Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-22

DR. ARTHUR QUESTION:.
CINE of death, he began to sob like a
child. He put away all semblance of in
sanity which he had carried out for SO
long and groaned: II know I've got to
die [ killed my wife and child, but it
was not my fault 1t was something
within me that made me do it. 1t was
not myself"
These words were repeated over and
over again as he lay on the cot in his
cell, tears flowed fast and sobs occa-
sionally checking his utterances.
The condemned man had throughout
called himself Gen. Brandenburg of the
United States army and assumed a mar
tial air. After he had recovered from
his breakdown he wrote the following
message to his attorney and asked to
have it sent
Charles p Johnson, ST. Louis, Mo-: / am
in a predicament. 1ntercede with Gov.
Stephens for me Immediately ! now need
your advice. | was insane, but it did no
A. f. w. BRANDENBURG.
The sheriff took the message but did
not forward it as requested.
1t was but a short time, however, be-
fore the condemned man regained his
composure He talked with all his Wis
itors and even smiled. This was proba-
bly, the result of the sheriff's order re-
scinding one made yesterday that the
prisoner should not be allowed to have
any whisky. At 10 o'clock he decided
that small doses should be given Dues
troW from time to time to keep his cOur
age up and Duestrow was much gratifed.
Duestrow has not been visited by any
spiritual advisers, he having announced
that he would die without such consola
ton. His wishes were accordingly re-
spected.
At 1870 Sheriff Puchta entered the
Jail to read the death warrant to Dues
trow The crowd about was so dense
that it was almost impossible to get near
the place. A rope fenced off space
about 20 feet wide and so feet long.
Here the deputies, twenty five i'll num-
Der, patrolled backward and forward,
keeping back the crowd. When the
newspaper men attempted to enter the
jail they were denied admittance. The
sheriff had promised that they might be
present at the reading of the warrant,
but he changed his mind at the last mo-
ment. They were even denied admission
within the ropes The sheriff was so ex-
cited that he did not know what he was
doing.
1t was but few moments before the
hour of l o'clock that the door of the
jail opened and the prisoner, accompanied
by the sheriff and his deputies, made
their appearance in the courtyards. The
DrlSOuCE IL
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 necktie.
The condemned man walked to the gal
lows without tremOr and mounted the
steps to his doom without a shade of
fear passing over his face. He died as
"Gen. Brandenburg," quietly and brave
ly, bidding a last farewell to the man
who had fought to save his life.
AS they came to the stockade door the
doors swung back and the little party
passed in. Up the stairs they went and
behind them came the newspaper men,
at last accorded the privilege of seeing
the execution.
The work on the scaffold was speedy.
Duestrow placed himself on the trap.
Sheriff Puchta bound his arms behind
him, his knees and ankles together.
A woman passed him as he stood
there suffering. She was a newspaper
woman.
''Have you anything to say?" she
asked, almost ready to faint herself.
Eyes, let us have war, said the
pinioned man.
The gruesome work went on. The
ropes were all fast.
arthur DuestroW," said the sheriff,
"haye you anything to Say!'
II am not Duestrow," was the quick
reioinder, slowly spoken.
''Have you anything to say?" repeated
the sheriff.
Il say that we have war;" said the
man. Il want to say, that am dying Il,
legally. I am not the man who killed
that woman 1t is all a mistake. | wish
that some of you would give my kind re-
cards to Gov. c.. =. Johnson. Say good
bye to him for me. Say goodbye also to
the Countess Won Brandenburg. | want
to say furthermore while | cannot com
Drehend all this there must be something
wrong. 1t is beyond reason. | have
tried to do my duty all my life. | have
0beyed orders to the best OF nly ability
and done what seemed to me to be
right"
sheriff made a move to put the black
cap on his head. He nodded a little i'm
patiently, let the faint trace of a smile
| flash over his thin, wan face and cried
ont once more: "Say farewell to Gov
| Johnson"
The black cap was adjusted. The
moose slipped around his neck ~ the
| took a Ratchet in his hand to cut the
rope that held the trigger
@4ood-by, Duestrow," said severa
| men Oh the scaffOld.
There was no response.
Ready called the sheriff.
came, flashing in the sun. Crash wen
The fran and Duestrow plunged through
The rope frightened and stretched
The execution was perfect DuestroN
dying in twenty minutes Ifom strahgula
| ton.
placed in a plain wooden box, Sheriff
! Puchta announced that he, would turn !.
| over to Hulda Duestrow, the dead man.
sister and only surviving relative, Wh'
will bury the remains III ST. Louis be
| side those of his father.
| Arthur Duestrow, an enormously ricl
young man of spendthrift habits, lived il