Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-16
DECLARES He IS
INNOCENT AS He
GOES To DEATH
Eugene Weeks, Convicted
Slayer of an Iowa Grocer,
Is Hanged at State Pris-
on at Fl. Madison
BY the Associated Press,

1
Fort Madison, Ia, Sept. IS (by
the Associated Press. )-Winfred
Robb, sheriff preacher and soldier,
pulled the trap at IL O'Clock noon
at the Iowa prison here today,
which hanged Eugene Weeks, con-
victed slayer of George Fosdick,
Des Moines grocer. For some I'M
accountable reason Weeks body
dropped too far down into the trap
and his feet dragged the ground
several minutes before he died.
God bless you," were the last
words of Weeks as Sheriff Robb
placed the black hood over his
head. Weeks mounted the gallows
after declaring his innocence of
the murder of Fosdick.
Weeks was led into the little en-
closure where the gallows stands
at Is minutes to IL.
Weeks was asked by Warden
Hollowell If he had auyihing 10
say. Taking his hat Off and step
ping in front of the Warden, Weeks
said to the more than thirty wit.
nesseS:
Come up closer boys, Il you
want to hear what I have 20 say.
Sheriff Robb came down here to
hang me. Cross and 7 were never
together. i am innocent CT the
murder of George Fosdick. l wrote
to Governor Kendall and Won too,
Judge Utterback, asking not mercy
for myself, but for Cross Cross
and l never were buddies. We
were not together the night Of the
murder. They won't hurt my feel
ings when they hang me. 1t is
nothing to dread. God will have
mercy on my soul"
To DR.. R. s. Reamer, prison ply
sician, in the crowd, Weeks-said:
Here you are doc, I'm waiting
for you"
He had finished his speech,
Weeks was pale. He did not weak
en-, however.
us that all, Weeks Warden
Hollowell said.
Eyes" Weeks replied.
"We're ready then" the warden
told him.
Weeks handed his hat to War
den Hollowell and then ran up the
incline to the gallows.
Sheriff Robb and Warden Hollo-
well followed him. Brigadier Cen
eral William Andrews, Salvation
Army leader of Des Moines, also
accompanied Weeks to the gallows,
along with Deputy Sheriff Matt
Theis. They paused before Weeks
took his place on the trap. Weeks
knelt on the scaffold and prayed
silently while Brigadier General
Andrews who stood beside him with
head barred, uttered q prayer. They
finished and Weeks rose to his feet
and Sheriff Robb bound his hands,
body and legs. They lifted Weeks
squarely upon the trap door, and
Sheriff Robb placed the black cap
over his head. A voice came from
the hooded figure as Robb was ad-
justing the moose. =.
"Hollowell, you help him there"
said Weeks. Hollowell stepped
over and fixed the knot under
Weeks left ear. =.
Good bye, God bless YOU
Weeks said. In fourteen minutes
Weeks was pronounced dead
Sheriff Robb was one of the
first TO leave the enclosure follow
ing the hanging. He went away by
himself to pray.
At $3.50 a. m. Weeks was led
from his cell into murderers' row
and taken to the little barred room
above the turkeys office to spend
his last hours with Matte Weeks
his wife. AS he left his cell he
turned to Orrie Cross. who is SEN
fenced to hang on October 81. for
the same crime, and said: $50
long, Cross"
Cross did not reply.
Mrs. Weeks cried and screamed
as her husband was led away. She
had requested Warden Hollowell to
permit her to accompany her hus-
band to the gallows. Her request
was refused.