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

then protested his innocence, and witt
slight variation has stuck to that theory W
Ito the day of his execution. At first he
| acted the part of an innocent man to per
lection, and appeared to think that he mus
be liberated when his case was fully inves
| tigated in court. He made no effort to sc
cure witnesses at the trial, but led his coun
| sci to believe that the prosecution would
| be unable to prove anything against him
| and that he needed no testimony to estab
fish his innocence. He pretended not te
| know what certain witnesses summoned
by the prosecution would prove, although
| their names were well known to him and
the facts to which many of them were cog
infant were also in his possession. From
September until last January he thrived
upon his prison fare, and actually increas
ed in weight He apparently never gave
his punishment for the crime serious CON
sideration, as when approached on the sub
ject he would express himself as satisfied
that it would be all right after the trial
He spent his time in playing cards, and
smoking, and was one of the most docile
prisoners within the building. He never gave
the sheriff or his attendants the least trou-
BILE on account of the infraction of prison
rule, but appeared to be anxious to merit
their good opinions His visitors, until
after the trial, consisted of two per-
sons The first was German, who pre-
tended that he called for the purpose of
helping him financially in case Hellwagon
could account for himself On the Monday
night of the murder, but not receiving a
satisfactory reply, appeared as witness
against him on the trial, detailing his con-
versation while in the Jail. The second
was the murderer's wife, who called during
the.month of December for the purpose of
having the old man sign certain pension
papers.
During the trial Heilwagon became more
interested in the result of the judicial in
vestigation, but he was of the opinion that
no worse fate was in store for him than
that of confinement in the penitentiary.
He never thought for a moment that the
verdict of the jury would cause his hang
ing This is evidenced by the remarks which
he made after the prosecution had closed
their case, to the effect that if the jury be-
Iieved the lies which had been told against
him they could not help but send him to
the penitentiary. After the verdict was
rendered he took his doom in a most
phlegmatic manner, and while fully realiz
ing his fate, yet felt that there could be no
doubt but that new trial would be grant
ed. He appreciated for the first time
how critical was his chances, when the
Court refused new trial and sentenced
him to be hung. He was immediately
taken sick, and his broken health caused
depression of his mind. He became
morose and gloomy, and rallied against the
people who had appeared against him.
For the first time he insinuated that Otto,
his son, was implicated in the crime, al
though when first committed to Jail, he
stated in an interview that he did not
know anything about the murder. He did
not commit it himself, and did not sus
pect anyone of the crime. He became
restless at night, failed to enjoy his usual
nights rest, and this soon told upon him.
His appetite remained good His mind
was SO occupied that he found it impossi-
BILE to play cards, although very partial to
that pastime. He was constantly writing
and in addition to the voluminous state
ment of the case, which he prepared for
publication in the ARGUS he wrote numer
Gus letters to his wife and children abusing
them for their conduct in assisting the |
prosecution at the trial Finally he asked |
them to visit him and bid him good bye. |
The different members of the family came |
TO the Jail. The wife and the smallest
children came at one time and were admit |
ted into the jail where they had long
The parting between the
and his little children was most
affecting. The elder children came to-
gether, and the interview was not of SO
pleasant character, as there was Grimm
alton and recrimination. The old man ac-
cused them of conspiring together against |
him, and they denied the accusation, and |
repeated their belief in his guilt. He told |
them in parting with them that if they |
wanted to attend his execution, it would |
make no difference to him to have them |
among the crowd. II
He had no particular religious belief,
and was not averse to receiving the calls /
Of ministers or the conversation which they
could render. He was visited by Rev. j.
J. McCord, of the First M. L. chur oh, and
he Rev. Irving a. Searles, of the Christian
The latter minister attend
ID him during the latter part of his i'm
and did so at the request of
he murderer.
Last Monday Heilwagon made virtual
onfession as he acknowledged to person
in his case that the result of the
rial was just and right. More than this
e refused to say, and when asked after
Yards if he had confessed. he denied that
UGH was the case. and claimed that he was
innocent. During the erection of the
caffold he noticed it by the statement,
They are closing in about me-"