New-York tribune., 1922-09-16
Parso11-SEleriff
Hangs Slayer; !;
Goes TO Pray
Threatened and Inplored
in Letters Not to Spring
Trap, Ex-Chaplain Says
He Cannot Shirk Duty
Won ID. S. M. i'm France
Murderer ON Scaffold Says
He Is Innocent, and Tries
to Save Convicted s'Pal''
Spcciot rispotch to 7-ha T,ibune

topeNiuL L'9SputCh 10 Ih9 Tribune
DES MONIES, Iowa, Sept. 15.--For
perhaps the first time in the history
of legal executions an ordained minis
ter of the gospel hanged man at Fort
Madison, Iowa, at noon to-day.
Winifred e. Robb, former Clergyman,
chaplain of the l6Sth Division, and
winner of the distinguished service
medal for heroism, sprang the trap
which hanged Eugene Weeks, of Des
Moines, convicted murderer of George
Fosdick, a Des Moines grocer.
Pale and just little nervous. but
game to the last to keep his oath as
Sheriff Of Polk County, Robb did his
duty without flinching. He was the
first man to move after Weeks had been
hanged, creeping away by himself to
pray.
Steadily maintaining his Innocence
up to the last minute and pleading
for clelnency for Orrie Gross, who has
been sentenced to die for implication
of the same murder, Weeks went to the
gallows without tremor. Predictions
of prison officials that he would weaken
under the strain because of his weak
ened physical condition did not come
true.
Hattie Weeks, common-law wife Of
Weeks, who in the last days of her
Stands trouble came to him and
asked forgiveness, became hysterical
when Warden Hollowell refused her
request to see the hanging. During
the trial Mrs. Weeks turned states
evidence, and it was largely because of
her testimony that Weeks was con-
victed.
He Forgives Her
1t was reported that she later tried
to collect the reward which had been
offered for his conviction. Three days
ago she appeared at the prison and
asked her husband to forgive her. His
reply was: 81 am glad to see you. OF
course ! will, honey"
Weekss last statement was God
bless you" as Sheriff Robb pulled the
black cap over his eyes. Although ne
was pale and his lips twitched, he did
not weaken.
When Warden Hallowell asked Weeks
if he had anything to say he took off
his hat, stepped forward and said,
"Come up closer, boys, If you want to
hear what have to say.
Sheriff Robb came down here to
hang me. Cross and were never to-
gether. / am innocent of the murder
Of George Fosdick. wrote to Gov
ernor Kendall and to you, Judge Utter
back (pointing at the man who sem
fenced him(, asking for mercy not for
myself, but for Cross. Gross and | were
never buddies We were not together
The night of the murder. They won't
hurt my feelings when they hang me.
1t is nothing to dread. God will have
mercy on my soul"
Bids Pal $50 Long
After partaking of meal, which
consisted of chicken and ice cream,
Weeks was led out of murderers' row.
AS he left the place which has been
his home for the last month he turned
to Cross, who is to hang for the same
murder next month, and said, so long,
Cross" Cross turned his face against
the wall and sobbed.
Robb spent several hours with
Weeks the night before the hanging,
and the murderer laughed and joked
with the minister. He said he would
meet Robb in heaven.
Robb received hundreds of letters
from all parts of the state and country
imploring him not to hang Weeks. His
statementato newspaper men before the
hanging was:
"Some of these letters were from re-
ligious fanatics who tried to scare me
by saying / would burn everlastingly
in hell. Others were from thoughtful
people who discussed the ethics Of CAPT
tai punishment Several letters threat
ened me with death.