The evening world., 1894-09-06


last. Van Hise stepped forward and
quickly pulled down the black cap. The
rope was snapped on to the moose about
Altenberger's neck and the hangman
reached for the trigger-rope. which he
tugged sharply.
An instant later the murderer's body
shot up into the air until his head
nearly touched the crosspiece of the
gallows. Then the body fell back and
hung motionless for the space of ten
seconds After that the only, movement
OF the body was an occasional spasmodic
heaving OF the shoulders.
Four minutes after the, weight was
released the body was lowered sum
pulse and heart action. When the body
was cut down at 1880 o'clock, Dr. Bur
dcttc. announced that Altenberg's, eek
rad been broken, and that lie died II
This opinion was not concurred In by
some OF the other physicians, who
thought that the murderer was strangled
to death. The following physicians were
Burdette, Charles X. Law. William Pyle
and George Il. Mclaughlin, who acted
as the Judges Jury, aGd Drs' James
Nevin and w ". Varrick. who con.
stituted the Sheriff Jury.
Altenberger, was buried this afternoon
expenses were assumed by, Dominic
Meury and Sheriff Toffey. The Judges
jury also contributed.
An examination OF the body by the
physicians disclosed the fact that AL
tenberger's neck had not been broken,
and that he died slow death by stran-
gulation.
For hours before the execution took
place a morbidly curious crowd hung
around the street opposite the jail. In
spector Lange and sixty policemen were
ON hand to keep the crowd back. and
there was no disorder.
LAWYER Max SalinRpf AltenbprEpF n
counsel, did not abandon his efforts to
save his client until the last moment
About o'clock Mr. Salinger went to the
house OF Judge Lippincott and applied
for q writ of error. which. II granted.
would act as stay OF execution. The
lawyers visit was, however. useless, AS
Judge Lippincott refused to grant the
Lawyer Peshal. OF Haiiinger notoriety,
was also at the jail this morning. hint
ing that something might happen" be-
execution Whatever II was that Peshall
referred to, 1t evidently did not hap
pen.
during which he played upon her affec-
lions and succeeded I'm obtaining most
Of her earnings. Bernhard Altenberger
shot and killed Katie Rupp, a young
German woman. in a lonely spot near
Snake Hill short distance from Jersey
city, on the evening OF May 10, last.
Altenberger had beer planning. the
crime LOT some time. RE
1t calmly and deliberately, executed il
with the same GOODNESS and never after
wards seemed to regret IT,.
He met Katie Rupp in Rome, n. Y,
where she was employed as a chamber.
maid. He was eight years her junior
She was not prepossessing in appear
anee. but she had little money, and
In short time they were engaged to
be married. She gave him her money
to save, and exchanged her gold watch
for, a cheap silver AFFAIR which he car
ried.
About a month before the final act In
the tragedy Altenberger began compla In
Ing that Rome was dull. He finally in
duced Katie TO go, to Jersey City, where
he said he would marry her. He was
careful not to accompany her on the
train, taking later one himself. At
Jersey city he told the iandlady they
were married. When Katie remonstrat ed
with him for lying he suggested that
| they take a walk.
tained from the girl photograph of
himself which she always carried in
her pocket; He then called her atten-
0R bush behind nSh her, shs aSa
plucked them. Altenberger drew re-
volver, and as she faced him, pulled the
trigger, shooting her In the right breast.
He then ran away, but returned almost
Immediately and fired at her again, the
bullet striking her in the neck.
After robbing her Of a watch and what
money she had. Altenberger left Katie
Rupp for dead
The dying girl was found the following
morning and removed to the Snake Hill
Almshouse where she revived sum
cieatly to tell the story of the shooting
She died two days later.
Altenberger was captured on a Chi
cago limited train at Utica. N. Y, about
a week after the shooting His trial
conviction and sentence speedily fol-
lowed.