Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1904 — LAST MOMENTS OF THE THUGS [ARTICLE]

LAST MOMENTS OF THE THUGS

Wonted tha Death Warrant, to -Show It to St. Peter,” He Said. Niedermeier was half crazed when the sheriff and his assistants appeared before him in the jail hospital to read to him the death warrant After Chief Deputy Peters had finished the formalities Niedermeier sat up in his cot “Give me that warrant,” he said. “I want to show it to St .Peter to prove that you murdered me. I don’t care for myself, but it’s a disgrace to my mother. Give me that death warrant and I’ll walk along with you.” He started to bis feet, but fieftl back again, and without further ado be was strapped In a hospital truck and pushed out Into the corridor. As the scaffold was reached he closed his eyes and mumbled: “Take those rubbernecks out of there before you hang me.” Three deputy sheriffs then hoisted him In their arms and bore him to the trap. His feet caught on the iron bar and his bead fell forward on bis chest. Jailer Whitman slipped a chair under him.

The shroud and the white cap were fastened around hftu. and in an instant he was dangling at the end of the noose. The trap fell at 1035. Marx reached the scaffold at 11:17 and the trap fell two minutes later. Van Dine was hanged at 1135 two minutes after the death march was ended. Both be and Marx wore white roses in their coats. Niedermeier wore a red one.