The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-24
AN INTERVIEW.


Last night as the arsenal tower
clock chimed the hour of II o'clock, an
ARGUS representative was ushered into the
county Jail for the purpose of securing
the last testimonial of Heilwagon,
whose execution occurred to-day. The
silence pervading the prison was profound,
and the noise made in opening and closing
the iron door reverberated through the
building in manner that caused many of
the prisoners to turn upon their couches
and ascertain the cause of the unusual
disturbance. Some of highly imaginative
disposition may have pictured the arrival
of messenger from the Governor or at
least the message from the executive man
sion containing the information that a re-
prieve had been granted Heilwagon for a
limited period. No such thought however
troubled the brain of Heiiwagon himself,
as ne was sound asleep. 1t is to be hoped
that his dreams were of pleasant charac
ter for the noise incident TO the entrance
of visitor soon awakened him and
brought him back to the realization of his
fate.
The Sheriff passed to his cell, unlocked
the door, and asked if Heilwagon felt like
talking to a member OF the press. The re-
ply was to the effect that he was most
and shoes, and was soon seated at table |
with his visitor. Before inaugurating a |
Heilwagan was supplied with |
a cigar and match. The former he accept
ed, but the match was returned, as he pre-
ferred to light his cigar from the gas jet
which was burning in the immediate vicin-
ty.
In reply to question, Heilwagon said
that he felt pretty good, as he had enjoy
sd more sleep lately than was the case
right after his sentence.
Have you anything to say about the
crime that has not already been made pub
ic?" was asked him.
mo- said he. Il have got nothing to
say. / sent out to you a statement of the
case, and / can not say anything more
about it, At first | thought / would keep
hat statement and leave it, but then l
thought might as well give it. and SO l
lid"
Have you been writing anything to-day
bearing on the case?"
sfOh, no. | have written some letters to
he old woman, but they don't amount to
.nything. There was nothing in them
bout the crime"
s.You accuse Otto of committing thel
rhine. What reasons have you for such
Iccusation?"
II think SO! believe so, that is a1l II
lid not see the murder, / did not see Otto
Kill her, / did not hear any noise in Dora's
louse that night. only know what Otto
old me that he wanted to do it. That is
H."
evil you make any statement on the
caffold?" i
II have not got anything to say on the
caffold. IF / say anything it will be that
think Otto did it. jackson and Parmen-
err know that am not the man that killed
hat woman as well as / do myself. They
made the witnesses say what they wanted
hem to. The id men know that l am |
OF the man. If had money l would Y
ave been cleared, but without it | am
anged" n
DO you expect your counsel to help |
on by seeing the Governor" |
81 don't want to be helped. I told |
MARA that / did not want him to see the $
Governor for me- would sooner take the q
ope tomorrow than 60 the penitentiary i
Or life." l
Have you ever admitted that the YER v
let of the jury was right and justP'
II never said any such thing. / never Y
ave admitted that I was the guilty party. v
am going to write two letters tomorrow, T
ne to the minister thanking him for COM L
g to see, and the other to the sheriff 8
lanking him for treating me so well in v
Ill. They are the only letters I will Q
mite" v
The conversation then gradually diverged Z
, his condition, and in reply to ques-
ON he said that he did not expect to sleep v
cry well during the night. At this point s
,hmidt. the crank" who is in prison for
)ntempt of court, chimed in and said b
lat he would not enjoy good nights f
ct a