davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15

SLAYER'S COURAGE IN FACE OF DOOM
NATURAL, MANY BELIEVE, BECAUSE OF
LIFE OF CRIME WHICH HARDENED HIM

There is every indication TO be-
lieve that the almost super-human
courage of Carter maintained in
the face of death was his natural
feeling that it was not forced.
Practically stony-hearted from
his career of crime and his life in
the reformatory and penitentiary
in Minnesota, from where he came
last summer when paroled, he bore
the ordeal of paying with his life
for the life he took, with no emo
ton. save the few times he told his
spiritual advisors that he was go
ing 10 his judgment an innocent
man Even these words from his
mouth were hardly what one might
oynact from a doomed man. He
spoke them in his customary way,
short and snappy, almost spas
medically and rapidly.
He did not lose weight before or
after his trial. This is the reason
iail attaches believe that his cour-
ageous front was not put on by
force Of effort but was only natural
Of him, in keeping with his in
ternal feelings.
Even his eyes showed the indif-
ference today that he has mani
tested throughout the proceedings
of his trial, the passing of the SEN
tence, the receipt OF news of his re-
prieve d month ago. and the mes
oa 10 81 ufpht that he was doomed
today and that the governor had re-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
THIS BOY GOES "UP
IN THE AIR" RIGHT

San Antonio, Texas Major \.
B. Lambert, commander at the MIS-
souri, AerOnautical School OF Bal
looming. is sponsor for the follow
ing tale Of the first solo fight OF a
young cadet officer named ReIber.
Cadet Rei5er's fight carried him
a few miles from san antonio.
Travelling at slow speed he OBJ
served some cowboys and decided
TO descend. He asked the COW boys
the distance b Ick to San Antonio
Then gust or wind rocked the
big gas bag gradually carrying IT
upwards, Thu cadet asked the
cowboy to tie his anchor to a fence.
The wind kept blowing. however.
and the balloon tore away, carrying
the fence with It.
After travelling about a mile the
balloon began to descend under the
weight OF its tail" Reiber WIS
surprised TO see the cowboys com
ing galloping Il ter him, When the
balloon was near the ground one
OF the cowboys tied the end OF the
rope TO tie pommel of mis- saddle.
Another gust hit ths balloon and
rose again. carrying COWBOY and
hoTse with it Reirer was in a per
picking situation and declded to re
lease enough gas To descend. About
the sane time the cowboy drew HIS
revt liver aud began firing at the
rope bat before the cowboy had
hit the rope Reiber had landed him
safely. The rope then was released
and lteiher started for hsS station
apparently having had enough
dealings with the eeWpunchers.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15

fused to grant another stay of ex-
ecution.
But the fact that he lost no
weight, is that which indicates he
did not worry Some say that the
granting of the former reprieve
gave him an assurance that an
other was to come and another and
more until Communication of SEN
tence would eventually be given
and that he believed he would not
die on the gallows. But those who
were in closer touch with him say
that it was his makeup, his having
lived life as an enemy of society.
that hardened him to sentiment.
They say he seemed to know no
feeling, that while he was polite
and a model prisoner in Jail, it
was due to his having experienced
life before in a reformatory and
q prison, and the deferential way he
showed when accosted by officials,
was due to his having been accus-
toned to showing his respect for
officers while in the other two
penal institutions
To those who saw him walk to
his death when he knew he had but
a few minutes to live as he trod
the wooden walk and up the stairs
to the gallows, his conduct Is al
most xplainable. Many had
heard that he was emotionless and
even courageous in the face of the
doom he should have expected, but
few believed he was to go to the
gaIlows without showing the least
sign of breaking.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
CARTER JURY A
REPRESENTATIVE
BODY OF CITIZENS

The jurors who found Will Car
ter guilty Of the murder of Peter
JeIvek, and who fixed the penalty
OF death, were a body of good.
sound, representative citizens of the
county.
Even with the strong evidence
which confronted Carter as the
slayer of Peter Jelvek, many be
Iieved that the death sentence
would not be imposed.
The impression prevailed that it
was not possible TO get Il men to-
gether big" enough to reach the
death verdict. even though the de-
PENDANT deserved the punishment.
Therefore, the jury in the Garter
case presents an interesting study.
II will be noted first that the jury
was selected from men in all walks
of life and that no two had the
same occupation or trade.
II is natural TO suppose that the
jury was largely Influenced by the
evidence Of HellvaTd BangstOd,
roommate of Jelvek's, who positive
" identified Carter as the Negro
who entered the room and fired the
fatal shot This eliminated all cir
cumstantial aspects of the case
Court attaches hold that the action
of Carter in completely regulating
the confession he made also crea-
ted an impression on the jury.
Following will be found the
names of the jurors who returned
the first death penalty in the county
since the famous He.lwagon case,
30 years ago:
J. II. Hanson, foreman. Moline,
inspector.
Lloyd Burnison, Moline, tool
maker.
Frank Beck. Moline. shipper.
b. F. Avery, Moline, foreman.
Frank ElHngsworth, Moline, ma
chiDist
A. D. Bausch. Moline, steamftter-
Harry Weaver, East Moline, sa-
loon keeper.
Walter Fowler, Rock Island,
molder.
W. E. Ivans, Rock Island, bar
tender.
William Glass, Rock Island, city
employe
J. c. Henslev. Rock Island, florist.
Solomon Meyer. Rock Island, con-
ductor
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
CURIOUS CROWD
AWAITEDSOUND
TRAP DROPPING
Small Fraction of Number of
Watchers Expected Present at
St0ckada's Exterior.
ONLY A FEW WOMEN APPEAR
Those There Give Start as Mnified
Thud of Platform Falling
Sounds.

Not as large crowd as was eX-
pected gathered around the exter-
Tor Of the scaffold in which Carter
was hung this morning.
The public evidently had lost the
interest that would have been dis
played had Carriers execution taken
place at the scheduled time a month
ago.
A small crowd had gathered at
7:30. At 8 o'clock about one thous-
and were present. Voices were
hushed and all speech was muffled.
Curious OllookeTs gathered close
around the exterior Of the scaffold
while others remained back. The
curious ones evidently thought that
possibly something might be seen
or heard Many believed that the
trap had been sprung at the set
hour. o'clock. and left Others
remained even after the execution,
waiting TO see the corpse basket as
il was being removed from the
county Jail TO the hearse.
At 9.23 the mufled sound of the
trap dropping and hitting the rear
of the scaFOId was heard. The
crowd gave a start and then realiZ-
ed that the Negro had dropped. AS
the sound came from the scamold
it was as if everyone had said
oh" For at least five minutes
after the trap had dropped the
crowd made rot a sound.
Few Women Present.
1t was curious to see those who
had their ears next to the structure
waiting for q sound that would in
dictate that Carter had hung, When
the trap was sprung those who
were near the structure slowly
backed away and left. It was a
solemn proceeding both outside and
in But few women were present
Those there showed signs of ner-
vousuess from the hour set for the
execution until the trap was sprung
No doubt if the execution had
been carried out month ago as per
schedule. thousands would have
fiOcked to the scene. whereas only
q few were there today. The eXecu-
ton attracted only those who be-
lievad that Garter would hang Sew
eral, it was learned, did not think
that the Negro would hang, believ-
ing that another reprieve would be
granted.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
STORY CARRIERS
LIFE REVEALS A
CAREER CRIME
Records Show Negro Slayer Of JeI-
vek Had Been q Menace To So
ciety Since a Youth.
SERVED TERM FOR BURGLARY
Black Was Twice Inmate of State
Penitentiary at Saltwater,
Minn.-0nce PardOned.

The story of VIII Carriers life
shows that he had been habitual
criminal and a menace to society
almost since his youth.
The Negro slayer was born in
1882 and was 80 years of age. His
birthplace is not known. He had
repeatedly stated he had no close
relatives living. although a Negress
from Dubuque claims to have mar
ried him shortly before he came to
Davenport in June, 1917.
Carter has an extensive prison
record. The Negro first came to
the attention of police authorities
in Minnesota in 1903. At the age
OF 81 years he was arrested, tried,
convicted and sentenced to serve
four years in the state penitentiary
on charge of grand larceny at st.
Paul, MINI. He was first taken to
the state reformatory at St. Cloud,
Mimi, but was removed from there
in 1906 and placed In the state pen
itentiary at saltwater, MINI. Hav-
ing completed his sentence he was
released in 1907. at that time Car
ter went under the name OF John
Williams.
Carter managed to keep out Of
the clutches of the law until March
81, 1913, when he was sentenced to
serve an indeterminate sentence.
with a maximum of Is years, on
charge of robbery at Minneapolis,
MINI. 1t will be interesting TO note
in this connection, that Peter Jel-
yek, his victim. also came from
Minneapolis. After being sentenced
at Minneapolis, Carter was again
taken to the state penitentiary at
saltwater. MINI. where he remain
ed until he was paroled on June Is,
1917.
From Minnesota Carter went to
Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained
but short time. working in a no
tel. He came TO Davenport last
July and was still resident OF that
city at the time OF his arrest in No
vember. While In Davenport he
had been employed by the Miller
Hotel company, both at the Daven-
port and Blackhawk hotels as a
porter
In Carter's trunk were found 20
silk shirts of the finest texture
seven suits OF clothes, an overcoar
valued at $50. three gold watches
and several pairs OF silk hose. These
goods consisted of a part OF the
loot Carter secured IN hurclartes
committed prior to his his arrest
He confessed to number Of them
IN fact he was bent on burglary
the night he entered the Eherhar RI
apartment and killed Jelvek.
His Mysterious Wife.
Shortly after Carter's arrest a
Negress appeared at the police sta
tion. She told the authorities tina,
she wanted Carriers trunk and per
sonal belongings. When asked
what right she had TO demand these
effects. she stated that she was
Carter's wife. explaining that she
married him while he was Ia Du-
buque. Carter has never admitted
that he was married. This same
woman wrote letter to Governor
Lowden. asking that Carter be par
doned as he was innocent OF the
crime. AT that time she made no
attempt to see Carter at the county
Jail,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
CARTER CLAIMS INNOCENCE TO LAST
RECORD OF CASE

Nov. Peter JeIvek murdered,
4:30 a. m
Nov. -WnI Carter arrested, )
a. m.
Nov. 4-Confession made, l | a IN.
Nov. Bound to grand jury.
Dec. 3-SeIectiOn of jury begun.
Dec. Testimony begun.
Dec. 5-TestimOny closed, 1880
a IN.
Dec. 5-Arguments closed, 6:15
p. IN.
Dec. -Verdict returned 8 p. m.
Jan. 26-S Sentence pronounced by
Judge Ramsay.
Feb. 1-Clemency asked Of Gov
ernor LOwden.
Feb. 9-Clemency denied by gov
ernor.
Feb. 14-Deah warrant read to
Carter.
Feb. 14-Reprieve granted to
March Is.
March 1LSecOnd appeal for re-
prieve denied.
March L5-Carter hanged.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15

/ is an entirely different type Of Ne
gro Helyard Bangstod. Jelvek' s
roommate. when at the recent tria-,
positively identified Carter. He
stated he had never seen WelIous
before
Carter was indeed a remarkable
type OF Negro. He showed no emo
ton on the exterior He appeared
without sentiment. without deey
feeling. When his spiritual adYis
ers chanted a solemn death hymn
last night. which sounded almost
uncanny in the small cell, Carter
was unmoved. Whenever he spoke
in his last hours. he articulated ii
an even tone. He bore up remark
ably in his last hours on earth.
Chauucey church guarded the
stockade and eallows throughout
the night. Sheriff Richmond fear
ing that some attempt might he
made to burn The gallows. which
would have been an easy matter.
the stockade being close to the
sidewalk.
Sings ~ROck CT Ages"
Services were conducted by the
three Negro ministers Tor Carter
this morning. Rev. y ateTs admin
.stereu communion AT the close o.
tho services, at Carers request.
Rock OF Ages was sung.
There was ueatAlike stiffness
over the Jail as the other prison
ers heard the strains OF the hymn.
Sevezal other hymns were sung.
amsHg when were Am | Born II
Die TO Lay This Body Down o.,
There Shall Be Showers OF Bless
ings.' ana In the Land of Fade
less Days Is a City"
At the close OF the services the
ministers asked Carter again If he
was innocent.
Il will meet yOU across the riv-
er on the plains of glory The men
here do not know what the 81
preme Power knows. am innJ
cent, but | am willing 10 die"
At Z o'clock last night Rev Wa
tiers read 10 Carter 4 brief tele-
gram from Attorney WoOdson. VINO
had appeared before Governor Low
den yesterday In the hopes of get
ting another reprieVe for the Ne
gro The teleg gram stated that the
reprieye had been denied. Carter
accepted the message IL the same
matter OF fact way he did all II
the steps In the history OF the case
The same composure, almost super
human calmness, was his, that hs
showed when the death penalty was
pronounced upon him IN court. He
was Indifferent 10 everything, save
the opportunity afforded him at va
rious times TO announce that he
was innocent "s the crime.
Court officials signing as wit
uesses to the execution are VII
liam T. Church, judge OF the cir
cult courtI Henry b. Hubbard,
county clerk; Floyd e. Thompson,
states attorney, George W Gam
Bile, clerk of the circuit court. Ply
siciaus signing officially are Ir-
e. T. Foster. Dr. A y Mueller. Dr
II. A Beam Ministers signing
were the Rev. G. r. Waters, pas
tor OF the Bethel African Methodist
,Aurch Of Davenport tina aeV. Il.
r. Sanders. pastor cf the Second
Baptist charch OF Rock Island the
Rev. j. W. Whitfield, pastor OF the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15

Tabernacle Baptist church of
Moline.
Legal witnesses signing the re
turn made by Sheriff Richmond
are: ]. NJ Huntoon, John II.
Iiedtke, F. A. Andrews, Fred Graf
lund. y. T. Munson, Daniel Nj
Moran, Z c. Xander, z. c. Eber-
hart. John +. Mulberry, ".
Ha~tz. Henry F. Schroeder, F. b
Wylie.
The crowd on the interior OF the
stoCkade was made up OF court o.
fcials. legal witnesses, police off,
GERS from Rock Island, Davenport
and Moline. sheriffs from surround
ing counties and newspaper mel.
The crowd numbered about one
hundred and fifty.
Carter was bareheaded when he
walked from the jail to the gal
lows. He wore a black serge suit.
viii . shirt and collar and a black
necktie.
While the body was being ex-
amined the crowd on the exterior
Of the stockade stampeded to get
IN. Some tried to pull the boards
OF the fence away from their fast
ening and the sheriff directed some
OF the policemen ~rom visiting
cities TO go out and maintain order
Physicians who examined the
body said that nine minutes after
the trap was pulled there was no
pulse uguishablo, but Carter
was not pronounced dead until -lG
minutes after the door was re-
leased
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
CONFIDENCE MAN
ARRESTED IN IOWA

Cedar Rapids, iowa. March Is
The local police took into custody
here today Walter Oesterie of Chi
cago, in response 10 a telegram
from James Mooney, chief OF detec-
tfyes of Chicago. on charge of OPP
Grating a confidence game. He ad-
mitted, the police say, that the
81 500 he is accused OF obtaining
was not by the operation OF con-
fidence game but was borrowed On
q note,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
PRIOR RECORD.


1903-Arrested, convicted and
sentenced to four years In st. Cloud,
MIMI. for grand larceny in St Paul
under name of John Williams.
1905-RemOved to penitentiary at
Saltwater, Mimi
March %, 1913-Sentenced to in
determinate period In penitentiary
at Saltwater for robbery In Min
neapOHs.
June 10, 1917-Paroled from PEN
itentiary.
VIII Carter was executed Just 131
days after he shot Peter Jelvek in
the Eberhart apartments, as the
records OF the case will show. His
arrest, trial and many other Incl
dents IN his case were the shortest
on record Carter was found guilty
Of murder and his punishment fixed
as death Just one month and one
day after the shooting occurred.
HIS sentence was passed Jan. 26.
Feb. 10 was the earliest date on
which he could have been executed
under the statute, but he was saved
by the months reprieve.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
Maintains Same Almost
Super-Human Com
posture as Before.
REFUSED HIS MEALS
Body Precipitated Five
and One-Half Feet,
When Trap Sprung.

Maintaining he was innocent 10
The last. William Carer this morn
.ug paid w.ra death lhe mazimum
pe.aIty for murder.
he went 10 the Eal.ows in the
courthouse yard with the stat
ment. n am SONG 10 my judgment
n innocent man.
Tae trap was pulled at 9-25
o'clock and g. $50. 10 minutes
lsfa- DIS. A. II. Mueller of HoeE
Island ana IT, A Beam Of Moline
p-oa0uuCa4 ile Negro who COR
iessed 10 nm GeriHS Peter JeiFeii
dead. Death vas due to straEgu-
IatIon. The .oly dropped i've and
ole half feet when the tap door
vas released
Fer several minutes after the
body was precipitatel into tie
open space u The floor, 10 feel
ABOVE the le.-l Of the ground, Car
ters suCu.-e-s were seen TO sHIlt
and slruE MS probably was r.
taxation 3. muscles.
Tfe stoeAa.- n the courthouse
yard. constr ed against the east
SIDE Of tie 80 MY jail. vas crowd
e. ~ g-ly o'clock sheriff Rich
m0nd aske- .-. pEesaIl to assist II
tle execution OF Carter. County
Clerk RI. p. -ILbard then admi D.
!stered an 10 swearing all in as
special DEBATES. At 9.l9 o cloaN
larter vas .l from the jail. ed~l
on & board walk to the ea.Low,
house a. tie cast end o. the SOCK
ale lie Nd .eI up the steps ~
Deputy SL4I.-a Murray and Sex
ton. Suer.E Lichm0uI preceded
he men. Eev. C. II. Waters OF
Davenport talked behind tla
doomed man.
Carter was walked over to the
door. his hands having been
fastened together behind him vi Il
handouts. Deputy Sexton placed
3 leather strap around his waist
binding his arms 10 his body neac
the elbows His legs We're bound
t0gstler al Jhe knees ly another
b!zsk strap, fastened b. Deputy
se1,or.
Sheriff Richmond then placed d
IN oCe H.o-l Ht7 D'tE' Gun.
T Tl, a.. D-l ms -leaI anu Zee zee.
- i--9 49,. ~ ls 'l7I ~ 60 o. nm
10 t.
lie. I-e4 t1s moose was adJ ls-7l
-' T1a s LL5 [ec II .ro to.s ~
~ iIs s,eI IL piaS,-d me Lood on
E -I Ae :. - inc d"ou-tu man AM
- 49,, !. '.e1e -o- IHoLiielll T. mo-
s.tea '- "a 'D7 i'e'' ''' .
-. I'M
- ~" a. you 90 20 your JuuS-
So. ss' 4 'OU are innocent ~
~ ,,
s,g1aS -, ''l- ii'' ''.-
- a'Il sall
nv .. .il- ~ ca L. am 5o4-e -
IT, rs - - d IL I--l''' 'iI'---
nm - "a .y' 'ul li5I anu Iooh5-
Sa-s "1 Ds1'N anu men ms
5-I,as - l1 ~ W a. W. Ae ai0l d.
80 L'-s "u''t iooI over --9
- '--''e ,i-4 Il III 'He "a1A'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
war OVeTING C1pnIrs.

Chicago. March Ia The Ques-
riop Of elimination OF caddies On
golf links as y war measure for
conservation OF labor, has been
taken up by the Chicago district
golf association which IS composed
p1 nearly ttly eluhA
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-01-31

manufacturers the very best chance
to secure plenty of competent labor
as Il will take much more time and
money than 1T has ever taken before
tract Immediately so as to give the
To get the labor for even fair acre
age of beets for the season Of 1918.
II is no time at present for anyone
to bubble over details in doing their
bit for our country in the great crisis
which We are passing through. We
must have sugar another year and we
must have food, not only for ourselves,
but for our allies as we'll in order to
win the war and if we do not win the
war By supporting our allies the time
will not be far distant when we will
have to submit to acts Of oppression
which no civilized country could af-
ford to do, or else we will have to
fight German and Prussian militarism.
The war is not over nor does it seem
liable to be over for some time and
the manufacturers are Offering q price
tor sugar beets. which if sugar sells
as high accordingly as other commod-
tiles another fall. the farmer might
be very sorry If he accepted $40 fat
price without any further considera-
ton regarding the selling price of
sugar. W.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-01-31
ARE YOU AIDING?
Are You Helping in Something that
will Aid in Winning the War.

What are you doing to help make
your home secure, Mr.. and Mrs.
Townspeople, Mr. and Mrs. Farmer?
How much would you give to end
the war? What question! Millions
of American mothers are giving a son.
To these mothers and the fathers no
request or appeal looking for the adj
vancement of our nations military or
economic program goes UNDECIDED. 1t
is put in practice forthwith, it means
q quicker victory and the earlier re-
turn Of our boys.
How about the Gratiot county
homes not represented in camp, Are
we doing our part? Our war will not
be won until every last one of Us at
home is making some sacrifice. sac
rifce that means definite, steady
and continuous support of some angle
of our war.
Our greatest problem is one of food.
Is your home conducted on the re-
vised schedule of the Food Administra-
ton: meatless Tuesday and one meat
less meal the other six days in the
week; wheatless Wednesday and one
wheatess meal the other six days in
the week; porklesS Saturday, which
prohibits the serving of pork in any
form?
This program is voluntary. 1t will
become compulsory if il is not obser-
we'd: the government will supply our
soldiers with proper food. We are at
war. Our soldiers and sailors come
first There should be no boarding of
flour and sugar in Gratiot county. 1t
has been said, 1.-The government is go
ing to run this war if it has 10 regu
late every cookstove in America"
At first you say, "I'lI run my house
TO suit myself" You will if the ma
jority of American homes Loyalty
adopt the food regulations. otherwise
Uncle Sam will do our cooking. You
cannot afford to assist the enemy by
deliberately refusing to observe the
food regulations. If you do, you are
only pushing victory away that much
longer This war is a battle Of food
economy. Let's Hooverize Gratiot
county 100 per cent.
c. J. Chambers,
Food Administrator for Gratiot
County.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-01-31
OBITUARY.

Poebe Elizabeth Campbell was born
in Latty township, Paulding county
Ohio, Sept. IL, 1898, and departed
this life Jan. 3, 1918, aged "a years, 3
months and % days. She was mar.
ried in 1913 to John Campbell. of AL
ma, Mich. She was the youngest
daughter of Wesley and Nancy An
drew
She was the mother of two Children
Helen, three years old and Pauline
eight months old. She was a kind
and loving wife and mother, and will
be greatly missed. Before her death
she united with the Saints church.
She leaves, besides her husband and
children, to mourn their loss, moth.
er, one sister and two brothers.
The body was placed in the vault in
Riverside cemetery until spring.