The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-06
WITHOUT A TREM0R.
GOERS.N PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE
TO THE LAST,
Edt the laws Edict Is 1rrevocabIe, aud
ia. iiansman Has His Victim The
Bou5le Crime and the i'Iaof
II Guilt.

PHIIADE Pr Ma"ct 6-Dr Albert u.
+. GoerSen was hanged at the county prison
at 1923 Thursday morning for poisoning his
"ife nesrly five years ag,
Ii vas past midnight when D.. ,,04rsan
threw himself "a ms GOT to sleep Fof al
hour or more ne tossed about unea .liy but
finally naSsei oil INTO iuis' slumher
restei peacefully until ainoJ daylight
The few holrr' >ieep had geIyed 10 lpfrest
him, ard DC arp ared caImer in the morn
ing At o'sl3I breakfast. consisting
q sthdk .tnd potatoes, was brought. bat
the G"omed man ate sparingly. Shortly
afterward the Rev Mr.. Thomas and the
Rev. s.r. LaipSner arrived, and, entering the
cell, uliered up Il fervent prayer, and then
sat down and talked with the man who was
to die Of the hopes of the hereafter
At $50 Sheriff keim. accompanied by bis
deputies arrived at the prison. At 10:17
o'clock the procession was formed for the
scaifoll in twos, beaded by the deputy sher
ifs The line passed through the door lead
ing to the corridor and as the head reached
Gner-en's cell the clergymon emerged
with the condemned man walking between
them Sheriff Keim followed, and the omar
tette took their places at the head of the line
DIR, Goersen lid not look up, hut walked
slowly, with very slight signs Of trepila
zion, to the foot Of the gallow steps lie
halted for q moment and lifted hi
head. A shuiler shook him, hui
only for Il momoat Bravoly he walked
up the stems with the CergyIne1
On either side Nj Leipsner offered .
prayer, and when he had finished Goarsen,
slightly shifting his position began 10 speak
Tic said he was q wrongf ullY accused man,
that he had no hand in the death either of
his wife or his ni,e's mother He felt be
said, that circumstances were against him,
bat that p, tue as ne hopeI t. most hi,
God he was an innocent man. His voice
Nas clear and did not faltcr, and as the last
words We're said he drew in a long breath
and slightly inclined his head
The cap WAS drawn, his limbs pminneI
and at l023 o'clock the drop fell Tw
minutaS a!tor there was u convrlsve move
ment If The chest, n mighty throo that az
ita5Hd the entire boly, and all was still
i5'a WIS extinct in FIVE minutes. His body
after hanging twenty-five minutes was de
hyored over TO his friends for burial.
Young GueISoH, whose father was a very
respectable physician, was a man of many
occupations and leading wandering life
In April, 1879, he married the daughter of
Mrs. Elizabeth F. Soudcr, in whose house
he had been boarding for some time. Mrs
Souler died ii March, 1850, under s;tspic
ious circumstances, after she had ex
ecuted will in favor If hnr aor,b+,.
Goerson's wife. On the Tuesday following
tbe sunday yvhan Mr. soua.r a.,,. ,,,,.:,,i
Mrs. Goerson, her daughter and the VITA Of
the prisoner. who had heen in rood haaIf
up to that time, wa, tsku in and howe
the same svmptoms which had character
lied her mothers last Illness From dav :.
day she grew worse and on Thursday Dr
Goersen sent for a scrivener to draw hi.
wifa's will. The scrivener urapared th,, viii
on that afternoon. and on Friday u,o,-,is,,,