The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-07
SENT TO DEATH TOGETHER.
A DOUBLE HANGING IN LOUISVILLE.
Charles D1ger, the Murderer OF ohicers
Jones and Rosenberg, and Harry Smart,
the Slayer of Meisner Green and
Belle Ward-Their Crimes.

LOUISVILLE, KY, July 31.--Charles Dilger
and Harry Smart were hanged at 6:04 o'clock
this morning ia the Jail yard. At $50 o'clock
Father Brady and Father Nicholas gave way
TO Deputy Sheriff Henry Bell, who read the
death warrant to each OF the men. They stood
in their cell doors, both handcufed, and
listened attentively 10 the reading. The line
of march to the scafiold was formed at 5:45
o'clock. Both Dilger and Smart walked firmly
up the steps, Dilger leading the way unassisted.
Father Nicholas read the service of the cath.
Ollie church, the crowd maintaining breath
less silence. Deputy Sheriff Ragland mean
while took his place near the trap rope. Both
men were very pale during the reading At
the conclusion of the service Smart and digger
babe goodbye to all the turkeys. They then
took positions on the traps. Smart laughed as
he stepped upon the fatal door. Deputy
Sheriff Hikes pnioned them with bands at
o'clock
The rope cut at 6:o4 o'clock exactly and
both men shot down through the traps. Smart
turned round and probably died instantly, but
Dileer slipped through the moose. the rope
catching him over the chin at the lower teeth.
He was seemingly unhurt and was drawn up
by the rope until his shoulders came through
the trap when the deputies took him 10y the
arms and pulled him up on the scaHoid. Il
new rope was brought into service and when
the moose adjusted digger asked: What's
the matter?" When being told the rope has
slipped its knot" he said: This shows l
should not die" He placed himself upon the
trap the second time by making two hops
The drop again sprung at 6:09 and he
strangled to death.
The crime for which Charles Dilger paved
the severest penalty of the law espec-
tally brutal and revolving One-the double
murder of two policemen, officers of the law
h., -
Thursday, Aug. TO- 1888, at ? o'clock in the
morning, on Lafayette-st., one OF the most dis
reputable thoroughfares in the city. The scene
was a lively one. At that hour, just as Officers
James W. Jones and Joe Rosenberg had left
the corner OF Preston and Lafayette-sts., they
were startled by cries of murder" ''heip." in
a female voice. The cries came from the house
No. 9S Iafayette-St., house Infamous for the
crimes and murders committed within its walls
The officers ran in and found Charles digger in
the act of beating Mary Burns alias Buggy"
Burns, with whom he was living. The officers
disappeared within the door of the room but
what took place in there has never been dis
covered. a few minutes later, a man, hatless
and coatless, ran down the steps with blood
streaming from his head. 1t was Dilger and he
continued l. Digit until arrested two hours
later in the W, tern portion of the city.
In the hallway of the landing On the second
floor was found the dead body of Officer Jones.
In his head was deep wound from a knife.
The blade had penetrated the brain. In the
heart was another knife wound. Either would
have caused his death. From the room occu-
pied by Dilger and the woman came faint
means, and in there Dnger's second victim was
expiring. Stretched on the floor at the foot of
the bed was Officer Rosenberg. He was in
sensible. From a knife wound his right
temple dripped drops of blood. He died the
next afternoon.
Dilger was captured by the police two hours
after his double crime had been committed.
After two trials and an appeal TO the supreme
court, the governor refused to commute his
sentence TO life term in the penitentiary, and
his execution took place to-day.
The crime for which Harry Smart was hanged
one of the most revolving ever recorded in
the history of this state. There was no direct
testimony but the circumstantial evidence was
of the most positive and strongest kind. On
the 9th day of July, 1888, Smart his wife, who
was a low prostitute named Laura
Haight before he married her, heis-
ner Green aud an abandoned woman
named BelleWard concluded to leave Louisville
and 90 to Madison, Ind. Smart had formerly
lived there and be thought they could all do
better there than in Louisville. They started
up the river In q row boat. On the 9Th inst.
the body of an unknown woman was found
floating in the river at the foot of Clay-st. Her
throat cut, and a stone, weighing about
fOrty-hve pounds, was tied to her feet. The
next morning the body of a man floating In the
river found. forty-pound stone was also
tied to his feet HIS throat was cut ard there
was hole in the back OF bis head. Decompo-
sition was so far advanced that his features
were unrecognizable Wesley Green the
brother of Meisner, identified the body by the
clothing. Acquaintance OF the Ward woman
identified her also by the clothing she wore.
Tine police followed this evidence up with
strong chain OF corroboratlve incidents, and
the condemned man was unable to secure even
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