FIVE EXECUTIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 179, 13 May 1935, Page 5

FIVE EXECUTIONS

AMERICAN GANGSTERS.

"PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1" DIES. | FOUR GANGS BROKEN UP. (United Press Association—-CopyVight) NEW YORK, May 11. At Huntville, Texas, Raymond Hamilton, the.late John Dillinger's second-in-command and the last man to bear the title "Public Enemy No. 1," was executed in the electric chair. Four other criminals were executed in the eame hour, cancelling a long series of crimes and marking the end of the Barrow, the Hamilton and two, other gangs.

Hamilton had accumulated sentences totalling 363 years for crimes committed before he was 21 years old, and he died specifically for, shooting Major GroWson, a prison guard, during his escape from gaol in January, 1934, which is alleged to have been engineered by the late Clyde Barrow. Joe Palmer, who shot his way out with Hamilton, died with him to-day. Both were last week baptised in the Catholic Clrurch. The three other bandits Gerner, Thielen and Hoff—were executed after a fourth member of their gang had committed suicide. They killed a bank cashier and shot dead two sheriffs who intervened in their flight next day.. The five executions occupied - 17 minutes. • ■ ' ' . ''. ' /

A New York message on April 6 stated:, . • . , • At Dallas, Texas, Raymond Hamilton, "Public Enemy No. -I,''' the late John Dillinger's'second in command, was walking in the railroad yards dressed in overalls in the twilight when Sheriff Schmid, stepping from the shadow of a truck,, pushed a revolver into his ribs and exclaimed, "Put em up, Ray!" "Well, Sheriff, I'll give you all my surplus ammunition," he replied, making no move toward the two .45 automatics in his pockets. At the gaol Hamilton shook hands and chatted with officers and reporters with his feet on a table. ".•'-, Hamilton, who already carries sentences totalling 360 years, escaped from the death house while awaiting execution for the murder of a gaol warden.