Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-20
RADLOFF CHEATS
Pen BY HANGING
With Fort Madison Staring
Him in the Face Prisoner
Ends Life in Jail
USES NEW SHIRT FOR MOOSE
Loops Garment Over Bar in Cell, Ties
End Around Neck, and Jumps From
Bench to Death - Body Found by
Fellow Prisoner Upon Arising Mote
Left to Sister.

4 Paul Radloff will not have to serve
even a single day of his ten-year SEN
tence for burning the barn OF w. .
GiIe, southwest of the city, on Aug. ~
last Surrendered by his bondsnen
last Saturday, taken into custody to
await the formal legal action of COM
hitting him to Fort Madison, Radloif
cheated the penitentiary some, time
during Tuesday night by banging him.
! self In his cell.
A new black satteen shirt was usea
by the prisoner In making the moose that
strangled him to death in the solitude
of the prison walls. RadloT looped one
end of the garment over the heavy
steel bar that forms a part of the au-
tomato locking device, and fastened
1 the other end around his neck. He used
an iron settee in his cell to stand on
while adjusting the moose. The ceiling
1 of the cell is seven feet high. so that
Radloff's neck was practically even
with the cross-bar to which he fas-
tened the shirt. After he had made
sure Of the fastenings he stepped off thu
settee and slowly strangled to death.
His feet We're scarcely one and one
half inches from the floor
Prisoner Makes Discovery.
It was not until 6:45 this morning,
when the lights were turned on from
the switch below in order that the
prisoners might see to dress for
breakfast, that Jim" Stevens, who oc-
cupiesl the cell next to Radloff, dis
cover, that Radloff had hung himself.
At fir Stevens thought that Radloff
was sSh ding in front of his cell door.
but ul observing more closely saw
that tire was black garment fas-
| tened 10 the mans neck. Stevens let
out a yell that startled Deputy Sheriff
Mason down stairs. The deputy ran up
stairs, only to cprroborate the CHASTITY
find in the cell.
RadIoff Worked Quietly.
| Radlofr must have worked quietly in
making the preparations for his death,
as no one heard him. Stevens never
heard sound all night Harry Par
| menter, Of Gilman, in jail for wife de-
sertion, and Albert DUNCAN, doing six
months for larceny, were in the next
cell on the other side. Neither of these
men heard any noise whatever during
the night.
It is presumed that Radloff took the
fatal leap at about midnight. He was
| last seen at $40, when Deputy Sheriff
Mason went around to lock up. For
something to say to Radloff, as he lay
on the cot, Mason asked the prisoner
how he was feeling. Radloff replied,
| FIRST rate" The man doubtless waited
for all on the second floor to be asleep
before he began to move about, and
the body, when discovered, gave evil
dence Of having been dead several
hours.
| Surrendered by Bondsmen.
| After being surrendered by his
brothers, as bondsmen, Radloff, who
had been out on the $1,000 appeal bond,
was taken into custody and placed in
Jail. The law compelled three days
notice to be given, and the case was
| to have been heard in court today
Otto Radloff said, today that the rea-
son he and his brother had surrendered
Paul was because Paul had threatened
NV. s. Gle, the man whose barn was
burned by Paul. Otto Radloff said that
Paul had been following Gle around
for days and, while not openly threat
ening him, had threatened Gile before
| others 1t was to prevent Paul from
doing anything else that the brothers
/ wished to have him taken in custody.
Max Radloff stated today that Paul had
| told an officer that if his brother did
not give him some money, he, ,[PauD,
would burn Max's barns. Paul went
out to Maxs place and Max gave his
brother 50.
Leaves Note for Sister.
The only message left by the dead
his sister, Mrs. Meta williamson Of
daughter Grace, aged 8, lives with Mrs.
Williamson, and has since Mrs. Rad
loft committed suicide by drinking
chloroform on Sept. 8, 1905. In his note
to his sister Radloff expressed the de-
sire that his daughter be brought up
right" and that she be taught to be
ga good, truthful girl Radloff also
told his sister that his few personal ef-
fects might be used for the benefit Of
Oracle.
Radioff Well Known.
Radloff was well known in the coun-
! ty, especially the southern part, and
in this city. His parents, the late Fer
dinand and Alvina Radloff, were old
residents of Timber Creek township.
Paul was their eldest son, and was
born in Germany, July 16, 1869. Sur
/ viving him, aside from his little daugh-
ter, are three brothers and two sisters
Mrs. Meta Williamson, of Portland;
Otto Radloff of this city; Emil Radloff,
who lives six miles south of town;
Max, who farms the old home place,
six miles south; and Mrs. e. F.. Bish-
| op,;. of Hobart Okla. Mrs. Bishop has
| been. home on a visit, and only left
for Hobart last Saturday.
/ No Inquest Held.
Coroner Jay. who was summoned af-
ter the body was found, decided that
an inquest was unnecessary. The body
was. turned over to Otto Radloff, and
was removed to Sinlkins s. Esteis par
lors
| The funeral will not be held until the
| relatives from q distance can be heard
| I. ~, l,oo,,. .7nnidads. hn1uouor