The Washington times., 1913-02-14
RAUEN CALMLY
DIES on GALLONS
FOR KILLING TWO
Soldier Slayer Of Wife and
Brother Protests He Failed
to Get Square Deal.
Continued from First Page.)

prisoner. A few minutes after 10
o'clock guards entered the cell, hand
cuffed Rauen, and tied his hands be-
hind him, and led him down death
row." through the corridors of the big
Jail, and into another passage, at the
farther end of which stood the white
scaffold.
Father Gallagher preceded Rauen, on
either side of whom marched a uni
formed guard. The man walked down
The long fight of steps leading into the
corridor where the scaffold stood.
twenty-five yards. and mounted another
series of steps. twelve In number, to
the gallows. He surveyed the entire
room while making the twenty-five
yard march, and as he passed the
dozen witnesses. loked each squarely In
the face.
Twice his eyes roamed to the gal
lows and he stared at II unfiiachingiy.
While the guards held either arm, he
did not need support Rauen twice re-
fused profrered stimulants, ono of the
physicians having agreed to give him
hypodermics.
1t took the guards but thirty seconds
from the time Rauen reached the top
of the scaffold, to strap his legs, place
the moose around his neck. the black
cap over his head, and to spring the
trap. 'sr
AS the moose was placed around his
neck. Rauen turned to the guard and
asked him to draw IL tighter. This was
done. and the man continued delivering
the prayers suggested to him by his
sprung. and in ten minutes he WAS pro-
nounced dead. The neck was not brok-
en-, and he died from strangulation.
The body was taken to Mt. Olivet
Cemetery, where, under the direction
OF Father Gallagher. it will be inferred
this afternoon. Rauen has relatives In
Chicago. but none Of these appeared In
Washington to claim the body.
The extenuatinS circumstances of
which Rauen spoke In his statement
referred to the alleged infidelity of his
wife. His belief that the relations be-
tween his wife and his brother were
not proper led to the double murder.
1t was claimed by his attorneys.
Hears Decision Coolly.
Following the murder, Rauen feigned
insanity. but officials declared he was |
not victim of insanity In type ma
l!gnant enough to be an excuse for his !
deeds.
President Taft, after granting a re-
prieve, appointed a special Investigator |
TO examine into the claims of Rauen's |
wife's alleged infidelity. Rauen's attor- |
neys believed that the Investigation had |
resulted fa,orably for their client. but |
President Taft yesterday afternoon |
sealed the young mans fate by refusing ,
TO interfere further.
Rauen took the news Of the Presi- |
tents decision coolly and while express
ing disappointment, did not break down
when he knew that death was only a
few hours away.
He slept well during the night. and
though looking haggard and tortured
TO the gaIIows, with his head
erect and his eyes straight ahead. Not
until a few minutes before the execu-
lion did he make his public statement.
There was no condemnation of Ills wife
ind brother. nor any expression Of re-
hat he hadn't had a chance to put into
evidence the things that would have
saved him from the :hangman's moose.
Chaplain Gallagher took charge Of the
,ody after the hanging. and this after
ioon he will conduct simple funeral ser
ices over it at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Taft Refuses to Interfere,
Rauen was convicted, Of double MUIR
ler, having shot to death his eighteen
wife and his brother. John
3auen, last spring. The former sol.
lier. returning to his home in South
vest Washington early in the evening
ound his wife and brother seated on
lie was intoxicated, and began firing
It the pair. While he was convicted
II double murder. he was executed for
he murder Of his wife.
His attorneys made desperate efforts
o have his execution stayed for a Sec
md time, but failed. He was to have
,een hanged the latter part OF Jan
lary. but eleventh-hour pleas made b.
lis attorneys to the President resulte|
n a repreve until today. Yesterda,
lis attorneys made another effort tc
lavc the execution postponed The
President placed the matter In tn.
lands of the Attorney General, VIII,
Ietailed a special investigator to re.
,ort on the case. On the recommen.
Iations OF the latter the President re-
used to interfere.