The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-17

Last he Is Game-Two ST Louis Mur
derers Haneed-Jackson and walling-
Crime News.
Union, Mo-, Feb. 16.-Dr. Arthur Dues
trow. the st. Louis millionaire, who. or
February Is. 1894, shot and killed his wife
in that city, was hanged here in the couri
yard OF the county jail at 1858 p. m. to-
day.
Not until this morning, when he arose
after ftful nights rest and saw for
the first time the gallows upon which he
was 10 die did he show any signs Of a
realization Of his fate. For the first time
since the crime was committed, three
years ago, he she'd tears. Turning from
the window from which he had got a
glimpse Of the engine of death. he began
TO sob like a child. He put away all sem
blance Of insanity. which he had carried
out for so long time, and gToaned: 81
know I've got to die he said; Il killed
my wife and child. but it was not my
fault. II was something within me that
made me do il. 1 was not myself"
These words were repeated over and
over again as ne lay on mis- cot in his
cell, tears flowing fast and sobe occa-
sionally checking his utterances.
The condemned man had called himself
General Brandenburg Of the United
States army, and assumed a military air.
This morning ne wrote the following
message TO his attorney and asked to
have il sent to Governor Charles j. john
son, ST. Louis, Mo-
Il am IN a predicament Intercede
with Governor Stephens for me imme-
diate,y. | now need your advice. ! ras
insane. but it did no good. / nave moth
ing left but hope of forgiveness.
(Signed)
A. F. W. BRANDENBURG."
The Sheriff took the message, but did
not forward II, as requested.
Il 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 prob
ably the result of the sheriff's order re-
scinding one made yesterday that the
prisoner should no. 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 graft
eed.
Duestrow has not been visited by any
spiritual advisers. he having announced
that he would die without any consola-
son. His wishes were accordingly re-
spected.
The condemned man walked to the gall
lows without tremor. and mounted the
steps to bis doom without shadow OF
fear passing over his face. He died as
General Brandenburg," quietly and
bravcly, bidding a last farewell to the
men who had fought to save his life
AT 1880 Sheriff Putchta inferred the
jai, to read the death warrant to Dues
trow. The crowd all about was so
dense 1t was almost impossible 10 get
near the place. A rope fenced off a
space about twenty feet wide and fifty
feet long. Here the deputies. twenty-five
I'm number. patrolled backward and for
ward, keeping back the crowd. When
the newspaper men attempted 10 enter
the Jail they were denied admittance. The
sheriff had promised that they might be
present at the reading of the death war
rant but changed his mind at the last
moment. They were even denied admis-
sion within the ropes. The sheriff was so
excited that he did not know what he
was doing.
ON THE SCAFFOLD.
It was but a few moments before the
hour of / o'clock that the door OF the
jail opened and the prisoner. accompan-
Jed by the sheriff and his deputies. made
their appearance in the court yard. The
save for the ligfrt in the brilliant dark
eyes that not even the confinement of
nearly forty months could dim. He was
clad in a black suit, rundown collar
and light Fedora hat. His head was
erect TIE sheriff looked really more
perturbed
As they came 10 the stockada door the
deputies swung it back and the little
party passed in.
Up the steps they came and behind
them came the newspaper men. at last
accorded the privilege of seeing the exc
cution. The work on the scaffold was
speedy. Duestrow placed himself on the |
trap. Sheriff Puchta bound his arms be- !
hind him. his knees and ankles together !
One woman passed him as he stood |
there suffering. She was newspaper !
woman.
Have YOU anything to s2y?" she ask |
ed almost ready to faint herself
Eyes. let US have war" said the pin |
Toned man.
The grusesome work went on. The |
ropes were all fast.
Arthur Duestrow," said the sheriff, |
shave you anything to say?''
y am not Duestrow." was the quick
rejoinder. slowly spoken.
Have You anything 10 say?" repeat
cd the sheriff
Il say that we have war" said the |
man. Il want II say that l dying illeg-
ally l am not the man who killed that |
woman. L IS all a mistake"
Il wish thar some Of you would give |
my kind regards to Governor c. p. John
son. Say good bye 70 him for me- say
good bye also 10 the Countess Won Nan
denbu-g.
Il went to say furthermore that. while
I cannot comprehend all this. there must
be something wrong II Is beyond rea-
son. have tried 20 do my duty all my
Efe. l have ordered to the best Of nv
ability aud done What seemed 10 me to
be right.
Here he hesitated a moment and the
sheriff made move 10 put the black |
cap on his head. He nodded a little I'M
patiently. le; the faint trace Of a smile
fash over his thin wan face and cried
out once more: Say farewell 10 Gov
ornor Johnson
The black cap was adjusted The
moose was slipped around his neck by
The she.iff's own hands. Deputy Kreck-
el took a Ratchet in his hand 10 cut the
rope that held the trigger
Good bye. Duestrew." said several