Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-26
THEODORE LAMBERT HANGED
The Colored Murderer Hanged
at Camden, N. J.
DIED DECLARING HIS INNOCENCE
Ate a Hearty Breakfast Before
the End Came.
Faltered on Going 10 the scaifold-Died
Declaring His Innocence = Death Was
Painiess-storv of His Crime and OF the
Remarkable Efforts to save Him.

Philadelphia, Dec. 10. = Theodore
Lambert, the colored murderer of Will
liam g. Kairer, the Camden baker, was
hanged in the Camden county Jail this
morning. The drop fell at 10. 13 and at
10.2 he was pronounced dead.
Lambert broke down and was scarcely
able to walk to the gallows. He arose
early this morning and after carefully
arranging his toilet ate hearty break
fast, consisting Of six fried eggs and
fried potatoes, and drank two cups of
coffee He then had his hair cut and
carefully tied several curls in paper
and asked to have them sent to his
friends
When Lambert reached the steps
leading to the scaffold he faltered and
had to be assisted by the sheriff. He
declared his innocence to the last. His
death was painless
bert to-day paid the death penalty was
the murder of William 6. Kairer,
wealthy Camden baker, on the morning
i Of December 4th, 1893. Lambert en-.
J tered the house and was met by Kairer's
son. The elder Kairer was awakened
by the noise made by his son and the
intruder and jumping from his bed fol-
lowed his son. The burglar escaped by
the back door. The father and son did
not pursue the burglar, but locked the
door and began 10 look around to see
iif anything had been stolen. Finding
everything intact they were about to
return to their beds, when the venetian
blinds in the parlor we're pushed to
one side and three shots were fired. As
the last of the three shots was fired
Mr.. Kairer fell back into his son 8
arms and died without uttering a
word Ono of the bullets had passed
through his heart.
Theodore Lambert was seen by a
Camden policeman about 3 80 on the
morning of the murder and three hours
later was seen to come off ferryboat
on his way from Philadelphia. These
circumstances led the police officials to
suspect Lambert.
Lambert was arrested the following
day and placed in Jail, All efforts to
obtain a confession from him failed
until two months later, February 7th.
On that date he made confession say
ing that he and another colored man
named Josiah Stevenson were the ones
concerned in the murder and robbery.
He insisted that Stevenson fired the
shot which killed the aged baker He
was convicted on June 18th and SEN
fenced to death.
Then begun one of the most extra
ordinary attempts 10 cave a mans life
on record in criminal annals.
Lambert was sentenced to be hanged
on December 18th, 1894, but through
his counsel, John L. Semple, he was
granted reprieve until January 9Th,
in order that his case might be brought
before the Board of Pardons.
The board refused to commute the
death penalty, then Lambert's coun-
sci went before Justice Garrison and
asked for a writ of habeas corpus on
the ground that Gov. Werts had no
legal right to grant reprieve, and that
Lambert's Imprisonment was unla wful.
This writ was refused.
Lawyer Semple then appealed to As.
sociato Justice Shiras of the United
States Supreme Court, and was granted
conditional writ of errors. The writ
acted asa stay of execution and Lawyer
Semple Hurried to Camden county jail,
where he served it upon Sheriff Barrett
one hour before the time set for the
execution.
Later the United States Supreme
Court decided that Gov. Werts' re.
prieve was legal and the appeal wa.
dismissed. GOV. Werts issued another
death warrant fixing June 9th last az
the time for Lambert's execution.
Counsel for the condemned man ther
applied TO Justice Green of the United
States circuit court for the release ot
his client on writ of habeas corpus.
on the ground that while the appea
was dismissed the stay of execution
issued by Justice Shiras was not. AnC
also, that the Governor had no authorit,
to issue the second death warrant, al
the mandate of the United States Su
preme Court had never been filed prom
erly. The application was refused ant
an appeal was taken to the United
States Supreme Court
This petition was denied by the cour
on November 18th, and on Novembe
Goth Lambert was sentenced for th,
third time, the date Of his execution
being set for to-day.
Lawyer Semple again went before thu
Governor and asked for a commute
tion OF sentence, but the Governor re
fused tolinterfere.