Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1886 — WARTENA PAYS THE PENALTY. [ARTICLE]

WARTENA PAYS THE PENALTY.

Quite a number of people arrived on the trains yesterday and this morning, and before the time set for the execution Rensselaer presented a rather lively appearance, although it was a matter of comment that a large proportion of the crowd was from distant localities. CONDENSED ACCOUNT OF THE CRIME. Wartner is a native of Holland, came to this country a few years since, and located uear French Landing, in this county. He has left a wife and four children. His principal occupation was fiishing, from which he derived a precarious livelihood. John Dreger, his neighbor, owned a small farm and some cattle, kept house by himself, his wife having died, and sometimes boarded with Wartner, frequently assisting him, and proving to be a friend in need. At the time of the murder Wartner had Dreger go with him to the Kankakee river for fish, loading Dreger’s wagon with the implement of death, and the articles intended for use in concealment of the deed. On reaching tke river, v artner struck Dredger down with the butt end of his gun, mad sure of his death, then loading the body with the traps he had taken along for that purpose, sank it to the bottom of the river. Returning home, Wartner took possession of Dreger’s property, clai into have paid for it a check from the old country for $375, and that Dreger had returned to the old country. Brainard, a trapper, on the 29th of October, 1884 found the body of the man, which proved to be that of Dreger. After the identification of the body Wartner was arrested, and on November 4th, 1884, made a confession in which he stated that he was impelled to the deed by destitution and poverty. At the January term, 1885, of the Jasper Circuit Court, on plea of guilty, without intervention of jury, Judge Ward assessed the death penalty. This was set aside by the Supreme Court Tried by a jury, October term, 1885, he entered a plea of insanity, but the jury found him guilty, assessed his punishment at death and Judge Ward designated today, Friday, February 26, 1886, as the date of execution, and Weibren Wartner has suffered the penalty f outraged law.