Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-16
HANG FIVE S[AYERS
Executed While Counsel Tries
to Obtain Stay Order.
INSANITY WRIT is DENIED
Court Proceedings Terminated, by
News of Expiation.
NEGRO'S NERVE FAILS HIM
Only One of Quintet Who Has to Be
Assisted to Scaffold-Ends
the Guelzow Case.
INSANITY WRIT is DENIED
NEGR0's NERVE FAILS HIM

CHICAGO. February 16.-Five murder
ers were hanged in the county Jail today
four of whom were executed while coun-
sci were vainly trying to obtain a stay
order on the ground that their clients
were insane. and one after babeas corpus
proceedings in the federal court had been
denied.
The four were Frank Shiblawski. Ewald
Shiblawski. his brother; Philip Sommer-
ling and Thomas Schultz. slayers OF Fred
w. Guelzow. jr., a truck farmer. VINO
was robbed and murdered in the outskirts
of the city last October. The fifth was
Thomas jennings a negro. who was con-
victed on finger-print evidence of the
murder of Clarence Hitler. a railway Off
cial, whose home he attempted to rob in
September. 1910.
Jennings was the. only one of the five
who required assistance to mount the
Scaffold.
The Shibawski brothers were the first
to mount the scaffold. and the drop had
scarcely fallen when bailif from Judge
Mckinley of the superior court rushed
into the jail Office and summoned Jaiier
Davies to court.
Command Not Obeyed.
THE command was not. obeyed and
instead Chief Deputy Sheriff Peters
telephoned to the Judge that two of
the men had been hanged and that the
executions would proceed unless a
formal writ prevented.
No writ was issued and Sommerling
and Schultz followed their companions
in crime on the gallows.
Representatives of the states attorneys
tnI fbn aff to lnlo fI<a
executions and told Judge Mckinley that
the petition alleging insanity. which un-
der the law is a bar to execution, was
presented for the purpose of delay.
This was lotly denied by counsel for
the condemned men, and a wordy alterca-
ton occupied the. minutes in which the
four were being prepared for the gaioWs
h Judge Mckinley declined to permit the
The prosecutors insisted that the petition
which was signed by Rev. Repinski was
not In accord with the facts.
Word that the sentence had been car
! ried out was taken to Judee McKinieyss
court while Rev. Father J. 9. Morris. one
OF the CLERGY who had visited the con-
denned men II, the JAIL was testifying to
his opinion that the four were insane.
The proceedings were dismissed without
further ceremony.
Il am Informed that the execution has
taken place." said Judge Mckinley. so
there, is no use in going on with this pro-
ceeding."
After the usual formalities the bodies
were given to the families for burial.
Negroes Petition Denied.
Counsel for Thomas Jennings, colored,
the fifth murderer hanged today, while
the executions Of the Guelzow murderers
was occurring. were arguing before
United States District Judge Landis that
the rights Of their client had been in
vaded by the introduction Of finger-print
evidence in seeking to convict him Of the
murder Of Clarence Hitler, a railroad off,
cial whose home Jennings sought to rob.
Jennings counsel declared that the fin
ger-pr;nt evidence was inadmissible be-
cause Jennings had been compelled to
give the prints while he was in Jail.
Judge Landis denied the petition, and
Jennings was hanged at 1915 pm.