The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-01
HANGED FOR MURDER.
Charles Asimus. the Hunchback.
Executed at kalama.
he WAS GLAD TO LEAVE PRISON
Lloyd Montgomery. the Boy Murderer
of Linn Co. Or. swung on PEN
ifenG bat Unfiinching.

Kalama. Jan. sI.--CharIes Aslnsus was
Hangsd here today ~ s.5e O'Clock FOR the
raEr Ter % James Greenwood at the Fowler
Ranch near Kel@o. September q. lsss.
As.mus slept fairly Sell last n.zfsf. He
woke Up some foEr or I've times and aA,cess
the guard what time II was tie sad ~
vas glad the ..rne was so near. and xarsfaa
10 get ~ early 50 that ne would be- reafiw
Last night Be spoke Of has brother in Trfah
several tines. SAYING. My broff,s~ = a
big man, but be has small heart Char
ley claims thai when his brother had SEX
pess and death 10 his family he furnished
money 70 pay bills 20 the amount OF fss8
but when Charley got into trouble hts
brother had no money for him, and while
he expressed himself "a Being very sorry
for Charley he did not come TO sec hsrn
The condemned man arose and dressed
about O'Clock. and ate light breakfast
with aboaft the usual reiish. He seemed
brighter and more composed than he has
been for several DAYS
At exactly $50 O'Clock Astrnus came out
Of his cell and walked between two deputy
sher.Ts up the steps Of the scafToldg As
soon he was ia position on TIE drop he
commenced talking ia a hss.tatlng dis
connected manner. Ills words were. II
must lie I am all right The sheriff ne
good nan, I one bal man must die. I'm
All right" While ne sas saving this the
deputies we're Swapping his arms and legs
and adjusting the Moose. WITH the Last
words Sheriff Watson touched the lever a.
s.32 and the body dropped nine feet. The
doctors reported him dead in four minutes,
AMI he was cut down fifteen minutes after
the drop.
As.mus was a huncfffack. about IS years
Of age. He was born IN Germany. where
he lived until grown. He claimed that his
cesormity was due to an accident which
happened when he was fifteen years OF
age. He was carrying "A heavy sack OF 20
fatoes up some stone steps when he SLIP
ped and fell In such "a manner as TO injure
his spine. His father refused 20 have his
injuries properly cared for saving that
he vas only tr.Esng boy and not worth
the expense. Assmus' hack always gave
hin much trouble. subiecting him 10 ex-
IRENE nervous spells. on first coming to
the Pacific coast from Nebraska, Asinus
secured employment with A nurseryman at
woodaurn, Or. He afterward met John
Greenwood in Portland. and was hired TO
work on his farm in this county He work
cd three months. when he had a disagree
ment win his employer. whO discharged
him without paying him his wages due.
Asamus sued Greenwood and GOT a judg-
ment against him. but he could not give
the bond necessary 10 execute II. This
aggravated him. and he decided 10 take a
gun and scare Greenwood into paying him
When they met. Greenwood told him he had
no money. After talking a while Assmus
became very angry and shot Greenwood
Killing him Instantly. When first confined
ksImus vas in a depiorable condition ply
sically ard steadily grew worse. He once
tired 10 commit suicide by opening the ar
seFies Of his arm with the wire points or
HIS shoesfrtngs. He was discovered after
ne had become unconscious from loss of
blood. and was brought back TO Efe by ply
ssclans. After his arrest he took a very
gloomy view ~ his plight lie would say:
81 am nothing but hunehhaek. and every
one Is against me" The fact that he was
q cripple and had had many reverses SEEM
al 20 have emhittered him, and he felt as
though the whole world had turned against
him Assmus was raised q Lutheran. and
when talking about the future he express
al confidence in bis sins having been for
given He said he believed every man
must do his own PRAYING, and that tho
PRAYERS Of the preacher or priest would
avail nothing As the day Of execution
drew near ASlmus became very nervous.
and could get no rest except when under
The influence OF drugs. when asked n he
would walk 10 the scaffold. Asmus said
that he al not feel that he had the eour-
age that many men claimed 70 have. but he
was glad that ne was going TO de; life In
PRISON would be worse than death for him.