The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-10-13
10 HANG / We MEN.
IN COMING TWO DAYS
Chicago Plan, to Set New
=. and Ghastly Record for
= County Gallows I'd:
st(By United Press)

! Chicago, Oct. 13,-Twelve men,
sentenced to die on the gallows, be-
ginning, tomorrow, are to pay the
penalty for Staying their, fellowmen.
Convicted of murder, the men were
to be executed in two patches, ac-
cording to plans Of Taller George F..
Lee. The first batch of six, were
scheduled to die on the gallows in the
county Jail here foworrow. The 9TH
err six, are to be executed later; X
Never. in the history of Chicago
has there been so many men hung at
one time. Lee declares that If the
program is carried out, "a new hang
ing record will be established in Chi
cago, noted for its murders.
All the men, with the exception of
one, are white. The exception Is
John Henry Reese, a negro. The al
legged victims of the condemned men
were men with single exception.
(. Lee plans to take the men to their
death tryst two at time. Both
will be stood on the trap platform
and if too weak to stand will be plac-
ed In chairs and shot thru space. Lee
or one of his assistants will stand at
the back of the gallows and pull the
string which releases the trap and
shoots the men to their death. Ar
rangements are made for dropping
them 20 feet.
Ages of the convicted men range
from those of youths to men we'll on
in life. The youngest is Thomas Err
rico, 10. He was convicted with four
others LOT Staying several men. Err
rico and the other four were. alleged
to have, been members Of what was
known as the Apache Band"
Sam Cardinelli, g., is the oldest OF
the prisoners sentenced. to die. He Is
credited with being the drains" of
thej"Apache Gang. Three other
m embers of the gang" are Joe Cost
anzo, Anthony Lopez and Sam Fer
rara.
= The tothers sentenced to hang are:
Richard Wilson, Henry Andrae,
Frank Eager, Nick Viana, Frank
Compione and Arthur E. Hanschell.
Hanschell is the only man accused
of killing a woman. He was convict
ed of Staying his wife, but has stead
lastly maintained his innocence. The
rope which was to have ended his
life has been ready twice but last
minute reprieyes saved Him.
= The death watch was to he placed
over the condemned men this after
noon Three guards are assigned to
each death chamber and the prison
ers were Informed they could have a
choice of foods and as many cigars
and cigarettes as they cared to smoke.
Clergymen have spent considerable
time, with several of the prisoners.
A feeling of gloom wrapped, the
entire Jail today. Prisoners awaiting
trial on charges of murder and other
crimes were silent and had little to
say as the day approaches. for the
execution of the first two men.
= The hangings were to be, strictly
private. Jailer Lee announced that
only the regular officials of the court
and Jail, and newspaper men would
be allowed to attend.
. Lee, who has pulled, the death trap
ON several occasions, said he felt no
qualms about the scheduled proceed
[ngs.
'e-''1 hope they. don't collapse" he
said ''I hate to see g man have to be
propped up to be killed. They are
like dish rags and their bodies flop"
t.. Lee said he did not know whether
he would act al executioner. There
will be no secret, he said, as to the
identity of the executioner. He will
stand on the gallows in plain sight
Of all witnesses and pull the death
string. He will not be masked, Lee
,aid. . , q
/. Cost of hanging, Lee said, has
in the last few years. Ropes
% hang people, he declared, now cost
10. apiece. In addition rs cents is
paid to, tie the knot which makes it
:ertain there will be no slipping Of
he rope and cause the victim to fall