Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-11

You deserve to die and you might as
we'll tell tho truth now. for the truth
Is known
"Piersol absolutely denied any
knowledge OF the KIDNAPPING plot. He
said that German agent had ar
ranged with him to kidnap a we'll
known Springfield jeweler and a ST
Louis manufacturer OF munitions. But
he continued to protest that lie did
rot have the smallest knowledge OF
the kidnapping OF the Kcet baby or its
murder.
'Piersol was then taken to the rear
Of the room. and Adams was examined
Adams made an interesting confession
lie declared that Piersol had told hin,
that he was at the Crcnshaw house
on May 80. We then took Adams back
to Jail.
I'VE decided that If the third degree
would not work on Piersol we would
give the fourth. or even the nth and
sixth. We did.
''We took Piersol along with us out
into the night. great big moon
lighted the streets almost with the
light OF day. We picked twenty
Springfield men and Il selected dclega-
ton Of Ave men from Stockton
WALKS LONG DISTANCE
IN SHADOW OF MOOSE:
"Piersors hands were tied behind
him. In front marched a member of
the posse. and from his shoulders
hung the rope and the moose. In this
shadow Piersol walked long dis
lance.
AS Piersol was brought to a halt
under tree. he looked calmly out
over the crowd. A smile. almost OF
contempt. spread over his features.
Well. boys. guess you have come
to Kill me- he said. without Il tremor.
We are here to get the truth, and
we are going TO get it, answered.
"I am absolutely innocent he re-
piled.
"A great strapping man stepped
from the front of the crowd. He had
a rope with big moose dangling at
its end. The moose was placed about
Piersol's neck. and the rope thrown
over Il limb.
"once more asked Picrsol to tell
the truth OF the Keet kidnapping. and
told him that a lie certainly meant
death.
He answered: If you Kill me. YOU
Kill an innocent man. but YOU might
as we'll do It now and have il over.
II is not very pleasant to stand and
know that within the next hour or so
YOU will be yanked to death under
this tree
There was whistle. and two strong
men stepped from out the first row
OF the crowd. They took hold of the
loose end of the rope and gave 1t
savage jerk. "A hcartrendinC eroan
Piersol. but that was all. His eyes
rolled. and from his lips there pro-
truded a thick. black tongue.
Il ordered him let down. You have
one more chance. Piersol.' said. Tell
the truth now or go where you and
your Kind belong
SAME SARDoNIC SMILE
PLAYS ABOUT HIS LIPS
He refused 10 say word. HIS eyes
were swollen and his face was blue.
But still the same old sardonic smile
played about his lips. and the same
determination stuck out with his mas
sive jaw.
Again came the shr!l whistle In
an instant Piersol's form Was again
dangling from the limb. We let him
down after a bit. and he staggered on
his feet.
win YOU talk now asked He
tried 70 smile the old smile. but it was
gone. He was breathing hard. and the
oraHaGo seemed TO have departed
For a second we all stood there
wondering what would come next The
men facing death glanced over the men
who he knew had vengeance in their
hearts
Can say something's he asked.
GO ahead and talk. but tell the
truth this time. for this is the last OPP
portunity you will have
Il cannot tell YOU thing more
he answered. and his voice for the first
iiTc vas broken. Great beads OF per-
Spi-atton were ION his face and he
seemed to be suffering terrible agony,
:! cannot say more. he repeated:
please. please go on and lets have ii
over with. l am as innocent as any
one or you, but you don't believe me-
"1 have just one thing 10 ask you.
won't YOU go back and tell my good
old mother that I know nothing about
the taking OF the baby or abou, it's
Springfield the same thing Piersol
TUNED his eyes UP to the big moon
and simply said: Please. hurry
Once more the whistle sounded end
once more Piersol was lifted from the
ground
His face was black. his tongue out.
and his eyes were closed and his big
BODY was tw!tching.
Let him hang there. yelled a man
Il: the crowd. and there was a chorus
of approval
~ asked Il well-known doctor Of
stockton TO examine his pulse and he
tod me 70 let the man hang longer
would mean certain death. ordered
him le; down, and his knees sank
under him AZ his feet touched and he
crump!ed TO the ground. He revived
shortly and reiterated his innocence.
We held hurried conference and
IN keeping With our promise took him
back 20 jail"
LETTERS FROM FLETCHER
AND WOOD FOUND on PIEnSOL
SPklNGFiELD, MO. June l0.-The