New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-02-20
SA MURDERER HUNG.
John Lee. the SLAYER of Charles Chalin, Legal.
" strangled at Alexandria.

ALEXANDRIA, Special Telegram. Feb. 10
John Lee was hanged at precisely two min
utes of 10 O'Clock this morning in the, tenn
porary yard Of the little Douglas county JAIL
His body shot down several feet, swung half
around, and hung as motionless as a log for
minute and a quarter. Then the knees
drew up slightly as an effort at inspiration
was made. Ten seconds later there was
again a slight movement o the closely pinon-
ed legs, and three seconds later a similar
motion. barely perceptible. Then all was
still Not even the twitching of a muscle in
John Lees hands, the only portion of his
body exposed, could be discerned In the
first minute after the long drop Lees pulse
beat twentyeight times; in the second
eighteen: in the third, ten; in the fourth only
trace Of four beats could be felt. Fifteen
seconds later no pulse could be toun /. Then
the breast Of the criminal was barred and the
stethoscope applied. In the first fifteen
seconds the heart gave tWenty-f five full BEATS
At the end of the fifth MIMI e after the drop
fell there was only muir nur of the heart At
the end OF the ninth minute the murmur had
dWindled to a mere trace. Five minutes
later John Lee was dead, though the
announcement was not officially made
until two minutes later. Practically
ne had been dead Tor at least ten Minutes
dead by strangulation. In a cell not fifty
feet away fgom the CHASTITY scene sat Martin
Moe, who, until forty-five minutes before
udu eApecUeu 10 1uceU Une same 10Te as Lee
SO, accordingto q justice which has seen fit
to be melted out by men. the murder of
Charles Chalin has been expiated. John Lee
is dead. Martin Moe, better prepared to die
than Lee, goes to the penitentiary under a life
sentence. Moe. really responsible for the
murder, has life given him. Lee, the worth
less son OF a worthless man, dies at the end
OF rope Public sentiment here does not
approve this result. But this could not
change it.
THE LAST HOUR.
But one hour for ohm Lee. and still Mar
tin Moe was in ignorance Of the communal
ton Of his sentence to life imprisonment. Mr..
Wilcox sad he would prepare the men as
quickly as possible for the receipt Of the news.
He feared that Lee would break down, as
did nearly all who had seen the
prisoners. But Lee had braced up wonder
fully. 1t seemed cruelty to bring Moe SO near
to what he thought certain DEATH The last
sacrament administered the last farewell
said, he was waiting for his summons to the
gallows where for fifteen hours everybody in
Alexandria but the two prisoners knew that
he was not to hang. The minutes dragged
slowly by, and still Mr.. Wilcox gave no in
timation to the sheriff that he was ready
1t was cruelty refined. Standing directly in
front of Moe, Sheriff De Frate spoke to him
briefly and to the point. Martini he said,
Give got good news for you. At least it
would be regarded by most men as good
news, but | don't know how you'll like it.
received a telegram from Gov. Merriam last
night committing your sentence to imprison-
ment for life'' Moe, from whom the shadow
Of death had thus been lifted, nodded his
head that he understood, but his tace be-
trayed no emotion. Turning quickly to
Lee the sheriff said: - ohm. you have got to
be executed. Lee nodded his head in acqui-
essence in nervous way and shot one fleet
ing, memorable look at Moe. 1t
would be hard to analyze the
meaning of this look
MOE LIFE SAVED.
Gov. Merriam, at O'Clock Thursday after
Doon, decided to commute the sentence of
death passed upon Martin Moe, one of the
two men condemned to hang at lexandria,