Rock Island daily Argus., 1891-10-23
tDIED AT MIDNIGHT.
Murderer Executed Under Min.
nesota's New Law.
THE SHERIFF IMPROVES HIS STYLE,

And There Is No Scene of Horror This
Time-CooIness and Defiance Displayed
by the wretched Victim of the Gall
lows-wanted To BE in Good shape for
the "Picnic"-Swung OF Unrepentant
and Denying His Guilt.
FERGUS FALLS, Mimi, Oct. 23-The
paIlid half moon which rose upon dark
world from behind the eastern CLOUDS
shortly before 1890 this morning brought
with it death to at least one human being,
for as its disc appeared above the clouds
Albert Goheen, the murderer of Rosetta
Bray, felt the hangman's moose tighten,
and dropped from life to death. The les
son enforced upon Sheriff Billing, of Otutr
Tail county, at the execution of Rose at
Redwood Falls week ago, was well
conned. He made no mistakes. The rope
did not break There was nothing that
could be termed scene"
Wanted To Be Ready for "the Picnic.''
Goheen went to bed at an early hour in
the evening, saying as he did so, that 10
thought a little sleep would leave him ain
better shape for the picnic" From the mo-
ment he pulled the bed clothes over him the
two night watchmen who sat outside the
barred cell and looked at him saw no
movement. Whether he slept or not could
not be discovered. Outside the Jail in the
sheriff's Office the deputies and officials sat
and waited. One by one the the few spec
tators, the coroner, and Rev. Father
Lauge, arrived and were admitted. Ii
was shortly before midnight when Gohe, n
was aroused and told that the priest was
waiting to see him. He put on his clothes
and said he was ready.
The Priests Labor Unavailing.
The priest entered the corridor and
talked with him a few m omen is, but the
sigh heaved as he came away told the
story of Goheen's unrepentant heart.
The watchman asked the prisoner if he
wanted anything to eat, but he declined.
1t was scarcely five minutes after u
o'clock when Sheriff Billings entered the
corridor to read the warrant. This cere-
mony over, Goheen was offered and
drank some stimulant. Now, Bert,
said the sheriff, the time has come; you
must show yourself to be brave man"
Goheen said nothing, but shut his lips
tightly and when Watchman Holmes
stepped forward to manacle him, he put
his hands behind him promptly.
Walked Defiantly to Death.
The march to the trap in the upper cor
ridor began, Sheriff Billings leading the
way. The prisoner walked with quick,
firm step, and held his head up as defiant
ly as if he was, indeed, innocent. He
walked directly to the trap and took his
position without any assistance. Mr..
Holmes fastened the manacles around
Goheen's ankles and straps at his knees
and around his body, pinioning his arms
to his sides. The sheriff then adjusted
the moose about his neck. He stood firm
ly and squarely on his feet. 1t was sheer
pluck, for he was perfectly aware he was
going to die the next minute. Then
Holmes stepped off the platform and in
sanity Sheriff Billings kicked away the
wedge and pulled back the lever
Died Felon at Twenty-One.
The trap door swung down on its hinges,
and Goheen shot through its opening like
an arrow. 1t was 1915 when the drop fell.
His neck was broken by the drop, and he
was pronounced dead twenty minutes
afterwards. He was only Il years old.
Last March he murdered Rosetta Bray, a
dissolute woman with whom he had been
intimate. He shot her with revolver on
the railroad track near this city. Goheen
charged his brother Anderson with the
crime up to the very last.