The morning times., 1897-02-17
DUESTkOH'o LAOI WORDS
He Said That He Was Gen. Bran
denburg, oi The Army.
The MiIlioua. Murderer Kept Up
His Assutn,.tIoI ut Insanity In
iii the Trap Was Sprung.

Union. Mo, Feb. 16-Arthur DnesJrow
OF St Louis was legally executed mere
at II5 today, for the murder or his wife
aud little son, IA that city three years ago.
During the forenoon the little village
filea up with people curious TO witness
the execution. A stockade had been
erected Of boards twelve feet high, ana
only those having lsckets OF admission
were permitted to enter
An undertaken from st. Louis arrived
tlas morning auI stated tnai he hau ali
order for the body Of DGestrUw, signed 10y
ms sister in 81. Louis The sheriff said
he had received Instructors from eX-'iov.
johnson. ordering hlm 10 turn the body
over 20 Dr. John II. Simon. one Of the
experts Cor the defense curing the trials
uf Duestrow. This conflict OF orders
gave Iise 10 a heated debate between the
sheriff ana IHU>c C4aIun.S t..,. aOuy- l he
natter was taken under advi -emenJ and the
sheriff claimed he would not decide until
after the execution. lie asked DueSurOw
il he would Ike To make any disposition
Of his body before he died
Il have no request 10 make whatever
said the prisoner, coldly, and with some
dignity. Later the sheriff took Attorney
NoIand to Duestrow, and the latter recog-
nized him as one of his counsel. Il have
come to see you about the disposition Of
your body said Noland The govern
ment wants it and your sister also makes
a request for it
Duestrow denied the existence Of his
sister. and would not discuss the matter
further
Shortly before ! O'Clock Sheriff Puchta
notified Duestrow that his last hour had
arrived, aud in few minutes the guards
announced that all wasi in readiness for the
execution The sheriff gave the order 10
proceed ana The march TO the scaffold be
gan, the sheriff leading The way, followed
by Duestrow, with deputy sheriff on either
side. AID a large crowd Of newspaper men
and doctors. Duestrow was apparently
unconceraed and when be had mounted The
scaffold he showed no nervousness. After
the ropes had been placed about his leg:
the sheriff asked him If he had anything uc
say He replied: Nothing but that big
mistake is being made
Then as the rope was being adjusted
about his neck, he asked May ! say q
few woTdS?''
spoke IN almost whisper as follows. u
Evishto sax that big mistake is being made
here lam Gen BrandenburE, OF the United
states Army, l am not the man whom you
accuse. / am not a murderer OF woman
and child I now stand before you, sir
hound and tried. a criminal, but ! an
innocent OF any crime. / 20 at peace witt
my Lord. / wan you to say that l thanl
my attorney, ex-GOv. Johnson. OF 81. Louis
for what he has done for me-
The condemned man hesitated, as i
abeurto ak more, but Sheriff. uchtaraise'
his hand; the black cap was placed owe
DueStrow' head and the cord drawn tight
Iy DueS,row shoutedto one ofthe deputies
''GoOdby, Simon, andt the trap was sprung
The black form fell through the hole an'
twisted about two or three times. His necl
was not broken. and in eight minutes aIte
/ O'clock he was pronounced dead
The tody was turned over TO an under
taker representing Miss Hulda Duestrow
st Louis. sister OF the dead man, ant
will be Ia kento that city this eyeningwhert
the remains VIII be Inferred alongside th'
murderer ) father, in Bellefontainc Gene
terry The undertaken stated that he ha
positive Instructions not TO embalm tn
body, and this is taken as evidence tha
a post -InOrtem examination will be made
70 determine the condition of Duestrow'
brain