Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
LAND|S GIVES
B|LL|K STAY
Of ExECUT ION
ORDER OF JUDGE CAME AT LAST
MOMENT-cASE WILL BE. AP-
PEALED TO UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT.

Cnlcago, June l2.-Federal Judge
Kenesaw M Landis this morning, at
the last moment, granted Herman Bill
lik, sentenced to hang today between
IL and IL o'clock for the murder of
Mary Vrzal, an appeal from his own
decision given yesterday when the
judge refused to grant writ of habeas
corpus. Billik's execution was in
definitely postponed
The case will be taken to the
supreme court Of the United States,
and Billik will be given respite un-
til that body has passed on the con-
stitutional question envolved. When
the good news was taken to the
prisoner, who was preparing for the
execution, he broke down and cried
for Joy.
81 knew it would happen" he said.
God will not desert me. yet have
a chance"
Five Meetings.
Father O'Callaghans five meetings
yesterday marked the climax of the
most remarkable efforts to save a
condemned man in the history Of the
nation. The meetings were at the
Great Northern theater, Brands hall,
North Clark and Erie streets; st..
Martins hall, Fifty-ninth street and
Princeton avenue, and Holy Cross
hall, Sixty-fifth street and jackson
avenue, and Temperance hall, 55 Eld-
redge court. All the meetings were
packed The emotions Of the crowd
found vent in wild outbursts.
Real Drama stlrs Audience.
The first of the meetings was held
at the Great Northern theater at
noon. The stage, which has been the
scene pf ia Thousand mimic dramas,
never held nyfnfng more dramatic
than when little Edna Billik appeared
| While Father O'Callaghan was in the
midst Of his appeal for mercy the
child stole from the wings linprompted
and caught the priests hand. She look
ed up out of wistful blue eyes into
his face.
Please save my papa" she said.
/ The crowd burst in wild cheering
The frightened baby ran to seat q,
the back of the stage. A woman in
a box threw her great bunch OF
roses. Jerry yrzal picked up the
flowers and placed them in Edna's lap
The girl buried her face in the roses
and sobbed as If her heart would
/ break.
..Inveishs Against illegal Crime"
There isa just God in heaven,
said Father OCallaghan. He will MOI
| permit the governor of this state tc
flourish If he does not stop this lega
crime which is about to be committed
/ If we do not succeed in saving this
innocent man from the gallows, oul
work will not be in vain. A swift
wave Of indignation will follow in the
wake Of mis- death. How can chez
executive allow man to be hanged
on evidence purely circumstantial ant
partly perjured?
/ 'I know there has gone forth secret
ly message to Governor Deneen from
judges on the Cook county bench.
I will not give their names. But the.
the execution of man they believe t,
be innocent. If judicial propriety dit
not prohibit, these judges would b.
by nay side on this platform now.
I "Do Not Blame Jerry vrzaI."
| do not blame Jerry vrzal for bear
| luS IdlSS WlIISSS. ouC DIANE III
scoundrels who prompted him. NJ
judge OF jury has dealt with the fact
which I have in my possession.
'I say, as a priest of the high God
my testimony should be heard. Whel
1 speak, speak because Of good an
sufficient reasons. / know this man
innocent. My word should carry a
: much weight as that Of the man VIII
despised and cast aside the religio
of the mother who bore him."
This was taken by the crowd as
shaft aimed at States Attorney Heal.
Cries of Amen" "Give it to him,
rang through the house.
, Jerry vrzal Also Speaks.
Father O'Callaghan made PRACTICAL
the same address at all the meeting,
On every platform he introducde littl
Edna The pretty child did not spea
: but her appearance touched th
I crowds and men and women cheere
n and wept. Jerry Vrzal made shol
address at each meeting.
= 81 know l lied at Billiks trial." sal
the boy. 81 lied because an assistar
, states attorney and police officia
: who is now one of the highest in th
t city, threatened to charge me wit
murder if did not testify that Bill
a was the murderer of my father an
mother and my sisters. When Bi
!, lik was sentenced my heart ached.
didn't know what to dol thought ono
:. would kill myself. My conscient
Z. hurt me so | went finally to Fatht
a O'Callaghan and confessed the trut
If any one should desire vengeance {
n Herman Billik it is l, for am the sc
and the brother of these murdere
: people. But know RiIlik is inn