Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-04-19


from the dark dominion Of guilt, and the greed
Of gain led him into the commission of the
most horrible atrocities.
One evening, after the sheep had been fold.
ed, . stranger called At the hut and asked
permission to remain during the night, ogsr-
Ing to psy literally for the accommodation.
Wiseman made him welcome, and sfsef sun
per ths stranger, who had brought with hin .
hottie Of brandy, became communicative, and
stated that he had bsss prospecting" for
gold and had made fortuaate discovery. In
confirmation Of bis statement - produced
bag Of gold, and poured out the giisterise dust
and nuggets on the table, Toward nianixht
all went 70 bed; ''shAksdown" having besa
prepared for the stranger before the fre, and
wiseman and the girl rsmaining, - usual, in
room partitioned o6 from the place in which
they took their meals.
Both wiseman and his guest had partaken
freely Of the brandy and the guest wss soon
soundly sleeping. Not 20 wisemsn: his Gu
pidty had been excited. and the drink served
only to stimulate his criminal propensities.
Having determined to plumber the gold
finder he rose from his bed and finding that
his victim WAS fast asleep. he attempted 10 re-
move the bag Of gold from under the sleeper's
head. He had NO sooner ssised upon it than
the man awoke, and terrible struggle follow.
ed. The stranger vas powerful man and he
soon obtained the mastery over Wiseman, had
him beneath him with his hands tightening
fast upon his throat when wiseman contrivsd
70 draw from his pocket large clasp knife:
with which he stabbed the victim three times,
and the man fell back dead.
The girl awakened BY the struggle, had BY
this time entered the room, and seeing the
murdered man, she rushed frantically from
out the hut toward the home station, shriekine
murder" - she dew through the forest
wiseman followed aud overlook her, and she
turned him from her, and still made the forest
echo again with the terrible cry, when he in
moment Of desperation. struck her on the
head with tomahawk and Glove in her skull
Having committed this double murder, he
made no attempt to escape. but IT once pro>
ceeded to the home station, and related all he
had done. He would not accept the service OF
counsel when tried, and told the jury that he
was guilty, and was only TO glad to be hang
ed.
In speaking Of the girl be wept bitterly and
said that he was not morally guilty of her
murder, as that act was an act Of frantic mad
ness. By the time he had finished his nsrra-
tive it was 3 o'clock in the morning, and We
could hear quite distinctly the workmen max
ing ready the scaffold.
s.Ah, ah!' be said, with strange laugh
.they are getting ready for the last act; but
there will be pleanty Of time, as | shall induce
quite ready
He then requested me if he went to sleep 10
call him at 5 clocs, aud down he lay upon
the bed board, covering himself with blanket
In few moments he was asleep. but could
perceive it was only disturbed kind of
slumber, as he Was muttering something all
the time.
At six o'clock the mans irons (,hey weighs
ed forty pounds) were struck of, and break
fast Of toast and coffee was provided for him.
He ate heartily, and said he had long jour-
nsy to take before be could obtain smother
meal, but he supposed that be should dine in
the select company OF the great departed. |
remained with him until o'clock, when the
minister arrived, and retired from the cell.
minutes, Wissmsn took from his pocket .
folded paper, and asked the clergyman to take
il at once, personally, to the sheriff, as it WAS
Of the utmost importance that that of6cial
should have it before the execution took place.
The clergyman consented to take it. and
Knocked at the cell door, which Was 1t once
opened, when the clergyman explained to me
that he should be absent only minute or two
and therefore thought it hardly worth while
to enter the cell. l closed the door and, in
Ave minutes the clergyman returned. |
opened the wooden door Of the condemned cell
easily enough, - usual but when attempted
to open the iron ons-uhich, % have already
said, opened inward to the cell found it
impossible TO move II, tried the apeture,
and that opened - usual. looked through
and saw that Wissman had placed the bed
hoard against the door in such manner that
it would b impossible to open the door.
at once proceeded To- the governor and
made my report; aud be, With the sheriff who
vas waiting in the jail Office, went immediate
y to the convicts cell.
.Come, come, Wiseman," said the governor
who regarded an execution % . mere piece Of
official business, "don't give Us any pnneces-
sary trouble; we shall only have 70 force the
door and keep the sheriff waiting. Il d close
upon eight o'clock, % show yourself - man
and take the board away st once
But wissman evincsd strange indifference
to the fact that % exalted fanctionary -
the sheriff should BE- "kept waiting" for he
sat upon his stool at the far end Of the cell,
reading book.
The sheriff then addressed tho man in An
authoritative manner and ordered him TO 1T
once open the door.
"Taks II cooly,' replied the prisoner; "it is
no good being out Of temper. have two hum
drsd pages Of "Monts Christie to read yet
and don't mean to b hanged till have gone
through them.'