The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-18
STRANGLED TO DEATH
Murderer Austin, Alias Allsop,
COnfesses His Guilt.
HANGS HIMSELF IN HIS CELL.
Slayer Of Lena Olson Tears . Strip
From His Blanket and With It
Ends His Career ON Earth.

before Yesterday by Detective John Court
ney OF Minneapolis. and Detective Phil
brick. of the local force, on the charge OF
having murdered Lena Olson at Duluth.
August n. 1884,, while Incorporating as A.
A Austin. confessed his guilt last even
ing by slowly s.rangiing himself IN his
cell at the city jail
His body was discovered at 10:9 O'Clock.
hanging by 4 short piece OF blanket tina,
had been tied to a staple in the wall, and
then put around his neck The determina-
ton of the man to kill himself was made
specially prominent by the fact that the
staple was not more than FIVE feet above
the floor, while he was d trifie under six
feet tall.
Allsop passed lonely day IN jail. He
was visited BY Acting Chief of Police
Reed. Detective Phiibrick and Detective
Courtney. When Phlbrick talked with
him he came very near making confess
sion that he had passed under the name
OF Austin in Duluth.
why did you give the name OF Austin
in DULUTH asked the detective.
WELL replied Allsop, ''it is not pleas
ant for a man who has been up in the
world to have people know that he is
broke. / was stock broker IL Chicago.
but lost everything had"
While this was not point-blank confess
sion that he was IN Duluth as Austin. 1t
said as much in other words. Detective
Ph.lbrick then changed the subject. think
ing 1t was well to let well enough alone.
Why was it," he continued. that you
registered under three different names in
this city. namely. Alison. Ailsop and Olson.
and yet never change your ROOM?
Allsop went on to explain that while the
names as they appeared on the register
might make IL appear that he had used
different names, yet as a matter OF fact
he really meant to write the same name
every time. He tried TO explain how it
was that 1t would be a very easy matter
TO mistake the outlines of the letters. and
take a misty IN for ''p."
Acting Chief Reed conversed with Allsop
about noon. but the conversation was of
no special import Later in the day De-
tective Courtney went in TO see his pris-
oner.
The appearance Of the mans face caused
this thought TO pass through Courtney's
mind: His nerve is breaking, and he Will
be ready to confess soon" II was not the
detectives intention to force confession
out of Alisop. so he did not press him
with questions
Il am satisfied" said Mr.. Courtney.
"that Allsop would have told me the story
IL had pressed him. for l could see that
he was a different man than al the time
We caught him in the posto1ice."
Allsop's face mad become deadly pale and
his black beard was coming out fast he
had forgotten all about keeping his hair
brushed down in front 10 conceal MS
badness, so his appearance was even
still more in line with that Oh the oesciip-
ton of Austin.
II wish you would get me that little
finger nail cleaner l had when searched
said Allsop as he looked at his hands.
Courtney Immediately thought that Aus
tin had a special object in calling Tor
that little knife and reported to the oiiice
that he was afraid Allsop intended COM
hitting suicide. Those at headquarters
thought Courtney's fears groundless. and
so no special guard was placed 20 watcn
the prisoner.
Before leaving the Jail Courtney tried to
cheer Allsop up by saying: keep sun
upper lip. Jim. l will bring you anything
you want" When Night Jailer Peer
came on watch nothing was said about
special watch on Allsop. SO he gave the
matter no special attention.
AT S O'Clock Peer entered Allsop's cell.
which Is In the women's quarter. and ask
ed him how he was getting along The
prisoner did not have any favors to ask,
but remarked in a natural tone of voice:
by the way. do you keep on steam all
night?" YES" replied Peer.
at got pretty chilly last night" I'VE
always keep up steam," replied Peer.
We'll, Ii is very comfortable now" re-
marked Allsop.
Have you got your Blankets asked
the jailer Yes" said Allsop as he point
ed to them in his bunk.
Then the jailer went out and gave no
further attention TO Allsop until 1920
o'clock, when Detective Courtney arrived
with A bag of oranges.
"Will you let me see Allsop?" asked the
detective. Certainly" replied Peer. as
he got up and went after the jail keys.
tN.ss
department. First comes a big cell and
into il open two other cells. Allsop was in
the one at the left hand. Peer turned the
key. Everything inside was dark.
Peer looked into the bunk which is at the
left-hand side of the door, but II was
empty Detective Courtney became nerv-
Gus and tried to light the gas. Jailer Peer
was more successful. and when the bright
light flashed up a sight was revealed that
caused both men to start,
There al the foot of the bunk. wedged in
between the footboard and sink, hang
ing by a piece OF gray blanket, was the
form OF James E. Alsop. His face was
turned partly to one side and his heck was
stretched out, showing distinctly the gray
cord as 1t passed around and met in
a knot. The mans knees rested on the
floor Courtney sprang forward and as he
touched the body the thought came to him
that it might be possible to save his life.
He is still alive" cried the detective.
The body in all its ghastliness twisted a
little.
cut tt down. said Peer.
Courtney whipped out his knife and in
a moment the ragged string was severed
Then the body was taken into the middle
OF the cell ard stretched ont. Peer kneit
down and felt OF the pulse and also tried
the heart It's no use" he SAID. ''tae
man IS dead"
Then Coroner ASkam was sent for.
Courtney ran down town and wired 20 Min
neapolis that his prisoner haA>sSSated the
galiows. Peer held the fort ana waited
patiently with his silent companion
What a different expression ,here was
on the face Of Ailsop than when he walked
INTO Chef Rogers Office the afternoon
before. Then he showed vlgor His walk
gave the impression Of determination. and
his face bore an expression OF Injured in
nocence As he lay on the floor signs Of
worriT were rs BILE. and a sort Of hs.--
cardness. increa sed hy q certain SaIloWness
u complexion. could be noticed The mouth
was partly Cpca. II seemed as II he wore
false teeth HIS eyes We're haif-clased He
had taken OF his black coat ar5 vest and
six hat ana placed them on the bunk over
,he one IN which he slept HIS shoes had
q 50 been removed When Coroner Askafo
arrived the cell vas searched. bat not a
,A!nc was discovered that conveyed of.@
A1ea from the dead-
The body was removed 20 RutterNer;l.s
Undertaking rooms. Coroner Aska-l saf8
that he d.d not think an inquest would he
held
Jsts,a Nv rf.+ra The Lfs.---- - .A.