The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24

ways.
The Committee on Offices reported a
bill to prohibit manufacture of dlstill.
ing of any liquor or liquors containing
alcohol in this State, except wine for
ones own use made from grapes and
other fruits. The bill provides fines
not less than $500 nor more than
81, 900 and Imprisonment from two TO
five years.
MONEY COULD NOT SAVE HIM.
A Millionaire Hung For Numbering Ills
UNION, Mo-, Feb. 16.-Dr. Arthur
Duestrow, the st. Louis millionaire
who on February 16, 1894, shot and
killed his wife and child in that city,
was hanged here in the court yard of
the county Jail at 1856 today.
A few hours before the execution
took place, Duestrow threw of the
mask of insanity, sobbed like a wo'
man and admitted that he killed his
wife and child.
1t was but a short time, however.
before the condemned man regained
his composure. He talked with all
his visitors anu even smiled. This
was probably the resulto of the Sheriff. s
order resembling one made Monday
that the prisoner should not be allowed
to have any whiskey. At 10 o'clock.
he decided that small doses should be
given Duestrow from time to time to
keep his courage up and Duestrow
was much gratifed. Duestrow was
not visited by any spiritual advisers.
At 1890 Sheriff Puchta entered the
jail to read the death warrant to Dues
trow. The crowd was so dense that it
was impossible to get near the place.
A rope fenced off a space about 20
feet wide and so feet long. Here the
deputies, 25 in number, patrolled, keep
ing back the crowd.
It was but few moments before
the hour of 1 o'clock that the door of
the Jail opened and the prisoner, sc.
companied by the Sheriff and his dep
uties, made their appearance in the
court yard. The prisoner looked like
a walking corpse save for the Light in
the brilliant dark eyes that not even
the confinement of nearly forty months
could dim. He was clad in a black
suit, turn down collar and light fedora
hat. His head was erect.
As they came to the stockade door,
the deputies swung it back and the lit
tie party passed in. Up the steps they
went and behind them came the news.
paper men. The work on the scafold
was speedy. Duestrow placed himself
on the trap. Sheriff Pucbta bound
his arms behind him and his knees and
ankles together. The gruesome work
went on, ropes were all fast.
"Arthur Duestrow," said the sheriff,
''have you anything to say2'
II am not Duestrow," was the quick
rejoinder lowly spoken.
"Have you anything to say!" re-
peated the sheriff.
II say that we have war;" said the
man. 81 want to say that I am dying
illegally. I am not the man who
killed that woman. It is all a mistake.
II wish that some of you would give
my kind regards to Governor Q. P.
johnson. Say goodbye to him for
me. Say goodbye also to the Count
ess Won Bandenburg.
II want to say furthermore, while l
cannot comprehend all this, there
must be something wrong. 1t is be-
yond reason. T have tried to do my
duty all my life. I have obeyed or.
ders to the best of my ability and done
what seemed to me to be right"
The black cap was adjusted. The
moose was slipped around his neck by
the sheriff's own hand. Deputy
Kreckel took hatchet in his han6 to
cut the rope that held the trigger.
"Ready," called the sheriff. Kreck-
Ell raised his hatchet, down it came.
ash went the trap and Duestrow
plunged through. The rope tightened
and stretched. The execution was
perfect, Duestrow dying in 20 minutes
from strangulation.
After the body was cut down it
was placed in a plain wooden box.
Sheriff Puchta announced that he
would turn it over to Hulda Duestrow,
the dead mans sister, and only surviv.
ing relative, who will bury the re-
mains in st. Louis beside those OF his
father.
The case of DR.. Arthur Duestrow,
the millionaire of this city who in
February, 1894, shot and killed his
wife and three year old son Louis in
cold blood while frenzied with drink,
was one of the most remarkable ever
passed upon by the courts of this State:
From the beginning Duestrow tried
to make people believe that he was in
sane. On the day in question DR..
Duestrow drove up to his home in a
sleigh with the intention of taking
his wife and child out riding. He
was greeted afectionately by his wife,
but responded in a surly manner.
With no excuse whatever, he &C
cused his wife of keeping a disorderly
house. The climax came when the
doctor pulled out revolver and shot
his wife, wounding her so that she
died after several days of intense suf-
fering. Then, taking up his Swear.
old son Louis, whom he had played
with and caressed but short time be.
fore, he held the child at arms length
against the wall and blew his brains
out.
Two Killed on the Rail.
SELLERS, MARION COUNTY, Feb.
15.-Last Thursday the local freight