The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1921-04-29
PREACHER SHERIFF is
TO HANG TWO MURDERERS
Rev. W. Il. Robb Will Spring the
Trap, II Being Duty Requir-
ell of Him by the Law.
HE SAYS BIBLE JUSTIFIES ACT

Des Moines. Ia, April 2S.-Despite
the fact that the sixth commandment
specifically says Thou Shalt Not
KILL" Rev. Winfred L. Robb is going
to hang two men.
AS preacher-sheriff of Polk county
Iowa. ii will be his job to spring the
trap that will execute Eugene Weeks
and Orrie l.. Cross, convicted of the
murder OF George A. Fosdick. Des
Moines grocer
God is God of justice as well
as OF mercy" says Robb, and he
points to other biblical verses that he
says justify his act.
Although the law permits him tc
pass the grim duty along to one OF
his assistants. Robb has no such, In:
tention
1T would be cowardly." he says
sadly, for me to let others perform
the duty that the voters of the count,
entrusted to me. The task Of hang
ing Weeks and Cross would be equal
ly revolving to any citizen. whether
he be preacher or a merchant. Ii
cannot carry out the duties of sher-
if. | will resign. But l assure you
have no intention Of quitting.
II find justification in the Bible
for the work that l am called upon
to do and I will do that work even
though il means the taking of hui
man life.
Mrs. Robb endorses the stand ia
ken by her husband. Although she
regrets that il falls to his lot to hang
the men. she says II Is his duty to do
as the law directs.
Ro5b, n chaplain in France with the
168th infantry, was elected sheriff
last November. On the night of Feb
ruary Fosdick was murdered, and
II was not until two months later
that the sheriff, after a chase led
through many of the larger cities.
landed the two murderers in Jail.
Il expect to spend great deal Of
time with Weeks and Cross before
am called upon to hang them" says
the preacher-sheriff.
II want to see them both repent.
| do not mean the shallow repentance
that follows the arrival Of man
within the shadow of the hangman's
moose, but the real repentance OF the
soul for the awful act they have COM
mitted.
81 believe I can help them to see
the light. As a minister OF the gos-
pei that is my duty just as much as
II is my duty as sheriff to hang them"
BY chance the date set for hang
ing Weeks. first OF the pair to die.
falls on Saturday. And so Robb, as a
sheriff. one day will stand in the
death house at Fort Madison and
spring the trap that snuffs out a hui
man life and on the next will return
to Des Moines where. as pastor. he
will preach the gospel.
Rev. Mr.. Robb says the Bible JUS
tifies his act. He points to this pas
sage in Matthew XIV:
"And before Him shall be gather
ed all nations; and He shall separate
them one from another. as a shepherd
his sheep from the goats:
"And He shall set the sheep on His
right hand. but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto
them on His right. Come ye blessed
Of my father. inherit the kingdom
prepared from the foundation Of the
world
"Then shall He say also unto them
On the left hand. Depart from me. ye
cursed. into everlasting Are. prepar-
ID for the devil and his angels
And these shall 20 away into ev-
punishment; but the right
,ous into lie eternal"