Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-29
PENALTY Of MURDER|TAFT IN C[EVEl
Albert Woter Meets Death in Striking Speech on Insurgency
Electric Chair. Tonight Expected.
LEFT NOTE DENYING Gull i'm HOTBED OF POLITICS
Was Convicted Of Killing Ruth Day Full of Engagements
Wheeler in March, 1910 Forest CITY
GIRL LURED TO ROOM POPULAR INTEREST IN TRIP
Body Executive Will
amed by Verdict Approved Columbus andL
by Court Of Appeals. Go to Akron.
Albert W0Iter Meets Death in
Electric Chair.
left NOTE DENYING GUILT
Was Convicted of Killing Ruth
Wheeler in March, 1910.
GIRL LURED TO HIS ROOM
Body Discovered Partially Con-
sumed by Fire-Verdict Approved
by Court Of Appeals.

osSINING. n. Y, January 29.-Albert
Wolter was put to death in the electric
chair at Sing Sing prison at 5:4l o'clock
this morning for the murder of fifteen
year-old Ruth Wheeler nearly two years
ago. The girl went to VOTERS fat in
New York in search OF employment and
he killed her after she had been mis-
treated Wolter left statement with
warden Kennedy denying that he had
committed the crime.
The execution was without feature, and
Wolter was declared dead after one con-
tact or $50 volts. The state electrician
said that Wolter showed less resistance
to the electric current than any murderer
put to death by electricity at Sing Sing
prison.
The murderer spent his last night quiet
ly, resting only part of the time. At =
O'Clock this morning he wrote his denial
Of the killing. 1t was on a single sheet
and so even and clear were the letters
formed that the writing had the appear
ance of copper plate.
Note Addressed to Warden.
The statement reads:
Warden ]. s. Kennedy:
ITO be given to the public; January
%. am.
Now that I am departing from this
earth to go into the presence of God /
wish to make this last statement. The
world refused me justice, but our Father
in heaven. who knows our innermost. He
VIII give me pure and undefiled justice. /
wish to state l am innocent of the crime
1 was convicted of. / have been q victim
OF cfrcumstantial evidence. l hope that
there may come a time when the con-
science of the perpetrator will overpower
him and he will come to the front and
acknowledge his guilt. 1t Is my honest
prayer to God that He may bring the per-
son guilty of the crime to justice, that
my name may be cleared of this stain
and that the people may see the injustice
done me and that they killed an
innocent boy. To those who have given
me their kind assistance and have trust
ed In me | give my sincerest thanks. To
and killed me, for them l pray Gods
forgiveness. ALBERT w. wOLTER."
Approved by Appellate Court.
Although wolter was convicted on
circumstantial evidence. the court of ap-
peals, reviewing the case after a series
of legal delays. declared he was fairly
tried and justly convicted.
Ruth Wheeler met her death March ~.
1910, In VOTERS apartment on the fourth
floor of house on East 18th street,
New York city, where she had gone to
seek employment as a stenographer. Her
The evidence indicated that the girl
had come to her death by strangulatiOn
and burning, after having been assaulted.
The body had been thrust into a fire.
place. where 1t was partly burned and
Concealed until 1t became convenient to
remove 1t In bag to the fire escape.
from WHICH 1t was thrown to the ground
below.
Voter admitted that he wrote the
postsl card which led Ruth Wheeler
to visit his apartment and in a book
kept by him, was found in her hand
writing an entry Of her name and ad-
dress.
A hatpin and a ring which the girl had
worn on the morning of her disappear
ance were found i'm the fireplace, and in
a house to which Wolter had moved on
the following day, WAS discovered an
have. had with her when she left home.
VOTERS Defense.
Wolter claimed he had never seen the
Wheeler girl and that he was not at
home until late in the afternoon on the
day the crime was committed. He sought
to account for the entry of the girls
name in his book by saying he wrote il
there at the dictation of a man named
Fred Ahner. who was desirous of start
ing a school of shorthand and told him
he was going to engage Ruth Wheeler.
No one could be found to testify as to
the existence of Ahner.
Wolter was found guilty and was SEN
fenced to be electrocuted June q, 1910. but
the execution was stayed by an appeal.
Although the law allows but six months
In which to argue such an appeal the
case did not reach the court of appeals
until December 4, 1911. The court af-
firmed the Judgment Of conviction within
ten days.
Urges CHILDREN,S BUREAU.