Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-17
MOTHER AND CHILD AVENGED
Arthur DueStrow Pays the Pen
atty of His Crime.
ASSERTED HIS INNOCENCE
And Claimed to Be General Bradburgh of
the Army.
FOR THREE YEARS HE fElGNED INSANITY
But Broke Down on the Last Day and Show
ed an Appreciation of His Hopeless
and Awful Predicament-A
Double Hanging.
HIS INNOCENCE
FOR THREE YEARS HE fEIGNED INSANITY

| Union NO., Feb. 16.-On q scaffold
erected III the Franklin county jail yard,
in this village, under a clear and sunny
| sky surrounded by about 100 persons, the
majority being physicians, newspaper
| men or deputy sheriffs, Arthur Deustrow,
| of st. Louis, was legally executed today
| for the murder of his wife and little son,
! IN that city, three years ago. The con-
| demned man, who has simulated insanity
| since the day of the crime, kept his role
| until late last evening, when by his ques-
tions and answers it was evident that he
keenly realized that the end was near
and that his own efforts and those Of his
attorneys, aided by an abundance of
| wealth, were without avail in the battle
for life. 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, where
upon Duestrow smiled significantly and
turned away. Later in the evening Sher-
| iff Puchta asked DueStrow IL he wished
to see a minister or priest. The murderer
turned away with the sneering reply: 1
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 o'clock, but tossed restlessly
from side to side, as he consumed cigar
cites one after another. He arose snortly
after o'clock, and then, for the frst
time in three years, broke down, and MS
usual>air of haughtiness gave way to one
of despair. He begged the guards TO
save him from his fate, and requested
that messages be sent to GOV. Stevens
interceding in his behalf.
To nearly every visitor Duestrow ap-
pealed for assistance, and asked that the
following telegram be sent to ex-GoV.
Johnson, his counsel, in st. Louis: II am
in a predicament; intercede with Gov
Stephens for me Immediately. now
need your advice. I was insane, but IT
did me no good. I have nothing left but
hope for forgiveness
| Rhis was signed General Braden,
burgh" a name and character assumed
by Duestrow during the past few months.
The murderer partook of scanty
breakfast, and when twas finished threw
himself on his cot, and gave way to a
burst of tears. He sobbed convulsive!y
and cried out frequently: "Oh, God, this Is
terrible"
| He appealed to the deputy sheriffs to
procure him a bottle of brandy but this
request was not granted. 1t would nave
been the first drink since the day of the
tragedy had it been given him.
ccme more composed, repeated his re-
quest for brandy and it was given him
Shortly before l o'clock Sheriff Puchta
notified Duestrow that his last hour
had arrived, and in few minutes the
guards said that all was in readiness tor
fbe execution. The sheriff gave the or
der to proceed and the march to the scaf-
fold was begun, the sheriff leading the
way followed by DueStroW, with dep
uty sheriff on either side and large
crowd of newspaper men ana doctors;
Duestrow was apparently unconcerneu
and when he had mounted the scaffold ne
showed no nervousness. After the rope
had been placed about his legs the sherl1f
asked him if he had anything to say. He
replied: Nothing, but that a big mistake
is being made"
Then as the rope was being adjusted
about his neck he asked: May l say
few WordS?'
The sheriff gave assent and Deustrow
smoke in almost a whisper as follows:
II wish to say that big mistake is being
made here l am Gen. Bradenburg, OF
the United States army, l am not the
man whom you accuse. ! am not
murderer of a woman and a child.
now stand before you, sir bound and
tied. a criminal, but ! am innocent OF
any crime. go at peace with my Lord
I want you to say that l thank my at
torney. ex-Gov. Johnson, OF 81 LOUIS
for what he has done for me-
The condemned man hesitated, as II
about to talk more, but Sheriff Puchta
raised his hand; the black cap was placed
over Duestrow's head and the cord
drawn tightly. Duestrow shouted to one
of the deputies, Goodbye, Simon and
the trap was sprung. The black form
fell through the hole and twisted about
two or three times. His neck was not
broken. and in eight minutes after l
O'Clock he was pronounced dead.
The body was turned over to an un-
dertaker representing Miss Hulda Dues
trow. st. Louis, sister of the dead man,
and will be taken to that city where the
remains will be inferred alongside of
the murderer's father in Bellefontaine
cemetery The undertaken stated that
he had positive instructions not 10 en-
balm the body and this is taken as evi-
dence that a post morten examination
will be made to determine the condition
of Duestrow's brain.
Duestrow was in receipt of an Income
of $4,000 year for life, settled upon him
by his father. He was studying medi-
cine in ST. Louis, but had practically
given himself up to drink and the bawdy
houses. On the day of the murder he
had made an engagement with his wife
to take her sleigh riding. When he went
to keep his appointment he was under
the influence of liquor and quarrelsome.
ard abused the servant, who admitted
him to his house. His wife, endeavcr-
ing to draw his attention from the serv
ant when he turned upon her, shot her
four times and then held up their baby
against the wall and put bullet through
its head. A fortune has been spent in
endeavoring to clear Duestrow OH the
ground of insanity. There have been
Ave continuances. one mis- trial, one APP
peal and one change of venue IN the
case. The case attracted wiGesf,'
tention and has established mar
dents by court rulings upon 'tJ