The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-06
Seemingly Indifferent TO His Fate. and
Regardless of His SURROUNDINGS
and His Friends.
THE LAW STRICTLY OBSERVED
THIRD HANGING IN THE PRISON con-
QUOTED WITH DECoRUM.
Only the Legal witnesses Present.
No Effort to Secure CIemency-
The story of His Crime.
sneciaI 70 the Indiananolis Iournal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
MICHIGAN CITY. Ind. June civilian
b. Wheeler, of Warrick county. who killed
his son-in-law. Elias Burns. last fall. was
hanged in strict accordance with the law
in expiation of his crime when Friday was
but five minutes old. He showed wonderful
vitality. The drop fell at exactly 1906
o'clock and it was 1918 before the doctors
declared him dead.
Wheeler's conduct during his last few
hours on earth was the same as his con-
duct the day of his arrival at the pris-
on last November. His demeanor was
that Of a human being of the lowest type,
and that death on the gallows, scarcely
thirty PAGES from his cell. awaited him
seemed TO give him no more concern than
if he were going to take walk down the
corridor for exercise. The condemned man
spent the day others since his incarcer-
alton, except that the visits of officers
were more frequent. Warden Reid and
the chaplain. the Rev. III. l.. Henderson,
entered Wheeler's cell at various times dur
ing the day. The warden asked the muir
derer if he had any word to leave. any
message TO send to his family or any re-
quest TO make. Wheeler replied i'm scarce
ly audible tones, Il guess not" and then
yawned The chaplain read portions from
the Scripture and offered prayer I'm the
death cell. but Wheeler was listless and
drowsy by turns and gave no heed TO the
words uttered by the minister. The chap
lain entered Wheeler's cell at o'clock
and was with him practically every mo-
ment thereafter until the trap was sprung.
Mr. Henderson led the death march and
was followed to the gallows by the con-
demned man. supported either side by
guards. Other officers followed in the rear.
Warden Reid went TO Wheeler's cell at IL
o'clock and read the death warrant Half
an hour later guards took in a new black
suit of clothes and change OF undercloth-
ing. in which the doomed man mechanical
ly arrayed himself. keeping silent the while
and maintaining a remarkable degree OF
composure.
There have been three executions since
james D. Reid became warden. but of the
number this one he dreaded most. Joseph
Keith was buoyed up by religious enthusi-
asm and went to the scaffold a religious
fanatic. John Rinkard. proud OF his army
record, calmly faced death as he woule on
the battlefield. But nothing appealed 10
Wheeler. The prison officials could find no
spot vulnerable, and. in fact. their attempts
to cheer up the condemned man were met
with an indifference that was astonishing.
Wheeler declared early in his incarceration
that he wanted 10 die. and that desire
seemed never TO leave him. remarkable
feature Of Wheeler's conduct was his abfl-
ity to eat. He was given his last meal at
o'clock and ate quite heartily. He walked
back and forth in his cell a few times. then
lay down on mis- bed. where he remained
until the chaplain joined him two hours
later.
The execution was witnessed by only
those whom the law prescribes. viz, the
warden, who sprung the trap. Deputy War
den Barnard, Clerk Lewis, Chaplain Hen
derson, six guards, Dr. II. L. Streaker, the
newly appointed prison physician. and DR..
II. w. Wilson. of Michigan city, who was
the physician selected as DR. Streaker's as
sistant Wheeler's body will be inferred
here, members OF his family or friends hav-
ing made no request for il. Wheeler re-
ceived no message from the outside world
since two months ago. when a daughter
wrote him, saying she wanted TO give him
a good burial.
Wheeler's crime was the murder OF his
son-in-law, Elias Burns. near Boonville. in
Warrick county. last September. He first
shot Burns through the body while he was
at work in his tobacco patch and then
went TO the house, where he made an at
tack on his divorced wife. who had left
him and was living with her daughters
family. Just after Wheeler had knocked
his wife down Burns was seen coming to-
ward the house. crying out that ne was
killed Wheeler seized the AK from the
wood pile knocked Burns down and almost
cut on his head with H. Wheeler's wife
saw him Kill Burns and the only defense
he offered was that OF insanity. After the
murder he told his friends he intended 10
kill himself Ito save some one else the
lob" and did 20 down into the woods and
shoot himself under the chin, the bullet
coming out OF his cheek near the eye. His
dislike for the son-in-law grew out OF his
wife = refusal TO live with him on account
OF his jealousy and his cruelty 10 her when
ne was in jealous rage and the fact that
Burns and his wife protected her. He also
charged them with encoura ging her 10 get
a divorce. The shooting OF Burns seemed
10 be part OF a plan TO get everybody out
OF the way who might interfere in favor OF
his wife when he attacked her, as he did
Just before Burns appeared at the house
Wheeler sentenced 10 hang In April.
and when the case carried 10 the Su-
preme Court a stay OF execution until
June was granted The Supreme Court
affirmed the judgment OF the sower court
on May ~. saying tnat the evidence IN sup
port OF the plea Of insanity was meager
and unsatisfact ctory. II proved that
Wheelers mother and father were cousins
and that his mother was OF an exceedingly
Jealous disposition which ne seemed 10
have inherited. but he had lived. worked.
acted and talked as a sane man for more
than thirty years Immediately before the
murder. and the first suggestion OF his in
sanity that was ever offered was when his
plea was filed I'm court.
The hanging OF Wheeler is the third TO
I T.. al Nit
prison Joseph Keith. OF Warrick county.
] was hanged last November for the murder