The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-18
~ TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 49, 1902
HANGED UNTIL DEAD DAWSON IsENRAGED
Andrew Taper Forfeits His Life for
an Atrecious Murder.
KILLED ROSA MIXA LAST JUNE
Execution Mt Chaska Was Quickly
Over and Had No Sensa-
tIOnaI Features.

Chaska, Mimi, Feb. 1s.-Andrew Taper,
convicted of the murder of Rosa MiXa, a
hotel waitress of Carver, with whom he
was infatuated, was hanged at 1915
O'Clock this morning in an enclosure ad-
joining the Carver county Jail. The eXecu-
ton, which was the first in the history
of the county, was devoid of sensational
features. Tapper's neck was broken by
the fall and life was pronounced extinct
within fifteen minutes after the trap was
sprung.
Taper kept his nerve until the last,
although his wasted strength made it nee
sssary that he be supported to the gal
lows. He declined to make any statement,
out whispered request to the deputies
near him to 'cut it short
.'The Time Has Gomez
Sheriff August Johnson and the two Wis
1tlng sheriffs who assisted him proceeded
TO the condemned mans cell with Rev.
II. ]. Raedeke at 1910 o'clock. Taper
mad been awaiting their coming and
seemed to rouse from a sort OF stupor
when the door Of the cell was thrown
open. .-.. .,-..
The time has come, Andrew" said
Sheriff Johnson, whose voice trembled
with excitement.
Il am ready the condemned man said
simply and, rising, drew his coat about
him and advanced toward the door of the
cell. 49,. .. .a-....g
1t was noticed by the attendants that
he seemed unsteady and they took him
by either arm and led him along the mar
row way to the place of execution. where
crowd of $50 sheriffs and deputies and
number OF authorized spectators were in
waiting. A crowd of 500 people stood out
side the Enclosure.
AS the first sounds OF the death march
We're heard. the spectators mechanically
cd in hroa h1oSS
silence.
Had Nothing to Say.
Tapper's step was unsteady as he mount
ed the gallows and the attendants con-
tlnued to support him while the con-
demned mans hands and feet were bound.
When the moose had been adjusted, Tap
per was asked If he had anything to say.
He replied that he did not. Needing his
request for haste, the attendants worked
quickly, and before a prayer had been
said, the trap was sprung and the body
shot down until the rope arrested its
course.
DR.. Diesner and Waconia, DR.. Shober of
Chaska and Coroner Halgreen of Water
town formed the committee that took it's
place beside the swaying figure and
watched for the last spark of life to die
out. The spectators made no sound and
not until the rope was loosed from it's
fastenings did one OF them stir.
Tapper's body was placed in a coffin
that had been put in readiness and soon
afterward it was given into the custody
OF a Minneapolis undertaken who will
take 1t to Minneapolis for burial.
His Brutal Cyime.
Tapper's crime was committed ON the
morning OF June 8, 1901, in a fit of teal
GUS rage. Rosa MiXa was EMPLOYED in a
hotel In Carver as a waitress and Tapper
was helper about the place
Tapper came into the kitchen of the ho-
tel, where he met Miss Mixa. He began up-.
braiding her fer some fancied slight and
she replied in harsh tones. The quarrel
grew more furious, but the hotel en-
ployes, who had become accustomed to
such scenes, paidalittle attention TO it.
Suddenly the girl uttered a piercing
scream and the attaches of the hotel ran
into the kitchen. The girl lay on the
foor literally cut to pieces, and she died
within few minutes. Taper was seen
leaving the place, still clutchtng the
bloody knife with which the murder had
been committed.