.

Phelan shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘Con-
centrate on the descriptions,” he said. “Keep
the blockade going. Plant more men in
more currency exchanges. Everything.”

Then, on September 4th, 1943, four gun-
entered a garage on the north side,
held up the attendant and drove off in one
of the cars left there. The close attention
to descriptions of the gas gang members
had not been 1n vain. Officers realized in-
stantly that one of these men was the
short, stocky fellow who had manipulated
the gas cylinder in the murder of Agnes
Olson and had fired the gun in killing Bush.

The car was a two-door Chevrolet be-
longing to Albert Singer of 2300 Lincoln
Park West. Singer gave officers its license
number.

“This is the hottest clue we've had yet,”
Phelan said. “Get everybody after that car!
We have to find it!”

me

And on the morning of September 6th
they found it. i

The car had turned up in Detroit. Three
men in it had been arrested there, follow-
ing another killing.

Phelan read this on the police teletype.
He phoned Detroit for more details. And
this is what he learned:

Atla.o. that morning, Sergeant Ray Mc-
Dougald of the Detroit police had noticed
a car parked near the intersection of Wood-
land and Woodward Avenues in the
Michigan city. Three men were in it.

McDougald walked up to the driver and
asked to see his operator’s license.

The driver said, “Wait a minute,
it.”

He reached into his hip pocket and pulled
out a revolver. Placing it against Mc-
Dougald’s stomach, he said:

“Now you just stand there a while and
behave yourself and you won’t get hurt.”

He climbed out of the car.

McDougald knocked his gun up in the air
and lunged at him.

They grappled and fell to the pavement,
McDougald on top. But the odds were too
great for the plucky officer. The other
men in the car leaped out and slugged him
with their guns. Then all three jumped
back into the machine and drove off.

Although he was bleeding and severely
hurt, McDougald wrote down the license
number of the car as it sped away. He
staggered to his feet, reached the nearest
call-box, and reported the incident, license
number and all, to Detroit Headquarters.

™ THE REPORT went out on the Detroit

police radio. On the east side of the city
a squad spotted
it to stop.

Instead, the stolen car spurted ahead.
The radio officers gave chase.

As they roared through Detroit streets
they heard a tinkle of glass ahead, then the
whine of a bullet. The men were firing.

At the corner of Harper and Van Dyke
Avenues, the bandits swung around in a
wide semi-circle, firing at the squad car
as they swept by. Their bullets passed
over and behind it, not touching the officers,
put one bullet hit a boy walking on the
sidewalk. With a low groan he fell to the
pavement.

He was Arthur Curris, fifteen, son of a
fire department lieutenant, on his way home
from his job as usher in a movie. He was
dead by the time the radio officers reached
him.

The fleeing bandit car continued down
Van Dyke Street. Other police had joined
the chase; a squad car, summoned by two-
way radio, loomed up suddenly in front of
the fugitives, blocking the road.

The driver of the stolen car swerved.
The wheels skidded, the car careened sud-
denly and struck a light-post.

Then, with a crash, it turned over.

Officers dragged out three badly shaken,
bedraggled hoodlums. At Detroit Head-
quarters they identified themselves as David
and Thomas Lamb and Athel Gemmel.
They were from Chicago, they said, where
they had lived at 2942 Warren Avenue.
They admitted that they had intended to
rob several liquor stores and restaurants
in Detroit. They would say no more.

This was the story Lieutenant Phelan
heard over the telephone in Chicago. This,
and one more detail. None of the three
men captured in Detroit was short and
stocky. None was tall and well-dressed.

Apparently these three were confederates
of the gas gang in Chicago. But the two
leaders, the men who had been involved
in two murders, still were uncaptured and
unknown.

Phelan summoned Sergeant Pape.

“We've got a lead now,” he said. “Get
on out to thdt Warren Avenue address.”

Pape and Officer Friedman drove to 2942

Tll get

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LACORE, Ernest, hanged at Joliet, Illinois, on January 19, 189.

"Joliet, Illinois, January 19, 189l-Ernest Lacore paid the penalty of
murder this morning in the jail of this county, He slept well last
night, and was wakened at 6:30 this mopning and served with breakfast. Two
fours later he was givenNMBBR a path and Reverends Sheets and McSonnell
were admitted to see him, He was baptized and received the sacrament,
profession conversion, A few minutes past nine o'clock his mother was
admitted to see him for an hour, during which time the condemned man was
in tearSe

"At 10:30 O'clock, Sheriff Henneverry with the prisoner and ministers,
came to the gallows. lacore expressed a hope that he was going to be
saved, and two minutes later the ca and rope were. put in place. His
neck was bpoken and no movement of the muscles was manifest, only when
the noose was being placed overhis head did he change colore, He calmly
faced the witnesses of the hanging and even looked at the trap and rope
with no manifestaion of feeling. aey ee

"The crimk which Lacore expiated was the murder of Mary Ellen. Byron on
August 6 in the town of Wosley, near Wilmington, this county, In the
forenoon of that Sunday, she attknded Mass at Wilmington and went home
with her aunt to spend the afternoon, About 3 o'clock, Lacore, who was

a farm hand working for James Clark, about a mile from Mary Byron's home,
came to her house and during the few minutes he remained inquired par-
ticularly about her and where she had gone, Being told he went to fish
with her brothers, but soon left and was seeon seen going in the direce-
tion Mary would come from in coming home from her aunt's, In the con-
fession made by “acore after the arrest he stated that he enticed the 12-
year-old girl into a thicket by a story of a dead BBBBRBBBB steer be-
longing to her father, attempted to seduce her, but on her resisting took
her head in his hands and threw her down, It was shown by the coroner's
inquest that her neck had been broken by the blow. Lacore narrowly escaped
lynching by the infuriated mobts, both at Wilmington and Joliet. At his
trialk notwithstanding his confession, he pleaded not guilty, but the casee
against him was too strong, From the first he ppeared utterly indiff-
erent to his fate, Cool and collected, he oftan laughingly declared that
if he could have enough to eat and smoke he was satigified.""

COLUMBUS DAILY ENQUIRER-SUN , COlumbus, Georgia, January 20, 189) (1-5).

96

Personal Loan

With Judge Guy K. Bard presiding, the
U. S. District Court, Philadelphia, Pa., was
grinding out justice in a smooth, methodical
manner. The date was Feb. 17th, 1944, and
the mid-winter docket, as usual, was well
filled. The undertone of conversation
ceased, as the Prosecutor, a sheaf of papers
in his right hand, arose and faced the de-
fense table. “Harry S. Pollock,” he called,
and began a monotone recitation of the
charges against that individual.

Inquisitive eyes focused on the defendant.
Spectators were impressed by the aura of
quiet dignity surrounding the man. There
was something about him—something that
made him seem absurdly miscast in his
present role. Surely the man was no crimi-
nal. He simply wasn’t the type.

But Harry S. Pollock, conservative, mild-
mannered, 59-year-old bachelor, pleaded
guilty to embezzlement. Under adroit ques-
tioning by the U. S. Attorney, he admitted
taking various sums of money from the
South Philadelphia National Bank, where
he had served as head of the “personal loan”
department. The thefts, extending over a
period of six years, aggregated $8,380 when
inevitable discovery overtook him.

Ironically enough, the department ad-
ministered by Pollock seemed appropriately
named. A good percentage of the loans
made by him were as personal as exhibit A
in a breach of promise suit.

Authorized by the bank to grant loans up
to $1000 each, the executive confessed to
making out a total of nineteen loans to non-
existent persons, later cashing the checks
for his own use. Concealing discrepancies
in his accounts by an ingenious method of
bookkeeping, he staved off exposure con-
siderably longer than most embezzlers. Like
murder, however, shortages will out.

On the plea of defense counsel, Judge
Bard agreed to defer sentence until April
3rd. Bail was set at $2,500, and posted im-
mediately. With as much dignity as was
possible under the circumstances, the
former bank official walked to the door and
disappeared—completely.

On the day appointed for his court ap-
pearance, Pollock’s whereabouts was a deep
mystery. Nor was it the first time he had
sought to evade justice. In December, 1943,
when the shortage was first discovered, he
had vanished. But he had proved a poor
match for the FBI. After a short period of
freedom he was trapped in a downtown
hotel, where he had registered under an
assumed name.

But the man apparently had no intention
of making the same mistake twice. A rou-
tine check of Philadelphia’s many hotels
failed to produce a single clue. An untiring
vigil kept on the home of a sister with whom

he formerly had lived was equally devoid
of results. What had seemed a compara-
tively simple task at first glance, now as-
sumed the aspect of a long, drawn-out man-
hunt. Weeks passed, and still the combined
efforts of police and G-men were without
avail.

Though spring had arrived long since, the
night of April 22nd was cold and unpleas-
ant. The chill, penetrating drizzle made a
liar of the calendar. With faltering steps a
beaten, shabby little man made his way
along the dimly lit street. He was in Sharon
Hill, one of Philadelphia’s pleasant resi-
dential districts. The lighted windows
along the way looked warm and inviting.
Every now and then he would hesitate be-
fore a house, gaze longingly at the bright
interior. Pausing longer than usual in front
of one home—as if by fate, the home of an
officer of the law—the man finally turned,
walked the short distance to the front door.
Hunger could be denied no-longer.

His feeble knock brought quick response,
and a kind-faced woman stood framed in
the doorway. She sensed his errand even
before his low-voiced plea reached her ears.
Stepping to one side, she smiled reassur-
ingly. “Of course. Come right in. I'll fix
something for you.”

With a cup of steaming coffee and a hastily
prepared meal before him, the beggar soon
forgot his embarrassment. The food was
good. He gave it full attention. But while
he ate, gulping the food greedily, the
woman’s son, a Sharon Hill policeman,
studied him contemplatively as he sat in a
chair near by, reading.

Trained to note and catalog seemingly
unimportant details, the  officer’s eyes
missed nothing. The man’s suit, for instance,
though shabby and wrinkled, was unmis-
takably of good quality. His method of ap-
proach, too, was unusual. No experienced
panhandler would apply for a handout at
the front door. The courtly expression of
gratitude tendered his benefactress con-
vinced the unseen watcher. Here was a case
worthy of investigation.

When the tramp left he was followed by
the patrolman. A short distance from the
house the officer overtook his quarry
Questions were asked. The answers were
vague and unsatisfactory. There was an in-
triguing furtiveness about the old man. The
officer decided a more complete checkup
was in order.

At the Sharon Hill police station, officers
quizzed the man at length. Uncommunica-
tive at first, he finally broke, admitting him-
self to be none other than the fugitive bank
executive, Harry Pollock.

Ten days later, Federal Judge Guy K.
Bard wrote finis to the unusual case,
sentencing the erstwhile fugitive to a 14
months term in a Federal prison.

—cC. L. Ss:

Warren Avenue.
the landlady and identified themselves.
“We're trying to find out all we can
about David and Thomas Lamb,” Pape said.
“They’ve been arrested in Detroit.”
The woman was indignant. “Them two?”

There they awakened

she said. “Criminals?
house?”

“That’s right,” Pape said.
you tell us about them?”

“I never trusted them,” replied the land-
lady. “Not them. They were sneaky. Im-
agine, in my own house; I’ll bet that friend
of theirs will be surprised when he hears.”

Pape asked quickly, “What friend?”

“Why, that man who used to visit them.”

And in my own

“What can

the woman answered.
the two babies.”

“What did he look like?”

“He was short and kind of wide, He
looked like he had a lot of muscles,” the
landlady said. “He was real dark-skinned,
too. But he was a gentleman. He wouldn’t
have mixed up with criminals if he’d
known.”

Pape asked, “What was his name?”

“I don’t know. He never mentioned it to
me, at least. But he was all right; don’t
worry about him.”

“We won't,” said Pape. “Not much. But
now may we look through the room these
other men occupied!”

“The nice one with

Pape and Friedman searched the room,
from top to bottom. They found three
things.

One was a commercial photograph of a
baby. The second was a shirt with the
initials E.M.D. on the neckband. And the
third was a small piece of metal long and
round and with a flange on the end.

“That's a key,” Pape said. ‘A key to
a gas container! We're on the right trail.”

Friedman said, “Okay, but where does
that trail lead us?”

“Right downstairs,” answered Pape.
“We're going to find out all we can about
this fellow who used to visit here. Maybe
he’s the E.M.D., and from the description
he’s probably the leader of the gas gang.”

They questioned the landlady again but
she had told them all she knew about the
mysterious visitor. They talked to other
tenants in the building, to neighbors and
to storekeepers in the vicinity. No one
knew anything about the short, stocky man.

They returned to Headquarters and re-
ported to Lieutenant Phelan, who in the
meantime had been in touch with Detroit
again. The three men in the Michigan city
still refused to talk about their Chicago
connections. They were being held on a
murder charge.

From descriptions, Phelan was inclined
to believe that one of these three was the
third person involved in a few of the gas
gang jobs in Chicago. However, this third
man had not figured in either of the Chicago
killings and Phelan realized that the De-
troit charge represented the best case
against him.

The Lieutenant listened to Pape’s report
and examined the key and the photograph.

“How about this picture as a clue?”
he asked. “The name of the photographer
is on the’ back. Maybe he has a record
of the father’s name.”

“Maybe he has,” said Pape. “But maybe
this is not the child of the man who visited
the Lambs.”

Phelan shrugged.
said.

The photographer who had taken the
baby’s picture was a man named Bloom
who ran a large studio on South Wabash
Avenue. Pape and Friedman showed him
the picture and asked if it could be traced.

“I don’t see how,” Bloom said. ‘‘There’s
no number on this print and it might have
been taken at any time during the last
seven or eight years.”

“Can't you compare it with the negatives
you have in your file?” Pape asked.

Bloom smiled ruefully. “You can,” he
said, “But it’s going to be a nasty job.
We don’t cross-file any of our pictures
under subject matter. You'll have to look
at every negative in the files, and I'll bet
there’s ten thousand of them.”

Pape sighed. “Well, we’d better try it,”
he said. “It'll be one chance in ten thou-
sand. But first I’m going to get some help.”

While Pape was rounding up other mem-
bers of the Robbery Squad, Lieutenant
Phelan talked to the landlady on Warren
Avenue. He became convinced from the
description she gave that the mysterious
visitor actually was the man he wanted.

Phelan had a copy of the picture Pape
and Friedman were attempting to trace and
showed it to the landlady. She was fairly
certain it was a likeness of one of the chil-
dren of the mysterious visitor. But she
could not be positive.

“Baby pictures look so much alike,” she
said.

Phelan thanked her and left. Next, he
learned from manufacturers that the key
they had found was indeed for a gas
cylinder.

At last he was definitely on a hot trail
of the double murderers.

“If only we can trace that picture,” he
told Pape. “Take all the men and time you
need. We must make this clue pan out.”

“Try it, anyway,” he

with half
By noon t Pca
thousand negallv®. |

scended 0!
a dozen ms
hey had &

Pape de

They had to
to the light an<
kept at their
evening they
were seekit

“Tm 3
tougn

He ana
the next ge
on the fourth mol
nized close tO ‘&"
returned them

“Tt looks
“We're wasting

Pape held ano
light and squinte’
“Don’t give UP B
man was Wrone sr
tives he has. *"

more of these
He put the neg _
rubbed his eyes:

His hands were |

He said quict'*
The men crowc'

Jooked at the ne
| it it

haa !

dav. tne
aay .

to %

ho}

Damiani oa tee
and Kedzie Ave
| Janice Damar
| Phelan, Pape
| bery Squad wer
i as soon as the
Damiani hac’
had left no fo:
time he was °
He had two ¢!
once had bee!


iman seq
sear
ttom ched the roo

ey found three

mercial phot

Was a g ora of a
€ neckb ier the
€ce of met the

ape said “ hey ‘
Ye're on th : _to
Okay, but ont trail.”

ut where does

answered Pape

élan Was in
Nese three
1 @ few of
‘is third
Chicago

- at the De-
“1 best case

Clined

ther of the

i th
h

; oPape’s report
; | the Photograph
ef 88 a clue?”
© Photographer
1€ has a record

“But Maybe
18N who Visited

t. anyway,” he

ad taken the
famed Bloom
South Wabash
1 showeg him
Ud be traced
id. “There's
‘ Might have
"8 the last

e

Negativee

isked.
can,” he
Nasty job
Pictures
ve to look
ind J’}]} bet

ee ¢ ee ae

Pape descended on the Bloom studios
with half a dozen men the following day.
By noon they had gone through almost a
thousand negatives in the files.

They had to hold each baby picture up
to the light and examine it closely. They
kept at their task without lunch but by
evening they had not found the one they
were seeking.

“I’m going blind,” Pape said.
the tougnest job I’ve ever had.”

He and his men were back in the studio
the next day, the day after that and again
on the fourth morning. They had scruti-
nized close to ten thousand negatives and
returned them to the files.

“It. looks hopeless,” Friedman
“We're wasting our time.”

Pape held another negative up to the
light and squinted at it. 7

“Don’t give up hope yet,” he said. “That
man was wrong about the number of nega-
tives he has. There’s still five thousand
more of these things to look at.”

He put the negative down suddenly and
rubbed his eyes. Then he held it up again.
His hands were trembling a bit.

He said quietly, “I’ve got it.”

The men crowded around him and each
looked at the negative. There could be no
doubt about it. This was the right one.

Ten minutes later Bloom supplied the
name and address of the man who had paid
for the picture. He was Edward M.
Damiani and he lived in Madison Street
and Kedzie Avenue. The child’s name was
Janice Damiani.

Phelan, Pape and almost the entire Rob-
bery Squad were out at Madison and Kedzie
as soon as they could get there.

Damiani had moved, they léarned, and
had left no forwarding address. But this
time he was known in the neighborhood.
He had two children, a girl and a boy. He
once had been a refrigerator repairman.

“This ts

said.

None of the neighbors knew where
Damiani lived but one of them declared
that he frequently visited a small hotel in
the vicinity. The front door of that hotel
was not out of sight of the members of the
Robbery Squad, day or night, from then on.

Pape and Friedman were on duty near
that hotel the morning of September 14th,
when they saw a short, stocky man park
his car near by, get out and walk down
the sidewalk with two children. They
stepped up beside him.

“We're the police,” Pape said to him.
“T think you have a few things to explain.”
“Okay,” he muttered in a low voice.
They put him in a squad car, in the rear
seat, with Friedman and the children. Pape

drove.

As they shot out into traffic Damiani
picked up the younger child.

“T’ll put him on my lap,” he said.

He held the child in the air momentarily.
Then he flung him bodily at Friedman.

He leaped for the door of the car and
opened it.

Through the rear. view mirror, Pape saw
what was happening. Holding the wheel
with his left hand, he drew his gun with
the right and struck the man a sharp blow
on the head.

The gangster slumped to the floor of the
car. The fight had gone out of him.

He was completely spiritless when he
reached Headquarters. Lieutenant Phelan
asked him a few routine questions and he
burst into tears.

“Tll tell you everything!” he said. “I
killed that Olson dame! I didn’t think the
gas was strong enough to hurt anyone.”

His name was Edward Damiani, he ad-
mitted. His accomplice in the killing of
Miss Olson was a man named Alvin Krause.

“Where is Krause now?” Phelan asked.

“You ought to know,” Damiani said. “‘He’s
in the jug.”

Sure enough, Phelan found Krause in
the county jail. He had been arrested the
week before for a minor shooting fray
in a tavern. His eyes were so bloodshot
and his clothing so disheveled that no one
had tecognized in him the tall bandit who
had been described previously as well
dressed.

Bertice Simmons, who had witnessed the
murder of Miss Olson, identified both
Krause and Damiani. So did Paul Niske,
in whose office Walter Bush had been slain.
So did the cashiers of other currency ex-
changes which had been robbed by the gas
gang. ;

With this evidence, prosecutors brought
Krause and Damiani to trial January 4th,
1944, for the first degree murder of Miss
Olson.

Before this, however, David and Thomas
Lamb and Athel Gemmel pleaded guilty in
a Detroit court to the murder of Arthur
Curris. All three were sentenced to life
imprisonment on December 28th, 1943.

Michigan does not have capital punishment.

@ AT HIS trial in Chicago, Damiani at-

tempted to prove insanity. However, on
February 17th, a jury of ten women and
two men found him guilty. Krause, too,
was found guilty. The following day Judge
Harold G. Ward sentenced the two men to
life imprisonment.

Because Damiani was the ring-leader of
the gang, State’s Attorney Thomas J. Court-
ney decided to prosecute him for the mur-
der of Walter Bush also. So Friday, June
16th, 1944, Damiani again was found guilty
of first-degree murder and again sentenced
to life imprisonment. Under existing
IUinois law Damiani would have been
eligible for parole after serving 20 years,
had he been convicted of the first murder
only. Now he must begin his second term
after 20 years of the first have expired.

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97


2 | Three Exo fitions, wt Jette ' {

“Joliet haw had three legal, hangjngs since
728008) ‘Phe tirst wie Georgg Chie, hanged

March 23. 186,| ‘foe murdgring Charibe
“Clark, Deputy Warden in tha” pepitentiarys
Chase beng a cons fot at the tine., The next
was Andrew J. Béptget..a colored ‘man, who
ornurdeced his witty tae Chieagd by cutting ‘her

throat. Chngles Reed, Prosecuting, Attordey,

“prosecuted the caseig Joliet on a ichangg of
venue, Perteet wa’ hanged Des, 1, 1A73,
‘ofier baving . a ° reprieve — of ono
iweek. ‘This hanging was | - followed
‘by = the execution; of Henry ‘dacpbe
‘Sun. 21, LAPG, fo murdering bit wife, the
“fgnuly tend on a fnrin three, miles cast! of
“Pockport, Lil. Today.oceurred the fourth, the
‘vietin being Eravet, Lecore, i man only: 24

years of uge, yet Whovin thas short time has

‘ominitted more ¢rime than - would! naturally!
be committed by a tain three times as old.
“ Lecore was we Wenley Townsbip, twelve ,
rides fron Joliet, jof parents ‘not: high’ so-
-dgintty or morally, whi¢h fact Kad) much to do

with the refysal of tho citizens against potl-
timing the thascrh r to give him a new trial.
Jan. U, 1800), Lecors was sentgnved tobmypria- |
oomnent in the conus juil by the Will County |
Chreult Court. Murch 8, 1800, he’ was etn-

uinced to five yeats'limprisogient in the pea-

itentiary at Nevada.ila., for jabsault. but was |
pétdoned by Gov. Boles April20, 189k, 5
At er BIN ond Fb qt teres to two |!
yeure in it ty fr rgiary, Uct. |
viet e sorved eight wo data

w relense Feb.
ok to Wealpy. bis

i! History of

ug. G, Sanda

of peer es
owl v her father, and
bijere with her auat,
ft

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la Byron, aged 1<3 soars,
‘oh in Wi

from: church ¢he. went

ho live nile
dha wad hor, father, Inthe affernoo avout 4
otplock sho start tho ie

awang into ‘ete
| froin the Sherif

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young wou named ‘
oud, Tt hua reat W this thane,

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=
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foot myuatd, with the

The trap ds held tn phe

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Pema, SOIC cd Cvs owiaang plas dager
di ALTUAY Bind pheVORE i leas gitMging Vgatoes
the perder exnquted. foot Pos

i" eee here) e '


Kor Murdering a (irl,
Joliet, UN. Sastiers Meo Bernest) TLaeore

“Was Bemedd at Dene ofeloek thts Mornings,

-—_—e-

OWE rete,

i mington and Jollet.

VO gas was broek om be othe fal

TTA ety for which Lacere  explated
Jer oof Stary lhe Eyron, on
td Cows af Weslo, newr
Trt eeumie. Deasecate after Dts
AVient stated that he ented the Dl-yegur-
Old gird inte a thicket by ¢he story of a
Vesedl rteer belongiog te her father, ate
Cemapeted ta meduece her, but on ber pestat.
te, teek her bead on bia hands and threw
her dawn,

Tt was shown by the coroner's Inquest
that her neck had been broken by the
Vlow, Taeore narrowly esenaped belts
lynched by infurinted men, both at Wile


’ Q
4 1d ) linois anuary 29, 1894...
! white 24, hanged Joliet, Illinois, v ’
3 an

LACORL, Ernest,

oo 44 alin ahead

DEATE

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more stoicia

r\Shdielally Killed at ando,

vere .]—No man |
uted in Illinois who dis
an did Ernest Laco
‘forenoon, wheaa | Sheriff Henne Ty © ve ‘the *
' » the, executioner, een
free wes time! t oY anna left hig cell uptil he
, Was [et down ih a coffin’ congumed gvarce-

ly twenty minu
: “after 14) p’clock
: Ane gallowa and
thinutesn lirter~t f
. the jail -dvor,, puty Sheriff Spangler was
‘ in the: lead} followed by Shoriff'‘Henneberry, .
Deputies Zipt and Reitz witli, the doomed
man. and the ministers, .the Revs. Shoets and
McConnell, Lacore's hands were fastened

behind him with shackles.. The Rev. Sheets

alow voier. At 10:31 Lacore ptood up and
Sherit! Henneberry askedéhim ‘if he had any-
thing to say why, sentence shouls not Ibe in-
flicted uppn hiwd Ina steady voice 1@ re-

ied: ’ °
lied: +,

3° No, sip, T knot‘of.no reason why the sen-
tence of the court ahould not be’ infiteted on
; ine. T hope, geiftlginen, to limceet you all on
| the other ahore, Good-by, gentirmen, all of

?

| you.”

*

2
\

whispered to him'‘and. rdeeived fa response in’

~_ At the conclusion Sheriff Henneberry and
Deputy Reitz placed | the leather bandages
; around him. During this opernfion the pria-

| oucr’s brother, Deloss, who was standing near
| the front, cried ng: “ Good-by, brother.”’
'Lacore lapked down ‘and smiled, He then
(turned his head up’ and carefully’ inspected ,
ithe noose and then downwards! to hid feet
{while the hot a Mas strapping his legs to-
|kether.. Sherif! Hénneberry then took th

“shroud of pure white’ and laced it around
‘Lacore, atid Ho wns tietl at jtho back,
‘During -this tho “Nev. Sheets whispered
lH word’ of encouragement to, Lacore’ and
ihe, responded in alow. vulce,, At 10:43
Deputy Sheritf Rietz slipped the; noose: over
Latore’s head ind Grew it tight around his
‘neck. A thinute luter the White cap wus put
over his head and all stepped back) from the
itrap., « Sherit! Hénneberry gave the signal; at
(LOS 4 phe rope was quickly severed and the
‘trip fell. Drs, Dougall and Swisher, who
Iwtood Mirectly in frout of the trap, stepped
forward with their watches in theiy hands and
‘at 10:44 the pulse censed and they pronounced

ithe tan desd. At 10:35 tho tay. was cut

down and placed in the coflin prepared for it,
The body was shipped to Nevada, Li., Lacore's,
former home, for interment, }

During the Proceeding af bark aging and
Putting on theshroud he did nut’ move a
Anuscle, When Jailer Rietz put the noore
over his head he chihged color, flushing clear.
to the roots of his huiz, but no hesitancy or
shivering was noticeahte, bidet oe 4
i Lucore weat to bed at 0325 last Bight, sleep.
My sourdly nine hours. CUO Wulewk Lis.
Care gotup and bad his break fast. whieh con.

ey of fried chicken, toast, cl butatoes,
n

; Wind perches, At the end he sindked a cigar
pnd ‘seemed te. enjoy it. At 4:30 he was
taken upstairs td) was given “bath ‘and
(resged in wnew aut of lothes, Miagonal
Cloth, sack coat, new ‘shoes, high ‘collar, and
‘white tie. While he wus tyeamng Charles Zipt
Was lookdad up with hin, nnd, being given a
[glans, Lawgre sands & W Li did fot think
Was ak good lookdy a féllow ins
Is aw. At B45 the hev. Sherts of
Richfrda Street Chureb. and MeCon-
bell“ ealled and) baptized — | core, he’
Ving the name of Ernest) Eleazer aan

iw tnother then came in fora final partunad

{

{
The cominunion SCF¥IGNS Were thon heid, the -
“four peuplo thera hartaking. Mrs, Taylor re.
WMained until #155 His attorney, Mr. Donij-
yan, cume on. and Leouns: bide him good, by,

H

und told bin: where the handkerchief was
Which the girl's patents Wanted... Lacore ‘then
made aw confession tu the Rev, Shecg, °


sir ee “eon yersion. |

re-
bits
4

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fast ies oe Wass) wakened ate

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ag given a batn and. Rey. Mee be
aiaitter to. see him. Hejwas|
nd. received | the sacri i

‘Ore

past.9 o'clock his. ‘mother was. ad sine

‘see, himiand pemained | for. Mi
ne which time. th scondemn ed

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servants; pastinen, pel

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i minstrel’ act. upan: the

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fi realistic “representation

Henderson bas .cngage
UWilt) Natkervilte. C1 Ea

ViOwens, E. Me Hall and

s@ number cf other weil
musi¢s which was: ert
scommposer, Walter: Bis)
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RUOWN Ptocevery: thesis

ithat-the part sf. Gentle:

MS well, if not Better?
“ot? the: Sisbtw. travel
Mumber ‘of bright sohes
inérformance, «a fox of w
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ST 2EL EV 7 ~ Clad ex: ea gees and fota~


LANCTANO, Frank, white, hanged Chicago, I1l., 10-26-1925,

"Chicago, Aug. 20, 1925 = Three men will hang in the Cook county jail
here on October 16 unless court action intervenes to prevent the exe-
cutions...Frank Lanciano, who killed his commoh-law wife....' TRIBUNE
Chicago, I1l., Aug. 20, 1925,

"SLAYER'S MERCY PLEA IS DENIED: HANGS TODAY, - Unless a last minute
insanity jury is impaneled, as was done in the case of Russell Scott,
Frank Lenciano will forfeit his life on the gallows in the county
jeil at 7 o'clock this morning. The last hope of the murderer was
blasted yesterday afternoon when Acting Governor Scholes refused to
listen to a plea for mercy. Lanciano, who shot and killed his common
lew wife, Rose Attillia, in a fit of XXXXBHAPJXAMKAEXKXK jealousy,
spent his last day in verying moods, At times K#XKKKX he appeared
on a verge of a breakdown and then would striaghten up and play
cards with his guards. It is the general belief of the jail attaches
however, that the slayer will have to be carried to the gallows. Lan-
clano ran away from his wife and family in Philadelphia several years
ago. Mrs, Attillia also deserted her husband, and the two came to
Chicago and opened a millinery store at 29th street and Wentworth
avenue," TRIBUNE, Chicago, Ill., 10-16-1925 (1)

"HANGS BEGGING FORGIVENESS OF WIFE AND CHILDREN. - Frank Lenciano
paid with his life on the gallows in the county jail early yesterday
morning for murdering his common law wife during a jealous rage,
Last March he shot and killed Rose Attillia, with whom he had fled
from Philadelphia several months before, Lanciane protested his
innocence to the end. He ¥¥% contended KKKXXKK that KK the woman was
shot during a struggle after she had attempted to kill him. The slayer
took to religion on his last day and this seemed to keep him up on
his march to the scaffold, The last request of the doomed man was
that his wife and children, whom he had deserted in Philadelphia,
forgive him, He did not live long enough, however, to know that his
wife had relented, Late yesterday a telegram came to the jail from
the wife saying: 'I forgive you.'" TRIBUNE, Chicago, 19-17-1925,


eele’s activities, we let him go. Pear-
n handcuffed Steele and the four of
started back down the road.
The clock on the wall of the Sub-
ition struck five when we walked in
th our prisoner that Wednesday
wning, December 20. We stopped
ere just long enough to pick up Mrs.
Brien and the girl. Then we burned
the highway to our Headquarters
Los Angeles.

TEELE kept up a line of chatter on
the way back. He seemed to enjoy
asting about his criminal life.

“Come to think of it,” he said once,
m glad you John Laws put the bee
me without anyone getting killed.
was determined that I was never
ing back to prison—even if I had
kill somebody and get killed my-
f. I’ve done a stretch for- robbery
San Quentin before and it’s no fun.”
At Headquarters in the presence of
ief Bright and Inspector Penprase,
axton went through Steele’s clothes
ain. In his wallet they found sev-
il newspaper clippings on thefts of
planes, as well as a flying license,
iding: “Eugene Steele. Rating: Com-
sreial pilot.”

‘What about these?” Chief Bright
ced.

steele smiled. “I might just as well
ll the beans, I guess. I’m a crack
ot, even if I have to say so myself.
stole airplanes up and down the
ist to help me with my activities
ourglarizing homes! Sometimes I
ited planes—but not often.

‘I would steal a plane and with a
ctner would case homes from the
y. That way we were able to pick
icy homes in no time. What was

more, we would know just what roads
and entrances to use—just what the
lay of the land was.

“Yes, Sir, I have cased many a
home from the sky, my friends.” He
shrugged. “Too late now to cry over
spilt milk, but I suppose I should have
used my talents with airplanes for
more useful purposes. It was fun,
though, living high and easy.”

I asked Steele about the wad of
paper Mrs. O’Brien handed him in the
cabin. He smiled wanly, and reached
into his watch pocket. From it he took
out a folded wad and gave it to me. I
smoothed out the paper. It was a
paper napkin, one of those Mrs.
O’Brien had helped herself to when
we were having coffee along the road.

Smeared on the napkin with lipstick
were the words: “Cops are coming.”

“What about it?” I turned to Mrs.
O’Brien. She readily admitted having
written the note when I allowed her
to go to the restroom in the Saugus
Cafe.

“T love Eugene,” was her only an-
swer,

bree admitted having been with
Bishop just before Bishop was cap-
tured by police.

“The boy did not help me in any of
the plane jobs,” he said. “However, I
had hopes of breaking him in. My
partner left me the other day after a
job and I needed an assistant. Bishop
is just a gullible kid and was being
led on by me.”

Steele identified the valuables that
had been brought in from Mrs.
O’Brien’s home as a portion of the loot
he had stolen in his many burglaries
—some 40 in all.

“Frances may have suspected that I
was robbing homes,” he said, “but I
didn’t ever tell her myself. I told her
I was in the second-hand business and
had to use her house to store up some
of the merchandise I was selling.”

Steele would not tell how many
planes he had stolen.

“You'll hook me on plenty of jobs,
anyway,” he said. “I'll only tell you
this: The last plane I stole was an
Oronco type monoplane. I took it from
a Compton airport last August 25.”

A quick check of stolen-plane rec-
ords revealed that Steele was telling
the truth. The plane later was discov-
ered in a bean field, where Steele ad-
mitted having left it.

Steele refused to name his accom-
plice in the burglaries in Santa Mon-
ica, La Canada, Beverly Hills and Hol-
lywood to which he confessed.

“T’m not talking about those jobs,”
he said. “Oscar—and you’ll never
know his real name—is a two-time
loser. He can’t afford to be pinched
again.”

Steele told us how he and “Oscar”
had cased the Schuberth home on De-
cember 1. The opening of this story is
based upon his statements. He said
that he had rented the plane that day
at the Los Angeles Municipal Airport.
We checked the story and learned that
the attendant, J. W. Story, had been
paid $20 rent on the Cub monoplane
for two hours. With Steele’s commer-
cial rating he had no trouble getting
the plane.

Steele was booked in County Jail on
suspicion of burglary. Bishop was re-
booked on the same charge. Mrs.
O’Brien was booked on a charge of
receiving stolen property and a charge

of contributing to the delinquency of
a minor.

On January 10, Mrs. O’Brien ap-
peared before Municipal Judge Wilbur
C. Curtis, who dismissed the charges
against her on grounds of insufficient
evidence, and because Steele would
not appear against her.

On February 1, 1940, Steele and
Bishop appeared before Superior Judge
A. A. Scott. Bishop pleaded guilty to
one count of burglary and was allowed
to file for probation. Steele entered a
plea of guilty to one count of bur-
glary, admitted prior convictions and
also admitted having been armed at
the time of his arrest.

Steele was sentenced by Judge Scott
to a term of from five to fifteen years
in Folsom Prison, where he is now
serving his time. ; :

Bishop returned to Judge Scott’s
court February 27. Judge Scott gave
him a fatherly lecture and placed him
on probation for a five-year period,
ordering him to serve the first year in
the County Jail camp.

| SAID good-by to Mrs. O’Brien soon
after she was ordered released. I
wished her luck, and she stared at me
with tear-filled eyes and thanked me.

Then, suddenly, she was sobbing
against my shoulder and promising,
over and over, never again to allow
her daughter to wander from her sight.
I knew she meant that. A mother
knows when another mother is telling
the truth.

The names Mrs. Bertha Barrows and
Mike Snyder used in this story are
fictitious, and used to protect innocent
persons. ) Re

Whereas | Promise to Deliver One Dead Man" (Continued from Page 27)

out of his mind and attack their
‘ther so ferociously.
‘Was he worrying about anything?”
‘Of course not,” the boy said. “We
went over to Nameoki tonight to
: movies. Father was in better spir-
than usual. On the way home he
narked on what a swell time he’d
1 and how lucky he felt to have
th a nice family.”
towden was thoughtful. A hushed
mce fell over the little group in
: hall. When the coroner arrived,
wden joined him and together they
nt into the bedroom. Policeman
hn arrived soon afterward, having
nn sent by Chief of Police Tappel.
ter giving an account of what hap-
ied, Rowden said slowly:
‘I don’t believe Puhse fired the shot
it killed him.”
‘Why not?” demanded the coroner.
‘Because there isn’t any gun near
n as far as I can see.”
‘Where is it, then?” inquired the
‘oner.
‘I_ don’t know. I haven’t had’ a
ince to go over the room thoroughly.
vas waiting for you to get here.”
‘Well, let’s hunt for the weapon,”
‘gested Hahn as the surgeon bent
x the motionless form on the bed.
ere a telltale lump under the di-
veled blankets revealed the gun.
wden used his handkerchief in pick-
: it up after he had pushed the
nkets back. It was a .32 caliber
volver.
sarrying the gun into the hall, he
»wed it to Mrs. Puhse, who identified
quickly as one her husband kept
the closet shelf in the bedroom.
“he coroner was taking in the posi-
a of the body on the bed and check-
on the direction of the bullet
ich had entered the slain man’s
yple. Rowden called his attention to
bullet hole over the bed and the
oner regarded it silently. After a
e, he said slowly:
He must have gone whacky and
ed himself after attempting to mur-
his wife.” .

“Then you think it was suicide?”
asked Rowden, his tone slightly in-
credulous,

The coroner sent him a surprised
look as he answered:

“I imagine that will be the verdict
at the inquest. It looks like it to me.”

The first thing next morning Row-
den hunted up Deputy Sheriff Harry
2 a who was a friend of his, and
said:

“You knew Puhse, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” said Odum, “I did. His sui-
cide certainly was sudden, wasn’t it?
I didn’t think he was the kind of fel-
low who would do a thing like that.”

“Well, frankly, I don’t believe he
did,” confided Rowden, “If he shot
himself, then how did the gun get
away down at the foot of the bed?”

“It might have fallen there as he
flopped over on the bed,” answered
the Deputy.

“Y—yes, but it wasn’t on top, but
half-hidden underneath some _ blank-
ets. Doesn’t that seem kind of queer?”

“Yes,” admitted Odum. “It does.”

“Also, I had a pretty good look at
that hole in Puhse’s temple and I
couldn’t see any powder marks on it.
If he’d held the gun against his head
and fired, it would have burned the
skin around the bullet hole, I should
think.”

Odum stood up. He took a few steps
across the office, then back again, his
head bent in thought. Finally he faced
Rowden, and announced:

“We'll wait until after the inquest
tomorrow, and see what that brings
forth.”

The following day the coroner’s jury
brought in a verdict of suicide, and
the body was given over to the family
for burial. The case was closed offi-
cially, but after a further talk with
Rowden, Deputy Odum came to the
conclusion that Puhse might have
been murdered and strode into the
office of Chief of Police Tappel.

“Are you satisfied with the verdict
in the Puhse case?” he asked.

Tappel looked at him with narrowed

eyes and slowly shook his-head. “No,
frankly, I’m not.”
“Neither am I,” Odum told him.
“Let’s investigate it further.” ;
Reaching for his phone, the. Chief
asked Prosecutor Greer to step around
to his office. When he arrived the three
held a conference, at which it was
decided to look into the matter to de-
termine definitely if murder had been
committed. Odum was put in charge
of the investigation, and, as he rose to
leave, the- Prosecutor reminded him:
“Keep everything you do a secret.
No one must know what we’re up to.
Mention the case only to those people
who can possibly give you information.
Absolute secrecy is of the utmost im-
ie) 9a in dealing with a case of this
ind.”

Cerri into the street on that
cold January day, Odum pulled his
overcoat collar up about his ears.

He had not gone two blocks before
he mentally had outlined the first step
of his plan of action. He did not make
a move, however, until he had thought
out every detail, He wanted to excite
no curiosity by his interest in the
Puhse “suicide”; his queries must seem
natural.

He established the fact that the
family had, indeed, spent the evening
in Nameoki and had returned around
eleven, retiring immediately. At his
suggestion, Rowden had tailed the son
and, when he saw a good chance to
speak to him alone, had stepped up be-
side him as though it were a chance
encounter, Of course it was natural
for them to discuss the case, as the
only time they had met was on that
tragic night. Rowden asked casually:

“Were you and your mother in the
hall, before the door, the whole time
until I arrived?”

“No,” said young Puhse. “I tried to
persuade her to go into my sister’s
room, and we did for a few moments,
Then, when we heard your steps, we
all came out into the hall. Mother was
hysterical and was screaming.”

“Could you have seen anyone pass-
ing along the hall while you were in
your sister’s bedroom?” the policeman
prodded. .

“Well, I’m not sure,” admitted the
youth, looking puzzled,

Rowden quickly changed the subject
and by the time he left the boy, the
case seemed to have lost interest en-
tirely for him. He went straight to
Odum with this slight piece of infor-
mation. They both agreed that, if a
third person had been in the room, he
might have escaped along the hallway
and out of the back door without any-
one seeing him in the confusion of the
moment. ' 5

A week’s unceasing hard work
brought no evidence to back up the
Deputy’s murder: theory, but he went
on with the task as determined as ever
to solve the mystery.

During these first days of his investi-
gation, Odum spent much time near
the steel-mills where Puhse had held
a position of confidence. Managing to
engage the various employes in talk,
he soon discovered where most of the
old comrades of the dead man lunched.
The next week found him at ‘the res-
taurant every day. None of the dead
man’s former associates believed he
was the sort to commit suicide. None
of them had any real evidence to offer,
however, and at the end of three weeks
of tireless work the Deputy was forced
to admit that he had uncovered no
clews that would support a murder
theory. Instead of progressing in the
case, Odum was losing ground.

As far as he could learn, not a soul
had benefited by the death. The wife
and two children had been left with
only about $4,000 worth of insurance,
which would not go far to support
them in the manner in which the de-

voted husband and father had pro-’

vided for them. The harder Odum
worked, the more difficult it seemed to

establish motive for a crime. Yet .

Odum remained convinced that one
had been committed. But by whom?
Why?

August ACTUAL DETECTIVE STORIES Goes on Sale Wednesday, July 17


It was about this time that a strange
ry was reported at Headquarters.
seemed that a workman at a certain
‘tory had overheard another worker
ling about some man who had of-
‘ed him a sum of money to “bump
guy off.” The worker who had been
proached was named Sam Wilson.
, of course, indignantly had refused
* offer, but remembered it as an
usual occurrence to relate to friends.
Che police, always alert to forestall
possible slaying, believed the story
served investigation. Odum, who
i hit a snag in the Puhse case, de-
ed to run down the Wilson story.
uld there be any possible link be-
een the two?
uate one afternoon he stood watch-
; the employes of the factory where
lson worked emerging from the en-
nee. A man who knew Wilson by
ht was standing beside him. Sud-
uly he pointed. ,
‘There he is,” he said.
Jdum stepped forward, touched the
signated man on the arm and asked:
‘Are you Sam Wilson?”
‘That’s me,” replied the other.
‘ho are you?”
‘The Sheriff,” said the officer, drop-
g his voice and pulling him to one
e. Wilson looked at him with veiled
‘s as Odum asked about the queer
‘position that had been made to him.
Well,” said Wilson with a shrug,
fellow came to my home last Octo-
and asked if I wanted a job, I
3 out of work at the time and told
1 that I did want one. Then he
confidential and said he’d give me
car and a hundred dollars if I’d do
Ly with a guy he wanted bumped

Who was it -he wanted killed?”
ed Odum, leaning forward, his eyes
ised narrowly on Wilson.

He didn’t say. I told him I needed
ney, but not that bad. Then he
ed if I happened to know of a good
lium or fortune-teller who could
cast the future. I thought it was
unny request, but told him of a
nan named Farmer who is supposed
be very good.”

Who was this man?”

[ don’t know. I never saw him
ore in my life and have never seen
. since.”

DUM wrote down the address of
the Farmer woman, who lived in
adjoining town of Nameoki. Then

asked:

Would you know this fellow if you
him?”

Yes, I’m sure that I would,” was
reply.

Sood,” said the Deputy. “If you
him, follow him and find out who
is, then get in touch with me at

‘ilson nodded and gave his promise,
Odum headed his car in the direc-
of Nameoki. On the way, he re-

nbered that Tom Lehne, who op-

ed a filling-station not far off, had
1a great friend of Puhse’s. He de-
d to stop and buy some gas.
s he drove up before the station,
ne came out of the small house to
a greeting. As the proprietor put
into the car, Odum engaged him in
nversation that soon turned on the
se family. The man’s kindly face
ded as he said slowly:

feel terribly sorry for Gertrude
the kids. They’ll have to go to

i before long, and Charley always

led them.”

did he strike you as the kind of

to kill himself?” asked Odum
itly.

2»hne was thoughtful. At last he re-
1: “I don’t know. At times he was

dy, but I admit I was surprised.”
<now of any enemy he might have

’” asked the officer,
shne’s eyes widened. “No, I don’t,”
aid quickly. “What’s the angle?”
Ih, nothing. I was just interested
use I knew Charley.”
lum paid Lehne for the gas
drove on.
> found the Farmer woman’s shack
the edge of town and knocked.
‘e was no answer. He pounded
er, and this time the door opened
ach. Suspicious eyes gazed out at

3

him, and he decided to tell the woman
frankly who he was. Upon learning
that he was a deputy sheriff, she
opened the door wider, her large frame
almost filling the entrance.

He reminded her that he was an
officer of the law who wished to ask
her a few questions. At last she
stepped back and allowed him to enter.
Leading the way to a small, shabby
parlor, she sat down. He drew up a
rickety chair opposite her and ex-
plained what Wilson had told him.

“I know that Wilson sent a man
here who wanted to use you for a
purpose of his own. I believe that
purpose was murder,” Odum said.

p See licked her dry lips, then ad-
mitted:

“A man did come here and ask me
we some fortunes. But I didn’t do
i

i haven’t accused you of anything,”
said Odum. “I merely want to know
— he wanted of you, and what you

“I didn’t do nothin’. He asked me
read some fortunes with tea, and
said he would give me a powder to

drop into one of the cups. When I told’

him I wouldn’t dream of doing such a
terrible thing, he went away dis-
gusted.”

“Who was this man?” inquired the
Deputy.

“T have no idea. He didn’t give me
his name.”

“Whose fortunes did he want you
to read?”

She became silent once more, did not
answer until Odum had repeated the
question twice. Then her voice sank
to a whisper and she said:

“The Puhse family! I was to put the
powder in Mr. Puhse’s cup!”

Here was a lead indeed! At last he
had found an enemy of the dead man.
This was the first clew showing that
someone had been trying to put
Charles Puhse out of the way. But
what possible motive could the myste-
rious man have had for murdering the
well-liked and harmless Puhse? And
who was he?

“Would you recognize this man if
you saw him?” .

“Oh, yes, Sir, I would,” she replied
with emphasis.

“All right, but don’t tell a soul I’ve
been here,” he warned. “You should
have come straight to the police and
told us about this man. It might have
prevented a ruthless slaying.”

She bowed her head and said noth-
ing, and he rose to leave.

It was dark when Odum reached
Granite City and drove to the neigh-
borhood of the slain man’s home. Park-
ing his car, he got out and studied the
positions of windows in homes opposite
and on either side of the Puhse dwell-
ing. His observations brought to a
conclusion, he strode up to the front
door of a house opposite the Puhses’
and rang the bell. A woman answered
and invited him in. She couldn’t hide
her curiosity.

“What brings you here?” she asked,
recognizing the Deputy.

“I’ve been doing some investigation,”
he explained, “and I’ve decided that
you’re a clever woman who can be

. trusted to keep a secret.” He noticed

the woman was pleased with the com-
pliment and asked, “Have you ever
noticed any man calling at the Puhse
home during the daytime when Mr.
Puhse was working?”

“I’m not a busybody,” the woman
said indignantly. “I don’t spy on my
neighbors,”

“[’m sure of that,” Odum assured
her, “but I notice your windows are
directly opposite their front door and
I thought you might have happened to
see someone entering or leaving.”

“Why?” she asked. “Why do you
want to know that?”

“Because,” he said, “we’re investi-
gating the suicide and are trying to
get all possible information concerning
the family.”

“Well, all right,” she said reluctantly.
“Tl tell you that I have seen Mrs.
Puhse drive off with a gentleman who
called for her in a car, on one or two
occasions.”

“Did you recognize this man?”

“No. I didn’t get a good look at
him.”

She could provide him with no fur-
ther bits of information, nor could she
give a good description of the stranger.
He visited the homes on either side,
where the occupants also admitted
having seen the man. No one could
identify him, however, and the neigh-
bors all said that they had believed
him to be a relative or someone visit-
ing the family from out of town, per-
haps. All had only the most compli-
mentary things to say of the widow.

Returning to his office, he sat down
behind his desk to go over the details
of the case in the hope that they might
suggest a _ possible lead. At that
moment a knock interrupted his rev-
erie, and a stranger walked into the
room.

The man advanced toward him.

‘“Ym Thomas Nickoloff. There’s
something I think I ought to tell you.”

The man pulled a slip of paper
from his pocket and gave it to Odum.

“A fellow gave me this one da
about three months ago. I thought it
was a joke until I heard that you were
investigating the Puhse suicide. Some-
one told me tonight that you’d been

Captain Roy Saunders: He deter-
mined that a killer had lied about
seeing a mysterious car near the
Cotton farm as recounted in the
story which begins on Page 22

around asking questions, so I decided
to bring this to you.” ‘

Odum cast his sharp eyes over the
paper, whistled and then read aloud:

“Whereas I promise to deliver one
dead man—” Odum broke off reading
and exclaimed, “Good Heavens, Man,
where did you get hold of this thing?
Why, it’s dynamite. Where on earth
did you get it—and what’s it all
about?”

P Nickoloff’s face was drawn into grim
ines,

“T don’t want you to think I’m mixed
up in any way on this thing,” he said,
“but I’m afraid it’s going to be hard
for you to believe my story. It hap-
pened this way: I was in a garage
one day having something done to my
car when the proprietor said jokingly,
‘There’s a fellow over there who wants
a killing done. I told him you’d do it.’
Well, put yourself in my position. Of
course, I thought the whole thing was
a_joke of some kind and played up.
‘Sure I will,’ I said. Hearing me, the
man walked across to us and said he
would pay a hundred dollars to have
Charles Puhse murdered. Then he
wrote out this contract and gave it to
me. I thought the whole thing was a
rib, but I must confess I missed the
point. Anyhow, I stuck this contract
in my pocketbook and forgot all about
it until this evening.”

“Who was this fellow?” Odum asked.

“I don’t know, but I think he was
from over around Nameoki.”

“Whoever he is, he must be crazy
to go shopping around town for a
killer,” Odum said, standing up. “Let’s
drive over to Nameoki and see if we
can locate him.”

As they neared the outskirts of the
adjoining town, Nickoloff suddenly

clutched Odum’s arm and _ pointed.
“That’s him!” he cried.

Odum looked. The man was point-
ing toward Tom Lehne'’s filling-station,
Then he saw the man.

“Why,” he exclaimed, “that’s Lehne!
You must be mistaken.”

Nickoloff stubbornly shook his head.
“I’m sure I’m not,” he said. “That's
the fellow who gave me that paper,”

“Then,” said Odum, “it must have
been a joke. Lehne was a close friend
of Puhse’s.”

In any case, Odum felt, the story had
to be followed up—joke or no joke.
Hi stopped the car and said to Nicko-
off:

“You stay here and keep out of
sight.”

Stepping out, he headed back for
the gas station. As he approached,
Lehne recognized him and called:

“Hello there.” -

Deputy Odum returned the greeting.
Then, lowering his voice so that a cus-
tomer near by could not overhear, he
asked:

“Have you ever called on Gertrude
Puhse, or taken her riding?”

Lehne laughed. “Of course,” he said
without hesitation. “Several times
Puhse asked me to drive her to town
when. he couldn’t get away and she
had shopping to do.”

“Then that explains the man the
neighbors saw,” Odum said and
laughed with Lehne. “Sorry to have
bothered you.”

Odum walked away, joined Nickolofft
at the car and started the engine.

“It wouldn’t be any use for you to
approach him out here where he’s in-
terrupted by customers every few min-
utes and where he’s surrounded by
people. I didn’t want him to see you
with me at this time. We'll hang
around until he goes home for the
night. Then you go to his house where
you can talk confidentially. I want you
to make certain whether or not he is
the man. I still can’t believe he is.”

“Okay,” Nickoloff agreed,

At midnight, they returned to within
a few yards of the station and Nicko-
loff got out.

“Tl wait for you down the road,”
said Odum, driving the car slowly
forward. He saw Nickoloff approach
the front door, noticed the man’s hesi-
tancy as he went up the steps and
knew the witness felt uncertain. Sud-
denly, Odum himself was smitten with
an appalling thought.

What if Lehne was the guilty man?
What if Lehne was the death dealer
who had made out the death contract
in all seriousness? Wouldn’t he kill
again to keep his secret? If he thought
that Nickoloff had gone to the police,
or even thought of going to them,
wouldn’t he kill Nickoloff?

Odum cursed silently and prepared
to go back to aid the witness. /

Meanwhile, as a matter of fact,
Nickoloff himself was thinking much
the same thoughts as Odum’s. He was
thinking about the unfortunate situa-
tion in which he found himself. If
Lehne had been the man. who had
given him the contract, he’ would be
very angry. If he was not, he would
be angry for being disturbed at this
time of the night. In any case the mis-
sion was bad. But Nickoloff was a
brave man, and, bracing himself, he
pressed the bell and waited.

HE RANG twice before the door sud=

denly was so, open and Lehne
peered out. Seeing the visitor, he asked
aggressively:

“Well, what do you want?”

“T wanted to see you about a fen-
der,” said the other quickly. “I’m
sorry to disturb you at this time of
night, but I happened to be over here
and thought you wouldn’t mind.”

Stepping aside, the heavy-set man
in the doorway invited him into the
house. Nickoloff walked gingerly over
the threshold and stood just inside,
where he could back out hastily. Lehne
seemed to divine his thought, and
banged the door closed!

Then, with an incredibly swift move,
he whipped a huge knife from his
pocket. Flipping the blade out, he
toyed with it as he turned on the in-
truder. The change that had come over

43

he ae i ee :


s usually kindly face was incredible.
1@ mouth had a hard, set look and the
es glittered ferociously as he said
»wly
“You wouldn’t have come to black-
ail me about that proposition I made
you, would you?”
“Of course not,” Nickoloff reassured
m quickly. “I knew that was all a
ke and never took it seriously. I
ard you had a fender for sale and
need one.” He tried to step back
‘arer the door as he spoke, but
shne’s eyes were fixed on him with
nost hypnotic intensity.
With a sudden move, the knife shot
»ward into the air. Death was in the
an’s eyes. Quick as a cat, Nickoloff
d the door open. He sprang back-
ird, almost tumbling down the stairs
his anxiety to get away. Lehne took
few steps after him and called:
“If you ever dare open your mouth
anyone, I’ll kill you.”
Nickoloff did not look back, but ran
until he saw Deputy Odum run-
ag toward him. Then he slowed
‘wn to a rapid walk. He was breath-
3s when he reached Odum, but man-
‘ed to inform the Deputy that Lehne
is the man who had been shopping
ound for a killer.
Leaving Nickoloff behind in the car,
jum went up the front stairs alone.
hen the suspect opened the door and
w the Deputy, his belligerent ex-
ession changed to one of suppressed
ar,

we come on in, Odum,” he in-
Vv

“You'd better get your hat and coat,
Tom,” Odum said calmly. “I want you
to drive back to Headquarters with
me.”

When notified of the arrest, Chief
Tappel and Prosecutor Greer hastened
to the Chief’s office, where Patrolman
Rowden already had joined Odum.
For the next two hours they took turns
grilling the suspect. Lehne denied
everything, insisting that he never had
seen Nickoloff before in his life. Show-
ing him the murder contract, Odum
tried to bluff.

“If that is true,” he asked, “how do
you explain that the handwriting ex-
perts have identified this contract as
having been written by you?”

“That’s a lie!”

When Wilson and the Farmer wo-
man were summoned, they identified
him at once as the man who had ap-
proached them. He still held out stub-
bornly, however.

The Puhse children were sent for
and both agreed that their mother had
known him only as an old friend of the
family. When she was brought into
the room, Gertrude Puhse stared at
the officers, then addressed them in no
uncertain terms.

“This is an outrage. My husband
committed suicide, and the case is
closed. Tom Lehne had nothing what-
ever to do with his death.”

Odum and Officer Rowden, who was

sitting in the rear of the room, ex-
changed significant glances,

“There’s one point that’s been troub-
ling me for a long time, Mrs. Puhse,”
said Rowden. “If you were asleep be-
side your husband, as you say you
were, then why wasn’t the pillow on
your side of the bed dented where your
head had been? When I entered that
room, one of the first things I noticed
was that the pillow and sheets on that
side of the bed had not been slept in,
but were smooth. Also, no struggle had
taken place, as you claim, or the bed-
clothing would have been more di-
sheveled than it was.”

She stared in confusion from Row-
den to the Deputy, and said nothing.
Odum spoke up:

“Your husband couldn’t have killed
himself, or there would have been
powder burns around that hole where
the bullet entered his head. And he
couldn’t have thrown the gun under
the blankets, because he died almost
instantly. Tell us the truth.”

Lehne was being detained in an ad-
joining room. For the next few hours
the woman held out against the officers’
grilling. Then, suddenly, she broke
down and confessed:

“Yes, Tom killed him. We were in
love and my husband would not hear
of a divorce.”

Clever questioning brought out the
story of her romance with Lehne, They
had fallen desperately in love, and
when Puhse refused to hear of a di-

vorce, began planning his death. For
a year they had been searching for a
method of getting him out of the way
which could not be pinned on them.
They believed they could commit the
perfect crime.

On the fatal night, after the family
was asleep, Mrs, Puhse slipped out of
the bedroom she shared with her hus-
band and let her lover in by the back
door. He had been awaiting a signal,
which she gave him by snapping on
the kitchen light for a moment. Kiss-

‘ing him, she had put the gun into his

hand and he had gone on into the bed-
room.

After shooting Puhse, he had fired
the second shot into the wall above
the bed. This had been Gertrude’s idea
to make it look as though her husband
had attacked her. Lehne then had es-
caped before the children ran into the
hall. She had struggled with the
phonograph—also’ part of the plan—
and screamed to cover up his running
footsteps.

Lehne refused at first to believe that
“Gertie,” as he called her, had be-
trayed him. He would not make a
statement until they had convinced him
that she actually had confessed. Then
he added his confession to hers.

They were charged with the mur-
der and in May, 1934, were tried and
convicted. Both were given death sen-
tences. On April 23, 1935, Lehne was
executed, but the woman’s sentence
was commuted to 99 years.

Stalked for Six Haunted Years (Continued from Page 31)

‘d. Frank was earning about fifteen
ve a week, It was enough to get

I yt then what it was that I had
nsed the night I met him: The
inted thing in his eyes, and the dark
neliness. We came to each other at
time in our lives when we needed
ch other most.

He talked to me. We were together
‘ery minute, every second, that we
uld seize for our own. We told no
1e else our secret, and it drew us to-
sther. It made us two against the en-
ce world. We were fighting, fighting
mething invisible, fighting for a hap-
ness we thought should belong to us.
‘e were fighting for an ideal—and we
dn’t stop to realize how wrong the
ethod was but only plunged on in our
ittle, not knowing we were heading
evitably for a smash-up.

“HERE were many days I had black
doubts. Days when I believed we
yuld kill this fear forever if Frank
ily would go back. But I remem-
2red the look in his eyes on the night

2 told me of himself. I was afraid for
im—afraid what might happen to his
virit if he went back to prison. I knew
aly that the right thing to do would
2 to return—then we could face the
tture unashamed. But I  couldn’t
ring myself to tell him this and, be-
des, I loved him so much that I felt
e had suffered enough for a youthful
cime ... Who was I to judge? I rea-
med like any woman would. I said
othing.

Days T sat in the apartment and tried

» imagine what he was doing every
our, I had no friends; I sat alone.
.s the afternoon passed, I watched
irough the window for him, listened
or his footstep in the hall. He never
ras late. He knew what it would
1ean to me if he were one minute late.

Each evening, in the dusk, I waited,
nd each evening, as the time for his
crival drew near, I became afraid.
raid they had found him... afraid

burly blue-clad figure had put a
teady hand on his shoulder and said
ruffly, “You’re going back to Ala-
ama.’

I had nightmares about that, and
ach evening I had to fight to keep
com weeping with fear—until I heard
is step on the stairs. Then I ran to
ne door and flung it open and felt his
rms about me. Sometimes I cried just
> see him, and made him kiss me
gain and again, to prove to me he

14

really had come back to me, at least
for a night; to prove to me they never
could take him away from me.

Do you see how close we were to
each other? How close we had to be to
each other? We clung to every mo-
ment, the way soldiers and their
sweethearts must before battle. And
every moment.we sought to remember,
so we could recapture it if—if—

That is why each moment we shared
brought us so much happiness.

But sometimes it was not good.
Sometimes it was bad. After a while,
when we _ were hard-pressed for
money, or when some other thing had
gone wrong, I would sit alone fright-
ened, wondering if I had made a mis-
take.

How could I spend my life like this?
Would I always know the same in-
security, always have the same feeling
that every night might be our last
together? How could I hope to start a
home, raise a family, plan a life, with
a beginning like this?

If I had gone with Frank only for a
week, had married him knowing I
must divorce him in a year, it would
have been different. But that was not
what I wanted. I wanted children, a
home of my own, security, a place in
the world—the things every woman
wants, and not just one brief moment
of ecstasy. Could I have what I
wanted, with a beginning like this?
How could I raise my children in the
knowledge their father was—was an
escaped convict? What if he should
be found and returned to prison after
we had children? Would it be fair to
them?

And once a quickening fear struck
me: Had Frank told me the truth?
Had he really been jailed only for a
kid prank? Or was he—was he—
something else? And even if he had
not lied, could he go straight? Or had
he learned things in prison—learned
to hate men and women, learned a
code that told him all men were his
enemies, that he must fight and claw
and gouge his way through life, a bit-
ter, twisted, snarling animal at bay.

I knew that, if those things were
in his heart, it was my job to help
him. To give him something to go
straight for—someone who cared and
for whom he would be good. I had
caught him on the bounce, at a time
when he could have gone either way:
Back to the depths of crime, or
straight. He had to fight; I had to give
him something to fight for. Knowing

that made me strong, made me love
him more.

We talked about it, about what
might have happened to him. He knew
he had done wrong to steal the car, but
to him it hadn’t seemed like stealing.
He knew he had done wrong to es-
cape, but it seemed to him that he
couldn’t do anything else. That was
the way things were. I knew that. But
they—the police, hunting for him
coldly and mercilessly—they wouldn’t
ad that, if they ever found him.

It took a long time: Months, a year,
two years. Gradually, I almost came to
believe what I hardly had dared hope:
We were going to get away with it.

I didn’t stop to think how that
sounded—almost as though I were a
criminal myself. Neither would you, I
think, if you were in love with him as
I was. All I wanted was to be happy
with him. And it looked as though we
would be. I knew we could be, if
they’d let us. One doubt I had re-
moved when, six months after we were
married, Frank quit his peddler’s job
and got ‘work in a store. Then I knew
he was trying.

But I didn’t say how much it meant.
I didn’t need to. We both knew. He
had proved to himself that he wasn’t
a criminal.

He worked there steadily, coming
home each evening, never leaving me
except to work, proving—proving to
himself and to me, over and over
again, that he was straight.

One night, as he sat in the arm chair,
he pulled me down to him and put his
arm around me and said, “It’s going
to be all right, Honey. I know it is.”

HE DIDN’T look hunted the way he
used to. He smiled oftener, and
he’d put on some weight too.

“We’re going to move soon,” he said
smiling.

“Move? Where?”

“To a bigger place. A better one.”

“But we can’t afford it.”

*T think we'll be able to soon.: I’ve
got a contact out, and before long I
think I’ll have a better job. Driving a
truck. I ought to make forty or forty-
five,” he said proudly.

And I was proud of him. Driving a
truck may not sound like much to you.
But when I.thought what he might’ve
done, wnat he might have become, I
was proud of him.

“We'll need a _ bigger place’ soon,

won’t we?” he asked, smiling and
stroking my hair. “I mean—” he
paused, embarrassed—“I think it’s safe
now, don’t you?”

“Yes, Dear,” I said.

.I believed it. I thought it would be
safe to do what I’d always dreamed
of: Raise a family.

Frank got his job, driving a truck for
a teamster company, and a few months
later I told Frank one night I was
going to have a baby and we moved
into a three-room apartment at No.
2154 Lincoln Avenue, on the North
Side. It was bigger, nicer and it was
more like a home for us.

Margaret was born February 1, 1935,
and when Frank came in to see me at
the hospital, he sat beside the bed and
held my hand and smiled at me. He
laughed aloud when he heard the baby
cry—just because he was happy, he
laughed. Somehow, she seemed a sym-
bol of our victory.

“We won’t always live in apart-
ments, Honey,” Frank said, “And I
won't always drive a truck. We'll save
our money and buy us a little place
in the country. How would you like
that?”

“Frank!” I grasped his hand. “It’d
be so wonderful!”

He looked up, smiled swiftly, kissed
me. “But now we don’t need to be
afraid. Now it’s all right. We’ll save
our money, and just as soon as we can,
we'll buy us a place downstate. Or
up in Wisconsin. We might even go
back South. We won’t need a big place
—just a few acres, It’ll be nice there.”

“Tt’ll be perfect, Dearest.”

We started saving right away. It was
sort of hard, but Frank made $40 or
$45, so we could save a little bit at a
time. He worked hard for his money.
He went to work at a quarter of six
in the morning and often didn’t get
off till nine-thirty at night.

We were so sure now the danger was
past that he didn’t need to come home
right on the minute every night. You,
who always have been free from a
thing like that, don’t know what it
means to a man to be able to stop for
a beer with a friend after work and
know his wife isn’t worried for fear
he’ll be sent back to prison.

Of course, we still were careful.
Neither of us voted; we kept our
names off all public records; we both
stayed away from everything like that,
to avoid any chance of trouble. We
were very careful,

But when our second am, Frances,

4D—3


his assassins, What secrets he might have kept, what enmities he might have
awakened may never be fully knowns but it was pretty clearly proven that John
Kennedy bore him no good will, although, H&K PER CONTRA, Kennedy denies having
known the deceased. Maloney was aroused on the fatal night by a knocking at
his door, when, refusing at first, to open it until he knew who called, he
was brutally shot down by Corbett, through the closed door.

KENNEDY 'S TRIAL.
"Te man Corbett was executed with one Fleming on the 1§th of last December,
in Chicago. Kennedy, ‘who was hanged yesterday, guided these wretches to Sand
Ridge, and although élaiming to have been innocent of criminal intent, has
been surrouned by a chain of evidence, circumstantial it is true, yet "quite
strong enough to convict him in the mind of an impartial jury. He had the
services of counsel skillful in chiminal defense who had more than once res-
cued men from the very jaws of death and prolonged confinement. A change of
venue had been obtained from Cook to Lake County under the plea that public
opinion there had been so much influenced by the newspapers to secure to the
accused an impar6ial jury. The trial of John Kennedy commenced before the
circuit court of this county unstthe 5th of February, Hon. E. S. Williams being
the presiding judge, who performed his duty with impartiality and ability.
|The entire testimony for the prosecution was closed on Wednesday morning,
Feb. 7th, and some idea of its strength may be formed from the fact that
Kennedy! 3 counsel, John Van Arman, Esq., who had obtained for his clien the
change of venue, and H. G. Miller, Esqe, who assisted, examined no witnesses.
The State Attorney, Ce He Reed ESd. performed his duty for the people with
equal energy. No case of capital offence, was ever more speedily brought to
a conclusion. A conviction of the prisoner! s guilt had forced itself upon
judge, jury counsel and spectators. As the case proceeded, the crushing weight
of evidence seemed to strong to be resisted and fell with an all-powerful
sense of Kennedy'a complicity in the @eath of Maloney upon all who were pre-
sent. The jury were only absent an hour when they returned with a verdict of
guilty, and the list of names embraced some highly respectable citizens of
this county . Tge names upon the jury were S. B. Mattison, J. P. Brown, Cor-
nelius Shulters, Samuel Cone, Job Voak, A. R. Huntley, A. ge Leeber Joseph

Pavey, Lemuel stanford, Le D. Warren, talter Scott and Martin Abbott. This
list Shows that the verdict was an honest one.

HIS SENTENCE,
"Kennedy was sentenced to be hanged on the 2nd of March, 1866, but his case
was carriedup to the Supreme Court who confimmed the defision’ previously made
in the Circuit Court, so that both judge and jury have the satisfaction of
knowing that their action vas reviewéd and sustained by a higher tribunal. The
day of execution, postponed by this appeabh to another Court was then fixed for
Friday, July 27th, 1866. So much for the history of the case. Kennedy cer-
tainly "had no cause for complaint in regard to his defense or the competency
of the court which sentenced him to death.
| SOME REFLECTIONS,

"It is, however, idle to deny that it is no easy matter to convict a man of
murder. Ourside of the numbers who believe the death penalty wrong, there is
a lingering feeling of doubt in many minds, where the evidence is chief ly cir-
cumstantial, that causes a feverish interest to know whether the prisoner will
confess. The moment a man is condemned to death the public are too prone to
forget the victim in their pity for the murderer. Especially is this the case
where the offender has a wife and children, who really need sympathy whether
the cause of their disgrace deserves any or not. Right or wrong, as society
is constituted, the parties chiefly punished by an execution are "the murderer's
kindred, - and ’while the feeling may be condemned, it is instinctive in human
kind. Hence the feverish eagerness of the public to read the last words of a
dying man; hence the necessity of newspapers to publish them © for the Press
today does not, cannot guide, but simply reflects poinions, men and manners.

~

‘THE TOTLET:-OF DEATH,
"On the afternoon of Tjursday, Kennedy had an interview with his wife, who
has visited him daily, and he was taken into the corridor to enable & barber
to shave him and trim his hair, which had grown long and uneven in his con-
finement.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR EXECUTION,
#The preparation made by Sheriff Heath and his deputy, Mr. Cs G. Buell, were
simphe, but effective, and every precaution had been taken to prevent any of
those distressing mishaps which are too common in the execuution of the death
penalty. The rope was passed down through the ceiling above the vestibule
immediately in front of the court room door, terminating in a noose. At the
other end of the rope, which passed over a pulley in the tower, was a heavy
iron weight weighing 305 pounds, upheld by 4 girding ropes so arranged as to
sustain a large portion of the strains The weight was adjusted some 7 feet
from the floor of the tower and fastned, though not solely held there, by a
small rope which was secured to the fasing of the south door leading bo the
cupola. Of course when this small rope was cut, the weight above would fall
but was prevented from striking the floor by the four girding rope which held «
it a few inches above - thus preventing any sound other than that caused by
the vibration of the cotds. The noose, in the corridor, surrounding the ¥
criminal, would be drawn up instantly, and the slack of *the rope caused a i
fall of some 3 feet. It was believed * that hhis methodwould insure more
speedy and certain death than the paraphernalia of the cross beam and tap.
The preparations were, in fact, similar to those made for the execution of
Bell, but a¥oiding the heavy jar caused by the fall of the weight. The rope
was fested several times before the execution,
CHICAGO BOHEMIANS,
"Kennedy has mahhfested one good trait, and that is a wholesome aversion to
being dissected alive by the moral anatemists of the Chicago newspaper press.
Messrs Connolly of the TRIBUNE and Hines of the TIMES visited him hast
evening and Friday morning, but their efforts were without avail, and he re-
gused to have anything to say to them. This will, however, make no differenc
as their imaginations are fertile and they will <invent an account which will
suit the Chicago people better than the truth, who care more for densation
than fact. The YIMES reporter, since the publication of the exaggerated
bogus letter, which Kennedy regretted, seems to have been in especial bad
odor with the doomed man, for no sooner had that functTonary introduced
himself than Kennedy, in a determined manner, said: ‘I'll have nothing to
say to youe' This will result in a 4 column conversation in that voracious
sheet.
HUSBAND AND WIFE,
"Kennedy, at 9 o tclock yesterday morning, had his final interview with his
friends, namely, his wife, his brother and wife, and brother-in-law. The
parting defied description. His poor wife took his hand and held it as if
she felt the shadow of the grave.eeee(several lines unreadable from print-
out )..eeKennedy tried to answer her kindly, but the words were beyond his
power to speak. No eye could see this scene and remain dry. His brother °
took his hand without a word. His feeling was perhaps as deep as if it had :
been more demonstrative. Kennedy responded to his brother's silent goodbye
and his brother and brother-in-law both kisséd his pale brow through the:
grating of the cell door, after which these four unhappy persons moved slowly
from the corridor into the open air with heavy hearts. For his wife, the
whole world was in mourning and sunshine could not make it gay, God "help
her - man cannot, was the feeling of every kindly heart.
HIS LAST REQUEST.
"Kennedy had requested there might be no delay in the execution. He desired
no scene, It seemed as hf he were determined to have the dignity to die de=
cently if he had lived erringly. He begged he might not be buried in Chica-
go and seemed to feel that the Chicago press were really his executioners,
eeeetnen follows a letter to the Sheriff of Lake County which is in such
small print and so faded that it is not decipherable...efather Charles of
the Saint Michael's Chuch in Chicago arrived by the morning train yesterday.


KENNEDY, John, hanged Waukegan, Ill., 7-27-1866 - Continued.

Rev. Dr. McMully of the same citywas also expected but did not arrive to ass-=
ist in the last ceremontes. eee

LEAVING HIS CELL.
"Both priests, Father Kenney of Lake Forrest, and Father Charles of Chicago,
were elogebed with the prisoner, and before hémleft his cell for the fatal
ARS LAY HX spot, administered the last sad rites of the church
in a otenn oan: At five minutes past 2 o'clock, the unhappy man left.
his dark prison and passed out into the sunshine, soon to go out into the
darkness-and unfathomable gloom of the Great Unknown. Deputy Sheriff Buell:
"Kennedy, are you ready?! Kennedy: 'Yes, sir.' (The accents could scarcely
be heard, but Father Charles Stiessburger replied for him.) -Kennedy then
bid the prisoners goodbye, and walked manfully upstairs, the Catholic
clergymen leading, then followed the Sheriff, then the doomed man, between
Deputy Sheriff Buell and the Jailer, Mr. Tsaac Heath, followed by *the re-
porter of the GAZETTE and Constables. The demeanor of the wretched man was
firm and evinced resignation to appeal his case to a higher tribunal than
this Earth. His brother-in-law was, at his own request, admitted to wit-
ness the exefution. His own brother, James Kennedy, had no desire of course
to witness so terrible a scene,

LAST MOMENTS.

"Taking his seat under the fatal noose at precisely ten minutes after two
o'clock, the Sheriff read the Death Warrant, the lips of the condemned man
moving in prayer. He seemed quite calm under the reading of the warrant but
casting his eyes upward to the rope, his frame trembled for a moment.
Sheriff Heath: 'Have you anything you desire to say, Mr. Kennedy?! Kennedy:
(With a shadow across his pallid features) 'Nothing. + Thanks were returned
to the Sheriff by Father Charles in behalf of the doomed man. At 2:14 pom.
the shroud of white cambrié was placed about his body, after which the terrible
rope was adjusted about his neck and the white cap drawn over his face, the
priests assisting in the last sad pffice, and showing the doomed man the kind-
liest sympathy.

THE EXECUTION.
"When all was ready, Sheriff Heath said: 'This is hard, John, but it is my
sad duty,' after which the Sheriff and Deputy bid hig farewell, and at 18
minutes past 2 o'clock the rope was cut by Sheriff Heath, and fhe soul of
John Kennedy entered the road to the Dark Valley. The body trembled con-
vulsively for a moment, but the effective preparations caused instant dis-
location of the vertebrae of the neck. He struggled for a moment, at inter-
vals, the hands and feet shaking as if in a spasm = and indeed it’ wase The
good "Fathers withdrew, so soon as the rope was cut, outside of the corridor
for a few moments, from the sight of the body of the man to whom in life
they had ministered so kindly. Kennedy died apparehhly easy, and after
hanging 5 minutes, life seemed extinct, At Mivena hast past 2 o'clock
the Spegeons present, Drs. B. S. Cory and M. ¢vans, examined the body, and
after a careful examination stated there were no signs of life,

IN THE COFFIN,
"Immediately afterwards the body was cut down, and placed in the coffin,
(which was of black walnut and had been purchased by his friends) on the
lid of which was a large silver cross with this inscrbption: 'John Kennedy/
Died July 27, 1866/ aged 41 years.' The face of the dead was uncovered,
the cap was removed, and the noose of the rope taken away after he was pla-
ced in the coffin. There was no discoloration of the countenance - which
proved that he could not have died by mere strangulation, Death must have
been almost instantaneous. The hands were somewhat livid. +the coffin con-
taining the remains was given to the friends of the deceased, who had it
removed to the Catholic church frog whence jt was taken to the Calvary ceme-
tery near Evanston for interment by the 7 0 clock p. m. train.

WINTESSES OF THE EXECUTION.

"O, H. Heath, Sheriff of Lake County; C. G. Buell, Deputy; J. M. Truesdell,
Clerk, Circuit Court; George Thomson, Assistant Clerk; Reve. Charles Stiess-

KENNEDY, John, hanged Wathkegan, I1l., 7-27-1866 - Continued,

INTERVIEWS WITH KENNEDY.
"The writer has paid two visits to the comdemned man. One, which was noticed
in a previous issue; the other last Tuesdzgy, and the results of which are
subjoined. Since his confinement Kennedy has, of course, lost flesh, and
grown very pale, - The long interval between fhe perpetration of the wrime
and the arrest of the criminals had probably led them all to believe that
Justice was deaf, as well as blind! Fatal mistake of cfime - always un-
philosophical and contrary to our moral organization. As if, indeed, the Ne-
mesis of the Actual could sleep} When we called on the condemned man, on the
morning of Tuesday, he was reading a religious book of his church. The sun-
light streamed gaily in the corridor, and sounds of children going blithely
through the Court House square could penetrate even to the ears of the
wretehed man. Kennedy had by no means a brutal or coarse face, but it was
forbidding from its want of candor and covert expression, Care had marked
it. A naturally nervous temperament , probably weakened by dissipation, had
suffered intense wretchedness, here was every reason to believe that the
resignation was rather Despair and Gloom than Fortitude and Hope. The words
came slowly, measured as if drawn from him, rather than uttered by him.
There is a certain majesty inebject Misery that defies a reporter's pencil,
You could better bear to see a stolid criminal, a chained enemy of society,
with curses at his tongue's end, than this spectacle of a weak, ignorant man
alone with his woe - frightened at the steady step of the Infinite, lighted
to death by the torches of dead ages, and too blind to see evew one tithe
of their brilliancy. Kennedy expressed no unwillingness to see us when he
learned we were not there on behalf of the Chicago press. He says he was
arrested on the 24th of July, 1865, and was entirely unacquainted with Ma-
loney, the murdered man, That he is a native of the South of Ireland and
came fo America some 15 years ago in the ship Guy Mannering., At the present
time he believed he was about 42 years of age. He had married at Lafayette,
Inde, and seemed to entertain for his wife the kindest feelings. The poor
Woman has been stopping here. His children are with her brother in Ehicagg,
and his eyes filled as he spoke of them. It was like a ray of the sunshine
of humanity in the night of a darkened moral nature to hear him speak of
them. He deeply regretted that he had been addicted to drink and said he
was drunk on the night of the unfottunate affair; although claiming to be
innocent of the murder: of Maloney, he was ashamed to confess he had been too
fond of liquor. He was sorry his friends had published a letter he had wri-
tten them, or caused to be written, on the 4th inst., in the Chicago papers.
It had not been sent by him in so extended a form. However, Ss he remarked:
'It makes little difference what men may say of me; I am going to God.who
is the Judge of my actiéns,' Referring to his past life, he was reticent.
He remarked that he had formerly kept a saloon and boarding house on the corner
of Polk and Jefferson Streets, in Chimgo,.and.more recently on Canal St. He
had worked some 3 years, off and ong about the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne. .
railroad depot in that city, and his hands are those of a man accustomed to
hard manual labor. The prisoner spoke very kindly of both is spiritual ad-
viser, Father Kenney, of Lake Forest, who has been untiring hn his ministra-
tions, md also of Sheriff Heath and his family. Weary, hopeless - his words
were slowly uttered, and he seemed to wish to improve each moment of his few
remaining days on earth to devote to prayer and meditatuon. At an early hour
yesterday morning, Geo. Thomson, Esq., Assistant Clerk of the Circuit Court,
who has feld friendly to the prisoner and taken a deep interest in his unhappy
fate, visited him at the cell when the following conversation took place:
"Mr. Thomson - 'I desire, Kennedy, to hear from your own lips, as to your guilt
or innocence, This is the last conversation we can have on earth. It is an
awful thing for you to go before your God with.a falsehood upon your lips,'
"Kennedy - 'The world is now about closed on me, and I would not tell a lie
for the whole of it. I will only repeat what I have said before - that I ..
went out with them 'ie, Corbett and Fleming) and came back with them; but I
was. drun k and knew nothing of the murder; nor did I, until two days after

it occurred.

South Kedzie Avenue. It was 5 P.M.,
and Niske, glancing at the clock, re-

marked, “Another half hour and I go-

home.”

As he spoke, a square-jawed stranger,
around 55, entered. He was puffing on
a smelly corncob pipe and was dressed
like a laborer. Giving Niske a dime
and a half dollar, he asked for 60
pennies.

“They're for my kid’s piggy bank,”
he explained, pocketing the coppers
and leaving. b

Niske returned to his chair. But be-
fore he had a chance to resume his
conversation with Bush, a tall, slim

young man in his early 30s burst in,

drawing an automatic.

“Pile into that cash booth,” he barked,
flourishing the gun, “and dish out the
government blotters.” :

“Government blotters?” puzzled
Niske.

“Yes, toadskins, long green, lettuce,
paper money—whatever you prefer to
call ’em.”

“Oh,” murmured Niske, stalling for
time, “I didn’t understand.”

- “Shake the lead out of your pants,”
commanded the bandit. “T haven’t ...”

. Visitor Mortally Wounded

Niske cut short the outlaw’s words by
‘snatching up a wooden chair and fling-
ing it at him. The crook threw up his
hands to block the flying furniture.
Darting into the cashier’s compartment,
Niske slammed shut the steel door, just
as the enraged holdupman’s pistol
‘boomed three times.

Bush was seated in the line of fire.
The first bullet struck him in the right
temple, the second drilled into his chest
and the third severed his jugular vein.
Blood gushing from his wounds, he
tumbled to. the floor..

Fleeing, the desperado leaped into a
car parked ‘nearby. The automobile
was driven off by the older man who
had been in the currency exchange a
few minutes before to get the 60 pennies
—and evidently to make a survey of the
premises for the gunman ‘who followed.

Taken to the Southtown Hospital,
Bush died on the operating table.

“Bush has four sons in the armed

services,” Niske told investigators. “He

-‘was very much worried about their

welfare—fearful they’d be hurt in bat-
tle. And here he himself is killed by

bullets at home! That's irony for you!” *

“It was the same rat who murdered
Patinkin on Ashland Avenue,” declared
Captain Frank Demski of New City
police station. “In both places he called
paper money ‘government blotters’—a
bit of slang that’s new to me.”

“He packs a German Luger,” re-
ported a detective, displaying three
empty cartridge cases, ejected by the
death-dealing automatic. “These rolled
under the desk over there.”

32. “Patinkin was bumped with the same

kind of rod,” spoke up a homicide squad
member, “but we never found any of
the shells. The rat had a little time to
spare on that job. He evidently gathered
the discharged cartridges from the floor
before scramming.”

Aroused by the crime, the Currency
Exchange Association, representing the
business, offered a reward of $1,000 for
information leading to the atrest and
conviction of the slayers.

“The situation is desperately serious,”
announced Belding S. Robbins, presi-

- dent of the group. “We should have

more police protection.”

Chief of Detectives John .L. Sullivan.

agreed, saying he would like to station
a bluecoat in every exchange. “But
that’s impossible,” he went on regret-
fully. “The force’ is undermanned. I
simply haven't enough officers to go
around.”

Currency exchange owners drew up
for their employes new rules and regu-
lations calculated to foil holdup men.
Many precautions were adopted and
additional safeguards installed. But the
bandits had enterprise and ingenuity.
After a short period of inactivity, they
began finding loopholes in the new
defenses.

In a well-planned foray they broke
into an empty store and chopped away
all but the shell of a wall separating
it from the Personal Service Exchange
at 443 South Paulina Street. When the
place opened for business in the morn-
ing the bandits smashed through the
plaster with a battering ram. Caught
by surprise, Sol Mayer, proprietor, and
Jacob Kohnstamm, clerk, had no op-
portunity to grab their guns. The
hoodlums escaped with $7,100.

Trying another method, they accosted —

Miss Julia Lombardo, 27 years old, as
she left a streetcar enroute to the Ful-

“Morton Patinkin gambled
with death and lost when
the currency exchange mo
lured him out of his cage
with a phony call from a
woman on the telephone.

Illinois laws ban branch
banks, and thus currency
exchanges such as this
one where Patinkin was a
cashier, became numerous
in the state's metropolis.

lerton-Clybourn Exchange at 1622
Fullerton Avenue, of which she is man-
ager.

One of the robbers boomed, “Hello,
kiddo. How’s tricks?” Then in low
tones from the corner of his mouth he
ordered, “Act like we're old friends.
Open that exchange. You're covered.
We'll shoot if you get smart.”

_ Pretending to be greatly alarmed,
Miss Lombardo drew the key from her
purse. But instead of inserting it in the
lock she flung it far into a heavy growth
of waist-high weeds in a vacant lot.

“Better vamoose,” she advised calmly.
“A police squad is due to pass any min-
ute.”

The men. fled, cursing. Police Lieu-
tenant Larry Calfee of the Sheffield
Avenue station termed Miss Lombardo
“the coolest woman I ever saw.”

Additional safety measures reduced
the number of robberies to almost the
vanishing point. Currency exchange
owners leaned back thinking that at last
they had the problem licked. However,
the outlaws quickly struck again with
a new and terrible weapon—one so

inhuman and
Nations and t
to use it agai

\

The despe
horrible wea
the Central
Western Av«
former teac
and manage
alone when

Busy, she
tinkle of @

+} Mn’ .DERS ISS

cr. FURNISH’

ambled
t when
je mob
s cage
from a
»phone.

branch
arrency
s this

was a
merous

at 16227

ie is man-

d, “Hello,
nin low
mouth he
d friends.
> covered.

alarmed,
from her
gitin the
vy growth
at lot.
2d calmly.
any min-

ice Lieu-
Sheffield
«mbardo
reduced
‘most the
exchange
iat at last
However,
tain with
—one so

ee oo ad
a ee
OWT Treg

x Anarea

inhuman and savage that the United
Nations and the Axis militarists hesitate
to use it against’ each other.

Woman Gassed

The desperados first employed this
horrible weapon in an attempt to rob
the Central Exchange at 2152 South
Western Avenue. Marie Madioia, 23, a
former teacher of romance languages
and manager of the establishment, was
alone when they arrived. :

Busy, she did not look up as the soft
tinkle of a bell announced that the

: 3 FURNISHED

ey

Police described Alvin
Krause as a crook who
would have made the in-
famous John Dillinger
appear "like a piker".

A NEW WEAPON

David Lamb was caught
in Detroit following a
chase in which a youth
was killed. He and his

brother were held there.

street door had been opened. A shadow
came between her and the warm sun-

light which streamed through the front _

windows. She finished counting a stack
of crisp $20 bills and raised her head.
A shrill scream tore from her lips.

Facing her was a sinister figure—a

burly man attired in funeral black, his
face covered with a blood-red silk
handkerchief. . _

“This is a heist!” he growled. “Let
us in the cage.”

The speaker was flanked by a tall,
thin man, whose white mask did not
completely hide a sharp nose and cruel
mouth. The latter pointed the ugly
snout of an automatic at Miss Madioia.

Trembling, she slipped from her
stool. Terror made her weak, and she
found it difficult to stand. But her fear
oozed away and was replaced with de-
fiance. She remembered that she was
in an eight by six foot compartment of
steel and bulletproof glass. She had
been told that she was perfectly safe
there. ae

“Shoot all you want,” she taunted.
“Your bullets can’t reach me.”

“Here’s something that will, though,”
the shorter bandit retorted. “And you
ain’t going to enjoy it, sister.”

He reached into a black leather bag
and drew out a gleaming steel tank,
about the size of a two-gallon jug.  At-
tached to it was a long rubber tube.
Setting the metal cylinder on the win-
dow ledge, he shoved the hose through
the slot in the glass.

“Poison gas,” he. warned, his voice
rasping like a steel file on tin. “You'll
get it right in your puss—unless . . .”

Thomas Lamb was nabbed
with David and another
suspect, Arthur Gemmil,
who was shot in the arm
in the Detroit pursuit.

OF GRIME THREATENED TO
WIPE OUT ALL THE CURRENCY EXCHANGES
THEN A CHILD’S PICTURE WAS FOUND

Miss Madioia snatched up a telephone
to sound an alarm. But she was forced
to drop the instrument with a cry of
fright before the operator answered. ’
For from the hose hissed a vapor which
formed into a nauseous, choking cloud,
an almost impenetrable fog that swirled
about her and sent her stumbling and
gasping into a corner. ;

“Open up! Hurry!” shouted the
bandit. “Quick or you'll be dead!”

Tears flooded Miss Madioia’s eyes.

_She coughed violently and retched. Her

head began to ring. Objects in front
of her seemed to spin crazily. Every-
thing became hazy. Then blackness
engulfed her. .

When she recovered consciousness
five minutes later, she found that the
desperados had departed without any
loot. She staggered to the street and
collapsed again.

“The shock caused you to faint, not
the gas,” a doctor informed her after
an examination. “Luckily for you, a
draft sweeps the floor, and the air there
remained clean. So you didn’t inhale
much gas.” . :

The mob’s next foray was more suc-
cessful. Ida Helfred, 28-year-old clerk
in an exchange in a barber shop at 1347
North Wells Street, opened the steel
door to escape when the gas was
pumped into her cage. She tried mask-
ing her face with a towel, but it did not
help. One of the two bandits donned
an Army-type mask and looted her
booth of $3,000. They departed in a
fast car driven by. a third man.

Miss Mary Kerwin, 23, manager of
the T. & N. Exchange at 814 West
Thirty-fifth Street, soon. . afterwards
faced the crooks’ awesome weapon.
With her in the cage at the time were
two assistants, Dorothy Alroth and Lil-
lian Polyonskas, both 17. Stacked up
in front of them was almost $8,000.

The leader of the trio lifted the tank
to the counter and announced, “This is
poison gas. Surrender or we'll kill you
all. It’s a slow, horrible death, so
smarten up, dames, and do what we
say.”

The younger girls screamed, but
Miss Kerwin calmly shoved them .to
the floor. She ran to a washbowl and
soaked three towels in cold water.

“Lie still,” she ordered. “Cover your
faces with these.”

The gas began to pour from the hose,
filling the room. Miss Kerwin and the
clerks did not move, however and the
bandits: fled emptyhanded w en their
gas supply was exhausted.

Girl Chases Gang

Investigating, police found that the
gas had removed the lacquer from an
adding machine and had bleached a
yellow drape to pure white.

“Tf it can do that,” shuddered ‘an
officer, “what'll it do to the unfortunate
person who inhales a lungful of it?”

33

Morton Patinkin answered the

telephone in the bullet-proof booth
of the currency exchange at 3632 South
Ashland Avenue in Chicago.

“J cashed a check in your place a
few hours ago, and I believe I dropped
the key to my apartment,” she ex-
._plained in honey-sweet tones. “Please
see if you can find it.”

“Certainly,” replied the obliging 21-
year-old manager of the exchange, who
was alone at the time. “Just a mo-
ment.” ;

Opening a steel door, he walked out
of his cage and began looking on the
floor. There was a sudden rush of
footsteps. Three masked men charged
in. They covered Patinkin with pistols.

“What’s this?” he demanded. “A
robbery?”

“You're right on the beam,” sneered
a tall, thin bandit. “But rest your ton-
sils, pal. You hope the babe on the
phone will hear you and buzz the cops,
don’t you? She won’t; that’s our moll,
see? The lost key stuff was a gag to
get you where we could sneeze you.
And it worked. Now, out of the way
so we can collect those government
blotters.”

Gambling with death, Patinkin flung
himself back into the booth and
snatched for his revolver, which lay
on a shelf next to the money drawer.
As his fingers curled around the gun’s
chill steel, the outlaws’ weapons sav-
agely belched flame and lead. Patinkin
fell, a bullet close to his heart. Leisure-
ly gathering $2,500, the bandits made
their escape.

His life was ebbing fast, and Patinkin
knew it. He was in intense pain. But
he nevertheless gasped his story to the
police.

“They’re tricky,” he moaned. “They
fooled me .. .”

A WOMAN was on the wire when

’

And then he d
Born 11 years
the depression, C
changes daily |
$5,000,000, deliv:
armored cars. C
is their main fur
money orders, ¢
telephone bills,
automobile licen
and envelopes, ¢
bonds. The pri!
existence is the
are not permitte
The average
window booth i
of the day mo
$2,000 to $8,00!
drawers. . Oper:
of profit, they
guards. Usuall:
of only a wom
Ensconced b:
and_ bullet-pr«
transactions wi
openings, exc!
long time felt t!
up men. In
jeered at band
waving guns
tance.
However, f
Patinkin murc
laws had law
the city’s ex
such as the |
Patinkin his
looting 12 plac
kin’s death or
first slaying ¢
But it wasn
Chatting at
in the armed
his friend W
sat outside t
in Niske’s c
change and

> when
od the
if booth
2 South

place a
iropped
he ex-
‘Please

ing 21-
ge, who
a mo-

ked out
on the
‘ush of
charged
pistols.
od. “A

sneered
sur ton-
on the
he cops,
ar moll,
gag to
ze you.
he way
2rnment

in flung
th and
ich lay
drawer.
1e gun’s
ns sav-
2atinkin
seisure-
‘s made

2atinkin
in. But
y to the

“They

And then he died.

Born 11 years ago in the depths of
the depression, Chicago’s currency ex-
changes daily handle approximately
$5,000,000, delivered from banks by
armored cars. Cashing payroll checks
is their main function. They also issue
money orders, collect electric, gas and
telephone bills, provide state and city
automobile licenses, sell postage stamps
and envelopes, defense stamps and war
bonds. The principal reason for their
existence is the fact that branch banks
are not permitted in Illinois.

The average exchange is a one-
window booth in a store. At the start
of the day most of them have from
$2,000 to $8,000 in currency in their
drawers. Operating on a low margin
of profit, they cannot afford special
guards. Usually the staff is comprised
of only a woman clerk or two.

Ensconced behind thiek steel plates
and bullet-proof glass, carrying on
transactions with patrons through small
openings, exchange employes for a
long time felt they were safe from hold-
up men. In several instances they
jeered at bandits who appeared outside
waving guns and demanding admit-
tance.

However, five months before the
Patinkin murder a clever gang of out-
laws had launched a fierce attack on
the city’s exchanges. By stratagems
such as the lost key ruse which cost
Patinkin his life, they succeeded in
looting 12 places of over $45,000. Patin-
kin’s death on March 24, 1942, was the
first slaying chalked up against them.

But it wasn’t to be the last.

Chatting about their sons who were
in the armed services, Paul Niske and
his friend Walter Bush, 50 years old,
sat outside the cashier’s compartment

in Niske’s combination currency e€x~-
change and real estate office at 5151

«

NS.
*.

¥
is

4

\

te
Ida Helfred tried to mask out the stifling
vapor with a towel, but the searing fumes

drove her’ out jof her bullet-proof quarters.


268
After hanging 13 minutes more he was taken down, and his

body placed in a neat coffin and delivered to his two bro-
thers, who were there with the hearse waiting to receive it.

The crowd then slowly dispersed, the best of feeling
prevailing, and the people of Henderson county feel as proud
of this neck-tie Sociable, as Monmouth would be of her
narrow gauge, or a maid would be of a brand new baby--it
being their first and only one.

. Bill Lee was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, and was
31 years of age. He was a brick mason by trade, and before
his imprisonment must have been a man of great physical
strength and courage. He was over 5 feet 10 inches in height,
with dark, straight hair and beard, regular features, slightly
angular cheek bones, heavy under jaws, medium cast of fore-
head, and bluish gray eyes. As he stood upon the scaffold,
right in the prime of life, he seemed the personification
of manhood.


Frontier Law and Order

TEN ESSAYS

BY

PHILIP D. JORDAN

*OlgT *9T ounr uo *stouTTTI Seymenbo ye pesuey Seqtum 6° weTTTTM “aET

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA PRESS. LINCOLN


£07
sympathetic heart even in my wickedest days.

When you look on me here, you wonder how I got in this
place--you wonder. I can tell you. In the first place,
whisky and women got me here--I don't mean good women. I
mean prostitutes, or women that throw themselves away as
I have done myself. And I would advise you, young man,
you who are in the habit of drinking whisky, to remember
me, remember me standing under the gallows. I hope you
will all take warning and turn aside and reform, and meet
me in heaven.

I think God has pardoned me and I know that very
shortly I have got to leave this world, and I feel that I
shall shortly go where sickness and death shall part us no
Moree

I expect that there are people who are standing here
to-day--standing around looking at me--who have seen me more
than once--that have seen me more than once in my wicked
career. And I advise you, that when you see other young
men, as you have seen me, tell them to stop--tell them to
stop and pray--pray for them to return, don't uphold them
in such work; don't countenance it, it only encourages them
in such wicked work."

At this point he almost entirely gave way, and was
seated for an instant, when sheriff Bell advanced, ad at
a Signal from the sheriff that his time had come, he arose,
assumed a standing position, and by a seeming effort of
the will, he drew his body up to an erect and firm posture,
remaining perfectly calm, while the sheriff adjusted the
noose around his neck. As the sheriff was about to draw
the black cap over his face, he exclaimed "Farewell? Fare-
well? meet me in Heaven."

These were the last words uttered by William Lee.

A moment more and those heavy messengers of death sped
on their mission. There was a corresponding jerk at the
other end of the rope, and the body of Bill Lee shot upwards
like a balloon relieved of its ballast. After hanging about
two minutes there was a perceptible movement of the muscles,
a convulsive quivering of the feet, a slight effort to draw
up the limbs which, however, speedily relaxed, and all of
Bill Lee that was mortal had passed away from this earth
forever. At the end of two minutes more the attending
physicians ascended the scaffioold on each side of him, his
hands were released from their fastenings and permitted to
hang listlessly by his side, the pulsation of the wrists
carefully noted, and at the expiration of 14 minutes from
the time he was first drawn up life was pronounced extinct.


Copyright © 1970 by the University of Nebraska Press
All rights reserved
Standard Book Number 8032-0709-3
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 70-88086

Manufactured in the United States of America

To Nibs

my beloved first grandson

= >

:
:
:


KAMMERER 9 JO hn 5 W hi te 9

John‘ Kammerer, 37, the DuPage
county ax murderer, paid with his life
last Friday morning on the gallows in
the Wheaton jail for the slaying of
Otto Fuer, his wife, and three children

‘of Villa Park. June 27, laxt.
with a prayer on hia lips.
»: The trap was sprung at 10:89 0’:
clock and the condemned man was
‘pronounes! dead at 10:53 o'clock just
‘Id minutes later by attending physi-
cians, Drs, W. L. Migely and AL R..
Rikli of Naperville, who xaid his neck
Kammerer’s last worda were; “Oh, |
God... “uttered just ax the naose |
was pulled taut about his neck. HP:
went to the gallows pale of fuce, but
‘without a show of fear. xt
The Rev. Fr, Michael Sixterhénn, of
St. Michael's church, Wheaton, who
administered the last sacrament to
Kammerer in the morning, Jed the
march to the gallows from the im:
Provised «death, chamber in’ the ‘bull
‘pen-on the second floor. of the jail.
Then followed Kammerer and Deputy ||
Sheriff Lyle Grange, father of * ‘Red!

*
Hy pcs
Sed haery

Grange football mari) 2
© Just ag the noose was being placed
about: hin’ neck ha murmured faintly:

“Oh, God: pa i Py $433

He died

“At thins moment the trap. was
‘eprun PPE et yth, bos % re UE hate paler. ee

The scaffold was e on a level
with the baleony of the jail which
opens onto the second tier of cells di-
rectly above the amall court in which
the deputy ia charge is stationed. The
trap wa, placed in the middle of the
scaffold: and’ supported by two iron
bars, These were connected by a pul-

ley devise with huge bags of sand
‘which were held up by a small cord.
When the cord was severed the bags
of sand pulled back the iron bars
sharply aml the trap waz sprung.
The execution was strictly private. |
even newsxpapermen being barred. A
cordon of armed guards surrounded
the jail and kept back the crowd of a-
bout 100 odd persons who . perched
themselves in the court house windows
aml at other vantage gee cig to
gain.a glimpse of the hanging.
Jjuty were Willlam Frederick,: Kdwirn
F, Deicke, Allen Watson, Louls Rem-
ke, Dick Cook, Herman A. Reiser, A.

" *

‘W. Lies, Coroner Paul Isherwood, Al-
bert P. Lytle, Angi Ramaciatti, Dr. E.
H. Oelke und Assixtant State’s Attor-
ney Knoch.
the time of the murder, who broke
down on the witness stand during the
trial and said that in his 20 years as
coroner of DuPage county he had
never seen a more ghastly killing, at

the last minute refused to serve as a/

juryman. . He -remained. outside the
Be MOG ete Reais
erhaiciind ses committeed June 27
last but wax not diseovered «until ’54
hours later when neighbors broke in
the door after becoming suspicious of
the eurious malodor emanating from
the closed windows and doors of the:

_, murder Of Mr: Mabel’ Re
W. V. Hopf. coroner at |*

Eder bungalow in Villa Park, The

a er

pee WON. ON =
at- Whedloi—“Sevar-auyetaray kee
merer was convicte: and bis punish *
; Ment fixed at death; el

last week wax
; Small Wejinenlay. eeu) My Toreinee
- The hanging waa the Yin.
: first in
| Pane county since July 31, 1913, Nae
eary Spencer Waa executed for the

xront, oa

tungo teacher, ‘The noo.e has been

resorted to but. twice bef.
history of the ‘county, Patrick ‘Destel
wa chung in 1854 for the yr
x ashe Rated Amand limb in the j
ty ‘neat. - eh ee std eet


se For Women

15

No Loading in
Il shades

JER & CO.

QUALITY

'7 west Front Street
LINOIS

H THE LATEST

8, $2.00 PER YEAR

WHEATON, DuPAGE COU

NTY, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, FEBRUA

BNMERER TAKES
_FATAL PLUNGE

murderer of |

ty ed
®

ges
.t

ohn Kummerer,
Mientire family at Villa Park on |
Mmbout June 29, 1924, calmly a- !
ted the
behing, having apparently slept
VWhursday night.
Without friends, funds or meal |

hangman last’ Friday

ning,-he said he was ready to,
Sather Sesterhann of St, Mi-
el’s Catholic church in Wheat- |
who-had been a frequent vis-
ut the jail, thought the con-
ned man. was ua victim ef cir:
mstances—knocked about from
Mlar to post until he was uguinst
world.

to Eder, one of Kammerer's
mx, cume tp this country from
oth America, and Kammerer +
om Germany. They met in New |
prk, became acquainted, worked |
bgether there and in other cities
well as in Chicago. When E-
r married and established hix |
me in Villa Park, Kammerer

a

.

(YO Lan

.

ji (
15-117 N. Hale Street

IROCERY

D MARKET |

LASS OF GOODS

5
LL

Vw

s u welcome visitor for some
ne, but the old friendship grew
d, and there were words. These
d to the destruction of Eder, his
e and their 3 children, which |
g unsuspected until the stench
their decaying bodies drew the |

+

eon his. breakfust—inthe+-

j welfare of the public.”

; the time, und which was immedi-

lof other citiex where

SUPREME COURT PUTS
KIBOSH ON ZONING ORDIN-
ANCES

A reversal by the supreme court
of the decision by lower courts to
uphold the Aurora city zoning or-
dinance 1s—tooked upon with con=
siderable apprehension by cities

which have adopted similar plans. |”

In briefs filed with the supreme
court the appellees asserted that
the state law is void because “the
legislature hax no power to de- |
clare w grocery a nuisance per se,
or to restrict its location, and the
owner hax a constitutional right
to use hix property ax he sees fit,

HIGH SCHOOLTAKES
W

0 MORE GAMES

——ing ow the road entering

WATERMAN | \
George Alfred Waterman died!

at his late residence on Lafayette |
Avenue, Westwood, No -J., Janu-!
ury 23. The house ix ‘still stand-
z War-!
renville, in which Mr. Waterman

|

Last Friday night’ Wheaton’ was born sixty years ago last”
journeyed up to Dundee, ans August, the tenth of the month. be
then journeyed tach with a first) He was the eldest son of Dr. Ale en
team victory and a second teams fred and Mex, Lucy Mariette! w.
defeat. The seceonds played oa, Gary Waterman and one of the) 3
xcrappy game, but came out with grandsons of Jude Perrin Gary.
the short end of un 17-12 score. | Dr. Waterman moved to Whea- ti;
During the first half H. Dawson} ton and ‘here the group of cous-— wi

wus the only man to score and: ins, Alfred Co Gary, Fred Taylor, 1)

vo Tong an he causex no detriment
to the°safety, health, comfort: or

Wheaton hax had several im-
stances of “arbitrary rule,” (which
the decision knocks +ky-high) one
ef- them being whe .purchuse .uf a.
piece of property on West Lib-
erty Drive, zoned as “business” at

ately changed to “class A resi- |
dence” upon the presentation to
the commission of a petition’
signed by a majority of frontage
within a certain limit. Mr. Ferry

purchased the property, intending

to build a garage, but the local
voners “zoned” him out of  bus-
ness.

The deeixion will raise havoc in
about three quarters of Chicayo's
and hundreds
zoning or-

residence secthons

dinances are in voyue,
sels ‘i

DEPARTMENT CLUB NOTES |

Wheaton came back »troog. and

ention of neighbors.

y g
> B Kammerer, who had been seen!
ound the place abeut the time)

murder i< supposed to have.

en place, was suspected, but!
s not apprehended until July |
, in Chicago, a reward of $1000 |
Wered by DuPage county for his |
Mrest and conviction being 4 ma- |
al incentive for some good de- |
tive work. |
Kammerer at first denied ever
ving been in Villa Park, but as
s trial progressed and his iden- |
Hfication became positive, he told
he gruesome story of his crime.
A jury was secured December |
rnd §~he—was~ found
guilty on the third ballot of mur-
der in the first degree, and the
® supreme penalty attached. He was
not sentenced until some days la-
ter, when the date for his execu-
Mition was fixed at Friday, Febru-
ary 13, 1925,° and there was no |

W

{

|
|

ficiency and
Service

3-17 Wheaton, I.

deaths he was responsible for or |
not, it is about all that we can do |
i Kammerer.
The execution took place in the |
ail corridor, where the gallows |
had been erected, and was wit-!
essed by members of the hung: |
ng jury, Sheriff Hesterman,
bouple of deputy sheriffs, several
Goctors, County Clerk Wagemann,
UScdner Isherwood, Rev. Sester-'
un, States Atty. Reed and his;
sistant Win Knoch. |
Kammerer made no plea  for|
eniency, blessed and forgave those |
hom he believed had transgress- |
d against him, and went to his/
eath without a murmur or trem: |

Kammerer’s big idea at first
pmed to have been to put away

hose whom he figured were re- |

ponsible for some of ‘his troub- |

» L. CLENDENIN,

neral Contractor :

‘k neatly done. Letsme-give
n estimate on your new
building.

20 Years*Experience

s, and then kill himself, but the
ounty saved him the trouble.
Not @ single representative of :
the pr city, state or national |
allowed at the execution, |
Ithough matters of this nature |
of considerable importance to
the public, so any statement con-
berning the affair must be taken
second-hand.

Ye 4 tarrraye

WHEATON

OUNTY WILL CLOSE ROADS

| There also will be « piano solo

, club.

+in-mind-that-entries-must-be-sent+

' work,

{ women

| opened

‘training by their

*. joyed.

At the neat meeting of the Lit-
erature Department, Tuesday,
Feb. 24, a  one-uct play, "The
Wonder-Weed," by Mrs. Elia W.
Peattie, will he given by members
of the department, under the di-
rection of Mrs. W.  W. Steven, ,
Mrs. Frazier Snyder will furnish |
the muxic incidental ti the — play.

by Miss Mary Piatt. An invita-
tion is extended to. all members
of the other departments of the |

All those who have entered
the literary contest please bear

to the chairman, Mrs, Millett, on
or before March, first.

vallery Tour
The date of the gallery tour!
planned by the Fine Arts Depart- |
ment for Friday, Feb, 27, has!
been changed to Wednesday, Feb.

|

|

way, but Naperville kept right on
their heelx and succeeded in slip-
ping in the winning basket in the
closing minutes of play, the game
ending 15-13 in their favor.

The first teum started aff with

‘wu bang, und once ahead, were nev-

the half ended G-4 In thei favor, W itbur Wheaton, Henry and Geo.) to

| Waterman vand Edward. Holt. , yc

at the quarter the score was tied | played many a game of “Indian” to
at 12-12. During the last quar- | for these were the early days of | ya
ter Wheaton was beld scoreless, Wheaton. This group) has all ar
while Dundee got five more points. Kone to the Great Beyond. ay
Inthe last half Jens dropped in In Usk Mr. Waterman married: yi
three and McGill one. The star” at) West) Sides Towa.“a7 girl fronv] in
for Dundee was Green, who netied Baltimore, Maryland, Fannie Bo) w
four baskets and 2 free throws. Fulton, and in $837 they made! th
Wheaton Ists, 29, Dundee 15 their home at Wheaton. Mr. Wat. |
_ ¢:man wax in the employ of the.
, Fine BOM, TERM) Came, BMRB. FF cay Exchange Bank as was his’ It
venge for the other  defeut and | ; ;
did It nleedy es uncle, Mr. Lewis Gary. th
_ tte : 1920 he moved to New York W
he first . yas har _ :
The. tis quarter | wa nard und here he was in the Comptrol- th
fought and it ended 5-4 in favor ler’s -De t { th United
of Wheaton. During the next per- lls . oper ment ened ee fe
tod Wheaton forged  nhead with State's Stevl Curporathon. he
: , “i . He had a country home at Weat-— Jy
five mure points while Dundee was. 7H
wood, New Jersey, and as he was) th
held to a free throw, the half t
ee vat \u lover of nature, he enjoyed the
ending 9-5 in our favor ; y Ki
, beautiful trees of that vicinity,; B
At the start of the second half the distant view of the Hud yi Bi
. . , Y y e son
Stockto x - a
a4 fa wae wick icin -, und the ever-varying mountains p
thing. The combination worked’ nn ee — hee ameee wets
and the Srdo quarter ended 17-10. or Se ore of he, ty
The tenl nitatter startessamithnn lust things he said to hir aunt
rush and Wheaten  conitnued to Mrs CB. Smuth, _n aed gd the ed
: buxtest streets of New York City
pile up points while Dundee yot wus: “LE used to fear death. Aunt “
one ineiwey now 4 } th : At. a: nee o Tear death, Aun 1
he ut mah pate “ar of ss, ‘en. Laura, now | do not. Tam ready ty
: : to we,”
rie Ot <IX basket fre lee ‘ : P J
tome wkets and 8 a Mr. Waterman is survived by yw
. i . “his wife, Funnie B. Waterman of . yp
Wheaton 20; Naperville 10° Westwood; two brotherss © Mr. 4
Wheaton 2nds, 13: Naper., ad ' Fred M. Waterman of Mahwah, y
Saturday night the teams did/|and Mr. Alfred E. Waterman of | ¢¢
the same thing, the seconds los-, Wheaton; one sister, Margaret w! be
ing and the heavies winning. ‘Jewett; one son, Mra. George H.' Ww
_ The seconds put up another) Waterman of Nutly, New Jersey; | ¢)
tight game, losing by one lone bas-: one daughter, Mrs. Christopher | th
ket, Snyder dropped in three Ellin of Westwood. Yn
baskets and uw free throw to put; Mr, Waterman was loved by all | te
himself in the limelight. The! who knew him, He was faithful

seconds were ahead most of the | and efficient in-his work and a! ¢,

good neighbor, son, brother and | B

husband. Such lives are ties that | y,
bind: Earth to Heaven. | fy
WITH THE BOWLERS han

Wheaton Alleys took three. tough |

artists and
interesting |
It is hoped a}

with Chicago
hence a very
tour is anticipated.

very large group of Wheaton
will uvail themselves of
thix opportunity. It is requested |

{

give their names and fee of 50c
'

to Mrs. S. L. Rathje.
The next opera lecture-recital
will be held at the home of Miss
Greta Allum on Thursday, Feb. |
26.
Arrangements are being

by

hold the. second annual exhibt of

Wheaton artista, April 14.
Home and Education Dept.

A well attended meeting of the
Home and Education department
was held Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the
city hall. The little first grade
pupils of the Longfellow school
the afternoon program, |
Individual talent was displayed in |
motion songs in a manner which |
entertained and pleased. Their |
perfect rythym in their group of |
songs showed patient and careful |
teacher, Mrs. |
Knapp. |

Miss Ruth Inman pave two pi- |
anologues which were greatly en- !

'

|

i
'

|

° we ye
Prof, WH. M. Coultrap, .superin-

jin the laxt half. Naperville start-

edu’ rally, Dut the close guarding

in our favor. Tomlinson and
Wheaton each got 4 baxkets.
“Pep” Meeting

Tuesday night w mass meeting

a that all those expecting to go will! was held at the old ‘Red Castle,’ |
and it sure was a wow! The first |

act was a group of songs by some
of our co-eds, and they certainly
did yet w good hand. The sec:
ond act was directed by “Our
Ronnie,” a group of fellows and

pade! girly (boys drexsed asx girls) put! J. Bollwe
¢ | J. ee
the Fne Arts department to} on a group of songs, and “Becky” |

starring Pete McKeen, was a huge
success,

Bimbo Frazer and | his
gave an act which as per uswal,
was a krockout.) Mra. Flack gave,
a stunt—-a very cute one—in
which all the school in the ‘Little
Seven’ were represented. i

Seottie’s orchestra received a.
good hand. '

The old roof about came down
when for the, first time in four
years the audienee and students |
yelled like they never have before, |
‘2h

sister

“John,”

CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES
AGAINST GASOLINE TAX

*

The city council went on ree.)

‘

Be intervention. 25. A cordial invitation ix ex.) ¢" in danger. The seore at the games fron the Gary-Wheaton | p,
The remains were brought to) tended to all members of the De- end of the Ist quarter was 4-1 in) bankers last) Thursday night, all | th
ampp’s undertaking rooms a-| partment club to make the tour. | 0Ur fuvor, Wheaton kept up its by fairly clese margins, Webster's | &

bout 11 o’clock a. m. Friday, the; Miss Lucy Hardurth, whose serv- plugging und the half ended 9-40 Engineers took two out of three | m
; ung at 10:39.) ices ure greatly in demand by |!) our fuver. Play was listless, from Bauer's Harbers, and had to) q)

as_cut down, | the larger Woman's’ clubs, _will | but Wheaton managed to pile up go seme to do it. The outeome | iz

x been well Graben. be in charge of the tour. Misa | STEVE POINTE: TO" NTPePVIe sSTX was The ctinsferring of the bank 1 yf

Lata: te the ceblar: pesition~ and the { tr
boosting of the engineers one pex, |

: Gary-Wheaton Bank he
20-10- Lederman 171) 195) 191 657) vb
Ellsworth 1450 137 177 459 M
Mack 167 134140 441 W
Christnan 145 167) «TTL ARS! Se
Mullen 168 196) 137 501) s
i 0)
796 B20 RIG 2441 M
, Wheaton Alleys | Re
a Fischer 158 1420 152 451)
J. Fischer 1450 167) 147 449] Be
'Nerger oo... 161 151 149 461, He
| K. Bollweg ... 193) 192) 211 596! Ps
184 190 164 538} St
ae ee ee | Bs
R41 HZ N22 ZAG | Li
Bauer's Barber Shop | Pe
W. Gauger ... 147) 199) 182 518) W

Rosengren 149 190 145 484
Buttrfild .... 161 163 161 485, To
Bauer ve. 19 160 123 402 | Co
C. Jones 179 201. 181 561!) W!
tee ee LB
755 903 792 2450! He

A. L, Webster's Engineers |

Ashley ...... 145 161° 230 536
Christnsn ..,. 166 167 169 502) ©:
Walker ..... 146 181 175 abu |
Lyon ......., (136 165 164 465 |
Miller 214 156 168 538 ‘
Wb

307 780 908 2493
Standing of Teams: .
WoL HG ‘Ave Pet | ¥!

Whton Aly, 18 3 959 849) 857!


KAMMERER, John, white, hanged at Wheaton, Illinois, February 13, 192 5,

__raursi ¢ SBRUARY 12, 1925

ap naan aa : wo ae a aly

2 CHVZENS WILL PL a ;
| AND ONE WILL SPRING TRAP ON GALLOWS

\| (ehteage, Feb. 12 “Ready sel dace i! ie tah An unusual féatare of the hangin
itedyn dokn ameree,. who slew the{ will be that a oitizen, Instead of y |
eetire Otte Eder family in Vitis Park | | official, wiht spring the trap that w;

ia wil} not interfere,” G or | repe’s noses. Sheriff John Hestegn.,,,
| Sena sald Wednesday, “thereby de | appealed to the civic duty of twely,
"nying @ petition for a reprieve| and | met of Dupage county, each of wh
i thereupon cieaing the last avenne ot! agreed to push a button, none of then mr
: ite to Kammerer. 1 kndwing which button will cause t): -
uff ', WPreparations for the hanging day | springing of the trap, eleven button |
‘wrning in the Dupage county Jail | being inoperative. |
-3¢ Wheaton, Ill., then began... A por-
| table acaffold was procured and moved | |) b (agemm
jinto the jail and Kammerer placed in|
an iniprovised’ death chamber. ae}

oe nese pan Een
|

Livrev CO

hi tant June, HHeave Kammerer dangling frog y |


KENNEDY, John, 41-year-old white man, hanged at Waukegan, Ill., July 27, 1866.

"On a certain stormy Sunday night in the month of November, a place called Sanc
Ridge, in the town of Cicero, county of Cook, was the theatre of a horrible
tragedy. The circumstances under which one Maloney, a little tailor residing
at that point was shot down in his own house, evinced a premeditation which
was sufficiently atrocious to make even Chicago shudder. That this is no easy
mahher, the frequency of crime in that receptacle of the rascaldom of the
world sufficiently attests. In fact, therg@ seemed in this entire affair such
a devilish coolness in design on the part of the assassins, that it is no
marvel public indignation was aroused. It is easy to understand that when,
by the voluntary action of the cabman who drove Corbett and Fleming to the
neighborhood of Sand Ridge, a clue finally obtained, which even the peculiar
police of Chicago (Usually too busy in arresting the more inoffensive classes
of vagrants, drunkards, prostitutes and petty rogues to pay much attention
to murderers and bullies,) could not mistake, that any arrests were made of
suspecting parties. The only wonderxis that any of the guilty men were arr-
ested, for it must be remembered that this did not occur until some 8 months
after the crime. Indeed, for a long time, the case seemed enwrapt in mys-
tery. There are those who atill doubt if the bottom of the affair has been
probed. This is frequently the case in criminal trials, where the evidence
is chiefly circumstantial. there are those who will refuse to believe any
criminal guilty, so great is their horror of Capital Punishment. fhere are
others (especially old and childless wives) who would doom anyone to death
here and hereafter on the merest breath of suspicion, the more especially
if they were their own relations. Some persons believe that with the death
of Kennedy, the last of the guilty men engaged in Maloney's murder have per-
ished, while to some minds, it is clear that the real instigator of the deed
has not been and never will be discovered.

SOME SPECULATIONS.
"Certainly, the case presents many singular points, and in giving these
different ‘specutlations, the GAZEITE, in this report is simply fulfilling its
duty as a journal, recording the facts of the hour, ‘presenting, so to speak,
a mirror of the passing day. The present occasion is no fitting one to dis-
cuss the detree of guilt of the man who yesterday paid the forfeit of his life
for a crime of which he has been legally proven guilty, nor at this moment bo
wrangle on the right or the wrong of the death penalty. It would be a bit of
great impertinence, with the dying man'z agonies fresh in mind to quote what
Jewish prophet declared to be ‘the law.' Equally out of place would it be
to argue (quoting the sarcasm of the French Thinker, concerning the two men
shipwreéked, who finding land at last, when wondering upon what shore they
had been washed, excaaimed, on seeing a gallows, ‘Thank Godj We are at
least in a Christian country!!') that’ murderers should not be executed. While
it is true that the SOLE AND LEGITIMATE OBJECT OF ALL HUMAN PUNISHMENT SHOULD
BE THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, THE -ROTEC ION OF SOCIETY AND THE REFORMATION
OF THE OFFENDER, it is only necessary to say, that while the death penalty is
the law of Bhe great State of Illinois, - while it remains on the statute
book, it must be enforced, - eXcept, of course, in the case of wife murderers
like Hopps, who had been on the Police Force, or like White, who was simply
insane on the subject of his poor victim, the mother of his children. The
advocates and opponents of capital punishment are two equally balanced in
numbers, too well fortified in authorities Jewish, Pagan, Christian and
statistical to be disposed of by a text, a leader, a sermon on any mere
arrogant assertion. The world was not built in a day, and Progress, weary
and foot-sore, has come a long way from torture, stake and faggot to the milder
rope and private execution.

THE MURDERED MAN
"Tailor Maloney, as the victim was called from his occupation, an inoffensive
and insignificant man, was murdered. in cold bloood on the Sunday night of

November 20th, 1864. His life had been too humble to amass vast possessions.
One fact was clear from the beginning, viz: rohbery was not in the design of


LUCKY WINNERS

IN THE “COVER

GIRL” CONTEST

OUR SINCERE THANKS fo the hun-
dreds: of servicemen who submitted
entries for the “Cover Girl Contest"
appearing in the October issues of
Insipe, Heavuine and Front Pace Derec-
TIVE magazines. To those who failed to
cop a prize—'Better luck next time."

To the winners, listed below—'Con-

gratulations!"—Tue Epitor.

FIRST PRIZE—$50

Pvt. T. E. Van, Scoter, 369 T. S. S., Bks. 204,
Scott Field, Illinois.

SECOND PRIZE—$25

Pvt. Wilfrid S. Rowe, 32565569, Hq. Co., 2nd
Bn., 390th Inf, Rgt., A: P. O. 98, c/o tmaster,
Nashville, Tennessee.

THIRD PRIZE—$15

Pvt. Yahola M. Henry, A. S. N. 38018722, Sth
Hq. & Hq. Det., Armored Corps, Camp San Luis

Obispo, California.

FOURTH PRIZE—$10

Cpl. Joseph P. Brennan, ASN 31279678, Hq. Bat-
tery, 316th Antiaircraft Balloon Battalion,
Camp Tyson, Tennessee. :

FIVE MERIT AWARDS—65

Capt. W. Escovitz, Mc. 773 M. P., 1809 North
13th Street, Philadelphia 22; Harold R. Boehlke,
Cox. 231-140, C. G. R. 1173, 484, Lewes, Dela-
ware; Corp. Robert A. Montri, Headquarters Squad-
ron, c/o Administration 0g Marine wg Air
Station, El Centro, California; 2nd Lt. Carl A. Elliott,
revo’ Ward 6-B, La G al Hospital, At-
lanta; Cpl, Darrell Roberts, Co. B., Hq. Bn., Camp
Santa Anita, Arcadia, California.

TWENTY-FIVE .

CONSOLATION PRIZES—$1

Cpl. Augustus Shafer, Jr., 35566671, Bn. Hq. 97th
Signal Battalion, APO 308, c/o Postmaster, Shreve-
go Louisiana; Michael D. in, Jr. A/S, Co. 43-

83, U. S. N. T. S., San Diego 33 California; Pfc.
Robert Lee Jones, 34627533, Cos. Co. C. 1340 Engr.
F. F. Plat., mt Mat Camp Clairborne, La.; G. W.
Moore, U. S. M. C. R., Naval Air Station
Ottumwa, Iowa; Cpl. A. V. Smith, Btry. C-7th AART

Bn., Fort Eustis, Virginia; Bill R. Loy, S 2/c, C. B..

Det. 1011, Fort Pierce, Florida; Seaman 1/c Sidney
Rosenthal, U. S. Coast Guard, Moose Peak Station,
Jamesport, Maine; R. F. Brenner, Y1/c, U. S. Navy,
1103 Penn., Boulder, Colorado; Cpl. Leonard Ruch,
A. 8. N. 18161552, 479 F. G. T. Squadron, H. A. A.
F., Harlingen, Texas.

Edgar L. Smith RM/3c, Naval Radio Station,
, Florida; Pvt. James Grubbs, Co. C. 49th

gineers, Combat Battalion, Camp Carson, Colo-
rado; Richard A. Perrin, S2/c, Ward A-14, U. &
Naval ag em | Farragut, Idaho; Herbert C. DeVage,
HA 2/c, Naval Air Station, Pasco, Washington; Pvt.
Wm. C. Harding, Q. M. C. Det. (W), Ft. Leonard
Wood, Missouri; ic. Richard. Spleid, 419th Sq.
School, Sheppard Field, Texas; George McCarthy,

U., Bowling Green, Ohio; chert Walter L. Meyer,
1007th QM Rescue Boat (Avn), N. O. Arm:
Air Base, New Orleans, La.; Cpl. Donald, Ellicoc
(USMC), Bldg. 106 Depot Quartermaster, NOB
Norfol ginia; Pfc. Edward Bean, 7th General

Det. I. R. T. C., Camp Fannin, Texas.

TWO SPECIAL PRIZES—
RONSON LIGHTERS

Pfc. Daniel L. Eberhardt, Med. Det., 607th F. A.
Bn., A. P. O. 360, Carson, Colorado;.and Lt.
lien L. Melott, 725th Military Police Battalion

Ard:
44 (21), Fort Jackson, S. C.

Boulevard in Chicago. Sergeant Pape
and his squad were advised of the fact
and went there. The landlady, a timid
old-soul, was appalled to learn that her
lodgers were criminals.

“Such nice boys,” she repeated over
and over. “I can’t believe they’re bad
actors!”

“They are,” said Pape grimly. “You're
lucky they didn’t slit your throat while
you slept.”

Searching the Lambs’ room, Sergeant
Pape came across a small wrench.

“Now,” he said, “I know for sure that
we're heading in the right direction!”

He explained that the wrench was the
type of tool used to open the valves of
gas containers such as that which had
been employed in the Agnes Olsen
murder. He had seen them at the job-

bers where the articles were sold. Pape

subjected the landlady to close ques-
tioning.

“Did the Lambs have many visitors?”
he asked.

Photograph Clue

“No, except for one fellow who came
here quite often,” she replied. “Always
late in the evening, though, so I never
saw him. He frequently remained until
morning, the Lamb boys told me. He
used to sleep on that couch, and they
came to me for extra blankets and a
pillow.”

A half dozen photographs were
pares to the walls of the cham-

er. —

“Who are those people?” queried
Pape. “Ever meet any of them?”

The rooming house keeper shook her
head. . “But I do know that little girl.”
She pointed to the portrait of a child
about six months old. “She’s the

daughter of the man who used to stay .

overnight with the Lambs. Dave men-

tioned it one day when I was cleaning:

in here.”
Taking the picture from the wall,

Sergeant Pape found it to be stamped’

by the DeHaven Studio at 5 South
Wabash Avenue in the Loop. ’

“Drive “down there, Rudy,” he in-
structed Detective Friedel. “Get the
kid’s name and whatever other infor-
mation you can.”

At the photographer's, cold water was
cast on the hopes the officers enter-
tained for-a speedy identification of the
Lamb’s mysterious friend.

“To learn who that particular child
is we might have to examine 20,000
negatives,” an employe revealed. “We
specialize in child portraiture, you see,
and handle hundreds each week.”

“It must be done,” shrugged Friedel
wearily. “Lead me to it.”

For the next three days he sweltered

“in a hot storeroom, patiently digging

through an immense collection of nega-
tives. After inspecting at least 4,000
of them, he at last came across the one
he sought.

A studio clerk took a number’ from
the film. Going to the file, he removed

’ a card, similarly numbered, and handed

it to Friedel.

“The photo was made three and a
half years ago,” he announced. “The
kid would be about four years old now.
Here’s the record.”

The name of the subject was Janice
Damiani! oo

Friedel copied down an address on
West Madison Street near Kedzie Ave-
nue, and then hurried to thé detective
bureau.

“Damiani is our man all right,” he
said. “First, he’s an ex-refrigerator
repairman; second, he’s been on the
heist recently with the Lambs; and,
third, the wrench we found in the
Lambs’ room is evidence they’re mon-
keying around with gas cylinders.” :

Pape, accompanied by Detectives
Friedel and Friedman, sped to the
address secured at the photographer's
studio. It was a shabby hotel which
catered to a sporting class. Damiani,
the sleuths were told, had moved six
months before. He had left a forward-
ing address, that of another hotel in
the same neighborhood.

At the second hostelry, a pimply-
faced clerk professed to know nothing
of Damiani.

“Can’t remember that he ever stopped
here,” he insisted. “Must be some
mistake.” 4

The sergeant did not like a shifty
look he saw in the speaker’s eyes, but
he was careful to give no sign of his
feelings. .

“Guess I’m on the wrong track,” he
drawled. “Thanks much.”

He started to descend a flight of steps
from the second floor lobby to the
street, but when halfway down he
turned around and tiptoed upstairs
again. He managed to slip unseen to a
point near the desk and heard the clerk
at a telephone.

“A copper was just askin’ for Eddie,”
the hotel employe said into the mouth-
piece. “I told him the name was a new
one to me... Oh, no, he wasn’t a bit
‘suspicious . . . Swallowed it hook, line
and sinker .. . Yeah, Eddie ought to
buy me a couple of drinks for that.”

Waiting until the clerk had hung up
the receiver, Pape vaulted over the
desk and grasped him by the throat.

“You lied to me,” he growled. “Why'd
you do it?”

The man, pale and trembling, whim-
pered, “I was scared. Damiani would
bump me off.”

He revealed that the person to whom
he had talked on the telephone was
James Ball, a guest, and an acquaint-
ance of the bandit.

“Damiani lived here until a week
ago,” babbled the frightened clerk. “I
don’t know where he’s staying now. He
phoned me a few hours ago and asked
me if a suit had been delivered by the
cleaners. It had—it’s in the closet over
there—and he’s coming for it soon.”

Uses Child As Shield

Damiani swaggered into the hotel 45
minutes later, smiling and calling to
the clerk, “How’s tricks, kid?” The
grin vanished as the three detectives
stepped from the background and
covered him with their’ revolvers.
He was unarmed and <surrendered
meekly. Handcuffed, he was led down
the steps.

When they reached, the sidewalk,
Damiani halted and pointed to a small
bov and girl.

“My kids,”
leave them he:

“We'll take
“C’mon, young

The childrer
months old, an
The latter’s ph«
was six month
that led to the
mother was d
trip, Janice to
now lived in ar
Park on the }

Enroute to p:
iani suddenly :
and flung her
was in the to:
the hoodlum, c
his breast, le
squad car and

“Don’t shoot
might hit the

Racing after
overtook him t
iani dropped |
fierce struggle
rode the rest «
floor of the sq
feet planted fi:
back.

“Don’t hurt
Janice, pound
tiny fists. “T
right away.”

At headqua
that he was ir

“I’m strictly
tained. “I’ve
and going str:
was born.”

But Simmon:
of Agnes Ols
him as the bz
the death-deal

“I guess the
ex-refrigerator
after lengthy ;

on the homici
28 years old.

“Where’s K
geant Pape.

Damiani m:
jail awaiting
assault.”

This was fx
wildly from :
terrorized sco
time earlier a
throp Avenue:
lowing a drir
bullets had st
and another h:
the hat of a w:
of angry citize
and mauled h
patrol arrivec
lockup.

“Currency
Krause at a sk
is it they did:

“They didn’:
answered Dan
captured him
face looked s
burger.”

. “Who was tl
murder?” den

“A guy call
monicker I e


A few more forays by the Poison
Gas Mob and the answer would be
forthcoming...

Quick thinking on the part of Miss
Frances Saavedra, 20 years old, cashier
of an exchange at 1154 West Harrison
Street, also turned the tables on the
robbers. She saw three men who fitted
the descriptions of the bandits loitering
nearby. : ;

One of them came in. Seeing that
she was alone, he signaled to his com-
panions. As they started for the front
door, Miss Saavedra threw a switch
which locked it. When his comrades
found themselves unable to enter, the
man who was inside drew a pistol.

“Let them in,” he threatened, “or I'll
blast your eyes out!”

Miss Saavedra now produced a revol-
ver. The bandit, with a yelp of fright,
dove through a plate glass window to
the sidewalk and scampered off. The
spunky girl sent three shots after him.

The mobsters encountered little dif-
ficulty at the Local Exchange at 2171
Clybourn Avenue. Miss Helen Rolfe,
the cashier, reached for a phone to
summon police, but the gas felled her
before she could lift the receiver. Chok-
ing, she crawled to the door and re-
leased the latch. The desperados, gas
masks over their faces, gathered $5,000
and sped away. A short time later
they robbed the Chicago Lawn Ex-
change at 3711 West Sixty-third Street
of $2,050.

On July 3, 1943, their black sedan

34 stopped outside the exchange at 311

North Pulaski Road. One gorilla re-
mained at the wheel. His two com-
panions, lugging their tank of gas,
crossed the sidewalk and entered. They
were not wearing masks.

Two persons were in the establish-
ment—a customer, B. L. Simmons, and
the cashier, Miss Agnes Olsen, 54, of
5306 Belle Plaine Avenue.

“We're the poison gas boys,” blithely
announced one of the bandits. “You
know what we’re here for.”

They shoved Simmons aside and

commanded him to:stand with his hands
up.
Miss Olsen retreated to the back of
her small compartment and pressed a
button setting off a holdup alarm. As
the bell pounded the desperados began
to squirt gas into the cage.

Displaying rare pluck, Miss Olsen
seized the hose and pinched it in an
attempt to stop the flow of gas. The
pressure was too great, however, and
it continued to spurt like steam from an
overtaxed radiator. She fell uncon-
scious to the floor.

The bandits then sought to smash
into her compartment, but its stout
walls withstood their efforts. A small
boy peered through the front windows
and saw what was taking place.

“Robbers!” he shouted. “Robbers!”

A crowd quickly gathered on the
sidewalk.

“Things are getting hot!” cried the
taller bandit. “Let’s scram!”

They started for the door, and the
onlookers fled precipitously. The out-

laws entered an automobile in which
the third man waited, and rode off.

Witnesses provided investigators with
the car’s license number, but, as in
former cases, the plates had been
stolen.

Her lungs horribly seared by the gas,
the cashier was suffering excruciating
pain. She was rushed to the Garfield
Park Hospital. ,

Just 15 minutes after the unsuccessful
attempt to rob Miss Olsen, the crooks’
car drew up in. front of the Courtesy
Service Exchange at 4755 Fullerton
Avenue. They elbowed four customers
out of their path to reach the window
of the cashier’s compartment. — #9

“You have a lot of nerve,” sputtered
an‘old lady. “Get at the end of the line
and. await your turn.” ;

“Pardon us, but we're in a hurry.”
The tall robber produced an automatic
and prodded her. “Keep your lips but-"
toned and you'll live a little longer.”

Hans Gerson, the manager, seeing
that a holdup was in progress, dropped
to the floor inside the locked cage.

Gas Victim Dies

‘Without a word the smaller bandit
produced his metal tank from the
shopping bag. In a jiffy gas was pour-
ing into Gerson’s compartment.

Tears running down his cheeks, the
manager opened the door and staggered
out. :

“Take the money,” he gasped, “but
please turn off that gas.”

“Sure, always glad to oblige.”

Donning a gas mask, the thin outlaw
entered the cage and stuffed $1,800 into
his pockets.

“Is this all the government blotters
you got?” he demanded truculently.

“My God!” cried Gerson. “Isn’t that
enough?” (Continued on page 42)

How obser

get in tov

¢}

/\

WALTER
for violati
in Germar
eyes, bro
caped fol
print clas


f A dozen supply houses in the down- “Here. we are, in need of luck if any- custody during the next 24 hours. Long
: ae town area handled the refrigerator gas, one ever was, and we end up with 13! Nose Carlos Pizzi, it was learned,
ally S Pape learned. He described the small But, anyhow, that’s a big improvement married and moved to Los Angeles. A
1 the tank carried by the holdup men to the over what we started out with—1,500 telegram to authorities in California
bora- manager of the first firm at which he repairmen.” . cleared him. They wired that he had
it the made inquiries. Detectives at once got on the trail been working regularly as a bartender
oride. . ; of the 13 suspects. An investigation of for six months and had not been out of
ar Refrigerator Serviceman? a week resulted in these findings: the state. Only Mueller and Damiani
elrig— “Most icebox repairmen tote them,” In jail—two. remained to’ be accounted for.
ditaby the company official informed him. Dead—two. “I saw Damiani last about three
Sith “They buy what we call ‘reloads,’ chem- In the armed forces—three. weeks ago,” admitted an acquaintance
vite” icals which produce methyl chloride Reformed—two. of the bandit. “He was in a gambling
of the when mixed in the tanks.” Unable to locate—four. joint on the West Side with two
Cie “Tg it expensive stuff?” These were: brothers from Missouri, Dave and Tom
t “Three pounds for $2.50. That will Harlan Mueller, veteran burglar, who Lamb. Hot shots, both of them, heist
t Sul provide a steady stream for a half had served long terms in penitentiaries guys.”
Us hour.” of three states. Precinct house teletypes clacked and
sola “Three minutes of it killed Agnes Long Nose Carlos Pizzi, an unsavory police radios blared with a message
ue rie . Olsen,” observed Sergeant Pape. “That strong-arm robber, who preyed on to arrest Thomas and David Lamb.
sk murder cost the rats only a quarter.” intoxicated men. Jackals of crimedom who served as
wren The reloads were sold over the Honest Jeff Reed, ex-bootlegger and stoolpigeons joined in the séarch. One
port? counter, like cigars in a tobacconist’s, ? friend of Scarface Al Capone. of these unsavory informants, a saloon
a and no record was kept of the buyers. Edward Damiani, a suave, well- _ porter, finally brought tidings.
‘ion in “Maybe we'll have more success with educated bandit with the reputation of “The Lambs, with a rodman by the
on as tanks,” said Pape hopefully. “Who being a “smart head.” name of Gemmil, and Damiani,” he
ied P peddles them?” tattled, “heisted a garage for a car
dak be He was provided with the names of three days ago. They left town in the
cateihe three Chicago jobbers. Two of his squa hot heap to take a bank near St. Louis.
: “f" members, Morris Friedman and Ru- Damiani, I’ve heard, came back the
es dans dolph Friedel, went to visit them. next afternoon, put the Lambs and
i. A few hours later the sleuths re- Gemmil ain't showed yet.” 5
<" turned. Dejection was apparent in the Lieutenant Phelan, consulting crime
manner in which they slouched into the reports, was unable to find any record
hone.” office of the robbery detail. of a recent bank holdup in Illinois or
= “No luck?” asked Lieutenant Phelan, a nearby state. The files revealed,
es that Y however, that on August 28 four armed

there.” “We ran up against a brick wall,’
° replied Friedman glumly. “A lot of
those tanks have been reported stolen
from the cars of refrigerator repairmen
during the last couple of years. That
must be how the mob got theirs.”

This was discouraging—but Lieu-
a! . tenant Phelan had not exhausted all
, — - possibilities.

“The fellow , who murdered Agnes
Olsen and sprayed the gas in the rob-

men entered a garage at 2478 North
Clark Street, robbed the night manager
of $25 and drove off in a customer’s new
sedan. .
“Those guys were Damiani, Gemmil
and the Lambs,” declared the stool-
pigeon. “I even saw the crate, a black

A wanted message, giving the license
number of the car, was broadcast to
police of the Midwest.

-, beries was no ordinary sneak thief who :
: ‘just happened to swipe : yg a ee > lll S ee Sigg s en go gr
arked automobile,” he eclared. “The ‘ -ve ay McDonald 0 etroi
° 4 killer, I’m sure, was acquainted with Mary Kerwin thrust two aides down on sighted the stolen automobile. Though
the refrigeration business, @ repairman the floor and soaked towels for use he was alone he attempted to arrest
or salesman pee " “s as filters against the deadly vapor. tie, bee spn Thea in kin os by asd
He instructed Sergeant Fape and De- nd s eded in knocking
‘ves Friedman and Friedel to get to the sidewalk. Leaping into their
Samal i eonatl ir every refrigerator ra All four were between 26 and 32 automobile, they roared away.
. fo d list of all years of age and each in some respects McDonald sounded the alarm and &
in the city and to secure a JS of all fitted the descriptions of members of police cruiser picked up the oatlawed
men employed by them as repairmen the Poison Gas Mob. aa Ointd i P
during the previous five years. : rail. During e running gun battle
yrtg th der he leafed Squads were dispatched to round up = which ensued, a bullet fired by one of
< the ti- ° pe i re “wi si peo the quartette. Honest Jeff Reed was the hoodlums killed Arthur Currie
through a classified tetep hone cirec TY quickly corralled. A sheet writer in a i : ?
, get the th tion devoted to “Refrigerators ; 15-year-old son of a Detroit fireman.
to the section He 1 8 Tae suburban handbook, he was suffering The squad pursued the desperadoes
: attorney —Servicing,” He 5 in ie a» et from a stomach disorder and had been for six miles, and then lost them. Soon
' column of listings—215 in abl, @ count in a Rochester, N. Y., hospital at the afterwards the fugitives’ speeding pan
h he was Ben big a job for three men time of the gas oneal eee aay’ a ere Single-handed,
: ” P UT @? oliceman r
faigpee fap ese Phelan “Well 3d bathers Nabbed Pelcgnan, Abbe pos a
A half-hour later 12 sleuths were at “J was cursing my bum gizzard be- crawled from the wreckage.
ison, but telephones, calling the refrigerator fore you guys grabbed me,” Honest They were Robert Gemmil, 32, David
Could he companies. After four hours of solid Jeff told detectives. “But I-guess it’s Lamb, 25, and his brother Thomas, 23.
° grind, they had the desired informa- lucky my breadbasket is on the fritz; The-wires hummed with messages be-
rent. The tion—close to 1,500 names and addresses: it gives me a puncture-proof alibi.” tween Detroit and Chicago police. ‘The
lea of not of persons who had had experience Weeks of intensive searching through prisoners sullenly refused to provide
aft with the type of tank and gas used by underworld haunts failed to yield a any information when questioned along
r, his the murder mob. clue to the whereabouts of the ‘three the lines suggested in telegrams from
plead This long list was turned over to other suspects. the Windy City’s robbery detail.

; clerks in the bureau of statistics and “Bring in their friends,” ordered “Never heard of him,” declared David
ra crime information. They laboriously hunted Lieutenant Phelan. “Maybe we can Lamb at mention of Damiani’s name.
litted. He through files and unearthed the fact sweat some information out of them.” The gunmen’s draft cards revealed

. the same that 13 of the suspects had records. Nineteen acquaintances of Mueller, that the Lambs lived in a rooming
wrt? “Thirteen!” groaned Sergeant Pape. Pizzi and Damiani were taken into house in the 2900 block on Washington 43

erent . gn


= Bo wees se tare

Trailing Chicago’s
Poison Gas Slayers

(Continued from page 34)

The pair streaked to the street and
made their escape.

‘Doctors in the Garfield Park Hospital
battled to save the life of Agnes Olsen,
but the gas had caused horrible burns
to her throat, stomach and lungs, and
she died in agony five days after the
attack.

‘Murders by means of gun, knife or
bludgeon are fairly common in the
great, bustling city of Chicago, and such
crimes usually are shrugged off as being
in the regular course of events—but the
fiendish slaying of Agnes Olsen shook

_the metropolis out of its lethargy. A’

wave of horror and anger arose.

This reaction, it was remarked, re-
sembled in many respects that which
gripped the nation in April of 1915
when the Germans, introducing a new
form of warfare, unleashed poison gas
to push back French and Canadian
troops near: Langemarck.

The gas the Huns employed then,
like that utilized by the Chicago out-
laws 28 years later, was liberated from
steel cylinders. Its appearances
effects were almost identical with those

described by the robbery victims—~a
greenish gray mist which caused them
to choke and gasp and collapse.

“Our first and most important task,”
declared Detective Chief Sullivan, “is
to ascertain the type of gas they’re
using, so that precautions may be taken
to guard against any more deaths.”

Anticipating further such attacks,
currency exchanges placed orders for
gas masks for their employes. It was
pointed out, however, that the respir-
ators would give scant protection if
the calloused bandits’ new weapon was
dichlorethyl sulphide, commonly called
mustard gas.

“That stuff is plain hell,” explained
a sleuth who had experienced its hor-

rors in 1917 at Ypres. “A mask will

save your eyes and throat, yes, but the
gas also burns and blisters the skin.
After being exposed to it a person
usually breaks out with serious inflam-
mations. I’ve seen fellows go blind from
it—those who didn’t die when. they
were caught without masks.”

Special squads were provided with
government-issue masks and jars in
which to capture samples of the gas
for analysis in the event of its being
used again in a holdup.

Dr. William D. McNally, world
famous chemist on Coroner A. L.
Brodie’s staff, performed a post mortem
operation upon Miss Olsen. He dis-
covered arsenic in her lungs, liver and

kidneys—a poison contained in the gas.
Basing their study on Dr. McNally’s

‘conclusions, test tube sleuths in the

police scientific crime detection labora-
tory succeeded in ascertaining that the
agency of death was methyl chloride.
This is a gas present in the freezing
units of thousands of household refrig-
erators.

“Acrolein, a tracer gas with a highly
offensive smell, is usually mixed with
the almost odorless methyl chloride,”
said Captain Otto Erlanson, head of the
laboratory. “It warns people if their
refrigerator should spring a leak.”

Upon learning these facts, Chief Sul-
livan strode into an office near his own
on the third floor of police headquarters.
Lieutenant Kyran Phelan, head of the
robbery detail, was busy at his desk.

“You’ve received the lab’s report?”
asked Sullivan. .

“Yes,” replied Phelan, satisfaction in
his voice. “Captain Erlanson has given
us something to sink our teeth into.”

“Hop to it then,” ordered the chief of
detectives. “Those mobsters must be
put behind the eight ball—or we might
as well present them with the keys to
the city.”

Phelan assigned his ace squad, com-
manded by: youthful Sergeant Frank
Pape, to the case.

“The gas—that’s our main hope,”
Phelan told him. “Locate places that
have it in stock and go on from there.”

. ‘THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASKS-—

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LAN?

BY CHARLES R. ROSENBERG, JR.

. (Attorney at law)

aoe ees £4 dicted on a criminal
- 2

. plead either guilty or

what else is there for
Elvi him to say? Strange as
it seems, there may be

: e plenty of other things for him to say, as the district attorney
well knows, for the law recognizes a variety of pleas in a

1. The reporters thought that Cook’s trial would be sensa-
tional and were.disappointed when he pleaded nolo con-
tendere. Why? 28 note cana
* 2. Elwood was indicted for murder and arraigned before
the court for trial. When asked how he pleaded, he stood
silent and persistently. refused to answer. What should the

~Seourtdo? : :
3, Linder was indicted for murder. When his case was ,
. ¢alled for trial his attorney announced that he would make

“a plea to the jurisdiction. What is that?.

2 4. Swift's attorney discovered that the grand jury which |

| BEN A MAN is in-

‘charge you’d think -
that .he would have to

not guilty. After all, ©

-later wan

"had indicted Swift was illegally constituted. Haibe the in-.

dictment was defective. How could the attorney get the
matter before the court? ie Ie

5. Hanley made a plea in abatement. The district attorney

filed a demurrer to. the plea. What was the result? :
6. Daniels was guilty of the burglary for which he was
indicted, but his crime had been outlawed because of the lapse
of time prescribed by’ the statute of limitations. What kind
of plea must he make?
1. pees peer guilty to an indictment for arson, but

do it? .

- §. Holway pleaded guilty to a murder indictment. The x
New Jersey court refused his plea and entered a plea of not -
- guilty for him instead. Why? ol

9. Before the opening of Turney’s trial for murder, his
lawyer told the district attorney that he was going to plead
the general issue. What did he mean?

-10. Alford was indicted and brought to trial for a crime

for which ‘he had been previously tried and acquitted. He
cannot. legally be placed in jeopardy twice for the same
crime, but how can he get the facts before the court?’

(Answers on page 65) se pee

to change his plea to not guilty. Could he .

A dozen sur

town are* *-"

Pape lea
tank car)
manager ui u
made inquirie:

Refrige:

“Most icebo
the company
“They buy wh
icals which ;

-when mixed i

“Ts it expen:

“Three pou
provide a st
hour.”

“Three min
Olsen,” obser‘
murder cost 1

The reload
counter, like
and no recorc

“Maybe we’
gas tanks,” sa
peddles them‘

He was pro
three Chicago
members, Mo
dolph Friedel

A few hou
turned. Dejec
manner in wh
office of the 3

“No luck?”

“We ran u
replied Fried
those tanks h
from the cars
during the la:
must be how

This was +
tenant Phelar
possibilities.

“The falas
Olsen ar
beries w
just happenec
parked autom
killer, ’m su
the refrigerati
or salesman p

He instructe
tectives Fried
in touch witk
in the city ar
men employe:
during the p

As he gav
through a clas
to the section
—Servicing.”
column of lis:
later revealed

“This is too
to tackle,” dec
help.”

A half-hou
telephones,
companies. 4
grind, they h
tion—close to
of persons w
with the type
the murder m

This long ©
clerks in the
information.
through files
that 13 of the

“Thirteen!”


r

9G <meta .A sareecuheinnere

a

PM

(Above) The mystery man in the case, an elusive

phantom who was to play a strange role. (Right)

In this little brick bungalow, where the Puhse

family lived, the lights in the kitchen flashed on

twice in quick succession. Then two pistol shots

broke the stillness and a figure fled through the
driveway at the side

“We ate a light lunch and then prepared to retire im-

mediately. Mr. Puhse, saying he was tired. preceded me

to bed by a few minutes”

Her voice broke as she mentioned her husband and it
was plain that the questioning was a trying ordeal for
her. “I dropped off to sleep and was awakened by my: hus-
band who had his hands around my throat. | eaped out
of bed, and as | did so he fired at me, but missed ”

This, then, accounted for the bullet hole above the bed,
near the door

“I thought he had gone crazy,” Mrs. Puhse continued.
“and | was afraid he would kill us all. My first: thought
was to protect my sleeping children. [ hurriedly pushed
the victrola up against the door of Earl's room to barr:
cade it. Then [ heard a second shot. | must have screamed
The children woke up—they turned on their lights and
joined me. I sent Mildred after a doctor, and to call the
police. She didn't take time to open the front door but
went out through her bedroom window °

Again Mrs. Puhse lost her composure and sobbed. “Qh.
I don’t know why Charles did this thing”—she hesitated
and then added, “unless it was his head. He suffered a
blow on the head some time ago. and recently complained
of severe headaches.”

Perhaps the blow and the subsequent headaches had
caused Mr. Puhse to become temporarily deranged. The
officers questioned Mildred and Earl Puhse as well as Miss
Wolfe, and they all corroborated Mrs. Puhse’s statements.

Later. at the inquest, the story was retold and it was
decided that Charles Puhse had taken his life with his own
32 caliber revolver, following his attempt to kill his wife

After the coroner’s jury had given a verdict of suicide
and Puhse had been buried. | was sitting at the desk in
my office when Deputy Sheriff Harry ©. Odum came in

“Well. what did vou think of the verdict ?” he asked

“I'm not satisfied. Harry.” | replied. “I don’t believ:
Charles Ruhse committed suicide—'

“And neither do |. I'm far from satisfied with the de-
cision, too,” he interrupted

“And why do you think he didn't take his own life7—
Any particular reason?’

“Maybe it’s because | knew Puhse,” Odum replied. “I
can't picture that quiet-spoken, easy-going man as one who
would kill himself ° :

It was true. 1, too, knew Charles Puhse well—knew him
as the even-tempered good-natured, hard-working steel-
worker that he was. At no time had he been in trouble of
any kind, and while he was far from cowardly, he certainly
was not one to voluntarily bring sorrow and miserv into
the home that he had cherished

Charles Puhse had lived a simple, plodding life with on
thought always uppermost in his mind—his wife and
children. And he had worked hard for them through the
years, watching the development of his son and daughter
with pride and love. He had been a temperate man, quict
and unassuming. and his friends were man\

AS if divining my thoughts, Odum broke the silence
“Everybody always spoke a good word for Charlie
Puhse,” he said

“Yes,—those who knew him. liked him,” | assented

“He didn’t mingle a lot—I mean; he didn’t go in for
social activities.” the Deputy Sheriff continued

Again | nodded assent. “Not as long as he could be with
his family. They were his life.”

“And | can’t accept the fact that he robbed himself of
that life, either,” Odum reiterated. “I don’t give credence
to that ‘suicide’ theory ”

“Then, if what we believe is true. Puhse was murdered ”

“Exactly! Listen, Chief, let’s start all over on this case
and get to the bottom of it”

I agreed and Deputy Odum further expressed his beliefs
to State’s Attorney Lester M. Geers and Sheriff Peter Vity-
gerald of Madison County. He was given permission to
conduct a private investigation of his own

However, the self-imposed task was one that few would
have sought voluntarily and we couldn't figure where
Odum intended to begin That he would have to move

cautiously was putting it mildly. The coroner's jury had
rendered a socket of suicide; Charles Puhse was buried
and the case was closed.

But Deputy Odum was not easily discouraged and from
that time on he was busy, talking to any and everyone who
might be able to divulge the slightest bit of information
concerning the Puhses. His “curbstone questioning” and
his casual chats won for him knowledge that later on in
his investigation was to aid him greatly,

Finally, Deputy Odum happened to be talking to a negro
who worked at the steel mill where the deceased Puhse had
been employed. “John,” he said, “it certainly was too bad
about Mr. Puhse committing suicide, wasn't it?”

John agreed half-heartedly and then said impetuously,
“Mr. Odum, I heard something.”

Encouraged by the Deputy to explain his statement,
John cautiously, if not fearfully, lowered his voice and
confided, “Mr. Odum, I heard about an old colored man
who was asked by a white man to do a job of work for
him—not a regular job—a job of dirty work.”

John further said that he didn’t know the name of the
sy but he thought he could point him out to the
officer.

EPUTY ODUM had no way of knowing whether or

not John’s information would be of help in the Puhse
case, but he was passing up no clue, however small, and
so he arranged to take him the next day to Newport, a
near-by negro settlement, to see if they could locate the
other colored man. It was like looking for a needle in a
haystack and for two days they continued the man-hunt
without result. But, just ‘as they were ready to turn the
car toward Granite City and admit defeat, John spied the
negro they sought.

Sam Wilson rewarded their efforts by talking freely. He
explained that he had been approached by a white man
who told him that he was looking for a fellow to do a
job of work, and that he had agreed to take the job, as
he had been out of work for some time.

“But it will be dangerous work and will take a lot of
nerve,” he was warned.

“I've done plenty of dangerous work and | want a job
badly.” Wilson) had replied, whereupon the white: man

(Above) Charles Puhse. He was a man ap-

parently without a single enemy, yet the mystery

surrounding his death seemed to point to hidden
foes

asked him if he could shoot. Wilson admitted that he was
considered a pretty good shot and that he owned a 38
caliber Colt, ;

“Well, I’ve got a fellow to be bumped off who is stand-
ing between me and $100,000,” the white man said. “And
ied give you $500 and my automobile if you'll do the
jo le

Wilson assured him that, as badly as he needed work.
he had no intention of “bumping off” anyone, and that
he'd have to find someone else for the “job.”

“Then he asked me if I could refer him to a woman who
could tell fortunes and give good luck by reading coffee
grounds. | told him to go see Emma Farmer, here in New-
port,” Wilson concluded.

“What _was the name of the white man, Sam?” asked
Deputy Odum.

“I think it was a Mr. Lehne, sir,” the negro replied.

Odum’s next move, of course, was to see the Farmer .

woman and she, too, talked without hesitation.

“Soon after New Year's Day a white man came to my
home to make a deal with me to go to the Puhse home in
Granite City and give them a spiritualistic healing for
luck,” she admitted. .

The Puhse home? Deputy Odum could scarcely believe
he was hearing right. Here, at last, was a clue—something
tangible to justify his belief that Charles Puhse was the
victim of foul play.

The healing, Emma Farmer explained, was to be made
through the grounds left in the family’s coffee cups; she
was to put some baking powder in the cup of every mem-
ber of the family except Puhse’s, and in his cup she was
to put “something else.”

“When | found out that that ‘something else’ was some-
thing to kill a man right away, I told the white man | just
couldn’t do it,” she said. “I sure didn’t want any police
trouble and I told him so.”

She furnished a thorough description of the fellow who

17

A. Be be ke Dr I 8

Oe a

—_ oe
ae eae ee Or 7s

t of Lehne.
1ing on the
I recalled

sased. Be-
he colored

y time.

it appeared

ster

dre niee nal vee
na

ae re

vite
-

“ee
ey ag >:
SS” SERS

4"

A friend of mine who ran a filling station told me confi-
tentially that if I could get in touch with one John Nickoloff
he thought Nickoloff might tell me something interesting.
After a two-day hunt I found this man, arrested him for ques-
tioning, and broached the subject of Puhse’s “suicide.” He
looked at me for a moment, then said:

“Deputy Odum, what would you say if I showed you a
contract calling for the murder of Charles Puhse? I thought

the whole thing was a big
joke, and here’s how it
happened. I walked into
the place of business of a
friend of mine in October,
1933. Tom Lehne was
there. My friend called
me aside and said, ‘Lehne
wants to have someone
killed and is looking for a
killer” He laughed and
added, ‘I told him you’d do
the job.’ ;

“T wanted to have some
fun with Lehne, so I
walked over and told him
I ‘was the: man he was
looking for. Lehne said
he wanted Charlie. Puhse
killed and would pay me
$100 if I did the job;. giv-
ing -me five dollars down,
and the balance later. He
told me to meet him sev-
eral days later to discuss
the plans with me.’ I
agreed to meet him, but
didn’t, as I thought the
joke had been carried far
enough. The next time
I saw Lehne he told me he
didn’t have five dollars to
give me, but he did try to
give me a revolver and
told me to kill Puhse that
evening. Then I told him
that I was joking when I
said I would kill Puhse.
I refused to have anything
more to do with him.”

Nickoloff .showed me an
amazing document purport-
ed to have been written by
Lehne, which concluded,
“I promise to appear with
Mr. Nickoloff or his agent
to protect his claim, this
instrument is to be ok’d by
me after our understand-
ing is completed. I also
promise to pay Mr. John
Nickoloff $100 for his
trouble, do (due) to his
service — when completed.
(Signed) Thomas J.
Lehne.”

With this remarkable
evidence in my possession
I decided it was high time
to have a few. words with
Tom Lehne. About 2
o’clock the afternoon of
Saturday, February 2, I
drove up to the home of
the erstwhile policeman—
who was a widower and lived with his mother—and rang
the doorbell. .

Lehne let me in. Before I could say a word he exclaimed,
rather nervously, “Harry Odum, the first thing you know
you'll be wanting to charge me with murdering Charley Puhse.
Now you know well enough that Puhse killed himself.”

“I'd rather continue the conversation at headquarters.” I
answered. (Continued on page 58)

31

THE SCENE
The fatal shooting
occurred in this
Granite City (IIl.)
home.

HIT BY TRAGEDY
Earl and Mildred Puhse
(left), children of the gun
victim, said he had not
only killed himself, but also
tried to slay their mother.


Se ied

” == apni) ARON
SRN EET

By Chief of Police

JOHN H.
TAPPEL

Granite City, Illinois
As told to
M. L. FORGY

14

Over this highway between Edwardsville and Granite
City, Illinois, Charles Puhse drove with his family the

night of his strange death. (At right below) Mrs. :
Gertrude Puhse. Her Piercing screams smote the mid-
night air: “Help! help! He'll kill us allf Help me!
Help me!”

HE night of January 25th, 1934, was clear and cold

Somewhere in the distance a town clock chimed the

hour of midnight. Most of the 25,130 inhabitants

of Granite City, Illinois, were safely and comfor-

tably asleep in their homes, with no thought of
lurking terror in their midst.

The little brick bungalow of Charles Puhse, in one of the
residential sections of Granite City, was as quiet and slum-
hering as its neighbors. But, suddenly, a few minutes after
twelve, the lights in the kitchen flashed on and off once.
and then once more, in quick succession. Two pistol shots
broke the stillness and a woman's piercing scream rent the
air. A pause—and, again, a voice cried aloud, this time
pleading for help. “Oh, my God!—He's lost his mind!-
He'll kill us all!—Wake up!—Help me!—Help me!”

Instantly the attractive littke home blazed with lights
and Mrs. Gertrude Puhse begged her children and: the
cousin who gathered excitedly in the hall, to go for aid

“Your father has lost his mind—he shot at me —he's trv-
ing to kill me,” she said tearfully, hysterically wringing het
hands

Such was the message we received in ‘answer to the
blinking red dot on the switchboard a few minutes later
at headquarters, and Police Officers Al Rowden and Henri
Hahn left immediately for the Pulse residence on Madison
Avenue, near 25th Street

There they found Mrs. Puhse, her daugh-
ter, Mildred, her son, Earl, and their cousin,
Katherine Wolfe, huddled in the hall in
their night clothing. In answer to the
officers’ inquiry, Mrs. Puhse brokenly
sobbed, “He's in there,” and pointed to
the bedroom.

The sight confronting the officers as they
stepped into the bedroom was not a pleas-
ant one. Charles William Puhse, forty-
seven-year-old steel worker, who had _al-
wavs been regarded as one of the most
respected citizens of the Illinois town, lay
on the right side of the bed. A bullet hole
was visible in the wall above the left side
of the bed, near the door.

The officers stepped nearer the inert
form of the man and found that a second
bullet had entered his right temple. A .32
caliber revolver protruded from beneath
the blankets near the foot of the bed, and
it was evident that Mr. Puhse, following
the sudden attack upon his wife, had turned
the gun upon himself, committing suicide
while his frightened family had awaited
the coming of help.

This, indeed, was tragedy and the officers
felt sorry for the bereaved family. Kindly
Officer Rowden questioned Mrs.
Puhse.

Making a brave attempt to con-
trol her grief, she explained that
the entire family had gone to Fd-
wardsville that evening, returning
home some time before midnight.

AMTBAM Trp

t
AF een che


INSIDE DETECTIVE

The Death

Riddle of the Flashing Lights

Lehne willingly accompanied me to
my office. If I had hoped to get an ad-
mission of guilt from him, however, I was
much too optimistic. He laughed at my
charges that he had been on intimate terms
with Puhse’s wife, and scoffed at the stories
of Nickoloff and the two negroes.

I left Lehne in custody and got in touch
with Chief of Police Tappel. He assigned
Officer Al Rowden to work with me.

W E drove to the Puhse residence and
found that the Puhses were visiting
at the home of a relative. At the relative’s
home Mrs. Puhse greeted us courteously
and inquired what she could do for us.
“Mrs. Puhse,” I said, “we would like to
have you, your daughter and your son
come to headquarters with us. There are
some questions we want to ask you.”
“We'll be glad to accommodate you,”
Mrs. Puhse responded.

At headquarters I first took Earl aside.
“Sonny”, I told him, “we have some very
serious evidence indicating that a man
named Tom Lehne has been going out
with your mother and might have had
cause to bring about your father’s death.

I want you to answer me truthfully. Did
you ever see a strange man call on your
mother in your father’s absence?”

“J can answer ‘no’ truthfully, Mr.
Odum,” Earl answered.

Then I questioned Mildred.

“Miss Puhse’ I said, “I want your
frank opinion. Do you think your father
committed suicide and that he first shot
at your mother?”

“Yes,” she replied, “I think my father
committed suicide, and I wouldn’t be sur-
prised but what he shot at mother.”

Mrs. Puhse was next. Quietly, with
neither indignation nor fear, she answer
my questions and those of Patrolman Row-
den. There was not the slightest bit of
truth in the stories of intimacy between
her and Lehne; her husband had shot him-
self after first firing at her, just as she
had stated originally.

Our questioning of the widow had started
late in the afternoon. After hours of
continuous grilling Mrs. Puhse appeared
as fresh and self-assured as when she was
first brought to headquarters.

I was discouraged: Momentarily my
mind was filled with doubt. The ‘son and
daughter vowed they had seen nothing
irregular in their mother’s actions. _ They
believed their father’s death actually to
have been suicide. Mrs. Puhse denied
everything. She was as cool as an icicle,
as self-contained as if she were at an after-
noon. sewing circle. Her large, dark eyes
gazed steadily into mine as I asked ques-
tion after question. Those eyes—domineer-
ing, ina way; compelling; expressive of
power. Could they have driven some man
to the point of committing murder?

Momentarily, as I say, my mind was
filled with doubt. Then I remembered the
new evidence; I remembered the character
of Charley Puhse. It must have been mur-
der! But how was I to prove it?

The evidence, after all, was purely cir-
cumstantial. There were no witnesses to
the shooting. And always there was that
serious handicap which made my “lone
wolf” investigation almost hopeless from
the very start—the coroner’s finding of
suicide. If this case was to be broken
there would have to be a confession !

I determined to make one final effort.

“Mrs. Puhse,” I said, bringing my sus-
picions into the open, “you were im

58

(Continued from page 31)

house when your husband died. You say
he killed himself, but we believe that some-
body else fired the fatal bullet. Further-
more, we are convinced that you know the
identity of the slayer. You do know the
slayer, don’t you? Tell us the truth! Clear
your conscience!”

Unexpectedly Mrs. Puhse burst into
tears. She slumped down in the chair
and covered her face with her hands.
When she looked up again I knew we had
won the battle. The woman possessed a
strong will, but it was not quite strong
enough. Endless nights of lying awake,

thinking about her awful problem, had

taken their toll, Our probing questions
had finally broken through her defensive
barrier. -

“J will tell everything,” she moaned,

.“_everything. It was... It was Tom

Lehne! . .. That night, I woke up and
felt someone pulling at my shoulder. It
was Tom. I leaped out of bed. I didn’t
see what happened afterward. But I heard
two shots... .”

Under further questioning she admitted
she and Lehne had planned to kill her hus-
band, but insisted that she had backed out
at the last minute. She said they had
agreed that she should flash the electric
lights on and off twice in the kitchen as a
signal to let hirh know that everyone was
asleep in the house.

Armed with this confession, we now
escorted Lehne into the room with Mrs.
Puhse and read him her statement.

Leline listened without changing expres-
sion. - At the end he said, “Gertie, they
could have questioned me from now until
next year and I would never have con-

. fessed. But since you have talked, I am

going to tell them the whole truth.”

He gave us a remarkable statement
which follows in part: ;

“T was at the Puhse home the Wednes-
day afternoon before the killing while
Puhse was at work. On Thursday after-
noon Mrs. Puhse and I planned to carry
out the killing that night. We had been
planning to do it for about five months.
Gertie informed me where her husband kept
his revolver—in the bedroom on a shelf.

“T then left the Puhse home and went
to my home at Fourth and Hampton
Streets in Venice. I slept until 11 P.M.
and then stole from the house without
arousing my mother, and walked to Granite
City, purchasing drinks at several places
on the way. Nearing the Puhse home, I
waited until Mrs. Puhse signalled to me
from.the kitchen by turning the lights on
and off twice and raising the blind. Then
I went to the front door of the house.

“Mrs. Puhse met me at the door and
kissed me, and I said, ‘Gertie, do you still
want me to go through with this?’ She
said, ‘yes,’ and led me to the bedroom after
telling me just how her husband was lying
in bed. I took his gun from the shelf,
and, leaning across the bed with one knee
upon it, fired one bullet into his head.

“TI then fired a second shot into ‘the wall
of the bedroom and placed the gun in
Puhse’s hand so that it would appear that
he had committed suicide. Mrs. Puhse,
after the first shot, fled into the front bed-
room where Earl and Mildred Puhse and
a girl friend of Mildred were sleeping.

“I then escaped through the front door,

jumped over the bannister and ran around
the side of the house to the alley, and went
to my home in Venice, where I immediately
went to bed.”

Lehne revealed that he and Mrs. Puhse

had met six years previously while he was
running a filling station at Venice. They
became infatuated, he began visiting her
at her home upon her invitation, and soon
they were carrying on an illicit love affair.
In the fall of 1933 he and Mrs. Puhse lived
together in an apartment in East St. Louis
for several weeks. Mrs. Puhse later re-
turned to her home and her husband. After
that love idyll, they started planning how
they could “get rid of Charley,” Lehne
said. He declared that Mrs. Puhse sug-
gested several ways to do this, one of them
being for her to get her husband to park
at a lonely spot some night with Lehne
pene the role of a holdup man and killing
im.

SEVERAL days later, when we escorted
Mrs. Puhse and Lehne from the Gran-
ite City jail to the county jail at Edwards-
ville to await trial, they asked us to stop
and let them get married. We refused, and
Lehne remarked, “Well, I guess we'll have
to take a chance on short sentences and
wait until we get out.”

They went on trial together in May be-
fore Circuit Judge D. H. Mudge in Ed-
wardsville.

Lehne repudiated his confession, claim-
ing he made it to save Mrs. Puhse from a
murder charge because he loved her. He
denied that he shot Puhse. Mrs. Puhse’s
defense was her alleged fear of Lehne.
She said she was afraid to tell her hus-
band of Lehne’s visit the afternoon he
called and supposedly told her he would
be back that night to murder Puhse. She
said that when she turned the kitchen
lights on and off it was not meant as a
signal to Lehne to come in and kill her
husband,. but that she had gone to the
kitchen for a glass of water.

Nickoloff, who had been released and
absolved of blame in the case, was one of
the important witnesses for the state. He
told of Lehne’s attempt to hire him to
murder Puhse. Sam Wilson and Emma
Farmer also testified for the prosecution.

State’s Attorney M. Lester Geers, in a
stirring closing address to the jury, asked
the death penalty for both Mrs. Puhse
and her lover. Although recognizing the

fact that the execution of the woman would

leave two children motherless, Mr. Geers
declared, “It is much better that way; if
the mother goes to the chair, they can for-
get her memory. They will not forget her
if you send her to the penitentiary to
languish. Blot her out as she blotted out
their father. According to law and evi-
dence, this is the most atrocious, brutal,
bestial and revolting crime ever committed
in this county. I ask that you do your
duty. I’ve done my duty. I expect a ver-
dict fixing punishment at death.”

Four hours later the jury filed back into
the courtroom.

“Guilty” was the verdict. The penalty
was fixed at death. Mrs. Puhse and the
man she had fascinated were taken to
Southern Illinois penitentiary at Chester,
and the date of execution was set as Oc-
tober 12. However, the double execution
subsequently was stayed indefinitely to
allow the Illinots State Supreme Court to
review the case on appeal. At the very
moment that you read this, the solemn
justices of the high tribunal may be con-
sidering the weird circumstances that
spelled death for honest, unsuspecting
Charley Puhse.

Perhaps Gertrude Puhse and Tom Lehne
deserve mercy. What do you think?

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