Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1894 — HANGED FOR MURDER. GEORGE H. PAINTER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HANGED FOR MURDER.

GEORGE H. PAINTER.

George H. Painter Dies on the Scaffold in Chicago. George H. Painter vfas hanged in Chicago Friday morning at 8 o’clock for the murder of Alice Martin. Painter's attorneys made a desperate effort to save his life, and the condemned man was twice reprieved by Gov. Altgeld on tho strength of alleged new evidence of his innocence. The Governor, however, finally decided that this evidence was not of sufficient

weight to warrant executive interference and the sentence and the law was carried out. A horrible accident attended the execution. When the drop fell the rope broke with a snap and the doomed man sank to the floor with the black cap saturated with blood. Horrorstricken, the attendants. rushed forward to where Painter lay gasping. Hurriedly picking him up, they* carried him to a chair. The physician made an examination, and found that he had fainted and that life was not extinct. Immediate preparations, for a rehanuing began and a new rope was put up. It was but the work of a moment to put the now roue in place, and when the trap fell the last time, death speedily ensued. The crime for which Painter suffered the extreme penalty qf the law was the murder of Alice Martin, at 86 Green street, on the night of May 7, 1891. Tbe couple lived as pian and wife. The murder, which was mogt brutal, in its nature, is shrouded in mystery, which the latest development i in the ease have only served to deepen. Only this much is known:' At about midnight Painter was seen to enter the house. A short lime later he ran down the' stairs exclaiming, “My God, some one has killed my Alice!” He rushed in search of the police, who arrived a few minutes later, and going to the room, found Alice Martin dead with the imprint of a strong hand on her throat. Her head was by blows which had evidently been dealt with a chair found lying broken on the flobr. The walla and rooms were spattered with blcod. Painter was arrested and frioid that time until his death he strenuously denied his guilt. The evidence upon whifeh he was convicted was purely circumstantial