The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-10
AN EXECUTION BUNGLED
COOK ANDERSON, OF THE SCHOONER
OLIVE PICKER, HANGED TWICE.
Rope Broke First Time and the Man
Was Carried Back to the ScaffOId
and Dropped Again.

NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 9-John Andersen,
the condemned murderer of Mate Saunders,
of the schooner Olive Pecker, was executed
in the city jail at 8 p. m. to-day. Andersen
made a short speech, saying he had for
given the men who swore his life away and
would die at peace. At 1906 the trap was
sprung and Andersen's body shot downward.
The rope parted just inside the knot and his
body fell to the cobblestones. thrill of
horror ran through the crowd. Officers and
witnesses rushed to the body and snatched
the cap from his head to find the blood
ooZing from mouth, nose and eyes. A doc
tor was called and soon Andersen opened
his eyes and it is Said began to breathe
naturally. He was carried, feet foremost,
up the stairs to the platform and laid down
until a chair was obtained. He was placed
in this, but never spoke. Preparations for
rehanging him were hurriedly made. The
other end of the rope was adjusted around
his neck. He was raised to a standing posi-
ton and the straps again placed on his
limbs. While being supported by the officers
the trap was again sprung. In twenty-three
minutes life was pronounced extinct. Nine
minutes elapsed between the first and second
drops. Andersen's neck was broken, sup
posedly by the last drop
Marshal Treat refused to turn the body
over to the Virginia. anatomical Society
and it was placed in a handsome casket and
buried in the seamen's lot in Elmwood
Cemetery. When the rope broke there was
a cry from some one in the crowd: ''Tele-
graph to the President.
Andersen's crime has attracted wide
spread attention, being sea tragedy CT
singular romance and atrocity The schoon-
er Olive Pecker sailed from Boston, laden
with lumber for a point on the River Platte,
Brazil. When $50 miles off the coast of Bra
zil, Andersen, a Swede, had an alteration
with the captain. When the latter retired
to the cabin Andersen followed and shot
the captain dead. Then he armed himself
heavily and went on deck, when, mounting
the forecaStle, he terrOrZed all on board
The mate. who was aloft, called down, ana,
while pleading for his life, was shot four
times Then the crew were ordered to throw
the dying mate overheard, md on protest.
ing that he was not dead We're assured that
were marched below at the muzzle of a
pistol and ordered to throw the captain
body overheard. Then Andersen directed
which the oil-soaked ship was set afire and
the murderOus crew took to the boats. An
dersen was apprehended at Bahia Brazil
and sent north the United States gun
boat Lancaster. He was tried and convicted
in the United States Court at Norfolk, Va,
and a stubborn fight was made up to the
firmed. The last move was an application
for writ of habeas corpus, on the ground
that Andersen's constitutional rights were
invaded when the lower court assigned him
counsel instead of giving him counsel of his
own choice Chief Justice Fuller, in an
nouncing the courts opinion, said the rec
ord of the case showed that funda-
mental right had been denied Andersen, but
that he had been represented from first TO
last by able counsel. The time when counsel
was not present was al a preliminary hear
ing of Andersen, but this was not used IN
the subsequent trial. The decision of the
lower court was affirmed.