Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-05-20
ONLY ONE is HANGED.
Execution Of Marzen and Windrath
at Chicago Stayed by
GOV. Altgeld.

Chicago, ILL.,. May Id Oday tor the
first time since the execution of the Hay
market anarchists, a double hanging was
on the schedule in the Cook county Jail.
The condemned men were Alfred &.
Fields a negro, convicted of the murder
of Mrs Randolph. and Joseph Windrath,
a German, convicted of the murder of
Carey L. Birch. 1t was to have been Il
triple hanging, but Gov. Altgeld yester-
day gave a respite to Mic. Marzden, con
victed of the murder of Fritz Holzhut-
ter, butcher.
Fields was apparently unconcerned last
night and slept sOundly. His companion
did not get any sleep until long after
midnight. He, however, ceased the raw
ing which he has kept up for the last
three or four days and apologized to the
guards for the trouble he had given them
but protested that he was innocent
When his wife left the Jail he cried
Historically for nearly an hour. Then
Fathers Dore and Finn were admitted
and prayed with him for a time. When
they had gone, Windrath lay down upon
the couch in the death chamber, and
with eyes staring at the ceiling remained
unmOved.
As the hour for the execution ap-
preached, Windrath again became vi0-
lent, shouting vehemently Hang up
Mannow." His insanity or imitation of
insanity was of such a character that
it was decided a separate executioner
would be necessary for him If an awful
bungling was to be avoided.
Just before the time set for the eXecu-
ton word came that q stay had been
granted Windrath, Judge Baker allow
ing postponement of three weeks.
Fields, the negro, the only remaining
one Of the trio who were to be hanged to-
day was executed at 1927 D. IN.
Fields smiled on the scaffOld, said
'Good-bye, old sport" to an acquaint-
ance present, and was then strangled to
death, his neck not being broken by the
fall. The other prisoners in the jail set
up loud shout when the drop fell.
Above the din could be heard the shrill
yell of Windrath who had just been re-
prieved. The same wild shrek that has
nearly distracted the Jail inmates for a
week: Hang up Mannow.' The pur-
pose of Windraths respite is to allow
further inquiry as to his sanity.
Alfred G. Fields, according to his own
confession made under oath in court COM
rnitted a particularly horrifying murder.
On the night of February 20 last he had
a quarrel with Mrs. Ellen Randolph,
wife of a Pullman car porter at her
rooms on Dearborn street. He beat her
head into q pulp with a fatiron and
then set fire to the place after having
stolen SO from a bureau drawer. The
fire was discovered and eXtinguished be-
fore the body of Fields victim had been
burned
Fields boldly protested innocence I'M
til his trial began. Then he made a clean
breast Of the murder. Upon this confess
sion which, however, was not made until
his guilt had been clearly established,
he wa! sentenced to be hung.
1t was early in the morning of June %
last that Joseph Windrath with julius
Mapnow, an eX-convict, entered the office
of Carey Il. Birch, money receiver of the
Chicago Street Railway company at the
Armitage avenue station. Both were
masked and with drawn revolyers they
ordered Birch to hand out the money in
his charge. He responded by taking up
a revolver from the desk at which he
was sitting and firing at the masked rob-
bers. AT least a dozen shots Wer eX-
changed Birch fell pierced by three bull
lets. The robbers gathered up $3.50 and
fed.
While On trial Mannow made com
plete confession. The wife of Windrath
pleaded with him to confess and throw
himself upon the mercy of the court
This he refused to do and has since
maintained his innocence. At the time
of his sentence he frequently interrupt
ed the judge with fiippant and impudent
expressions.
a few days ago he began to rave in
his cell and continued shouting Hang
up Mannow." Every effort possible was
made to have his execution stayed on the
plea that he was insane. Gov Altgeld
refused to interfere as neither the Judge
who presided nor the states attorney be-
hcved the condemned man to be out Of
his mind. Mannow has not yet been SEN
fenced.