The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-04-30
CAR BARN BANDITS
SENT TO ETERNITY
Neidermeier, Marks and Van Dine
Executed In Chicago.
FORMER CARRIED TO GALLONS
His Companions Embraced the
Catholic Religion and Accepted
the Services of Priests in
Their Last Moments.

Chicago, April 23,-Compelled to be
carried to the scaffold, Peter Nieder-
meier, leader of the car barn bandits,
was hanged here at 1926 o'clock.
Weak and pale, but with a slight sug-
gestion of a smile. the bandit failed
TO carry out his oft-repeated boast that
he would die before reaching the gal
lows. The hanging of his associates,
Gustav Marx and Harvey Van Dine,
quickly followed Although it was ex-
pected at first that Niedermeier would
be able to walk to the gallows with
but little or no assistance. it was found
at the last moment that he was too
weak
Was Carried to the GullOwS.
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 chair on the trap. He
was not asked the customary question,
If he had anything to say, and the
rope was quickly placed about his
neck. He lnstinctively settled his neck
into the Moose and the trap was sprung.
The body shot through the trap, and
for 20 minutes after it moved convul-
sively, the physicians at first giving the
opinion that he was stranging to
death, that the rope had been placed
too low. After examination, however,
the physicians announced that his
neck had been broken. Niederemeier
appeared on the scaffold wearing red
rose, but without coat.
Obdurate To the Last.
Previous to the execution and dur
ing the reading of the death warrant.
Niedermeier snatched the paper from
the chief deputy's hand and placed it
In pocket and made remarks In an
ger at this time and once or twice
when he was being taken to the scat
fold.
Marx Came Next.
Shortly after II O'Clock Marx was
led to the scaffold. Neatly dressed and
with white rose as boutonniere
which had been given him by his small
sister the night before. He was pale,
but his courage never left him while
he stood on the scaffold He made no
statement. Two priests of the Roman
Catholic church, of which Marx had
become a member accompanied him to
the gallows He repeated litany with
them, kissed a crucitiX, after which
the jailer adjusted the moose and
sprang the trap at 11:17 He was pro-
nounced dead at 1874, his neck hav-
ing been broken.
Van Dine the Last.
Harvey Van Dine was hanged 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.
The incidents in Van Dimes execu-
ton were similar to those that char
acterized the execution of Marx. Like
Marx, Van Dine was composed during
the execution. Between Catholic
priests who accompanied him, Van
Dine walked unfalteringly to the gal
lows He was attired neatly in black,
as was Marx, with white waistcoat
and wearing a 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, but the prayer which he re-
peated with his spiritual advisers was
quite audible. With Van Dimes lips
still moving in prayer the trap was
sprung at 11:55. His neck was broken.
A Dramatic Incident.
A dramatic incident preceded the ex-
ecution of Marx and Van Dine. When
the jailer entered Marks room to give
notice to prepare for the end, Marx
said:
Il want to see Harvey"
Van Dine was brought from his
room, a few steps away into Marks
room. When the two men faced each
other Marx said:
Harvey, hope to see you soon and
/ think we will meet again."
Van Dine seemed to be more affected
than Marx. He replied: 81 hope So"
Marx then said: Il am ready" and
went to the scaffold with the priests.
Previous to the third execution the
rope was tested with a bag of sand
Toronto Loss Estimate increases.
Toronto, Ont, April 23,-The total
of Toronto's losses in the recent fire
increases rather than decreases as ex-
perts reduce the figure from rough es-
tiuates tn something like accurate