The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-03
ALL CHURCH
PLEAS FAIL.
LIFE ENDED
Murderer Is Carried to
Gallows Strapped in
a Chair.

Chicago, March 3.-After lying on
his jail cot for 40 days without op-
ening his eyes or uttering a word,
Harvey Church today broke his si-
lence five hours before he was
scheduled TO be hanged for the mur-
der of Bernard Daugherty and Carl
Ausmus, automobile statesmen,
whom he beat to death to obtain a
car SO that he could show off" be-
fore the people of his home town
of Adams, Wis.
A plea from his mother caused
Church to break his silence. The
youthful murderer, when told his
mother and father were present,
turned over on one side and mum
bled:
Father and mother-yes," came
in low but plainly understood
words.
During the visit of his parents
Church gave no heed to their plea
that he talk. His mother, almost
too weak to walk. was assisted to
his bedside
Harvey, won't you speak to your
sign from the motionless prisoner
that he heard.
his father kissed him twice and
begged him to speak, but his pleas
we're of no avail Church also re-
manned silent during pleas from lis
sister and from his attorneys.
Previous to the visit from his par
ents the two months growth of
beard was shaved from Church S
face and he was given new suit
of pajamas. He did not move dur
ing the shaving, keeping his eyes
closed as he has for more than a
month, but his breathing was regu-
lar.
Attorneys Busy to Last.
Chicago, March 3.-Haryey w.
Church, 21-year-old double murder
er, sentenced to be hanged today,
continued to lay in what many med
ical men have termed a state Of
self-imposed hypnotic catalepsy ,as
his attorneys planned to avail them
selves of three almost hopeless
efforts to obtain a stay, and the
sheriff announced his plan to car
~ out the execution at p. m. with
the hapless Church strapped in a
chair.
Governor Small refused to inter-
fere with the execution yesterday,
but Church's attorneys still maiii-
tanned hope for an eleventh hour re-
prieve.
Humanitarian grounds will form
the basis for a writ of habeas cor
pus, Benson Bartlett, one Of
| Church's attorneys, said he would
| seek in criminal court today. The
third and last hope was for the 9TH
er attorney, Frank j. Tyrrell, 10
/ obtain a stay through a plea that
/ the execution was not carried out
within the 25-day limit after sem
tence.
They admitted, however, that aft
er having fought the case through
lunacy hearing, and appeals to
various state and federal courts,
their tasks today virtually were
hopeless.
Il Visited by Sister.
Late last night Church moved
slightly for the first time in many
days. The movement, turning slow
y from his right to the left side,
followed visit of his sister in
which she pleaded with her brother
to open his eyes, recognize her. and
make farewell statement for his
aged parents. Doctors watched
4 church intently as his sister knelt
beside him, embraced and kissed
hlm, for some indication that might |
indicate he was shamming.
j Church's slow even breathing and
steady pulse beat was unchanged, |
fowever. and the doctors reiterat-
ca expressions of opinion that the
uansformation during his five !
weeks hunger strike had resulted |
Somplete loss of mental and
PHYSICAL control, and that his mind
probably has ceased to function.
doctors who. have examined |
.aurch have stated that when he is
1eeuted today he will have no re-
salation that the law is exacting |
Us supreme penalty. They can find |
~ parallel in last minute break |
sVwns for what they say probably /
VII be the scene enacted this aft
snoon.
Two Beaten to Death.
Onurch's crime was the murder
J. Bernard Daugherty and Carl
ssmus, automobile statesmen, from
lom he had indicated he wished
purchase a motor car. The men
, ie iured to Church's home, taken
siy to the basement, handcuffed
oeaten to death with base
M bat and hand-axe.
aagherty's body was thrown
ssa AZ Des PLANES river and Ausmus,
e yet alive, was buried in the
icn garage, his neck being brok-
r. according to Church's confes-
when he stamped on the
enao' bent body to force it into a
-loW hole hurriedly scooped out I
GUARD RXONERATED.
,lcdgo, March 3-Dayid Strauss, 1