The Indianapolis journal., 1884-10-05
A CONDEMNED WIFE-MURDERER.
Last DAYS of Man Waiting for the Cal
OwS-Characteristics Of Andrew KNrner.

an interesting period, or at least, humanity in
general insists that it is. The subject of this
artice-Andrew kprner, the wife-murderer-is
and has been a very commonplace sort of fel-
low. The last years of his life were occupied in
running milk cart and drinking beer K@rner
was convicted on evidence of q circumstantial
nature. The only possible witness to the deed
was child that could not distinguish between n
murderous blow and loving caress. 1t possibly
sat up in bed and cooed while the blows fell that
beat out its mothers brains. True it is,
when the crime was discovered it was toying
with its mothers bloody tresses. This
infant witness knows, and its father
knows, who committed that crime. The jury
thought it knew, and the public doesn't trouble
itself about the matter. 1t is perfectly centented
with the verdict and if the execution was pub
lie, half the people in the city and county would
be present But in all probability Kerner will hang
Oct. 81, and the writer undertook to say something
about him. The depression came up and deed
l couldn't help it. 1 suppose it is because Andy
has always told me he was innocent, and at times
have thought that way. speak of him famil-
iarly l have known him for five months. We
are neighbors: his cell is No. II, and mine is No.
T. We are Oh the best of terms, and visit each
other, perhaps, on an average of six t;mes day.
This is humiliating confession to make, but
that is about the only way l can account for the
following:
I was in his cell a few moments since, and
joined him in bowl of bread and milk His
brother still continues in the dairy business, and
Andy keeps a large in his cell This is in
lieu of the Teutonic beverage, which Sheriff
Hess scrupulously prohibits. Here is pointer
fOp hn oil oarnt in thp hatiH
is again a candidate.
l said as l swallowed glass of the lacteal
fluid, ANDY, is there any water in this milki'
NO OH no! mine broder never puts water in
the milk. VIII you have piece of rye brode!'
Certainly. Did you ever milk the pump
when you were in the businessH
Milk de what"
The pump"
II bet give de besser milk vot vas got in the
city. never skim the cream off. What you
think the Skuprem Kort do NIT mel7
Indeed, Andy l can't tell Your brother
was here to-day. What did he have to say about
ltl'
He said that there was Something's in de paper
about de Skupreme Kort exciting it this week,
and de execution Oct 81. What dos dot mean!'
did not answer, but he subsequently asked
Buck Farley the same question. Buck has about
as much feeling as Hamlets grave-digger, and
he replied 1T means to take you out and crack
your neck 1t is needless to say he is now feel
ing very blue.
In the foregoing paragraphs I have attempted
to portray in a measure his broken English not
from spirit Of ridicule but with an idea of Civ
ing as completed a picture of the condemned
man as it is possible for my pen to paint. He is
thirty three years of age, and weighs one
hundred and eighty pounds height, perhaps,
mustache and chin whiskers red
His daily dress consists of
check shirt, jeans pants and slippers. He has
black dress suit, which he takes the best possible
aafs nf hAi i,atav dc To
BILE on the occasion when he makes his final bow
and debut into the Great Beyond, Nothing
could be palmer or more simple than this unfor
tunate man, and yet there is something about
him that is intensely interesting. At times he
is as playful and as harmless as kitten A fa-
vorite amusement of his is to get broom straw
and tickle some sleeper. If he succeeds in an
noying his victim he is happy as a child.
Another trick is that of playfully nipping hand
kerchiefs, after the manner taught by Fagin in
"Oliver Twist Occasionally his practical jok-
ing extends to setting fire to the paper curtains
the prisoners hang inside their cell doors. Andy
has been completely dqcked for this trick.
In short, he is easily amused, and as
easily hurt. There is nothing in either his
makeup or nature that would indicate that he
could have committed the deed for which he will
suffer death. Tears come into his eyes on the
slightest proVocaton. | have sat in the cell with
this poor fellow and watched the play of his
coutenance for hours. 1t is so terribly blank
and unexpressive that it would take close Oh
server to guess his thoughts. l have often asked
him:
ANDY, what is new todayP
''Notdings. l think it was a SHAME they keep
me here so long when have done notdings. My
lettle schilder'-and here is where Two great big
tears would well up in his eyes, the eyelids would
quiver, the chest begin to heave, other tears
would come thick and fast, the round
German face would be contorted with
agony, and then it was plain to
see that this big, strong simple fellow was hav-
TO- &c &c
on these occasions, which are becoming more
frequent as his end draws near his eyes will
wander up to the ceiling of his narrow cell, he
will apparently see an imaginary speck that will
command his unbounded attention, then the
speck will move down the wall and out the iron
door, then in again and light on the milk can
from there it will crawl up the wall and finally
rest on little basket. Andys blue eyes follow it
everywhere. DO you know what is in dot
hasket|
mo, Andy
''Some presents for my leetle ehilders' Then
he gets up. takes down the basket as carefully as
if it could feel, and the contents are laid on
the table dot tin horn is for my leetle poy.'
He puts it into his mouth, blows blast that goes
echoing and reverberatng around every corner
of the old Jail. 1t needed that sound TO dispe
the gloom The tears are gone, and a smile
comes over his face like rainbow after storm
These moods come and CO. but | think that they
are occasioned by the loss of his property which
is now all gone, and the condition of his children
three in number, who are now in the German
Orphans Home, | do not think that he has the
slightest realization of his terrible end. He ex-
presses the fullest hope in ultimately getting
out of his trouble But it seems that the
hope is not enjoyed by any one who is at all
familiar with the A brief outline of
his life, given by himself to the writer is as
follows:
He was born in Germany, and worked on a farm
until he was seventeen years of age Then he went
to Baden and was employed in "a hotel for
eral years. He came to this country thirteen
years ago. About two years after his arrival in
this country he worked on a farm in New York
State. Then he drfted out here; he worked
some five years in the starch factory, got mar
ried, and two years ago he started dairy on
South Meridian street. Here it was that the
murder was committed the details of which are
IL,