The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-17
NABoB'S NECK IN THE MOOSE.
ARTHUR DUEsTRoW HANGED DE-
SPITE HIS WEALTH.

,,uIed His Wife and Son Three
Wears Ago and Has FeiGned In
aanity Ever since-Kept Up a Bold
Eropt Until a Few Hours Before
His Execution and Then Broke
Do,yn COmpIetely-Begged Every
bcdy Around Him TO Save Him
From Death.
Union. No, Feb. 16.-On scaffold,
erected in the Franklin county Jail yard,
sn this village, under clear and sunny
sky. surrounded by about 100 persons, the
majority being physicians, newspaper men
mr. Jeputy sheriffs, Arthur Duestrow of
St. Louis was legally executed to-day for
tba murder of his wife and little son, in
that city three years ago The condemned
man. who has simulated insanity since
the day of the crime. kept his role until
late last evening, when, by his queSuonS
nnd answers. ii was evident that he keen
Wv realized that the end was near ana
that his own efforts and those of his at
torneys aided by an abundance OF wealth,
were without avail in the battle for lie.
Before he lay down to sleep last night,
DuestroW asked one of the guards what
hour was fixed for the execution, but the
latter expressed ignorance, whereupon
Duestrow smiled significantly and turned
away. Later in the evening, Sheriff
Puc6ta asked Duestrow if he wished TO
see minister or a priest The murderer
turned away with the sneering remark:
Il have no use for them"
He then lay down on his cot and was
soon sound asleep. He slept almost with
out interruption until nearly o'clock
this morning. He did not arise, however,
until about Z o'clock, but tossed restlessly
from side to side, as he consumed cigar
cites one after another.
He arose shortly after 7 o'clock. and
then for the first time in three years, he
broke down. and his usual air of naughty
indifference gave way to one of despair.
He begged the guards to save him from
his fate, and requested that messages be
behalf
TO nearly every. visitor and attendant
Duestrow appealed for assistance, and
asked that the following telegram be sent
TO eX-Gov. Johnson, his counsel in st.
Louis: Il am in a predicament; intercede
with Gov. stephens for me Immediately. l
now need your advice. | was insane, but il
did me no good l have nothing left but
hope for forgiveness"
This was signed Gen. Bradenburgh." a
name and character assumed by Duestrow
during the past few months
The murderer partook of a scanty break
fast and when it was finished, threw him
self on his cot. and gave way to a burst
of tears. He sobbed conVulsively and cried
out frequently: 'Oh, God; this is terrlbler'
He appealed to the deputy sheriffs to
procure him a bottle of brandy, but the
request was not granted. Ii would have
been his first drink since the day of the
About 10 o'clock Duestrow, having be-
come composed. repeated his request for
brandy and it was given him. Shortly
before / o'clock Sheriff Puchta notified
Duestrow that his last hour had arrived,
and in few minutes the guards an
nounced that, al was in readiness for the
execution The sheriff gave the order to
proceed, and the march to the scaffold
began the sheriff leading the way, fol-
lowed by Duestrow, with a deputy sheriff
on either side and a large crowd of news
paper men and doctors.
Duestrow was apparently unconcerned,
and when he had mounted the scaffold
ne showed no nervousness. After the
ropes had been placed about his legs the
saeriH saT as asked him him if he had anything 20
big mistake ePii6e p 6eine mofdhing moda but that
lhen, as the rope was being adjusted
@20u5 fsg, his 5Is neck he asked; May say
The sheriff gave assent, and Duestrow
SPOKE IN almost a whisper as follows: II
Nlsn to say that a big mistake is being
mage mage mere. am Gen. Bradenburg of the
THHl,eu states army. l am not the man
Whom you accuse. l am not a murderer
0l woman and a child. l now stand he.
lore you, sir, bound and tied, a criminal
a. ~ - Il ~ am innocent OF any crime. l go
st peace with my Lord. I want Won 1o
1ay that l thank my attorney, ex-Gov.
SS9naS3n, S9na fd. OF ot st. Louis, for what he has
tahe condemned man hesitated. as If
Tsisaa65 ~ ~ TAX more, but Sheriff Puchta
Ialsed his hand; the black can was nisned
aver Duestrow's head and the cord drawn
IA
deniIttl{, diSi,tl{, Duestrow shouted to one Of the
was sprung. NiAioi' anu lhe trap
ar5 me e. black form fell through the hole
neck 'wlsted n.a about two or three times His
aft IN was not broken, and In eight minutes
M CLOCK he was pronounced dead
tatar Douy was turned over TO an under
ST ail presenting Miss Huldah Duestrov.
Win Iiouls, sister of the dead man. and
ynains I33kgn 10 that city where the re-
d dernr5 VIII be inferred alongside the nour-
Trbo 80 ,ldther in Bellefontaine ceneferx,
in ull.uertaker stated that he had nnsitive
is i't.G ti iGctlons to embalm the body. and tbis
oxaT1inal as ds evidence that a poste-mortem
tho in-lIdion I VIII be made Ia deternoinn |
Duest,.dI,Io or Duestrow's brain.
S10 m y Wv was IN receipt of an income of
his fafbsSre SeaT Tor life, settled upon him bv |
ST ToIt.i ne was studying medicine ia |
sir '+,ouls, but had practically oiven bi,, ~ |
IN ~ 70 drink and the bav,dr, bo,,sss |
enc5at 'at oay of the murder he bad paado OF, |
sia1L eHeht with his wife 10 talgo ba,. |
sr13ii tlulng. When he went 70 saen b{s |
S65,c Sco'ltnleht he was drunk ana nna-rai /
IA ana abused the servant Who ad,,Gt
- am di,im 70 his house His wife endeSvn,aI |
STbo,l laW his attention from the servont |
tirn..na ne turned upon her. shot her foi'r, |
tba ~ 5nd then held uD their babx- n goi,,et
4 van and put a bullet throtgh ne boad
cios,t Iftiie mas been spent in the EFFORT 10 |
itv t,l troW on the ground Of insan
o6s ltefe have been five continuancos
of v tilal, one appeal and one cbaree |
wids ~ ! m the case. The case attracted |
preo, i9.tehtlon and has tabIished ,nanxt
niaes gHls by court rulings upon ineanity