Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-25
Maurice Krakow Relates De-
tails of Executions Which
He Witnessed
TICKETS IN GREAT DEMAND.
Sheriff Could Have Made $4,000 Out
Of It He Had Dared-only About
Fifty Were Present - Niedermeer
Joked About eDath Warrant-cam-
sras Were Not Allowed.
Special to Times-Republican

Sioux City, April 25.-Maurice kra-
s kow, of Detroit who arrived in Sioux
City yesterday, saw Niedermeier, Marx
and Van Dine. the three car barn ban
dts, hanged in the county Jail at Chi
cago.
Mr.. Krakow was one of about fifty
persons who witnessed the three hang
ings. He said about eighty people saw
the first hanging, but at least thirty of
them. sickened by the sight of Nieder-
meters taking off left the Jail, unable
to stand the shock of the other two
executions.
Tickets to the executions were, in
great demand One mysterious woman
was offering $1,000 for ticket. One
man offered Mr.. Krakow $3.50 for his
ticket.
Sheriff Barrett could have made
z 10000 out Of it il he had dared" said
/ Mr. Krakow.
The case Of Van Dine. who was the
last man to be led to the gaIiows, inn
pressed Mr.. Krakow as being the most
dramatic. AS he stood on the platform,
holding crucitix in his hands and
praying fervently, the moose which was
( to end his life became loosened from
its hook, and, falling. struck the con-
.demned man in the face.
1T is not true that Van Dine contin-
ued to pray as If nothing had hap
pened," declared Mr.. Krakow. 'Natu>
rally, the unexpected blow from the
cto h He " q faint
and toppled over in state Of semi
consciousness. He was caught in the
arms of guards and restored to a stand
ing posture, but prayed no more from
that time
Mr.. Krakow was accompanied by his.
brother-in-law. G. r. Morrison, of
Port Huron. Mich. They remained with
the officers turnout the entire proceed
ings and heard all the murderers had
to say during their last hours
Niedermeier Joked.
Mr.. Krakow stood near Niedermeir
when Sheriff Barrett read to him his
death warrant. He heard Niedermeier
ask to see the warrant.
..The sheriff turned it over to him."
said Mr.. Krakow, land as the fellow
read the paper his hands shook so
much that the paper ratified noisily."
Niedermeier started to put the paper
! into his pocket. when the sheriff OBJ
1ected with the statement that he had
to return the warrant to the court.
II need this warrant to show to st.
Peter to prove that I was murdered
declared Niedermeier.
In spite OF the efforts OF the officers
and the priests to induce Niedermeier
to accept the Christian religion he was
obstinate to the end and refused to re-
ceive any spiritual consolation.
No Harps in Heaven.
.'But, Pete, it will not do you any
.harm." the sheriff said within the hear
ing OF Mr.. Krakow "And perhaps II
may do you some good to die a Chris
tian."
'.Oh, go on" was Niedermeier's res
Spouse. you can't make me believe
that the millions Of people who have
died in past ages are UP there in the
clouds playing harps"
Some one had sent Niedermefer d
prayer book. but he turned 1t over to
Van Dine who in turn presented it to
Mamie Dunn, his sweetheart.
II saw the girl in the sheriff's office"
S3llQ MI. hTdhOW. Snc jOOheO CdlG>
worn and sad, but she is quite pretty"
Niedermeier's bravado gave out just
before he was to be taken to the gall
lows. He became too weak to walk and
1T was necessary to strap him and roll
him thru the corridors on a moving
car.
1.-The car passed near one wall of the
corridor said Mr.. Krakow, land
saw Niedermeier lift up his head and
attempt to dash 1t against the wall
One of the two priests who followed
the car prevented him from carrying
out his purpose"
On the gallows Niedermeier. was
strapped to a chair on which he had
been made to sit. AS the man was
dropped the chair, became loosened and
fell with a crash to the ground below
The force Of the drop fairly shook the
entire building and the prisoners thru
out the big jail knew at once that the
first bandit had met his fate.
The LOO prisoners In the Jail a.
once set up q chorus of bowls which /
will never forget declared Mr.. Kra-
kow. TT lasted for fifteen minutes
and was something awful. The pris-
oners cried for Marx and Van Dine in
loud voices.
Marx was the next man to be led to
the gallows, an interim Of twenty min
utes being allowed.
Cameras Didn't Go.
MARX and Van Dine had been COR
verted to the Catholic faith after their
Condemnation to death, and Marx was
accompanied by priests" said Mr.. Kra-
low. las the priest spoke the prayers
OF the Catholic church, he repeated
them: Christ. have mercy on my
soul! Mary, holy Mary, pray for me-
He seemed quite brave, and his voice
shook but little as he said the prayer
over and over again Christ have
mercy on my soul! Holy Mary. pray
for me- Jesus, Mary and Joseph. pray
for me-" His hanging was without
special incident"
Van Dine was the last man to swing,
. delay having been allowed in his case
because OF the strenuous but unsuc-
cessful efforts of his attorney to Sc
cure stay OF execution.
Mr.. Krakow had camera under his
COAT, having planned to get some ex-
elusive pictures of the hanging. AS
Marx approached the scaHold he reach
ed under his coat to press the bulb,
but the watcl1ful eye OF the sheriff spie
the little box, ana the enterprising De-
troiter was relieved of his camera.
Strict orders had been issued that no
pictures should be taken.