Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-23
DECLARES PROCTOR
limited AT SUICIDE
Hoffman, Fellow Prisoner,
Recalls Statements Made
by Busch Slayer.

John Cline Proctor. one Of the three
Busch slayers who died in the electric
chair at the District Jail yesterday and
who now is believed to have taken
poison in an attempt to cheat the chair.
boosted that he never would De elec-
trocuted, it was learned today.
His boast was made to Louis w. HON.
man, physiotherapist, fellow prisoner
at the Jail, in the "bullpen" at the
District Courthouse on June 3. the DAY
the three sIayers were taken out OF the
jail for the last time in connection Titn
their long fight for life.
Hoffman. who faces sentence for sec
ond-degree murder in connection with
the death of Miss Eleanor Lehmann
in his once in the Victor Build
ing March % last, was closely ques-
TONED about the matter today at
the District Jail by Headquarters De-
tectfve John Fowler, who has been as
signed TO investigate reports that
poison was struggled to Proctor to AID
him in cheating the law.
The theory was advanced that the
noison which Proctor is believed TO
have swallowed was smuggled TO MIN
on a shirt sent to him at the jail.
The shirt was found among his ei1ectS
today. One cuff had been torn from u.
Ii is considered probable that the Gun
may have been dipped In poison Solu-
ton and that Proctor soaked tne Gun
in water and removed the poison from
the cloth. swallowing the resulting soiu-
ton.
Recalls Conversation.
Hoffman today told reporter for
The Evening Star that Proctor had
limited TO him he would take poison
rather than face death in the electric
chair. He described his conversation
with Proctor and the events Leading up
to it in an interview IN the once OF
Mai. William l.. Peak, superintendent
OF the District Jail
~ was taken down TO the courthouse
on the day Proctor, Eagles and Moreno
appeared there the last time" Hoffman
said. II was waiting in the 'bullpen
when the three we're brought in. re-
member there was lot OF eXcitement
about them because the Supreme Court
had lust turned down their last hope
for life.
of the 'hullpen.' put his hand ON my
shoulder and said: oh, doctor. II had
a gun YOU know what would do.
THAT wouldn't do you any good.
Nick l replied,
He made another casual remark and
turned away. Then Proctor came up 10
me, looked me right in the eye and said:
Doctor, they will never electrocute me:
why. what do YOU mean2 l asked.
mot with all that poison outside,
Proctor said.
se E,NN a hxAYff the matter
We separated then and l didn't Talk
to Proctor about IL again"
Unconscious in Chair.
Hoffman made no report Of the con-
versation TO Jail authorities, attaching
little Importance TO Ii at the time. Inc
convicted phySiotherapiSt was orougnt
into the case by Proctor i'll one or TWO
notes which he scribhled prior TO his
and which were found IN MS
cell yesterday afternoon,
Immediately after writing the notes
Proctor collapsed and was unconscious
for some time prior to his execution.
Attempts TO revive him before the
execution failed and he was carried
to his death on a stretcher. unconscious,
One of Proetor'S notes was addressed
to Mai Peak and the other TO Leila
Johnson, proctor'S sweetheart, and his
mother. It was in his note to Maj,
Peak that he brought Hoffman's name
into the case. The text OF this note
follows
"Sir: Please don't think your guards
had hand in this. as they are all In
nocent and got this At court, 50
don't think 1t was them. Or, Hoffman
can verify this.
Respectfully. John G, Proctor"
"P. S. Please give all my things 70
Father Dow and let him give them TO
my kid brother and sister. There are
some things in the office I wish you
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