Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-21
MURDERER FIELDS HANGED.
NEGRO PAYS THE PENALTY FOR
KILLING MRS. RANDOLPH.
Twas to Have Been a Triple Hanging.
but Two of the Condemned Are
Respited.

Chicago, May 16.-Alfred c. Fields, a
negro convicted Of the murder of Mrs
Randolph, was hanged in the Cook
county jail yesterday. 1t was TO have
been a triple hanging, but Gov AIT
geld gave respite to Mic MarZen, con-
Victed of the murder Of Fritz HClzheu.
ter, butcher, and Judge Baker grant
ed stay of three weeks in the case of
Joseph Windrath, white man convict
ed of the murder of Carey B. Birch.
Fields slept soundly. Windrath,
whose stay was granted but a few min
utes before the hour sci for the execu-
ton, did not get to sleep until long al
raving which he has kept up for the
last three or four days and apollo
gized 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. Fathers Do-e and Finn were ad-
mitted and prayed with him for a
time. When they had gone Windrath
lay down upon a couch in the death
chamber and with eyes staring at the
ceiling remained unmoved.
Fields smiled on the scaffold,
quaintance present, and was then
strangled to death, his neck not being
broken by the fail. The other prison.
ers 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 reprieved. 1t was the
same wild shrek that has nearly dis.
tracted the Jail inmates for a week
Hang up Mannow." The purpose OF
Windrath's respite is to allow further
inquiry as to his sanity.
Alfred c. Fields, according to his
own confession, made in court, com
mitted a particularly horrifying muir
der. On the night of Feb. 20 last, he
had a quarrel with Mrs. Ellen Ran
dolph, wife of a Pullman car porter,
at her rooms on Dearborn street He
beat her head into pulp and then set
fire to the place, after stealing ST.
from a bureau.
1t was early in the morning. June 60
last, that Joseph Windrath, with Jul
Illus Mannow, an eX-cOnvict, entered
the office of Carey B. Birch, money re-
ceiver for the Chicago Street Railway
company at the Armitage avenue sta
ton. Both were masked and with
drawn revolver5 they ordered Birch t.
hand out the money in his charge. He
'esponded by taking up a revolver
.1om the desk at which he was sitting
md firing at the robbers. At least
..czen shots were exchanged. Bircn
fell, pierced by three bullets. The rob-
bers gathered mp $365 and 1ed. On
trial Mannow made a complete comics
sion. A few days ago Wlndrath be-
gan 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
to interfere, as neither the judge who
presided nor the states attorney be-
lieved the condemned man to be out of
his mind. MannoW has not yet been
sentenced. AS the hour for the execu-
ton approached Windrath again be-
came violent, shouting vehemently:
Hang up Mannow.' His insanity or
imitation of insanity was of such a
character that it was decided separ-
ate executioner would be necessary for
him if an awful bungle was 10 be
avoided. Just before the time set for
the execution word came that a stay
weeks.