The Washington herald., 1913-02-15
DOUBLE SLAYER
hanged in JAIL
Samuel W. Rauen, Who Shot
Brother and Wife, Pays
Death Penalty.
NERVY TO THE END
Spiritual Adviser Takes Charge Of
Body and Has It
Buried.
NERVY TO THE END

The first execution at the United States
morning shortly after 10 o'clock. when
Samuel w. Rauen. former soldier, paid
the penalty on the Rallows for the muir
der of his wife and brother.
| Fearlessly, and with a proyer on his
lips Rauen went to his death. Before
the execution. he asserted in q state
ment to newspaper reporters that he had
been convicted on perjured evidence. and
| that he considered his crime justifiable
homicide in view of the circumstances
preceding it. His last words, aside from
the prayer he was muttering when the
drop fell. were addressed to the deputy
who placed the moose about his neck.
| Pull the rope tighter" he said.
The drop was sprung at 1900 o'clock.
Ten minutes later Rauen was pronounced
dead. Death was due to strangulation.
Shortly before going to the gailows
Rauen made q statement to newspaper
men in his cell. It had been his intention
to make his last statement from the
gallows, but Warden Zinkhen, who was
visibly affectcd by the approaching execu-
ton. feared this might result in an un-
pleasant scene being enacted. and Ranen
made known what he wanted to say be-
fore leaving his cell.
Statement to Newspapers.
II want to tell the public that I am
not guilty of murder" Rauen said, land
that I was convicted on perjured testi-
mony.
Had ! been given an opportunity to
prove what l knew and what my wit
nesses knew, the government would
never have been able to prove me guilty
of murder.
III my attorneys had been satisfied
and I had been given one chance in a
hundred-but 1 was not given that chance
things would have been different
II consider this a justifiable homicide
on circumstances proven and on the i'm
pulse of the moment
Rauen had a walk Of fully half a block
from his cell in the condemned row. in
the south wing. TO the gallows erected
III the extreme north wing. This pro-
cedure was a new departure. prisoners
formerly having stepped direct from the
death cell door to the gallows platform.
The former soldier walked the entire
distance between two guards with a firm
step. He displayed no nervousness, and
on leaving his cell called good-by to
the other prisoners in the same row
with him. He was accompanied by Rev
Father Michael Gallagher, his spiritual
adviser.
Within half minute Of the time he
been sprung. Ten minutes later physi-
clans pronounced the man dead.
Last Night a Restful One.
RaJen displayed little nervousness dur
ing the night and slept soundly for sew
eral hours He had retained his appetite
throughout and yesterday morning ate
hearty breakfast of ham and eggs.
tomatoes, griddle cakes. and coffee. He
was served 4 double portion. and gave
half of it to Tony Milsno, who was in
the next CELL and who is condemned to
die March II for the murder of a ten
yesr-old boy
Father Gallagher was with Rauen dur
ing the greater part of the night. The
soldier bade farewell to Milano and Sab
ems. another soldier. also condemned to
death who were in cells adjoining his
He lied his farewell TO the others. and
bid good-by to Warden Zinkhan and the
deputies with whom he had come in con-
tao during his Incarceration.
RaIen had several relatives in Chicago
but none claimed the body. The body
remained hanging until II O'Clock, when
il was taken down and inferred in Mount
Olivet Cemetery. at the direction of Rev.
Father Gallagher. The latter performed
last rites for the church.
Rauen was convicted early in January
ard sentenced TO hang January 81. He
was granted two weeks reprieve by
President Taft. He was found guilty of
the murder of his wife, Ozelah Jones
Eauen, and his brother. John Rauen,
on March 90 1912. Rauen shot the two
while in front OF his wife's home Iol2
Seventh Street Southwest