Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-01-31
A DOUBLE DEATH.
George Fainter Twice Executed for the Mur-N
dnp of A lirn Martin

U6f VI AltCV WdIOl.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. 26.-George II.
Painter was hanged at four minutes
past o'clock this morning for the
murder of Alice c. Martin. It was a
bungling execution. The rope broke
at the first attempt. The victim
of the blunder was picked up
limp, another rope was secured
and he was hanged a second time
The first rope used was the same that
was used in hanging the Anarchists.
The scene was a trying one to the peo-
pie who were present to witness the
vindication of the law. The jail physi-
clan said the second hanging was I'M
necessary, as Painters neck was broken
when he first dropped. His body was
taken to Aurora, ILL.,, this afternoon.
Painter smoked a cigar on his way to
the scafold, and tried to retain his COM
posture. After prayer by the Rev. Mr..
Moerdyke, Painter stepped forward
and in q faltering voice said: ''Men
have sought death because they
future life. To-day 1 hate death.
[ don't want to die. If
killed Alice Martin, the woman whom
| dearly loved, pray this minute, my
last minute on earth, that the eternal
God will put me into eternal hell.
Gentlemen, If there is man among you
who is an American in his soul, [ say
see that the murderer of Alice Martin
is found. Goodby."
At 1853, just as Painter had uttered
his last word the signal was given, and
the trap was sprung. AS the body de-
scended there was sharp crack. The
rope had snapped. With a crash the
body fell upon the stone pavement,
turned from it's previous perpendicu-
lar position and the head struck
the floor with tremendous force. In q
second the white cap was saturated with
blood, a cry OF horror went up from the
spectators. The majority rose to their
feet. A few were paralyzed and unable
TO stir: ''Sit down." yelled the bailiffs,
as they emphasized the order by
pushing the spectators back into
their seats. A dozen men rushed
to the foot of the scatfold and
picked up the unconscious man. The
blood was dripping from the back of his
head, and running in q dozen rlYulets
down the white shroud. Four deputy
and as many more the feet, and the in
steps and laid upon the scat
fold. Some intimation of what had
happened must have reached the
prisoners on the other side of the Jail,
few yards distant, for at this moment
there was succession of unearthly
yels and shouts and 6. rafting of iron
doors as though the entire prison colony
had broken loose. Some of the specta-
tors jumped to their feet in alarm, but
the guards again ordered them to keep
their seats.
Meanwhile the trap had been hastily
readiusted, and another rope and moose
prepared. The still unconscious man
was half carried, half dragged to the
center of the trap. The deputy sheriffs
were successful IN keeping the body in
a heap while the moose was
being adjusted, but as soon as
they withdrew, it fell back into a re-
cumbent position. There was a hurried
consultation, and then the body was
stretched out on the trap door with the
limbs from the knees overhanging the
edge. The trap was again sprung. This
time the rope held, although the moose
slipped, and it seemed for moment as
though the head would pass through
u uOClOI SpTduS 10 II0 SIu0 Oh the
swinging body and seized the left wrist
AS he did so, he made the remark: II
believe he was dead when he was car
ried upon the scaffold."
Painters crime was the murder of mis-
mistress, Alice Martin, at their rooms
on South Green Street, near Madison.
During his confinement Painter, who
was Chicago gambler, protested to
become a firm believer in hypnotism
and pleaded for an opportunity to
demonstrate his innocence by being
thrown into a hypnotic trance He
would be compelled, he said, while
under the influence of hypnotist to re-
peat his actions on the night of the MUIR
der; but his request for such test was
refused.
Painter was twice reprieved, affida-
Wits being secured tending to fix the
crime on Dick Edwards, desperate
having some resemblance to Painter,
and now under sentence in Texas for
numbering four other women. After
patient investigation, however, Gov.
Altgeld decided last night that the aft
daVitS were WOrthles