The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-17

position Of the remains was made. A
post mortem eXaminat ton will be held
In st. Louis.
LOST HIS NERVE.
Not until this morning, when he
arose after a f1tful nights rest, and
saw Tor the first time the gallows upon
which he was to die, did DR.. Arthur
DeustroW, the condemned ST. Louis
murderer, show any signs of realization
OF his fate. For the first time since the
CRIME was committed, three years ago,
he shed tears. Turning from the win
dow from which he had gotten a
glimpse of the engine Of death, he be-
gan to sob like child. He put away
all semblance of insanity. which he had
carried out for so long, and groaned:
II know I've got to die. I killed NV
wife and child, but it was not my fault.
II was something within me that made
NE 90 1t. 1 was not myself"
These words were repeated over and
over again. as he lay on the cot in his
cell, tears flowing fast and sobs oc-
casionally checking his utterances. The
condemned man had called himself
Gen. Brandenburg, of the United States
army, and assumed a martial air. This
morning he wrote the following mes
sage to his attorney. and asked to have
1t sent:
Gov. Charles P. Johnson, St. Louis, Mo.
l am In a predicament. Intercede with Gov.
stephens for me immediately. 1 now need
your advice l was insane but it did no good.
have nothing but hope of forgiveness left.
Signed A. F. w. BRANDENBURG.
The sheriff took the message, but did
not forward it as requested.
1t was but short time, however, be-
fore the condemned man regained his
composure. He talked with all his
visitors, and even smiled This was
probably the result of the sheriff's or
der resembling one made yesterday, that
the prisoner should not be allowed to
have any whisky. At 10 o'clock he
decided that small doses should be
given Duestrow from time to time to
keep his courage up, and Duestrow was
very grateful. Duestrow has not been
visited by any spiritual advisers, he
having declared he would die without
such consolation. His wishes were. ac-
cordingly respected.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The case of DR.. Arthur Duestrow, the
millionaire Of this city, who on Feb Is, 1894,
shot and killed his wife and 3-year-old son
Louis, in cold blood, while frenzied with
drink was one Of the most remarkable ever
passed upon by the courts of this state. From
the beginning Duestrow tried to make people
believe him insane, and his attorneys, ex-
Gov; Charles P. johnson and Charles T. No
land, did everything in their power to carry
out that idea. A legal inquiry made as to
Duestrows mental responsibility resulted in
his being declared perfectly sane by a jury
When the trial on the charge of murder came
up, change Of venue was taken to Union,
Franklin county where the case was heard
before Judge Hirzel 1t resulted in disagree
ment. Duestrow v as given a second trial, and
was convicted and sentenced to hang. Several
appeals were made to the state supreme court
to grant new trial, and when these failed
Gov. Stephens was asked to give the prisoner
respite until the case could be carried to the
United States supreme court, but ne refused
to do so.
DR.. Duestrow was a rich man. Although a
graduate Of medicine, he never made a pre-
tence Of practising. his time being spent in
riotous living. His home at 1924 Compton ave-
nue., was d handsome one and his family life
there could have been happy but for his
dissolute habits. On the day in question Dr.
Duestrow drove up to his home in a sleigh
with the intention of taking his wife and
child out riding. He was greeted affectionately
by his wife, but responded in surly manner
With no excuse whatever, he accused his
wife of keeping disorderly house. He would
listen to reason, and finally became
frenzied, knocking her down several times
The climax came when the doctor pulled out
a revolver and shot his wife, wounding her so
that she died after several days of intense
suffering. Then taking up his 3-year-old son
Louis, whom he had played with and caressed
but short time before, he held the child
at arms length against the wall, and blew
his brains out.