Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-02-10
DIED ON THE GALLOWS.
Gus Wachline Expiatcd His Crime in
I.iIIsborO.

IiiIlsboro.
Hillsboro, Or, Feb. 7.--Gus Wach-
line, the condemned murderer OF John
ID. Lcdrick, expiated his crime on the
allows at 1910 O'Clock this afternoon.
The hanging OF Wachline was made
A good deal of holiday affair in Hills
boro. Not only were the residents of
the town alive to the occasion, but there
were many people in from the country,
particularly from Iowa Hill, where the
murdered man lived. In addition there
was a trio OF negro singers from Port
land, a peripatetic fiddler patrolling
the saloons in an effort to pick up a few
dollars. and Photographic outfit on
the streets, with all the latest songs
At a dime per tune. The hanging
brought business to town, and in emu
ation of city daiies the Independent
and Argus, weekly papers, issued Eek
tras' shortly after the execution.
Wachline passed his last night on
earth much the same as he had since
he was sentenced to death. He spent
most OF the time talking to the death
watch, and went to sleep about $3.50
o'clock this morning. He was up be-
fore but refused any breakfast.
Three hours before the execution took
place, the office of Sheriff Bradford was
Desciged with crowd OF men, all anx-
ions to be close ut hand when the
prisoner was brought from his cell to
he scaifold. So great was the crush
hat at times it was difficult to move
about.
1t was nearly 10 O'Clock when Cap
ain A. NJ. Collins appeared with the
-opc, and, walking out of the west win
low on to the scaffold, he adjusted it to
she crossbeam. In this he was assisted
~ Sheriff Bradford, Sheriff Ply, of
Union county, and ex-Sheritf Ford, Of
Washington county. After the moose
was adjusted, the rope tested with u
weight Of sand and the trap found to
work without hitch, the more active
preparations to enforce the death SEN
tence we've begun.
1t was 1915 A. NJ. when Sheriff
Bradford and the l2 jurors passed into
the corridor OF the Jail through the
loor leading from the sheritf's office.
Ordering the door of the cell opened,
Sheriff Bradford said:
"Wachine, come OUT
The condemned man shuflled out
from the cell, coatless, both hands IN
his trousers pockets, with an ugly, surly
look upon his face. The sheriff told
him he was about to read the death
warrant, but this drew forth no re-
mark. During the reading Wachlino
seemed to rivet his eyes on the floor,
and when the ceremony was over walk
ed back into his CELL sat down on a
chair, rested his head in his right hand
and seemed absorbed in thought. He
was then asked by one OF his spiritual
advisers if he intended to make any
statement on the scatfold. Wachline
signiiied his intention of doing so, and
it was thought he would at the last
moment make a full confession.
Wachline was brought from his cell
to the scaffold through the sheriff g
Office at 1908 p. M. accompanied by
Sheriff Bradford and Deputies G. E.
Deichman and J. H. Westcott. He
was placed on the trap, facing north,
and asked by the sheriff if he had any
thing to say.
The prisoner said Eyes," and then,
in an almost inaudible tone, continued:
"All that | want to say is that the
statement have made is true. l am
an innocent man. Let Jesus take me
as I am
This was disappointment to the
crowd, which had expected confess
sion. 1t was all he would say, and his
legs, arms and hands were quickly
pinioned, the black cap put over his
head, and the moose adjusted about his
neck. AT signal from Sheriff Brad
ford, the trap was sprung at 1910 P.
NJ, and Wachline was hurled into
eternity.
Life was pronounced extinct in IA
minutes, and one minute later the body
was cut down and placed in the wait
ing coffin. The body was afterward
removed to the undertaking establish
ment of G. W. Patterson, where it was
viewed by many men and women dur.
ing the day.
Wachline was hanged for the murder
of John d. Ledrick, an aged German
farmer, who lived three miles south of
Cornelius.
Bad Fire in Winnepcg.
Minneapolis, Mimi. Feb. - A
Journal special from Winnipeg says the
Mcintyre business block in the heart of
the city was destroyed by fire this
morning. The building was four sto-