Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-15
NECK WASBROKEN
The Way HoelIman, the Multi.
Murderer, Met Death.
HIS SWINGING OFF WAS PERrE0r.

In It He Declares He VIII Meet His
Enemies In Hadea.
Paxton. Ills, May 16-Fred Hoell-
man. alias Hartman. was hanged in the
jail in this city yesterday morning in the
presence Of about fifty witnesses. con-
sisting Of the jury which convicted. the
bar, county officers, attending physi-
cians press representatives and clergy
men. At ISIS he took q position on the
fatal trap surrounded by his spiritual
adviser. Sheriff B. F. Mason and the
sheriff's assistants. Professor Blome, Of
the r. c. l.. one Of his spiritual advisers,
read his last statement from the scaffold
as follows:
way. I hold no malice towards any one.
freely forgive, as I ask God for Christ's
sake to forgive me. Think not that
speaks for me. am not guilty Of the
crime for which I die. I leave it all
with God, who in the Judgment day will
give each the reward of his deeds.
Gives the Rich Some Advice.
Il believe that one who does not con-
fess to God his sins is eternally lost I
have confessed to God and trust in him.
The rich, instead Of spending their mon
ey for the theater and the opera, should
build hospitals and aims houses for the
poor. Some day those who spend their
money in this way will find themselves
In the condition Of the rich man who de-
spised poor Lazarus. am glad that I
am SO near the end. ask that my body
be sent to Grand Haven, Mich, and
placed beside that Of my wife and child.
Through the Rev. G. H. Wilson's efforts
I have been saved. He has been with
me during the last night of my life.
thank him now for his kindness"
Hanging Was . Great Success.
After the reading a funeral hymn was
sung by few beside him, during which
the black cap was pulled down over his
face and he exclaimed in q loud, firm
voice several times, Goodbye, every
body; goodbye ALL" The rope which
supported the trap was cut, the platform
fell and his body fell six and one half feet,
where 1t hung straight and still without
tremor or struggle. Drs. s. M. Wylie
and Ragsdale stood beside the hanging
body. one with his ear to the heart and
the other with his finger on the pulse
He was pronounced dead in fourteen
minutes. and was cut down and placed
in his coffin in nineteen minutes from
the time the drop fell. The neck was
broken and there was positively not a
sign Of struggle.
Would Sec His Enemies in Hades.
Chicago, May 15.-According to the
special from The Journal staff CORE
spondent there was q gruesome sensa-
ton at the hanging Of Hoellman at
Paxton yesterday. After the condemned
mans statement had been read he
swayed back and forth, sobbing. A
deputy sheriff stepped up and bound
his wrists, arms, knees and ankles. The
prisoner assisted him by bringing his
limbs together. The black cap was
put about his head and the moose ad-
justed. A Quartette Of male voices be-
gan to sing Nearer, My God to Thee
Goodbye, Fred" said Professor Blome
and Rev. Wilson. Eyes, goodbye
said Hoellman, goodbye everybody;
goodbye everybody"
His voice rose and his vindictiveness
asserted itself. Goodbye, you mer
who have killed me-" he shouted in g
frenzy; ''good-bye; there will be justice
I will see you in hell" The sheriff.
Ratchet fell on the rope.
Story of His Dsstardly Crime.
Hoellman. alias Hartman, was hune
for killing Mrs. Weibke Geddes, having
| been convicted on circumstantial evil
dence. Geddes, the husband, worked
on a farm more than a mile from hi
home. On the morning Of Dec. 2, 1896
he got up at 1 o'clock and went to hi
task husking corn. AZ s o'clock a neigh
Dor called at the home and found tn,
body Of Mrs. Geddes on the. floor Of he
room with a cord around her neck. tn
other end Of the cord being fastene,
to a door-knob. There was evidence
Of a fearful struggle. one OF Mrs
Geddes' legs being broken and her bod,
covered with bruises. Marks on tn
neck Of her little girl showed that sh
had been choked, doubtless into insensi
Il -