The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-03
CHURCH BREAKS
HIS SILENCE TO
CONFESS CRIME
Parents Pleas Move Boy Con-
demned to Die.
Had Lain i'm Self Imposed Hyp-
nOtism Five Weeks.
EVEN NUNS DIDN'T MOVE HIM
Mind Had Departed From Body,
Sag Physicians.
VIII Be Executed Strapped to
a Chair.
Parents Pleas Move Boy Con
demned to Die.
Had Lain i'm Self Imposed Hyp'
nOtism Five Weeks.
EVEN NUNS DIDN'T MOVE him
Mind Had Departed From Body
Say Physicians.

Chicago, March a Harvey W.
Church, convicted murderer, who will
go to the gallows at 4 o'clock this
afternoon, today broke the self-im-
posed state of hypnotic catalepsy in
which he has lain for more than five
weeks and spoke the first words ne
has uttered in that time.
While the hammers were pounding
at the scaffold on which he will hans'
he called for his father and mother.
Later, he confessed his crime accord,
ing to DIR. Francis W. Mcnamara JAN
physician. and begged forgiveness
Father said Hes Innocent"
An intensely dramatic scene en-
sued when Mr.. and Mrs. E A Church,
his aged parents entered the death
cell Altho he had called Tor theIn, mem.
Church did not speak while they We're
present They kissed him goodbye,
after pleading for a final word ana
left In the jailer's offlce, a1teFWaru'
the mother collapsed, sobbing, and the
father. laws set and fingers working
convulsively. paced the floor and pro
claimed Harvey's innocence. He de-
clared he would find the real slayer
and convince the world that ms son
was not The murderer.
Says I'm Sorry"
According to DR. Mcnamara,
Church spoke again after his parents
had left. -
"Pm sorry for what I have done"
DR. Mcnamara quoted him as saying
II want to be forgiven. want to see
my mother and sister again and
want them to pray for me-Oh, I'm
sorry for what I've done
There seemed to be little hope that
successful Governor Small and the
state supreme court have said their
final negative to all pleas for Glenn
ency.
Seems Without Mind.
On his narrow cot in the death cell,
Church gives no sign that he knows
of the approach of his zero hour
His form lies motionless except for the
constant twitching of the eyelids that
has continued thru his strange period
of coma. His mind. if it is still func-
tioning. gives no proof visible to Jailer
that sits watching or to the physl-
clans that call.
Moves Only Once.
Two nuns today called at the
Jail For a while they knelt and pray
ed for the soul of Harvey ShurGh,
prayed for the forgiveness that the
law has found impossible to extend.
Church again gave no sign that he was
conscious of their presence.
The single movement of Church's
last long, night on earth came when
he turned. convulsively in bed from
his back TO his right side
When the hour for his execution
comes. ChuTGn Will De carried DE lNo
guards strapped TO a chair, from the
death cell to the gallows. He will be
executed while seated in the chair
Church will pay the penalty for the
staying of Bernard J. Daugherty and
Carl Ausmus. He confessed to lur-
ing them to his home on the pretense
of desiring to buy an automobile He
beat them to death with a baseball
bat buried the body of one and threw
the body of the other into a river His
only motive was to obtain possession
of the autombile which he had not
sufficient money to buy.