The Washington times., 1935-02-01
KILLER COVERS
IN CELL, SORRY
FOR GRIMES
Legenza, Moaning in Pain,
SneerS at Police Quiz;
"No Time for Cops"
By Times Staff Correspondent

by Times SIhII OOEEespOnuoHG
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. l.
> "Killer" MaiS and Walter Le-
genza, his partner in crime, will
go to the chair tomorrow with
their lips sealed against further
disclosures of their life of vio-
1ence.
Their refusal was expressed In
the language of the underworld
today as a. Department of Justice
agent sought to question them
on the eve of their execution.
Guard Doubled
simultaneously the guard in the
death cell and about the Virginia
State Penitentiary was doubled by
order of Warden r. M. Youell,
following the arrival Of a note ad-
dressed to Mais and bearing an
undecipherable signature reading:
Don't worry. You YOn't go
to the chair. We will rescue
yOu."
Undecided whether the message
was the product of practical
Joker or a genuine promise fro
underworld associates, the warden
took no chances. There were seven
barred and bolted doors between
the death cell and the outer doors
of the prison. Rescue under these
circumstances would be impos-
Sible, the warden declared.
Mais Hysterical
Mais was hysterical when the
"G' mantle criminals designa-
tion for Department of Justice
agents-came to his cell. He re-
fused to talk, and was not in
condition to do so had he wished.
Legenza, in an adjoining cell, al
though in acute pain, owing to
the condition of his leg, was calm
er and articulate,
To the agent who sought to in
terrogate him Legenza rasped:
"Why the hell should tell
you anything?"
The agent replied that it would
help the Government materially
in running down associates and
solving several murders and other
crimes if he would do so. Legenza's S
only reply was:
"What the hell? What has
the Government ever done for
me that I should do any favOrs
for it,"
Warden Sets Hour
Warden Youell set the hour of
execution for 7:30 tomorrow morn
ing. It was said the condemned
men were being given no final
favors, but would receive the
same treatment accorded other
prisoners.
Their breakfast this morning
consisted of liver and onions,
bread, syrup and coffee. They re-
fused all food, but drank several
cups of coffee. The regular lunch
and dinner were prepared for
them. They are to be offered the
usual breakfast tomorrow before
going to the chair.
Narcotics and liquor have been
denied both men except that
Legenza has been given sleeping
tablets each night to enable him
to find surcease from the pain in
his shattered leg.
Mais today denied to Warden
Youell that he participated in the
holdup of a store in Colmar
Manor last February in which the
Storekeeper was killed. Mais said:
'T don't know anything
about that job. / didn't have
anything to do with it. have
never killed anyone, and I don't
think they should send me to
the chair. because I'm not
murderer"
Legenza curtly refused to dis
HuSs the Colmar Manor killing
with the warden.
MaiS PAGES Cell
Both men were awake until
long after midnight, Mais pacing
his cell under the watchful eyes
of the guards, who are fearful
he may attempt to kill himself.
Legenza laid on his cot smok-
ing continuously, and occasionally
called to Mais, in the adjoining
cell, telling him to "buck up"
Both men slept until after 9
o'clock this morning, when break
fast was brought to them. They
both drank several cups Of black
coffee, but ate little.
Mais, regarded as one of the
most dangerous criminals in the
. country, broke down last night
and wept when his mother. Mrs
Elizabeth MaiS. bade him a final
farewell.
In the death cell, surrounded
by guards. the aged white-haired
mother who had waged a vain
fight to save him from the chair,
sat and talked with him for an
hour. And then. also close to col
lapse, she kissed him on the cheek
and Sobbing was led away.
killer" MaiS Weeps
Mais, the killer, the man who
sought to be a second Dillinger
and head gang, was led back to
the death cell, tears streaming
down his face.
After he was locked in his cell,
from where he will be taken to-
morrow morning and walked 38
feet to the electric chair, he
picked up a Bible and read.
Mrs. MaiS, a small woman, went
to the boarding house where she
l. Il.