Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-14
SCHMIDT TAKES A SWING.
The West Union Murderer Falls
and Breaks His Neck.
A PAINLESS BOOST HENCE.
He Acknowledges the Shooting Of
Smith, But Claims That Smith In
stigated the Crime and Killed
Peek Himself.
Schmidt's Final Fall.

City of Chester Bellows, the murderer OF
Alice Waterman TO people of West Union
to-day seemed but a holiday. Despite the
storm, business and professional men from
neghboring towns and villages and rural in
habitants for many miles around poured into
the city, anxiously hoping that they might be
afforded an opportunity TO witness the re-
pellant spectacle. Thirty hours prior to the
execution all was in readiness. The gallows
used in the execution of Bellows was
modelled after the one used in Chicago to
hang the anarchists and was erected inside a
high board enclosure. Over the drop swung
the small yet famous hangman's rope that
four weeks ago had done such excellent
service-the rope on which Lingg was to
have been hung. This morning all
hopes of a reprieve or Communication
were gone. Among the leading men
of the city and country words of
pity mingled with feeling of regret were ex-
tended toward the.criminal who was soon
TO hang-pity because of his youth and regret
because of the committal of crime heineous
TO the mind.
AT an early hour a squad from Company G.,
Fourth regiment |. N. c., were stationed
around the encl osure to keep back the SEEM
ingly morbid crowd, which, on account of the
extreme cold was changed every ten minutes
Schmidt passed a very uncomfortable night
sleeping but little. AT an early hour he arose
and ate u heavy breakfast and smoked a
cigar A 1915 those having tickets were
admitted to the enclosure. AT 1928 the roll
of jurymen was called and at 80 the pro-
cession appeared on the scaffold.
The sheriff announced that his prisoner
desired to speak, and as he stood up on the
fatal drop, Schmidt, ia a low, but firm voice,
said: "Gcntlcmen, you all know / have
been convicted OF murder. was induced TO
commit the crime by Ellis Il. Smith. He
talked to me about it at the bars and said he
go il he would go with me and when the
moon was down we went over together.
When we got there he told me to go in and
shoot Leonard, as knew where he was
sleeping. did shoot and Mr.. Leonard SAID:
Il am shot. l went out and Smith told me to
get some hay and set a fire, which did.
When MIR. Peek came out to get water Mr..
Smith said to me to shoot | shot, but did
not intend to shoot him. Then Mr.. Peek
came out with a lantern and Mr.. Smith told
me to stand at the window and he would go
after Mr.. Peek. While was at the window
somebody tried to get out and 1 shot, but
whether hit anyone don't know. Pretty
soon somebody came running toward the
house and ran, too, and we went home to-
gether. The next morning Mr. Smith said
that when wanted the $500 all had to do
was to ask for it, but that l had better stay
with him until they got done talking about it.
and as hope to be forgiven by God hope to
be forgiven by you.n
As he spoke the last sentence his lips
trembled slightly, but otherwise he exhibited
not sign of weakness, dying game. The
moose was adjusted and the cap drawn over
his head and ut l0:35 the drop fell, and with
out u struggle other than a slight movement
OF the lower limbs, caused by muscular con-
traction, his life passed out.
Doctors Robinson, Patterson, Darnal and
AnRyprfh af tpOlx oh Of hn hOd u tn
note the pulse and in ten minutes announced
Its cessation. The body has been removed to
the town hall, awaiting funeral services and
burial Sunday.
this morning for the murder of Lucreta
Peek on the 4th of September, 1885. He
made statement on the scaffOld admit
ting the murder and charging that Ellison l.
Smith insteated it and was present at the
time, and that Smith killed Abram Peek.
His last words were: Gas l hope to
be forgiven of God, hope to be forgiven of
men" The drop fell ut :36 and in SIX and
threequarters minutes Schmidt was dead
His neck was broken and he died without a
struggle.
At midnight Schmidt laid down but did
not sleep very soundly. At o'clock this
morning he arose and ate a hearty breakfast.
His two aunts and clergyman called ON him
and found him quite cheerful. The clergy
man prayed with him and then gave him his
blessing. The morning was bitterly cold and
cutting wind was blowing when the officers
and prisoner appeared upon the scaffold,
Schmidt addressed a few words to the few
spectators who were admitted to witness the
execution. He said he wished all to know
that he admitted the commission of the crime,
but charged that Ellison T.. Smith instgated
1t. He said Smith offered him $500 to kill
Abram Leonard, and he agreed to do it if
Smith would go with him. Smith agreed to
this and they went together to Peeks house
and he went inside and shot Leonard. Then
Smith told him to 20 and get some (which
he did, and attempted to set the house
on fire. When Peek got up, Smith told him
(SchmidD to shoot him. He shot at him, but
missed him; then Peek put the fire out and
Smith told him to guard the house and he
(Smith) would go and finish Peek After
this was done both left the place. Next
morning Smith told him that he would get
he should not say anything. He promised to
keep quiet. The prisoners Closing words
were: 81 thank you, gentlemen, and want
to say that have no hard feelings against
anybody, and as / hope to be forgiven of God
nope to be forgiven by you, too Through
out his speech his voice was calm and at its
close he walked on the trap with
q firm tread, The white cap was
placed over his head, the rope adjusted and
at 10 ;3G the drop fell. There was convul
sive quver and slight contraction of the
muscles, but no struggle whatever. At six
and three-quarter minutes from the time the
drop fell he was pronounced dead The body
was allowed to hang fifteen minutes longer
and was then taken down and placed in the
Jail corridor, where it was examined by
physician, who pronounced the neck broken
The body will be turned over to his aunt
who will take charge of the burial. The eX
ecution was witnessed by Judge Hatch, whC
presided at the trial, aud by the jury, as re
quired by law, the clerk of the court
the county attorneys and few vistinl
sheriffs and reporters. Schmidts dyinl
declaration, which was in perfect accor,
with his confession and with every statcmen
made by him since he first confessed, ha
done much to lead public opinion to the belle
that he was not alone in planning the mur
der. Still, however, there are some VIII
stoutly maintain that he was alone in tn
crime and cite the fact of the boys previou
life and also that his father committe
murder in Bavaria, IA fact that has bee
substantiated by thorough investigation.
Ellison T. Smith, who was tried for tn
same crime on Schmidt's confession and wa
acquitted, has gone to Kansas.
An autopsy was held on the remains thi
afternoon. The brain weighed forty yfou
ounces and the top of the head was quit
noticeably flattened making the transvers
diameter greater than the normal. The live
was very much enlarged and showed sligh
scar but the cause of il could not he ascel
tanned. The body was placed in the tow
hall The funeral tnhes Mace Sunday