Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-11
Governor McKeIvie Will Not
Stop EIectrocution Of Cole
And Grammer Set for Next
Friday at Lincoln.
RULES FAIR TRIAL HAS
BEEN GRANTED TO BOTH
Men Sentenced for Death Of
Mrs. Lulu Vogt in 1917 Lose
Hardest Fought Battle for
Life in History of Nebraska.

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 10.-(SpeciaD
Governor McKelvie today refused
to grant clemency to Alison B. Cole
and Allen V. Grammer, youths un-
der sentence of death by electrocu-
tiqn, next Friday for the murder of
Mrs. Lulu Vogt in 1917. His Off
cial statement follows:
"In the matter of Alison B. Cole
and Allen V. Grammer, convicted
of murder and sentenced to death,
| have reviewed the case very care
fully and am convinced that these
men are guilty.
"Also, | am assured that their
legal rights have been properly safe
guarded and any irregularities that
may have occurred in the handling
of the case. have not been pre-
judicial to their interests.
Wherefore, and in spite of my own
sentiment regarding capital punish
ment, | shall not interfere with the
order or the court.
"This statement is final, so far as
I am concerned, and I trust that it
may be so regarded by all"
Displays No Emotion.
When Warden Fenton was noti-
fed and entered the death cell at
the prison, he spoke in quiet voice
and strove to prepare the two men
for the news he had.
II have some bad news for you,
he began.
what is it?" asked Cole quickly.
"The governor will not interfere in
your behalf. You must go to the
chair on the 10th" ......
The muscles in Crafnmer's face
twitched perceptib1y for second,
and he swallowed once or twice with
difficulty. He at first appeared about
10 speak, but made no sound. Cole,
the younger of the two men, showed
no signs of emotion whatever He
looked Warden Fenton squarely in
the eye, with lips tightly closed.
What do you expect to do" Cole
was asked.
"I don't know what else can be
done" replied the doomed man after
an instant's hesitation. He spoke
with some difficulty. 81 have but
little hope for myself now" he added
in low voice.
"Have you anything to say rela-
tive to the crime of which you were
convicted"
Nothing further than what have
said in the trials he replied.
When asked what his feeling was
toward the ordeal of facing the elec.
tiic chair, he said simply. 81 feel tina,
| am prepared" ..
Grammer has been studying Chris
tian Science during the last three
months. So far as is known he has
made no formal profession Of re
| ligion, though the prison records
show he was received at the peni-
Tertiary as a Methodist
Cole has been seriously engaged
IN the study Of Christian Science foi
several months, and declares he viii
60 to the electric chair supported b,
that faith alone.
Cole was asked what he wanted
to say about going to the chair. .
| whats the use of getting scared!
he asked with boyish frankness. lt:
something sthat's got to come te
everybody, anyhow. And in this cast
we know when it is coming" hi
added grimly. ut may come to the
fellow outside most any time"
Cole Tells of Religion.
do you believe in any religion:
faith?" he was asked.
"Yes," he answered gra-ely, 81 be
lieve in the Christians religion, ane
in Christ | will put my trust il
Christ in this case. If permitted t.
live | will live under His guidance
and if I have to die / will go to m,
death under the same guidance.
have not only said that" he con
tinued with marked earnestress, "bY
| have made my actions show /
since this trouble came unon me.
Cole seems absolutely fearless
Grammer, while keeping himself wei
under control, was unable to concea
that the news affected him deeply
He paled slightly when Wardei
Fenton broke the news to the tive
men. Cole never finched.
| The governors statement toda,
ends one of the longest and hard
est fought legal battles for human
life in Nebraska. Both men wer
convicted of the murder of Mrs
Lulu Vogt, Grammer's mother-in
law, on the night of July q, 1917.
| At the final hearing of both mel
before the governor last Monday
Cole repudiated his second confes
sion of the murder of the Vog
woman. in which he had attempte,
to exonerate Grammer's connection
with the crime.
] He was arrested in Minnesot
following the murder and returne,
CONTINUED ON Page Two. Column Two.