The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-02-03
GEO. QUINN
DROPPED
TO DEATH
6:35 Pm.
FRIDAY
SUFFERED DEATH PENALTY FOR
MURDER OF WILLIAM HERBET-
SON IN DENVER OCTOBER "a,
1914.
MARRIED WIDOW OF VICTIM

George Quinn was hung at the peni-
tentiary at 6.35 O'Clock Friday night
according to law for the murder of
William Herbetson in Denver on Oc-
tober IA, 1914 There we're present at
the execution the officers of the pris-
on, Sheriff Nesbit of Denver, Q1inn's
spiritual adviser and such other wit
nesses as are required by statute.
The details of the hanging are not
available for publication, but the exc
cution is understood to have been in
every way a successful affair.
Warden lyman announced the exc
cution to the waiting newspaper cor
respondents at O'Clock. but declined
to give any particulars in relation to
it.
Quinn alienated the affections of
Herbetson's wife, killed the husband
and subsequently married the widow.
Martin H. Temple of the Olinger
mortuary of Denver arrived Friday
night and this morning claimed
Quinn's body He shipped it to Den
yer ON D. & r. G. train No. 10 at
1890.
Temple came down here at the in
stance of Mrs. Quinn and friends of,
the deceased, who did not want the
body buried in the prison cemetery
here.
Crime Committed In 1914.
The crime of which George Quinn
was convicted was committed on the
night of Oct "a, 1914. in a rooming
house at 1045 West Fourteenth avenue.
less than a stones throw from the
county Jail and while a jury was de-
liberating over the fate of Oscar Cook.
sentenced to hang for the murder of
Patrolman William Mcpherson and
Andrew ]. Lloyd, Velverde saloon
proprietor.
Quinn used a sawed-off shotgun and
with the weapon fired at William Her
bertson at close range. The charge
tore away a portion of his victims
head Death followed instantly
A statement was made by Mrs. Her
bertson, who since has become Mrs.
Nellie Quinn. at the time, in which she
band, leveled the weapon at her and
threatened her life and that of her
baby. 20 months old
She also told the police that she
pleaded with her husbands slayer to
save her life for the sake of an unborn
child. Since the crime was committed.
Mrs. Herbertson has said that the
child, then unborn. was that of her
husbands slayer, and she declared
that her marriage to Quinn in the coun
ty Jail was performed SO that the babe
might be given a name.
jealousy Blamed BY Quinn
Quinn fled from the Herbertson
household after the killing. He re-
turned while the police were search
ing for him and gave himself up He
declared that the love two men bore
for one woman caused him to kill Her
bertson. Four days before the shoot
ing he had been released from Jail at
Longmont.
crime, brothers of Hei bertson declar-
ed on the night of the killing Quinn
had threatened to kill William Her.
bertson.
Herbertson and the present Mrs.
Quinn had been married eight years.
Mrs. Quinn before she became Mrs.
William Herbertson. was the wife of
Lorenzo Herbertson, brother of the
one killed. She was divorced from
Lorenzo.
On July 81 1915, Mrs. Herbertson
was married to George Quinn in the
Denver county jail. The ceremony
was performed by Justice Henry Bray,
John F. Murphy. then warden of the
Jail. obtained the marriage license.
When the ceremony was completed
Quinn was returned to his cell and
Mrs. Herbertson went to her home.
Execution Delayed From April 4.
Originally. Quinn was sentenced to
hang during the week OF April L. Thru
the efforts OF his attorney a stay Of
execution was obtained and an appeal
for a new trial was made to the ST.
preme court. The Supreme court re-
fused to reverse the decision Of the
lower tribunal and fixed the date Of
execution as Some time during the
week Of Jan. 23.
During his nghc 10 escape the gal
lows none we're more active In his be.
l'aif than Mrs. Quinn. She appeared