The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-16
DUESTROV HANGED.
Millionaire Murderer Breaks
Down at the End-0ther
Missouri Hangings.

: = - . = . =
UNION. Mo-, Feb. 16, 1S97.-On scaf-
fold erected in the Franklin county Jail
yard in this village, under a clear and
sunny sky, surrounded by about one
hundred persons, the majority being ply
sicians. newspaper men or deputy sher-
ifs. Arthur Duestrow, of st. Louis, was
legally executed today for the murder of
MS wife and little son in that city three
years ago.
The condemned man, who had simulat-
ed insanity since the day of his crime,
Kept up his role until late last evening,
evident that ne keenly realized that the
end was near and that his own efforts
and those of his attorneys, aided by an
abundance a. OF Yealth. We're without avail
Before he lay down to sleep last night
DueStrow asked one of the guards what
hour was fixed for the execution, but the
latter expressed ignorance, whereupon
Duestrow smiled significantly and turned
away. Later in the evening Sheriff
Puchta asked Duestrow if he wished to
see a minister or a priest The murderer
turned away with the sneering reply
i have no use for Them
He then lay down on his cot and was
soon sound asleep. He slept almost with
out interruption until nearly five O'Clock
this morning. He didsnot arise however,
lessly from side to side as he. consumed
cigarettes, one after another
He arose shortly after seven o'clock,
and then, for the first time in three years,
he broke down, and his usual air of
naughty Indifference gave way to one of
despair. He begged the guards to save
him from his fate and requested that mes
sages be sent to Governor Stephens inter-
ceding in his behalf.
To nearly. every visitor and attendant
Duestrow appealed for assistance, and
asked that the following telegram be sent
to Ex-Governor Johnson, his counsel in
st. Louis:-
II am in a predicament: intercede with
Governor Stephens for me Immediately.
1 now need your advice. I was insane,
but it did me no good. I have nothing
left but hope for forgiveness
This was signed General Branden-
burg a name and character assumed by
Dmestrow during the past few months.
phs murderer sng psaDook Of abag Seantg
threw Himself on his his cot and T gave ii1E way
to burst of tears. He sobbed convul-
sively and cried out frequently, "Oh God,
this is terrible He appealed to the
brandy. but the request was not granted.
It would have been his first drink since
the day of the tragedy had it been given
him.
At nine o'clock this morning Sheriff
Puchta tested the weights on the scaf-
fold and they were found to work per-
A number of Duestrow's friends tried
to have the execution delayed until a
late hour this afternoon in the forlorn
hope that something might occur to cause
man respite. The Sheriff said he would
be glad to do all in his power, but said
that the execution had been fixed for one
o'clock and he would be obliged to fol-
low out the programme.
Arthur Duestrow shot and killed his
wife and child, boy eighteen months,
at four O'clock on the afternoon of Febru-
medical student had lapsed from duty to
his young wife and was spending much
time and money upon an inmate of a
edy he spent several hours at the house
of his mistress in drinking, and from
there went direct to his home. 1724 South
ment to take his wife sleaghsriding that
afternoon, and when he drove up to his
door. Mrs. Duestrow sent a servant to
ina1ire .91l # she could prepare for a ride.
right to speak to me before I get into
the house, he shouted to the servant.
and made motion as if to strike her.
He was infamed with drink and stag
gered up the stairs, where his wife met
him.
''If you want to strike some one, Ar
thur" said she, don't strike stranger;
strike me-
sAll right WILL, he said, and struck
her blow that felled her. He then took
his boy, aged eighteen months, and went
down stairs, but returned very soon with
a pistol in his hand.
Don't shoot, Arthur, you're drunk"
said his wife.
.'Ill show you who is drunk" he said
and fired two shots into her body. For a
moment he seemed to realize the enormity
OF his crime. He kneeled beside the dy-
ing woman and in maudlin tones said
Tina, Tina, are you dead?''
Receiving no reply his drunken frenzy
returned. He grasped his child, who had
been a spectator of the murder He first
started to go down stairs with the boy,
but returned to the hall, held the Shrek
ing babe by one arm to the wall and fired
a shot into his brain, With the smoking
pistol in his hand he ran into the street
and surrendered to a policeman, who had
been attracted by the shooting. The SER
want girl who had fled to the top of the
house, was witness to the scene and it
was her testimony that convicted Duns-
trow. The child died at once, but Mrs.
DuestroW fingered unconscious for four
days.
From the day of the tragedy until the
drop fell today a notable legal battle has
been fought by Duestrows attorneys ito
save their client from the gallows. BY the
terms of his fathers will Duestrow receiv-
ed a life income of $4,000 yearly.
Ex-Governor Charles p Johnson, the
was principal counsel for the defence
He called to his aid a corps of lawyers
medical experts and specialists on men
tai diseases and set up a plea Of insan-
ity. There have been five CONTINGENCIES
one mstrial, one appeal and one change
of venue in the case. The first hearing
was a mistrial, the jury disagreeing. Be
fore Judge Hirzel, Of Franklin county
Duestrow was convicted on February 2
1896, and sentenced to death. Every ar
tifice known to legal warfare was Their
resorted to, and the life of the condemned
prolonged another year. His income was
exhausted every year, and is now large.
ly anticipated. The case attracted wide
attention and has established many pre-
cedents -by court rulings upon insanity
pleas in defence.
TWO MORE VICTIMS.
Pale-Faced BOY and Burly Negro Die
of