The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-15
3 MURDERERS
DIE TOGETHER
ON SCAFFOLD
Klein Killers Go Smiling to
Death in Illinois First
Triple Execution.
JAIL YARD is TANNED
Prisoners Shout and Wave
FareWelIs to Throng at
Foot of GaIIoWS.
By United Press

JOLIET, ILL.,. July l5.-Three men
who wagered life against freedom
died on the gallows today in the first
triple execution in the history Of
Illinois.
The victims we're Charles Dus-
chowski. Walter stalesky and Ro-
berto Torrez, known now as the
Klein slayers,"
Shortly after 8 a. m. the process
sion from the jail started, led by
sheriff Albert E. Markgraf. He was
followed by four priests, including q
former Franciscan monk. Then came
the prisoners-Torrez In the lead.
Torrez wore a white shirt, blue
trousers, and house slippers and his
mates were clad similarly.
Smiling 10 Death
The three men went TO their death
smiling. AS they walked out OF the
quaint little, red brick Jail into the
daylight Of the jail yard where the
Scaffold awaited them, they were
greeted by a crowd Of more than
1000 persons who had gathered To
witness the spectacle Of a triple ex-
ecution.
Many more waited outside on the
streets, denied admission to the
death chamber. r
But the doomed prisoners ap-
peared unafraid. They grinned at
those who had come to watch them
die.
Torrez, the little Mexican song
bird, who sang La Paloma" for
hours at stretch last winter to
drown out the saving of iron bars by
his comrades-Torrez, the most col
orful OF them all-shrugged his
shoulders as he walked down the
lane that was opened for him and
shouted good-by to a few deputies
whom he recognized in the throng.
Moses Hang Imply
A heavy fog hung low over the Jail
yard, but the high scaffold stood out
plainly, showing the three moses
hanging Imply at their places.
AS the three men assembled the
scaffold, the priests offered them the
last sacraments. But Duschowski,
with the same sneerisg bravado that
he has shown throughout his cap
tivity. turned away.
He chose instead to smile down at
the throng gathered below him and
then up to the loose hemp that
dangled pust above his head. He
seemed to examine IL with interest.
Duschowski was the first to feel
the hemp about his throat Stalesky
was second and finally the moose
was adjusted on Torrez.
Stalesky Dies First
The long white robes next were
lifted on the three men and without
further preliminaries the trap was
sprung.
Attending physicians announced
Stalesky died at 500 a. M: Du-
schowsh at $50 and Torrez at 0:32.
Three doctors examined the bodies.
1t was Just a trifle more than a
year ago that these three men with
four others. decided to stake their
lives at a chance for freedom. They
were all imprisoned in the State
penitentiary on the outskirts of the
city and were serving life sentences
for murders.
Killed Warden
The seven filed into the office OF
Deputy Warden Peter Klein to pro-
test against certain prison condi-
lions. While all other prisoners
we're back in their cells the seven
men beat and hacked the warden To
death, calmly filed to the entrance
Of the office and Communicated the
wardens motor car.
Abducting prison guard they
rolled through the gates Of the pen
itentiary and were we'll on their way
to hberty-with one more murder
recorded against them.
One by one they were captured.
save for one man who was killed by
guards.
Torrez and stalesky were CAP
tured early. Then Charles shader
was caught. Bernardo Roa was
caught. Finally Gregorio Rizzo and
Charles Duschowski were recap
tured.
Leopold Testifies
The six men we're tried IN the
Joliet, Illinois, criminal court In A
trial that was lacking-save for one
instance-in glamour. That one in
stance was when Nathan Leopold
one OF the thrill slayers OF Bobby
Frank, appeared TO testify.
He had been implicated in the
murderous escape but proved he
knew very little about the prison
break.
They were convicted and SEN
fenced to die Feb. IL.
The triple gallows were erected
and 1t was planned to hang the men
IN relays OF three each. A stay was
granted, however. pending an ap-
peal to the supreme court.
Club Guards, Escape
While the appeal was pending the
men again risked their lives in A
wager for freedom. They dubbed
guards in the jail, broke open cell
doors and finally Roa, Torrez and
Rizzo got away. The other three
were unsuccessful.
The three Mexicans fled 10 Chi
cago where there was revolver bat
tie with police. One patrolman was
killed. Rizzo was dangerously in
jured and recaptured. Torrez was
recaptured, but Roa escaped.
Twice more escape attempts were
started but failed.