The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-16
DUESTROW HUNG.
The Millionaire st. Louis MUIR
derer Arthur DueStrOW
Who Killed His Wife and Oh lid
Three Years Ago
EAPlATES THE CRIME.
He Stopped Feigning Insanity
and Wept.
An FT1n1onco Cr0ud Procon& To
EXPIATES THE CRIME.
An Immense Crowd Present To
Witness the Execution.

Union, Mo, Feb 16.-Dr. Arthur Due
strow, the ST. Louis Millionaire, who, on
February IS, 1894, shot and killed his
wife and child in that city, was hanged
here in the court yard of the county Jail
at 1853 p. m. today.
The case was one of the most remar-
kable ever passed upon by the courts of
this state. From the beginning Due
stroy tried to make people believe that
he was insane, and his attorneys, ex-
Gov. Charles P. Johnson and Charles
T. holland, did everything in their pow
er TO carry out that idea.
A legal inquiry was made as to Due
stroWs mental responsibility and re-
suited in his being declared perfectly
sane by a jury before whom many eX-
pertS were examined. When the trial
ON the charge of murder came up
ehange OF venue was taken to Union.
Franklin county where the case was
heard before Judge Hirzel 1t resulted
IN a disagreement.
DueStrow was given a second trial
ana convicted and sentenced to be hung
several appeals were made to the
state supreme court to grant a new trial
and when these failed, Gov. Stephens
was asked to give the prisoner a respite
until the case could be carried to the
United States supreme court, but he re-
fused to do so.
DR.. Duestrow was a rich man. AL
though a graduate of medicine he never
made a pretenSe of practicing, his time
BENG spent in riOtouS living. His home
at 1924 Compton avenue was a hand
some one, and his family life
there would have been happy
but for his disolute habits On
the day in question, DR.. Duestrow, who
had been drinking heavily, drove up to
his home in sleigh with the intention
of taking his wife and child
out riding. He was greeted affec-
tionately by his wife. but responded in
surly manner. With no excuse. what
ia n wifi Of lrnn
diSorder1y house. He would listen to
no reason, and finally became frenzied
knocking her down several times The
climax came when the doctor pulled out
a revolver and shot his wife, woundinS
her SO that she died after several days
of intense suffering. Then taking up his
year old son, Louis. whom he had
played. with and caressed but a short
time before. he held the child at arms
length against the wall and blew it's
brains out.
Duestrow then went to the police sta
ton with the revolver in his hand and
surrendered He was sobbinE hyster-
ically- L have killed my wife" he
cried, but it was an accident [ sup
pose they will say I am a murderer
but I am not 1t was an accident -
He tried to explain that the revolver
was discharged while he was handling
the weapon. He was in a drunken
delirium.
Not until this morning, when he
arose and saw for the first time the
RallOWS upon Wnlcn ne was to die did
the condemned murderer show any
signs of the realiza ton of his fate For
the first time since the crime was COM
mitted three years ago he shed tears
Turning from the window from which
he had gotten q glimpse of the engine
of DEATH he began to sob like a child.
He put away all semblance of insanity
which he had carried out for so long.
and grOaned. Il know have got to
de- he said. Il killed my wife and
child, but it was not my fault 1t was
something within me that made me do
it. 1 was not myself
These words were repeated over and
over again as he lay on the cot in his
cell. tears flowing fast and sobs oc-
casionally checking his utterances.
1t was but short time, however
before the condemned man regained
his composure. He talked with all his
visitors and even smiled. This was
probably the result of the sheriff's or
der resembling one made yesterday that
the prisoner should not be allowed to
have any whisky. At 10 o'clock he de-
cfded that small doses should be given
Duestrow from time to time. to keep
his courage up, and DueStroW was
much gratifed.
Duestrow has not been visited by
any spiritual advisors, he having an
nOunced that he would die without
such consolation. His wishes were
accordingly respected.
At 1890 Sheriff Puchta entered the
jail to read the death warrant to Dues
trow The crowd all about was SO
dense that it was almost impossible to
get near the place. A rope fenced off
a. space about twenty feet wide and
fifty feet long. Here the deputies,
twenty-five in number. patrolled back
and forth keeping the crowd back
When the newspaper men attempted
to enter the Jail they were denied ad-
r1ittance The sheriff had promised
that they might be present at the read
ing of the warrant, but he changed his
mind at the last moment.