New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-10-26
His Crime
Avenged.
Joe OFT, the Brutal Wife Murderer, Exc
cuted Thursday Morning.
His Diabo1ical Deed Avenged at the End
of a Rope. No Hitch in the
Proceedings. -

Joe OFT, formerly of Nicollet county
and later of Brown, was hung at Granite
Falls Thursday morning for the murder
of his wife last May.
The drop fell shortly after one clock,
the murderer's neck was broken and the
doctors pronounced him dead in eight
minutes.
The following is the Minneapolis
Times account of the rinal ending of a
brutal and hot tempered man:
He walked to the scaffold and up the
steps with firm tread.
He helped put on the black robe when
beng dressed for the execution. When
asked if he had anything to say, he said
"Dear Friends-I am sorry for what
did to my wife. If I had known
what I know now I would never have
done such thing. If I had read my
Bible and believed in the Lord never
would have done it. I bid you all good
night"
There was not hitch in the proceed
ings, and the execution could not have
been better performed.
OFT took leave of his children in the
forenoon. They were admitted into his
cell and he sat on the bed with them and
gave way to his feelings. He broke
down for the first time. The enclosed
yard was brightly lighted by electric
lights, put in especially for the occasion.
The scaffold was built at the south
end of the Jail in the Jail yard, and this
was 1nclosed with an eighteen-foot board
fence, making a yard about fifty feet
square. Everything was built in SUBJ
stantial manner and tests made to see
that the rope was strong enough and the
trap worked properly. During the day
the sheriff asked Ott what he should do
with his body, as none of his relatives
cared to have anything to do With it..
He laughlngly said that of course It
would have to be taken care of.
There were large number of persons
from Echo to witness the execution, and
some four hundred "depu,y sheriffs''
we're sworn in.
OFT was 40 years of age, and his wife
about 81. They were married at Sleepy
Eye, Feb. 20, 1878. She had on two
occasions made application for divorce,
but each time they made up and went
to living together again. He was al
ways brutal to his family. He made an
attempt on the lite of his son at one
time, and the young man carries the
mark Of the affair to-day. He had many
times threatened to kill his wife.
He was man of some education, and
was in the habit of reading good deal.
Just before he killed. his wife, he had
been reading the story of the assassina-
ton of Garfield, and the open book he
laid down was soon spatted with the
blood of his wife.
On June % OFT was arraigned before
Judge Quale. He refused counsel,
and pleaded guilty to mulder in the first
degree. Three days later he was sen
fenced to death.
OFT was not considered unpopular by
his neighbors, and was accounted man
of more than average intelligence. He
served as a township officer-town clerk
and ordinarily was agreeable, cool
and self-possessed.
Since the murder Otis six children
have been living with their mothers rel
at1ves at Sleepy Eye. 81 r. @~- i
Mrs. Emmett Sherman came up from
Arkansas last week to attend the funeral
of her father, the late Mr.. Slocum.
The marriage Of Otto Kluegel and
Miss Pauline Albrecht occurred at the
Lutheran church Thursday afternoon.
Victor Christensen of Pralrieville is
home from Fort Mcpherson on a sick
furlough. Victor is an enlisted private
in the regular army.
Z z = IS
j. O. Holen and wife of Saltwater,
Hans Mo and wife of Sleepy Eye, Mr..
and Mrs. SCOT Of Springfield, Mr.. and
Mrs. Tuttle of Home and Walter Dahm
of Mankato were here Monday to attend
.th Mo- George nupt1als.
Nels B. Erickson and Miss Gurena
Tordson, both of Lake Hanska, will be
united in marriage next Saturday They
are among the best known and most pop-.
sular young people Of the town and the
Review joins with q host Of others il
las