Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-02-18

that his name was Brandenburg and
that he did not kill his wife and child
There are those who witnessed the
execution who say an insane man was
hanged.
The millionaire criminals neck was
not broken, but he was strangled tc
death, and thus came to a close the
most famous case in the criminal an
nails of Missouri.
GOVERNOR REFUSES TO INTERFERE.
The three experts on insanity-Drs
Woodson, superintendent of the St
Joseph asylum; Robinson, present
head of the Nevada asylum, and j. I,
Combs, of Kansas City, who were
commissioned. by Gov. Stephens Sat-
urday to examine Duestrow, reported
Sunday to the Governor. Drs. Wood
son and Combs expressed their posi-
tive belief that he was perfectly sane,
but DR.. Robinson held to the belief
that he was insane.
Gov. Stephens, after considering
the report for some time, announced
that he would not interfere with the
hanging.
PROVED HIMSELF A COWARD.
UNION, Mo-, Feb. 16.--Arthur Dues
trow was hanged here at 1 O'Clock
to-day. He died as Gen. Brandon
burg. He made a speech on the scat
fold, maintaining his old role to the
last.
When he looked upon the gallows
early this morning his courage failed
and his character of "Gen. Branden-
burg" slipped away from him. He
sank into a chair nerveless and sob
bling. The murderer, in the absence
of all hope, collapsed. He either for
got or did not care to maintain his
role.
Out of the terrible drama in which
he has stalked for years a a mailman,
he emerged without any of the dis
guises he has worn. Just at the point
of exit from the stage, like a poor &C
tor, confused and stammering his
lines, he dropped his part. A reality,
too startling for him to Withstand, had
doomed up before him. Death, stand
ing in the wings awaiting the con-
summate actor at the end of the play.
had abashed him before the world
Sobbing, admitting the failure and
mockery of his performance, sobbing,
crying for mercy, pleading that the
curtain be not rung down upon him,
abject and almost pitiful, this vas the
| denouement.
81 know it's all over" he sobbed.
sIt's all over"
81 killed my wife and child. 1 did
it, but / was not myself. 1t was an
other in me. Oh, I am sorry for it.
All the time I have been sorry. Send
for my attorney, send for Gov. John
son; see if something can not be
DONE"
Duestrow was addressing himself to
Deputy Sheriff Krekel and others
about him. His distress was COM
plete.
otis TERRIBLE" he sobbed.
The guard tried to quiet him in vain.
Like a dog, crippled, helpless and
forsaken to die, Duestrow was nearing
his doom, not a soul offering him con-
ISOLATION. Other murderers have re-
ceived handshakes, but there have
been none for Duestrow. Others have
been pitied and condoled with when
about to atone tor their crime. Not
so with him.
Duestrow, before his death, refused
religious consolation, sneering at it
when it was offered. Late last night
Sheriff Puchta went to his cell and
offered to secure a minister for the
condemned man. He looked con-
temptuously at the Sheriff for fully 10
seconds and then turning his head
from him said he wanted none. 1t
was the intention of the Sheriff to Sc
cure religious aid, but as none was
wanted, he did not further press his
request.
After the Sheriff's departure Dues
trow laughed and began putting away
on his cigarette.
On the scaffold Duestrow said: "We
are Oh the eve of war with England.
l am being illegally executed. All
during my official career I have tried
to do my duty. I am in this position
by mistake. I am dying for another
man. 1t was not my offense as 30
many people know. 1 have no idea
what has brought me to this. 1t is all
very peculiar.
81 want you to give my last regards
to Charles P. johnson, Gov. Johnson;
also, remember me to Baron Won
Brandenburg," he continued.
"Of course this Ia all a case of mig
taken" he begun again.
"Tfme is up" said Sheriff Puchta.
The doctors did not agree that he
was dead until 20 minutes after the
drop fell.
MOI until the o was almost
about Duestrow's neck did Miss Hulda
relent in the least or make
a sign that she was his sister. She
claimed the body and had 1t buried.
The crime for which Duestrow was
hanged was the murder of mis- wife
and child In st. Louis on February 10,
1894.
DOUBLE EXECUTION AT CLAYTON.
Special Dispatch to the Ledger.
CLAYTON. No., Feb. 16.-At7 O'Clock
morning Peter Schmidt, ahas
Cottonwood" and Sam Foster, the
murderers of Bertram A. Atwater, the
Chicago artist. were hanged, Schmidt
first and Foster, the negro, just after.