Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-08-04
JUNK|N STRANGLED
Murderer Of Clara Rosen Died
With Prayer on His Lips
NECK NOT BROKEN BY FALL
Condemned Man Begged Forgiveness
Of Mother and Parents OF Vic
tim, and Faced Death With
Calm Courage.

Fort Madison, Ia. July 30.--"I,
John Junkin, now at the point OF
death, desire most sincerely to obtain
mercy and pardon from God for all
my sins. l likewise ask forgiveness
from my mother for the sorrow
have caused her. and l earnestly and
sincerely ask the forgiveness of the
parents, relatives and friends Of
Clara Rosen for the pain l have
brought upon them. May God have
mercy on my soul"
These were the last words of John
Junkin, negro murderer OF Clara Ros.
en- of Ottumwa, and who was hanged
at noon Friday at the state peni-
Tertiary. 1t was dictated by Junkin
to Father Zaiser OF Fort Madison,
and by him made public Immediately
after the execution.
Nerve unfailing.
Junkin went upon the gallows at
noon, calm, cool and erect, without
even display OF nervousness. save
for an occasional twitching OF the
muscles of his face. The trap was
sprung by Sheriff Clark at 1915
o'clock and at 1874 o'clock the negro
was pronounced dead by Drs. Bam-
ford of Centerville and Box of OF.
tumwa. The fall did not break the
Negroes neck as at first reported.
The nerve possessed by Junkin In
the face Of death was wonderful APP
parently he did not appreciate the
doom that awaited him and many
thought him to be In a dazed condi-
ton but this was disproved when
he stepped upon the trap door. Then
he gazed cody out upon the men
seeing familiar faces bowed an adieu
to them.
Prayer on the Gallows.
He had trying ordeal to 60
through with and plenty of opportuni-
ty was given him to break down. He
was taken upon the gallows exactly
at noon and there prayed with Faith.
er Zalser Of Fort Madison. Father
Foley Of Ottumwa. and Father Hon.
man OF Fort Madison. When he took
his place on tho trap he kissed the
crucifix held by Father Zaiser.
Girls Father Forgives.
After Junkin was pronounced dead
Father Zaiser prevailed upon Fred
Rosen, father OF the girl murdered
by Junkin. to forgive the negro and
Rosen did.
No women were present at the ex-
ecution. Warden Sanders barred tho
mother OF the murdered girl and no
titled Mrs. Junkin that she could not
be present. Desire to prevent a scene
caused the warden to take such
action.
Fifth Man to Hang.
Junkin is the fifth man to be legal.
ly hanged In Iowa within the last
half century. The other men who
have felt the hemp about their necks
are Chester Bellows, who was hanged
in 1877 for the murder of his niece;
James Dooley, lad who was hanged
for the murder of his sweetheart; ],
X. Cumberland, who was hung IN
1895 for numbering two men In
Shelby county, and Joseph Smith, col
ored, who was hung In 1906 for the
murder of a woman at Buxton.
Out Coffin for Death Relics
Burlington, Ia, July 30.-When the
body Of John Junkin, the murderer OF
Clara Rosen, who was hanged In
Fort Madison, arrived by express In
this city enroute to Des Moines. a
large crowd gathered at the depot
and at once attacked the pine box
in which 1t was enclosed with their
pocket knives in their eagerness to
secure chips of the wood as souve-
Mrs. In short time the box was
considerably Clipped and slivered
and presented badly used appear.
ance.