The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16
Murderer Was Captured After Three
Days and Brought to Indianapolis
to Prevent Hanging by IN Mob.
THRICE STABBED IN A ROW
Ex-SHERIFF OF CLAY COUNTY Is
PROBABLY FATALLY WOUNDED.
White Man Shot I'm the Back ny q Ne
the Outskirts OF Madison.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. April 16-Mat-
thew Alexander, the murderer OF Thomas
Burke, went to his death a few minutes
after Wednesday midnight. The same In
difference that characterized his demeanor
since his arrival here on Dec. marked the
last moments of his life and the march to
the gallows. Warden Reid entered Alex
ander's cell at 2:3o Wednesday afternoon
and read the death warrant to him. It's
reading caused evidence OF emotion on
the part of Alexander. who said he had
been patiently waiting; that he bore I'll
will to no person.; that he had made his
peace with God and was prepared to 60.
He thanked the prison officials for kindness
shown him and was specially grateful TO
friends at Danville, ILL.,. who haC volun-
teered to engage an attorney to defend
him. He fell into a quiet sleep about $50
and awakened about IL o'clock. when
Chaplain Henderson prayed with him.
Alexander was net wholly unresponsive-
The march to the scaffold occupied but
a minute. He left his cell at 1906 and the
drop fell at 1907. The heart ceased to beat
at 12:1s when the body was cut down. The
remains will be inferred In the prison bury
ing grounds some time to-day.
The crime for which Alexander was
hanged was the murder of Thomas Burke
at Terre Haute last September. The negro
had been employed to work about the
Burke home and had been given a room IN
a building at the rear of the house. where
he made his home. On the night Of the
murder Burke was aroused by the screams
of his wife and daughter. who slept In an
adjoining room. He ran TO the assistance
of his wife, over whose bed the negro was
leaning and trying to slash the woman
with a razor AS Burke approached the
bed the negro turned on him and cut his
throat from ear 10 ear. Burke fell TO the
floor dying and the negro fed Mrs Burke
received several severe wounds and for q
time 1t was feared she. too, would die.
When the news of the murder became
public posses of the friends OF Burke. VINO
was prominent in railroad circles. organized
to capture Alexander and lynch him. For
two days no clew as to the whereabouts or
the murderer could be found During the
afternoon of the third day following the
murder a small boy playing I'm a barn ten
squares from the Burke home. saw the ne
gro hiding In the hay loft The LAD notines
the police and two patrolmen went TO tn
barn and captured the murderer. who ha,
hidden there three days with nothing to eat
When IL was learned that the murderer
formed with intentions OF lynching the ne
gro. The sheriff and a score OF police and
deputy sheriffs, by a circuitous route.
reached a railroad crossing east OF Terre
Haute, and the murderer was placed on
board a train for indianapolis. but not be-
fore the advance guard of the mob had
reached the scene and MADE determined
effort to take the frightened man from the
officers.
He was kept in the indianapolis jail until
the feeling at Terre Haute had died out.
~ afrarF od 70 IN ri fnr
Throughout the trial a heavy guard was
kept over the prisoner for fear an attempt
might be made TO carry out the plans or
the mob nullified by the transfer or the
nrisoner TO Indianapolis.