The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-12
WHILE REPRIEVE
WAS ON THE WAY
CoIorsd Lad Vas Hanged After
Cover or Had Granted a Stay.
THE SHERIFF DID NOT WAIT
THE LAW HAvE Elm TWELVE
HOURS LEEWAY.

ct. LOUIS, NO. April 11-Henry
Flutcher, colored, was hanged at
sunrise today for the murder of
Louis Roth, 16 years old, Aug. p. 1900.
At Gas a. m, thirty minutes after
the fatal drop, telegram was received
by Sheriff Joseph Z. Diekmann from
Governor Doekery, granting a respite
Of fifteen days. At Il O'clock last night
Circuit Attorney Folk telegraphed Gov
ernOr Dockery recommending a ten
days respite, in order to investigate
more fully testimony that Flutcher
acted in self-defense. A message from
Jefferson City said that the governor.
when aroused by the messenger, stuck
his head out of a second story window
and asked What's wanted g. The
messenger told him the nature of the
message and he ordered it put under
the door, Sheriff Diclkmann concluded
that this meant no interference.
At $50 Sheriff Dickmann told the
condemned boy to prepare for the
march to the gallows The next five
minutes were spent in prayer. Flutcher
praying aloud in firm voice. When
he had finished. ne turned to a deputy
and placed his arms behind him.
Wen go now" he said quietly. and
the rope was tied over his elbows.
The boy walked to the gallows with
a steady step, and when asked by the
sheriff if he wished to say anything,
began speech that occupied three
minutes. He declared that he fired the
fatal shot but disavoWed any inten-
ton OF murder. His object. he said.
was merely to disarm his assaiIaut.
Flutcher concluded as follows
without the desire to reflect on the
men who sent me to this fate. the
worst that can beIail a mortal man.
I want to say that not only have I
been prosecuted but merCilessly. perse-
cuted as we'll
Triumph CT Money"
This shameful end 10 my life. a boys
life, marks the final triumph of money
over justice.
The time is past when anything can
be done Death is very near 20 me. but
before IL laws its hand let me saw q
parting word Shun evil companions.
advice that is just as good for the old
as the young. Had done so here
would have been no fight. no shooting.
no haugman's Moose"
With a sweep of his right hand he
bade the crowd goodbye, and turned
to the sheriff
Rev Mr.. Roberts stepped forward
and asked for a final prayer. This was
made kneeling-
Twenty seconds later Sheriff Dick
mann sprung the trap Flutcher's neck
was broken in the drop. After q for
NAL inquest the body was turned over
to the family.
II did my duty. said. Sheriff Dick
mann after the hanging. and I am
glad it's over. The death warrant
called on me to execute Flutcher be-
tween the hours of in the morning
and in the afternoon. 1t was nearly
fifteen minutes after in the morning
when the drop. fell.
The answer to Mr. Folks telegram
to the governor came 10 the FoIIr
Courts at 2.30 in the morning. in the
form Of a dispatch from the Western
Union Office at Jefferson City. I opened
the telegram, thinking it might contain
a repTieve. Instead. il said that the
governor had come to a window and
when told the nature Of the message
had directed it to be placed under the
door and had shut the window with
ouL- sending an answer.
he Had No Hope.
Il supposed that ended the matter
and left 10 hope. Mr.. Folk. whom one
of the newspaper men called over the
phone, thought the same and so did the
prisoner.
I don't hold myself to blame. The
governor is the one who had the au-
thOrity and he is responsible for the
whole incident"
Deputy Sheriff Charles BiIhartz
who received and opened the telegram
the reprieve from the COVER
nor. says that the message was received
twenty minutes after it had been filed
IN Jefferson City. It came to the
Western Union Office on Eighth street.
and was delivered by messenger.
who had run the entire distance to the
-Four Courts.
Circuit Attorney Folk said: There
can be no doubt as to Flutcher's guilt.
He was given a fair trial before an i'm
partial jury, and his case was fully ex-
amined by the supreme court.
When Detectives Mcneil and Har-
ringtOn came to my house last night at
II o'clock and reported they had lust
discovered witnesses who, il was al
legged, through fear, had been restrain
ed from appearing at the trial. I
thought it best, as a matter Of eau
loh, 70 ask the governor for q reprieve
Of ten days, until I could fully inves-
rigate and examine these witnesses"
Jefferson City. No. April 1.-Gov-
srnOr DOCkeTy says he read Circuit At
tOruey Folks telegram at 1880 this
but did not decide 10 grant
z lutcher a respite until this morninE.
Re also wired Sheriff Dickmann and
also telephOned him 10 stay the execu-
ton, the order being sent al 6 O'Clock
The telegram was received at ST Louis
thIrty-five minutes too late, and the
telephone message ten minutes too late.
governor DOckery stated that Flutcher
should have been executed and that
the second respite could only have Cd
GRATED TO stay the execution a few
days.
Many Are Called, But Few Get IN.