Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-16


4 Ing his death. Had It not been 10
the spasmodic motions of the throa
4 as IL he were swallowing with diff
Guilty, 1t would not have been ap
n parent that he cared.
No speech or word except one o
two OF inquiry as the guards fastened
him for the drop were heard. If h,
had intended to make statement
from the scaffold he had changed hi.
mind. lie stood awaiting the enc
with the eyes Of Emil Zahn, the
brother Of the man he murdered, In.
tent upon him and those or William
Kurt, another relative of Zahn,
watching with awe the executioner &
preparations.
During the few moments That
Rhea's flce was uncovered, he gave
no sign of recognition OF those below
him. lie G.ounted the scaffold at
l:20 p. m. and in two minutes the
hands and limbs we're strapped, the
black cap adjusted and the moose was
in place, the knot being under the
left ear.
When the drop was sprung ut 1922
the mans powerful vitality was evil
denced. He wss not pronounced
dead for thirteen minutes. For a
time it was feared that the fall had
not been sufficient to break his neck,
but 1t was afterwards shown that
this had occurred at the first shock.
Iis remains were not removed until
twenty one minutes after the eXecu-
tion.
The Tribune of the town of FIRE.
mont, where the trial took place
gives the following. history, of the
crime.
The killing Of Zhan took place dnr-
ing a raid OF a gang of robbers rem
dezvousing near Crowell and followed
two days Of debaucheIy. Three
strangers who proved to be William
Rhea, Edward Gardner and William
Darrell went to Snyder on the even
ing of January 4. They were first
seen In Kur5aum Bros saloon and
attracted considerable attention by
their disposition to quarrel with the
frequenters of the place. They kept
up a constant jan cling for half an
hour, when all adjourned to Herman
Zah1's sloon. The loungers Of the
o her plac were forced to accompany
hhea and his companions who drew
revolvers and made them enter the
saloon ahead
There was half oozen men in the
place playing cards near the stove
and they we're ordered by the three
desperadOes to throw mp their hands,
which they did with alacrlty. Her
man Zahn was sitting on a table and
complied with the order. lie arose
to his feet and taking step towards
the robbers said, "Dont shoot" AS
he did so Rhea shot him and Zahn
fell heavily to the floor. Going up TO
the wounded man Rhea struck, him
va thC hShu Will Lib IeNOlNeT ana,
gave him a kick saying "You vii
get over this". After rifling Zahn's
pockets and relieving him of his
watch, Rhea went behind the bar
and secured $75 in money from the
till. The thugs then backed out Of
the building and after 1ring volley
in front of the place made their es-
ecape two going east and the other
west.
Attention was at once given to Mr..
Zahn. He was shot in the abdomen
on the left side, slightly below the
naval lie was taken to his home,
where physician probed the wound
unsuccesSfuIly for the bullet. Death
followed in about an hour and a half.
Mean while posse had been organ
lied and chase was given the fleeing
gang. The night was very light from
full moon and the men were easily
tracked to the creek where the
trail was lost. Scouting parties kept, |
up the hunt all night but the men
had made their escape for the time
being. Sheriff Kreader and officer
Crawford arrived from Fremont dur
ing the night and the former took
charge. The sheriff had an idea that
the men belonged to a gang that |
Crowell and set out in
that direction. accompanied by the
posse. On the way they stopped at
place bearing an unsavory repula-
Jicn but found nothing suspicious
md they continued on to the well
known rendezvous.
They found woman, Mrs. NJ. d.
Williams in possession. AS nothing
'ould be learned from her a search
If the place was commenced. De-
'elopements were soon reached at
straw stack near the barn and evil
iences that it was occupied Sheriff
hreader stayed to await develope-
neutS, and after "A match had bnop