The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-20
A LIFE FOR A LIFE.
A Chicago Murderer in the Hands
of the Hangman.
Execution of Isaac jacobson for the
Murder of George 7sedeIl-Dc-
tails OF the Crime and
It's Penalty.

It's Penalty.
CHICAGO, Sept Con- Tuesday morning,
April %, 1881, George Bedell, proprietor of a
carpet-cleaning establishment at Nj North
Clark street, was shot dead before his store
door 10y Isaac jacobson, whom he had en-
pioyel the week previous to beat some
carpets and to whom he had paid g, but
who aimed "A for the work,
The tragedy occurred at o'clock i'll the
morning, or within a few minutes of that
time. Bedeil was standing on the sidewalk
i'll front IF his place assisting in the loading
of some carpets. jacobson came walking
tip TIE street from the south. When within
a couple of PAGES of his victim he halted
suddenly, clutching d revolver in
his right hand Deliberately he
raised the weapon and fired
into Bedelrs face, exclaiming, as little girl
standing near subsequently, testified There
you are" Bedell reeled along the pavement
a few steps and sank on the stones. He
askei his friends to carry him into his store.
They did So and from thence, few minutes
later, to his residence at sos East Chicago
avenue. The ball had penetrated the brain,
and in few hours Bedell was dead
After firing the fatal shot the Finlander
stood motionleSs. staring at his victim, and
excaiming: Il did it, | did it," The next
moment jacobson was led away to the Chi
cago avenue police station The officer had
seen him shoot; the smoking pistol was yet
in his hand when arrested. The
story he told was that on
the preceding Thursday Bedell had en-
ployed him to do "a job of carpet-beating for
81 a day At this he had worked ON Friday
and Saturday, Monday he called to get his
pay, and Belell gave him S. He demanded
81 more and was refused He left in anger
saying he would make Bedeil pay dearly for
the 81 of which lie claimed to have
been cheated. OF the s. which he
received he spent 81 for lodging and
breakfast, and the other 81 i'll
pawn-shop for the pistol with which he com
mitted the murder He said that he had not
been drinking after Monday, and was not
stupited by liquor at the time Of the deed
When asked if he knew what would be done
, with him if Bedell died jacobson said: If
he dies h. will go to hi Then they'll put a
rope round my neck Initiating with his
hands the tying OF ropel and-click-rll so
to HI after him. l don't care d-n.
Jacobson'S trial was prompt, and he, having
entered plea of guilty, the only question for
the judge to decide was the measure of pun
| ishment This he concluded should be death,
and the prisoner was sentenced to be hung
Sept. 10, the judge being greatly moved
when delivering his judgment, and fire.
quently being compelled by his emotions
to suspend the reading On the
other hand the prisoner was cool and ap-
parently reckless. He asked the Judge:
when is it l am 10 die:' The Judge re-
piled. Then the prisoner twirled his little
faded cap in his hand, and said: Good
by, boys; I'm glad it's all over"
| For the above crime, in accordance with
the Judges sentence Isaac jacobson suffered
death in the corridor of the jail in
| this city. The scaffold was the
same one upon which Tracey
Sherry and Connolly were hung. The exc
eution was witnessed only by a few score of
people admitted by card. For some time
previous to his execution the prisoner wore
the air Of bravado, and the efforts making
to secure a Communication of his sentence gave
him hopes that were doomed to diSappoint-
ment The final determination of Governor
Hamilton not to interfere with the SEN
| tence had decided effect upon
the condemned man and his spiritual adviser
| Rev. Charles Koerner found him anxious
to prepare for eternity. He passed the last
few days of his life nearly exclusively in
that preparation and met his death coolly
| jacobson was taken from his cell few
minutes before u a. m and led to the
scaffold. A few minutes before the
time set for the execution the
sheriff read the death-warrant to
the condemned man, who heard it in silence
DR.. Koerner offered a short prayer, to which
jacobson made the responses in audible tones
Sheriff Hanchett then tied the prisoners
arms behind him, and, taking place on his
| right, while Jailer Folz took one ON his left
the condemned man started with his at
tendants on the march to death. DR.
Bluthardt and DR. Koerner followed behind
| A deputy carried a rope with which to tie
the murderer's feet, white shroud to en-
velope him in, and the white cap to place on
his head. Upon reaching the scatfold Mr.
Koerner made a prayer, asking the for
giveness of heaven for the prisoner.
Having finished the invocation
the Rev DR.. Koerner withdrew a
step while the sheriff and bis deputy came
forward. The sheriff threw over the muir
dersr the white shroud, tied it about his feet
with a stout cord, and then placed on his
head the white cap. This also he tied about
the condemned mans neck. The rope of the
scaffold, with its. slip-noose, was
then tested by he deputy. Finding
it all right he threw it over Jacob
sons head This done, the sheriff and
the deputy turned about-face. Two seconds,
which seemed an age, elapsed before the
sheriff suddenly turned around face to the
murderer and threw up his right arm. At
this signal the unknown eXecutioner cut the
rope which held the trap. The latter came
down with the rapidity of flash of light
| ming and a hollow sound. The murderer
shot down the aperture, and the tension Of
the rope caused the body To revolve like a
spinning-top. One or tive convulsive shud-
ders, and all was over Drs. Bluthardt and
ID. X. Brewer were under the scaffold When
the body dropped They had taken positions
there previously to examine the body, rs pre-
scribed by law.
| jacobson was a Finlander. He was 81
years of age, as nearly as he could remem.
Der. His early days were spent on farm al
home, and he said his father abused him
For seven years he served in the Russian
navy, and there learned to read and write
He WIS proud of showing several wounds
which he earned in honorable ser.
vice. After leaving the navy he be
came seafaring man and had sailed
to all countries on the globe. Fol-
!, years he had he'd no communication with hi;
native land, and owed his terrible death tc
the effects of an ungovernable temper and
bad whisky.
George Redell, the murdered man, was
; about 80 years old. He had been soldie,
through III rebellion and was noted for hi,
courage He was a member of the Unior
Veteran league and had few enemies
The Mignonette CaEnibalism.
/ LaE...>. .ct7 2@.-Capt Dud.ey AM