The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-10
THE DEAD BANDIT.
He was Seen by Number OF Rock ISL
and Gentlemen, Last Thursday.

Frank Rande, known as the bandit of
the Wabash. was quite we'll known in
these parts. When he committed the ST.
Elmo murder number of our citizens
turned out on a hunt for him. Their hunt
was in vain, as no trace of him could be
found. Two or three of our citizens, who
were in the chase after the murderer, were
in Chicago last Wednesday, and as they
were on their way back to this city they
stopped off at Joliet and took look at
the bandit who had committed suicide by
hanging himself. On of the gentlemen
was interviewed by an ARGUS reporter
this morning and obtained the following
points: 1t appeared that Rande had
been put in the solitary cell. He had
arisen at midnight and taken off his
striped Jacket and convict's pants, and
put them on the floor. On them he placed
his bucket in an inverted position Then
he took off his undershirt and twisted il
into a rope, the ends of which he tied on
a bar that crossed an opening
over the door. As the wooden
shirt would stretch and was not
strong, he strengthened it with his sus.
penders. Then he made loop of the
straps that fastened his suspenders to his
pants and fastened that around his neck,
tying it to the shirt and suspenders in the
middle. His arrangement all completed
he took his jacket from under the basket
where it had evidently been placed in the
first place and placed it in a bunch under
his shoulders, so as to deaden the noise he
might make in falling against the door
This accomplished, he stepped on the
bucket fastened the strap and kicked
away the support. His toes just touched
the floor His eyes and mouth were oper
and there was no froth in his mouth, and
the expression of his face was natural
the wound in his head was undressed and
unwashed from the time the shot had
been fired. 1t was an ugly hole. The
bullet had torn a place from in front oil
the left ear some distance around the
skull. The wound on his body was
slight and insignificant, the bullet haG
touched the rib and glanced of -. 1t hi.
body was one mass of bruises. His mech
was yellow and discolored, his arms an(
trunk were black and blue from the nu-
merous kicks and thumps that he had re
cei9ed. There was a wen on his RICH
arm. AS be was naked, save his drawers
and socks, the guards had full opportunit,
to see these things. The body was lef
hanging until the coroncr's Jury viewed
it, and they speedily returned verde
of death from suicide. We have no desire
to criticize the verdict of the jury or tn,
statements of those who saw the body
but from the above account of the finding
Of the body it would appear to be little
too methodical for any man to undertake
in the dark. The preparations are hardly
such as man would be likely to devise
but they could very readily be done by
some one else after the man was dead
person hanging himself and yet allowing
his toes to touch the floor would be apt
to kick and struggle good deal involun-
tarily, enough at least to disarrange a wad
made by his jacket aad put under his
shoulders. 1t is an open secret that con
victs are always told by the old hand.
that whatever else they may Go, never t
be put il the dark cell; that no man eve
comes out as good a man as he went in
Rande is dead, and it is a good deliver
ance, and we mention these things simply
to show future juries that it is mistaken
kindness to send any man to the peniten
tiary for life in lieu of the death penalty
1t is like saving mans leg off by inche!
instead of doing it at one time