St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-18
THEY SEE THE MURDERERS,
Inspect the GalloWs and Leis-
urely Feed Fat Their
Curiosity.
WONIGKEIT IS PRAYERFUL,
But 1t Is Doubtful If the Hard
ened Heart Of EpmiSch
Is Touched.

After spending yesterday In the
county Jail watching the army of visit.
ors who called to gaze upon the features
of the young murderers, the observer is
forced to admit that woman is more
morbid than man. Streams of the fair
sex sought and obtained admittance in
the forenoon. Perhaps it was not love
of the morbid that brought them there.
1t might have been sympathy. Then
again it might have been curiosity.
However that may be. they came, and
saw and went away. All visitors were
escorted around the corridor by the
turnkeys. When they arrived opposite
the cells of the condemned men they
were
Not Permitted to Pause and Gaze,
but ordered to pass on. In any event
they could not have seen much. for be-
tween them and those lawful cells''
there was first the iron lattice work
which constitutes the outside of the
corridor, and six feet within the deep,
barred doors of the cells. AS the pro-
cession passed by with funeral pace.
eager eyes peered through the iron
gratings and caught, possibly, a glimpse
of the young criminals, who at this time
tomorrow will be confined within mar
rover limits than their cells.
The condemned men arose at 10
O'Clock in the morning. Ernisch ate
most of his breakfast. Wonigkeit con-
tented himself with a cup of coffee.
Both slept fairly well.
The incident of the day was the fare
we'll between Otto Wonigkeit and his
mother. 1t was too affecting, too sa-
cred to be described in print. The in-
terview between mother and son lasted
an hour.
At Noon They Parted.
The death watchman hopes he will
never witness another scene hike it.
Otto was much moved, and for several
hours did not regain his composure.
lu the afternoon both of the murder
ers received spiritual consolation from
Rev. Niclaus Bolt and City Missionary
E. r. Irmscher. At p. m., when the
GLOBE reporter stood in the corridor,
Wonigkeit was on his knees close to
the iron lattice work. He held a book
in his hand and rested his body against
bench in front OF MIN. Re MIR. Bolt
knelt in the corridor close to the bars,
and as the minister read the divine
word the doomed boy responded. At
the conclusion of the reading the min
lister spoke few words to the youth,
and then both arose. WOnigkeit was
locked In his cell. and then the door of
his confederate's cell was opened.
Ermisch stepped forth with swing
ing. staggering stride, cast quick
glance about him. stepped up to Won.
igkeits cell and signed to him for some
thing. Wonigkeit showed pair of
slippers underneath the door. Ermisch
thrust his feet into them, and, stepping
brlskly toward the wooden altar,
Dropped on His Knees
and proceeded to receive his spiritual
tonic.
There is some difference of opinion
among the Jail officials regarding the
actual frame of mind of the condemned
men. Some say that both are resigned
to their fate and are converted to the
Christian religion. Others think they
are converted but not resigned, while
those who have watched them most
carefully do not believe that Ermisch is
either converted or resigned. Judging
from the demeanor of the fellow Yes
terday, the last is probably true. lie
still exhibits his murderous hatred of
WOnigkelt. Tuesday night he hurled
horrible epithets at him, and also swore
of hi Tt ;,
natural that he never can forgive his
accomplice for betraylng him. Err
misch may, and seemingly does rely
upon his physical courage to support
him through the terrible ordeal, but
that he is converted to any religion.
none but the mCst credulous and opti-
mistic mind can believe. His demeanor
bellies it. Wonigkeit, OH the other
hand. is considered by all the attend
ants and jailers
As a Changed Boy.
He seems, from the very hour the
death warrant sounded in his ears, 70
have honestly appealed to and relied
upon 4 higher power for consolation.
The religious services are boon to him,
while Ermsch has been known to laugh
at his credulity. Wonigkeit may break
down when his eyes behold the dang.
ling rope, but he evidently trusts to
spiritual aid to sustain HIM at the last.
Both of the men partook of dinner and
supper. The latter meal is sent up to
them at p. M, but they do not eat it
until late in the evening, Ermisch in
particular often waiting until IL o'clock,
as he does not retire until midnight.
Ermisch and Wonigkeit will not wear
"solemn black" to the scaffold. Instead,
their clothes will be OF dark gray
mixture, which at distance will look
black, but are sprinbled with gray
enough to relieve the somber effect of
total black. The suits were pur-
chased yesterday Each consists
of a sack coat, vest and trousers.
Two white shirts. two turn-down white
collars, two black silk ties and two
pairs of black slippers Will complete
their final wardrobe. Ermisch did not
want the county to spend much for his
clothes. He told the sheriff that any
thing would suit him, and urged him to
be economical in the purchase of the
wardrobe.
The Scaffold Was Completed
yesterday afternoon. Tue trape were
experimental with and found to work
easily ana promptly i'll response to the
pull of the lever. The men will fall SIX
feet. and their heads will therefore dis
appear beneath the level of the trap.
Nothing remains but to test the rope.
That will be done today. The sheriff