Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-04-28
THREE BANDITS
WE'RE EXECUTED.
Notorious Car Barn Criminals
Hanged In Chicago
on the 22d. .
NElDERMElER WAS UNNERVED
Leader of Murderers Seemed Parti.
ally Crazed- Remained an Atheist
to the Last - Marx and Vandine
Met Their Doom Calmly.


to the Last Marx and Vandine
Met Their Doom Calmly.
Chicago. April 23.-Compelled to
be carried to the scaffold Peter Me.
dermeier, leader of the car barn ban.
dts, was hanged here yesterday at
1885 O'Clock. Weak and pale, but
with slight suggestion of a smile,
the bandit failed TO carry out his oft.
repeated boast that he would die be.
fore he reached the gallows.
Hanging OF his associates Gustav
Marx ana Harvey Van Dine quickly
followed. Although 1t was expected
at first that Neidermeier would be
able to walk to the gallows with but
little or no assistance, 1t was found
at the last moment that he was too
weak.
Straps were placed over his ankles
and just above his knees. He was
then placed on a truck and wheeled
to one of the lower floors Of the Jail,
after which he was carried to the
scaffold and placed in O chair on the
trap. He was not asked the custom.
airy question, II he had anything to
say and tne rope was quickly placed
about his neck.
He instinctively settled his neck in.
to the moose and the trap was sprung.
The body shot through the trap
and for twenty minutes after 1t
moved convulsively, the physicians at
nf No hot hn "a
strangling TO death; that the rope
had been placed too low. After ex'
animation, however. the physicians
announced that his neck had been
broken. Neidermeier appeared on the
scaffold wearing red rose, but with.
out a coat. Previous to the execu'
ton and during the reading of the
death warrant Neidermeier snatched
the paper from the chief deputy
hands and placed it in a pocket and
made remarks in anger at this time.
and once or twice when he was being
taken to the scaffold.
Marx and Van Dine, who had join,
ed the Catholic faith recently, spent
their last hours in reading, writing
and praying, several nuns and priests
being with them constantly. Marx
asserted he was feeling fine. His
sweetheart was the last Of his friends
permitted to visit him. II was an.
nounced that the men would be hang
ed separately and in the following
order.
Neidermeier first, then Marx, and
Van Dine last.
Attorneys for Van Dine were try
ing 10 see the governor to obtain a
stay Of execution for the bandit, the
jailer said, and that was why con
sent was given to hang Van Dine
last.
Shortly after II o'clock Marx was
led to the scaffod. He was pale,
but his courage never left him while
he stood on the scaffold. He made
no statement. Two priets of the Ro
him to the gallows. He repeated a
litany with them, kissed a crucifix
after which the jailer adjusted the
moose and sprang the trap at ll:1Z
He was pronounced dead at l1:24
his neck having been broken.
Harvey Van Dine was hanged a
short interval after his companion
Marx, a few days before bitter
enemy Of Van Dine. but now the
best of friends in their last hours
of life.
Incidents in Van Dimes execution
were similar to those that character
lied the execution Of Marx. Like
Marx. Van Dine was composed pre-
ceding his execution. With the
Catholic priests. who accompanied
him, Van Dine walked unfalteringly
to the scaffold, attired neatly in black
like Marx, and wearing a white waist
coat and white rose.
Van Dine seemed to be even more
calm than his companion Marx, who
went to death shortly before. Van
Dine made no statement Of any kind
while on the scaffold. The prayer
which he repeated with his spirit
ual advisers. was quite audible. With
Van Dimes lips still moving in pray
err the trap was sprung at 11:55.
His neck was broken.
nooo nm rND nIIIl nINH