Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-20
LAMBERT HANGED
The End Of a Remarkable Legal Fight
for Life.
Futile Appeals to a Governor and
to the State and the Federal Su-
preme Courts to Save a Self-COn-
fessed Murderer Sketch Of His
Crime.

Philadelphia, December 19.-Theo-
dore Lambert was hanged in the Cam
den Jail shortly after 10 o'clock.
Lamberts crime was the murder OF
William G. Kairer, a wealthy Camden
banker. on December 4, 1898. Ka.rer
resided with a married son. Early in
the morning young Fairer was awaken
ed by some one trying to open his bed
rcoom door. He rose, and upon opening
the door came face TO face with a color
ed man in the hallway The latter re-
treated and started down stairs, young
Ka.rer following him. The elder KARI
er was awakened by the noise and came
out into the hallway as the Two men
were rushing down stairs. He followed
his son down. buc the burglar escaped.
The father and son did no, pursue him,
but locked the door and looked around
TO see if anything had been stolen.
Finding everything intact they were
ABOUT TO retur to their beds, when the
venetian blinds in the parlOr were push-
aside and three shots were fired. MI
Kairer and his son were standing in 0he
diningro0m, Immediately in the rear Oh
the parlor, and separated from tne room
by heavy curtains AS the last Oh tne
three shots was fired Mr.. Kairer fell
back into his sons arms and died with
out uttering a word One Of che bullets
had passed through his heart
Lambert was arrested Tor the murder
the next day and on February he
made a confession 10 the effect chat
he and another cOl0red man named
Josiah Stevenson were the ones concern
ed in the murder and robbery. Lambert
was placed on trial June "A, 1894, and
convicted the following day Of murder
in the first degree. Stevenson was not
raigned until September %. He was
acquitted the following day.
Then began one Of the most eXtraor-
binary efforts in criminal annals 10
save a mans life On October 10 Lam
bert was sentenced TO be hanged on De-
cember 80. 1894. but through The efforts
of his counsel he was granted re-
pr:eye until January in order THAT MS
ease might be brought before the Board
Of PardOns On December Is the Board
of Pardons refused to commute the
death penalty TO Imprisonment for life,
On December % Lambert's counsel
went before Justice Garrison and asked
for q writ of habeas corpus, on the
ground that Governor Werts had no
legal right TO grant reprieve, and that,
therefore. Lamberts imprisonment was
unlawful. Justice Garrison refused the
writ. and Lawyer Sempie then went be-
fore Chief Justice Beasley for a writ OF
certorari TO renew the death warrant
retrieve and proceedings on the ground
tina. the governor had no prercgaIve TO
| issue q death warrant in violation Of the
constitution. This writ was also re-
fused.
Appeal was next made to Associate
Justice Shiras. of the United States
Supreme Court, who granted conti-
I t.0nal writ Of error, which was made
! effective by the Endorsement Of Judge
Dallas, Of Philadelphia, sitting in the
United States Circuit Court The writ
Of Justice Sh,ras acted as a stay of exc
cution. and Lambert's attorney 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 Governor Werts re
prieve was legal and the appeal was
dismissed. Governor Werts issued an
other death warrant, fixing June 27 las.
! as the time for Lambert's execution.
Counsel for the condemned man then
applied TO Justice Green, of the United
States Circuit Court. for the release Of
his client on a writ OF habeas corpus.
on the ground that while the appeal
was dismissed the stay Of execution
issued by justice Shiras was not. And
also that the Governor had no author
ity TO issue a second death warrant. as
the mandate Of the United States
Supreme Court had never been filed
properly. The application was refused
and an appeal was taken to the United
States Supreme Court This petition
was denied by the Court on November
Is, and on November %, Lambert was
sentenced for the third time. the date
Of execution being set for to-day.