The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-02

and while not enjoying himself within the
county bastile, he constantly does not find
life burden by his early death on the
scaffold an object of serious consideration.
GENERAL INDIFFERENCE
as to his execution, appears to be one OF
his many characteristics. He does not
avoid the subject in his conversation with
his guards and other prisoners; nor does
he make it the sole topic of his thoughts
as evidence in his talk with those about
him. He converses about it as though it
was one of the inevitable affairs of exist
ence, and he regards it more in the abstract
than as personal application to himself.
To Judge from what he has to say regard
ing his doom, one would think that He'll
wagon was talking of the execution Of
third party rather than himself,
He has made up his mind that he stands
no chance of having his life spared He
does not even imagine that his counsel can
secure a communication of his death SEN
tence to Imprisonment in the penitentiary
for life
He evidently thinks that the cause of
his conviction was not so much the evil
dence which established his guilt as it was
the lack of means with which to properly
prepare his defence.
He pretends to claim that he is innocent,
and as such he feels that his conviction
was not just How much of this impress
sion is honest and how much put on may
perhaps never be known.
VISITORS
The only request which he has made of
the sheriff is to refuse~all visitors the right
of visiting the jail for the purpose Of see
ing him. He made that request the Sun
day after his conviction by the jury, and
has repeated it on several occasions. The
sheriff is daily importuned by persons to
visit the Jail, and is also in receipt of let
tiers containing the same request He in
forms such persons that Heilwagon has
made the above noted request, and is
therefore obliged to refuse them. He has
not replied to the letters in any way
1t is probable that the usual large num-
berof curious people will seek to be in at
when the hanging takes place.
The execution will be of a private nature,
and only very few will be admitted, as
the jail yard is small, and the crowd will
be limited in numbers.
HIS AMUSEMENT.
Heilwagon talks freely with the other
prisoners. and has expressed his disapprov-
Il of having such a disagreaable fellow
prisoner as J. s. Schmidt, who is talking
lay and night. He has even. in joking
gay, said that as long as he was to die for
murder, he regretted that it was not for |
he killing of such a person as Schmidt |
It appears that Schmidt has been calling |
deilwagon names that did not please the lat |
marked that he would die more contented if
he had put Schmidt where he could not |
ise such language.
Heilwagon is one of the most regular and
hearty boarders now in the jail. He is al T
ways ready for his meals, and eats what is
let before him with apparent relish and en-
oyment.
Since his sentence the Sheriff has sent in
numerous delicacies to him, but Heilwagon
las requested that his food shall besof the
anne character as that furnished the other
risoners. He is not proud, even if he is
0 hang
The old murderer is very fond of playing
ards, and he occupies the
etter part of the day in
laying games with the other prisoners.
lis game appears to be seven ap, and he
lays it with as much interest as though
o other thought bothered his mind. /,
NO MINISTER.
Yesterday the sheriff asked him if he
id not desire the attendance of some min
ter. s
What for said Heilwagon.
This staggered Ankrum as he was not !
is prisoner the sdesired information. He t
owever told him that it was generally
1stomary for condemned man to have
le advice and comfort which IMAM of
od' could furnish. He further stated
lat if Heilwagen had any particular min
ter that he would desire to visit him, he 6
Iould be sent for
Heilwagon informed the sheriff that he
d not want to see minister or anybody
Sc. He die not think the min lister could
} him any good. 1
1t was apparent from Heilwagon's con. t
rsation that he thought ministers were
nployed solely to draw from condemned .
en- their confessions OF the crime charged e
,ainst them, and auch being the case he
ID no use for them.
HIS REST q
The prisoner is attended day and night :,
a special guard. This precaution is 0
ken in order that the man may not make ,
sescape or do himself bodily injury.
During the day he is allowed to- walk I
out the jail corridor and mingle with The !:
aer prisoners.
At night be is locked up in cell, and $
e guard takes his seat directly in front q
ereof where he remains until morning !,