Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-30
DOOMED To DEATH
SAYS THANK YOU"
Ernest Wirth Receives Sentence
to Die on ScaffoId with
Smile of Relief
MAKES A SHORT STATEMENT
Tells Court He Killed Wife Be-
cause He Could Not Live
with Her Any More
MAKES A SHORT STATEMENT

"Thank you," said Ernest Wirth
when sentenced to death by Judge Will
lis yesterday.
With an expression of relief and a
smile as though he had won in some
momentous contest, Wirth, who mur-
dered his wife, Mrs. Hattie Wirth, last
Friday, by stamping out her brains,
received the sentence of Judge Willis
Of the criminal court that he must
hang for his awful deed. He is to be
executed June II. On hearing his SEN
tence the prisoners manner changed
from an expression of nervous tension
to that of relief and satisfaction, and
when he was led back to the Jail he ap-
peared really happy for the first time
since his arrest.
When he was brought into the court
at $50 o'clock he wanted to waive all
proceedings and receive his sentence at
once. He refused to have an attorney,
but was given formal trial in accord
ance with the law.
With deputy sheriff on each side of
him and a couple more behind him,
Wirth was an interested spectator of
the proceedings, which he watched
closely with clouded brow.
Detective MacNamara, who assisted
in the arrest, was the first witness.
He told Of the finding of the woman's
body, the presence of Wirth, of his
trousers and shoes being coated with
human blood. He said Wirth acknowl-
edged that he had murdered his wife
and was ready to swing for it. on be-
ing questioned, he said Wirth did not
act like a crazy man, but like one who
was in an angry mood while partially
intoxicated.
TELLS OF BRUTAL ATTACK
Detective T. C. McCann, who also
Ia
knew Wirth and his wife for several
years, and that in 1906 he had been
called in to stop a brutal attack on
Mrs. Wirth by her husband. He said
Wirth had driven his fist into the
woman's face with such force that he
had knocked out half a dozen teeth
and had twisted her face out of shape
for the time being. He also declared
that Wirth was not insane, but evil
IDENTIFY murdered his wife in a rage.
DR.. Robert V. Day, who examined
the body of Mrs. Wirth after 1t was
taken to the morgue, told of her inju-
ries, saying death had resulted from
the woman's eyes being trampled to
such an extent that the brain had been
disturbed He was followed by DR..
Frank Stebbins, an expert on insanity,
who supported the testimony of the de-
tectives as to the sanity of the muir
derer.
Following the testimony Wirth was
asked if he desired to make a state
ment. He stood up and replied that he
did, and said as follows:
"I make a statement. | know / killed
my wife because / could not live with
her any more in this world. Now 1
hope you will give me the death sem
tence so that / will meet her in the
other world as soon as possible. That
is my statement"
JUDGE PRONOUNCES SENTENCE
Wirth spoke the words with firmness
in broken English, and then stood
Willis read the law in respect to muir
der in the first degree and the penalty
of death.
"There is nothing which 1 could say
which would mitigate your sentence"
said his honor, appearing rather un-
at the necessity which
him to send man to his
doom. 1T was your own act, and the
law prescribes the death penalty, the
court having no feeling in the matter.
For many years death has been the
sentence for people who commit muir
der in the first degree, and l find under
the circumstances that 1t Is the duty
of the court to sentence you to death"
Wirth's glance frightened at this
and he grew less nervous
while the crowd in court watched the
proceedings breathlessly.
1T is the judgment of this court"
pronounced Judge Willis, that you
must hang for your crime, that you
will be taken to San Quentin within the |
next ten days, and on a date hereafter
fixed by this court you will suffer the
death penalty" i
Every face in the room with the ex-
ception of Wirth's was solemn as the
man was sentenced. He deliberately |
smiled with satisfaction, and, sitting |
down, nodded pleasantly to his guards |
as though he had received excellent |
news. on his way out of court he |
caught sight OF several acquaintances,
and he leaned over and shook hands |
with them effusively, while they ap
oeared uncomfortable over his unwel-
come friendliness.