Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-19
AN IGNOMINIOUS DEATH
A Murderer to be Hung IN Iowa-Governol
Larrabee Refuses Pardon.


WEST UNION, Ia., Jan. 12.-The gallows-
was erected this afternoon upon which
Henry Schmidt will be executed to-mor-
row. Schmidt was brought here from
Anamosa yesterday, and in his outward
appearance shows but little appreciation
of his situation. He slept soundly last
night, and when seen this morning was
very contentedly smoking cigarettes. The
crime for which Schmidt will be hung was
| the murder of Lucretia Peek on the ht
OF Sept. 4th, 1856. Peeks lived about
six miles from West Union, and on the
night of the tragedy neighhor named
Leonard stayed with them. Some time,
IN the night Leonard was shot By Schmidt.
l he shot awoke Mr.. and Mrs. Peek. Mr..
Peek sprang up aud found that the house
was on fire. Mrs. Peek had 10 get out of
the window, and as she placed her hand
on the window sill she was shot in the
face by some one on the out
side. She became semi-unconscious
and remained in that condition the bal
ance of the night. Mr.. Peek while try
ing to extinguish the fire was shot at
twice bat noS hnrt. Nothing further was
known positively as to what happened to
him. In the morning his body was found
few rods from the house with
bis head pounded to Jelly.
Schmidt was recognized by Mrs.
Peek who lived until September
25'h. He was tried, and on October 29th
convicted Of murder and sentenced TO be
hanged. Eleven days later he made
confession in which he charged
that Eiison I. Smith, for whom he
was WORKING at that time, persuaded
him TO do the deed, and promised him
five hundred dollars. He also
charged that Smith killed Mr.. Peek.
Smith was then tried and acquitted.
Since it became apparent that Schmidt
would be hanged numerous petitions
have been presented 20 Governor LARA
bee asking that the sentence be GEM
muted. 1t is said that these petitions
bear the names of eighteen handred sign
els. The governor, however, declined to
interfere and it is supposed that his de-
cision was greatly influenced by letter
written him by Judge Hatch, before
whom both Schmidt and Ellison t. Smith
were tried. This letter is now
first published. In it Judge Hatch
said that he believed the
murder was the work of Schmidt alone,
and was prompted by his own depravity,
and that in the hope of executive Glenn
eucy No sought by perjuring himself to
send to the gallows man who be knew
was innocent. Schmidt is a Bavarian,
aud is about 2S years old.
WFsT UNION, Ia, Jan. 13-Henry
Schmidt, the murderer, was hanged here
TO day, at 1920 a. %. The neck was
broken, and at the end of six and three
Gu 'rters minutes he was pronounced
dead. He made another confession cor
roborating his former statements, and
holding that Ellison L. Smith instigated
the crime.
WEST UNION, Ia., Jan. 13.-An autopsy
was held on the remains of Henry
Schnidt, this afternoon. The brain
weighed forty four ounces, and the top
OF his head was quite noticeably fattened
making a traverse diameter greater
than tho normal. The liver was very
much enlarged and showed slight scar,
but the cause of it could not be ascer-
tanned. The body was placed in the town
hall. The funeral will take place Sun
day.