The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-04-23
CAR BARN
BANDITS DIE
Chicago Thugs Pay the Penalty
Of Their Crimes on
the ScaffoId.

ldSli out seemingly uulefNeu complete
ly, Peter Neidermeier. the leader of
the car barn bandits, was hanged here
from chair contrasting with his com
panions In crime, Gustav Marx and
Harvey Van Dine, who standing erect,
kissed an image of Christ and died
without a remor. The three execu-
tons were separate, twenty minutes
apart, the same scaffold being used
for all.
Only once before in Che large num-
Der Of executions that have taken
place at the Jail in this city has it
been necessary to carry condemned
man TO the gallows as Neidermeier
was The crime for which the three
bandits paid the penalty was one of
eight murders which the three men
are known TO have committed-tha of
Francis w. Stewart, a clerk in the
car barns of the Chicago City rail
way.
Neidermeier had boosted continually
of his courage, but As the last mo-
ments approached he collapsed and
was unable to take three consecutive
steps of "A march to the gallows
DR. f. w. Mcnamara the jail ply
stefan, had visited Neidermeier preyi-
ously and said that Ncdermeler's
physical condition was satisfactory.
The bandit leader himself told Chief
Deputy Sheriff Peters, who appeared
with tba Jaot ia ,varrant tbot tho LAST
walk would be without aid. Deputy
Peters then read the document, and
Neidermeier started from his cell. He
had gone only two steps when he sank,
and it was found it would be neces-
sary to lift him to the scaffolG
No minister or priest accompanied
Neidermeier, he having finally said
when offered last opportunity before
leaving his cell he would die as he
had lived, an atheist.
On the scaffold JaileF Whitman dis
regarded the custom Of asking wheth-
er the condemned man wished to say
anything. The shroud and hood were
quickly adjusted The bandit, instinc-
lively moving his head that the rope
might more easily be arranged, took
q last glance at the spectators. He
appeared as II in a stupor. A mo-
ment later, at 1895 o'clock. the trap
fell, the chair being quickly removed
from behind as the body shot down
ward. The shroud became partly dis
arranged, and fearful muscular strug-
giles of the dying man continued for
fifteen minutes in view Of the witness
es of the execution.
In the opinion of some witnesses
Neidermeier was half crazed when the
death warrant was read. He became
angry and protested against execution,
saying he did not wish to disgrace his
family.
Peters" said the prisoner, "let me
look at that warrant"
After excitedly reading the paper
Neidermeier nervously folded it and
started to put it in his pocket.
you can't do that" said the chief
deputy. Il have TO return that TO the
court"
NtiutIAltitI lObhtN hP AuiNNig anu
with a ghastly smile, said:
Il want to take this along with me
TO prove a case of murder. / may want
to make complaint to st. Peter"
He also entered into a discussion
with the deputy Sheriff on murder.
The only requests that the other ban
dts, Marx and Van Dine. made were
that they be allowed to bid one anoth-
er goOdby, which was granted. They
counseled each other TO be brave and
Joined in hoping they would meet
again" The men had been bitter enc
mics until few days before the exc
cution, Van Dine being incensed at his
companion for having made the con-
fession which led to their capture.
When the body of Neidermeier had
stopped quivering and been removed
Marx walked slowly to the scaffold
with several priests after having con-
fessed, repented and received the last
sacraments, as did Van Dine, both
men having been converted to the Ro-
man Catholic faith following the death
sentence Marx, like Van Dine, was
neatly attired in black, and in the coat
lapel of each was a white rose. Mel
dermeier, unlike his comrades, wore a
rose of dark red. Marx showed no
emotion while on the scaffold and in
steady voice repeated litany after
the priests. He feTyently kissed the
crucifix and at 11:17 o'clock was
hanged. His neck was broken.
The execution Of Harvey Van Dine
was varied by a curious incident
While he stood on the drop praying
and waiting for his arms to be pin
toned and his legs secured the moose
fell from the crosspiece of the gallows
and dangled before the eyes of the
bandit about to die. Disregarding the
moose, the bandit continued praying
steadily to the end
Death in his case, as in that of Marx