The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-22
IVENS IS HANGED.
Murderer of Mrs. Hollister Pays Pen
atty of His Crime.

Chicago. June 22-=Richards Ivens
was hanged here today for the murder
Of Mrs. Bessie Hollister.
Richard Ivens was executed for the
murder OF Mrs. Bessie Hollister, the
wife OF Franklin c. Hollister, the head
of the large printing establishment of
Hollister Brothers. The crime, which
was committed on the evening of jan
uary IL. of this year, was one OF the
most revolving in the police history Of
Chicago
Mrs HoIEster, who was a handsome
woman and prominent in church and
social circles on the north side of the
city. left her home on the morning of
January II, with the intention of
carrying some flowers to the funeral
of a friend She purchased the flow
ers and performed several errands IN
the vicinity of her home. but did not
appear at the funeral, nor was she
again seen alive by any of her friends.
On the morning of January lS, Rich
ard Ivens, who lived at 1866 North
Ea1stead street, told his father that
the body of a woman was lying on a
pile of refuse in the rear of their barn.
Mr. IVens at once informed the police
and the body which was identified as
that of Mrs. Holhster, was taken to her
home. Her clothing was torn and dis
arranged and she evidently had made
a desperate fight before being over
come.
Around her neck was twisted a slen-
der copper wire. She had evidently
been strangled to death after being
maltreated in the most vicious manner.
The conduct of Ivens aroused the sus-
picions of the police officers and he
was taken into custody and charged
with the crime. He at first denied his
guilt, but within three hours of his
arrest made full confession to the of
fcers The confession, he later repeat
ed at the inquest in the presence of
the coroner. and another to the states
attorney. He went into the shocking
details of the crime in cold blooded
fashion that aroused intense popular
Indignation. When arratgned for trial
Ivens denied his guilt and elaine ed
that he had been forced ITO confess by
the police. His defense was an altbi
and the claim that he made the confess
sions under hypnotic suggestion.
Application to the supreme court
for a stay Of proceedings and to the
governor for pardon was in vain, and
| his sentence was carried into effect
on the date originally set by the jury
at the conclusion of his trial.
The condemned man, until he stood
upon the drop, faced death in the same
stolid manner in which he has con-
Quoted himself since his arrest. When
he stepped on the scaffold. however.
much Of his courage failed him. Just
before the cap was drawn over his race,
he attempted to utter a prayer. but al
though his lips moved convulsively his
voice would not respond, and he was
not able to utter a sound. It was evil
dent that he was on the verge of COM
plete collapse and the sheriff hastened
the last details as much as possible in
order to avoid such a contingency.
Just prior to the execution the aged
/ father of Ivens called at the jail and
asked TO see his son for the last time.
His request was refused by the guards
and the father made quite a scene, as
he begged with tears to be allowed to
| see the young man once more. It was
finally found necessary to lead him
from the building. An aged woman
who made her appearance about the
same time as the father of Ivens, in
sisted that the condemned man was
about to hanged unjustly, as her own
son had confessed to her that he and
not Ivens, was the actual criminal. She
was detained pending an inquiry into
! her sanity.