The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-02-28
TWO MURDERBRs DIE
IN ELECTRIT CHAIR.


Eddyville, Ky, Feb.-What Sc
cret did Jim Lawler and Pat Kear-
pey, Covington Building Association
bandits and double murderers, car
ry with them when Irtv were .Iec-
trocuted at the penitenitary here
early today?
Just before they went to the chair
at $3.50 O'Clock this morning. Law
Ter said TO Warden, John Chiffon:
Warden, I'd like to shake hands
with Pat. don't want to start any
trouble or anything. ] just want to
shake hands with him and say good
bye"
The men previously had been con-
fined in separate cells. The warden
gave permission. LAWYER stepped up
to Kearney, who said in a low tone:
Jim are you going to stay by it?"
Yes, ! will, said Jim. IN never
give it up"
No Explanation.
There was no explanation of the
matter they had reference to, but the
penitentiary officials believed it might
mean that there was someone else
implicated in their crime TO that they
had pledged themselves not to con-
fess. Whatever their secret was,
they carry it with them to their
graves.
Lawler, who has a wife and child,
evidently was considered the more
likely to devulge the secret, and APP
parently he realized his weakness.
The two men had agreed between
themselves that Lawler was to go
to his death first. They made this
request of the warden this morning
and he granted it.
Last night when Warden Chiffon
read the death warrant to Lawler,
and asked him if he had anything to
say, he added: II was not in COving-
ton the night of the robbery" Kear-
ney had not word to say.
Walk To Chair.
The Rev. DR.. j. p. WEIGH, of Hop
kinsville was with the condemned
men in their last moments. Neither !
had to be assisted to the chair, but /
walked there composed and mistaken !
and took their seats unaided. Law !
Ter was strapped to the chair at 3:42 |
O'Clock and was in it about five min |
utes. He was given two shocks of |
about 1880 volts each. Kearney |
stepped into the chair at 4:O2 o'clock |
and was given the same voltage and /
remained there the same length of |
time.
The only statement the men would !
make was to thank the warden and |
Chaplain J. ID. Woodson, who was ill,
for their kindness and express their
of the priests service.
Bodies Sent to Homes.
The bodies were to be shipped to |
Cincinnati at noon, LAWYERS to. his |
wife and Kearney's to his brother. In |
their last mail yesterday Lawler re-
ceived nine letters and Kearney six
teen. Lawler was sent a photograph
Of his beautiful ten year old daughter,
The men bought new suits and wore
them to their DEATH
Kearney and LAWYER were convict
ed for the murder of John Rehm and
Andrew Nordmeyer last March when
they held up and robbed the Ninth
Ward Building Association in Cow
ington. A third member of the gang
was killed and Chief of Police Theo-
dore Kluemper was wounded. The
bandits obtained about 81 900 in cur
rency and escaped TO CINCINNATI,
where they We're captured. Lawier
from Jail in Covington, made
his way across the river, held up
chauffeur and his wife in their home
in Avondale, and kept them prisoners
three days before they could get a
message out. The house was beseig-
ed for a day by the police and only
when Lawler was smoked out by
torch did Lawler sur
render.