River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-02-01

the floor. DIR. Fortner and the
other physicians and Jail officials
hurried TO its side, but there
was not a movement to indicate that
life still existed While the shroud-en-
veloped and bloodstained body lay at
one side of the scaffold with the physi-
clans lowering over it, the drop was put
back in place and new rope was
strung. Then the body was drag ged
to the drop again, while suddenly cries
from the prisoners in other parts of the
Jail broke in upon the almost deathlike
stiffness They had in some way
learned that the drop had fallen The
cries and shrieks were taken up from
cell to cell. and from tier TO tier until
pandemonium seemed 20 have broken
loose. The bailiffs were sent back TO
stop the thrilling clamor.
There was pause in the proceedings
until the cries could be stopped, and
then the body was placed second
time under the rope. 1t was difficult
task to fix the moose, and the scene
was revolving. Blood had trickled to
the bottom of the shroud and the
hood was saturated. The neck had
been broken in the first fail and he
head had to be held up while the moose
was put over it Then it was found
that with the body fat on the drop
there would be almost no fall, ami it
had TO be pulled back to the inner
edge, where it could be support
ed in a sitting position by one
of the Jail officials standing on he
more solid part of the scaffold 1t
seemed a long time, but ~ reality
it was only four minutes from the
time the drop fell the first time until
Jailer Morris gave the signal and il
again fell 1t was sos o'clock when
Painters body Strengthened ont at
the end of the rope after the second fall
and at Sis he was pronounced dead.
Painter kept up his courage to the
last. He had taken liquor to strengthen
him before beginning his march to the
scaffold. He walked to the platform
without tremor. On the scaffold he
made brief speech, concluding as fol-
lows:
IF killed Alice Martin-the woman dear
IL loved, the woman loved so much tina;
would have almost committed crime for her.
i pray this minute-Iny last minute on earth
that the Eternal God will put me
into eternal hell. Look kere. gentlemen, If
there is one man among you Who is Amer
lean. / say to you on his sOul-or his soul,
say. see that the murderer OF Alice Martin IS
found Goodby''
painters alleged crime for which he suffered
the penalty Of death was the murder Of Alice
Martin, in her room at So Green street
about midnight May IL, 1891. A man
named TrUesdale and woman named
Morris also lived in the house. A few
moments before u o'clock they heard
quarreling in the room OF Alice Martin. fol-
lowed by sounds as IL blows were being
struck and fight was in progress.
A few moments later they were startled by
the appearance OF Painter, who rushed
into their room crying out: alice has been
murdered" His coat they declared,
somewhat 81 cody and he was greatly excited
Tney followed him back 10 the room where
they found the lifeless body of Alice
Martin lying across the bed and evi-
dences Of terrible struggle Painter
gave the alarm TO the police. He
was subsequently arrested an at his trial was
convicted Al unsuccessful appeal was made
TO the supreme court. Then Gov. Allgeld WAS
called upon for executive clemency. Twice he
granted a respite. but finally refused 10 inter
fere further. and tie law was allowed TO take
its course