The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-17
PIERPONT PUT
TODEATHFOR
LIMA KILLING
0iIlinger Gunman Pays With
His Life for Murder
of Sarber.
GOES TO END QUIETLY
UtterS Not a Single Word
as Two Priests Lead
Him to Chamber.

By United Press
COLUMBUS, o., Oct. 17.-An en-
try in Ohio penitentiary files re-
corded the last grim chapter Of the
violent story of the John Dillinger
ws-electrocution of Harry
Pierpont.
The gangster, executed for his
part in the Staying OF Sheriff Jess
Sarber at Lima. o., year ago, en-
tered the execution chamber at
1907 a. m. today. He was pro-
nounced dead Just eight minutes
later.
Catholic Fathers J. A. Sullivan,
prison chaplain, and John Smith Of
Cleveland accompanied Pierpont to
the electric chair. His lean jaws
were set. He held a cruciflX be-
fore him.
Utters No Word
Not word was uttered. Pier
pont made a public gesture of &C
ceptance of his Catholic faith. Gone
was the profane defiance with which
he entered the penitentiary last
March, predicting that he would be
freed by John Dillinger. his leader.
A hush fell over the crowd. Pier
points Jaws we're set. His face was
sallow from weakening wounds he
suffered when ne and Charles Max
ley made a mad dash for freedom
from death house last month.
Makley was slain by guards in
that futile break. A grave was pre-
pared today for PierpOnt near Leip-
sic, o., close to that. of Makley.
Death Mask Affixed
Within three minutes electrodes
were adjusted around Pierpont'S
arms and legs, the death mask was
affixed. A guard made a signal. A
switch was thrown behind a screen.
For two minutes a light glowed red
behind the awkward chair. The
body stiffened.
1T is DEATH" said DR.. Dan Bow
ers. It was 12:15 a. m. The chill OF
a misty night had entered the death
chamber. The death warrant, signed
when Miss Jessie Levy, Indian
apolis. defense attorney, lost her APP
peal in Ohio supreme court. set Oct.
II for Pierpont's death. Warden
P. E. Thomas had started the exc
cution after the tick of midnight,
breaking a usual precedent Of sun
set executions here.
Threatening letters for the warden
and Governor White had caused the
posting of extra guards. Anxiety
still ruled officials, who counted the
toll of the Dillinger gang in a dozen
lives of officers and recalled sensa-
tional jail breaks of the gangSters-
their escape from Michigan City
Ond) penitentiary; delivery of Dill
linger from TIE Lima 90 Jail, the
crime that cost a Sheriff's life and
led TO Pierpont's execution sentence;
Dillingers break from Crown Point
(Ind) Jail, and the attempted break
here.
HE Was Resigned"
Father Sullivan told the United
Press that Pierpont embraced the
church in his last hours.
He was like a child. He was re-
signed" said the priest, who ad-
miniStered all the last sacraments
of the church.
The doomed man nibbled at a
chicken dinner earlier, then pushed
the dishes aside. staring vacantly.
J. D. Purnell, LeipSic undertaken,
took the body Mr.. and Mrs. j. G.
Pierpont and Mary Kinder. who told
the warden she was Harry Pierpont'S
wife, visited him yesterday after
noon. He wept as they left. They
waited in a dingy hotel for the news
Of the death TO take the body for
burial. which is expected to he
private.
Pierpont wrote a letter to Attorney
Levy in his last hours, thanking her
for her efforts for him, and asking
that she keep secret details he had
told her of the Michigan City break.