A MILLIONAIRE HANGED FOR A DOUBLE MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10407, 3 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MILLIONAIRE HANGED FOR A DOUBLE MURDER.

HIS WEALTH COULD NOT SAVE

HIM.

Usiox, Mo., February 16, 1897.-On n scaffold in the Franklin County Gaol yard, in this village, surrounded by about one hundred persons, Arthur Duestrow, of So. Louis, the millionaire murderer, was hanged to-day at one o'clock for the murder of hie

ife and little eon three years ago.

The condemned man, who has simulated insanity since the day of the crime, kept up his role until late last evening, when by his questions fcnd answers it was evident that he keenly realised that the end was near. Before he went to sleep last night Duestrow asked one of the guards what hour was 6xed for the execution, but the latter expressed ignorance. Duestrow smiled significantly and turned away. Later in the evening Sheriff Puehta asked Duestrow if he wished to see a miniotet or a priest. The murderer turned away with the sneering reply, " I have no use for them." He stretched out on hie cot and was soon sound asleep. Hβ arose soon after seven o'clock, and then, for the first time in three years, he broke down and his usual air of haughty indifference gave way to one of despair. He bogged the guards to eavo him from his fate, and requested that messages be sent to Governor Stephens in bia behalf. To nearly every visitor ahd attendant Duescrow appoaled for assistance.

GAVE WAV TO TEARS.

The murderer partook of a scanty breakfast, and when it was finished Shrew himself on his cob and gave way to a buret of tears. He sobbed convulsively, and cried out frequently, " Oh, God, this is terrible I" Several of Duestrow's friends tried to have the execution delayed until a late hour this afternoon in the hope that something might occur to cause the Governor to grant the condemned man a respite. The sheriff notified Dueatrow a few minutes before oneo'olock that his la3t hour had arrived, and in a short time tho guards announced that all was iu readiness for the execution. Diiestrow was apparently unconcerned, and when he bad mountoi the scaffold he showed no nervousness. Duestrow ahoutod to one of the deputies, " Good-bye, Simon I" and the trap wae sprung, Hie neck was not broken, but in eight minutes he wag pronounced dend. The body was turned over to an undertaker, representing Mies Hulda Duestrow, of St. Louis, a sister of the dead man, and was taken to that city this ovoning. A post mortem examination will be made to determine the condition of Dueetrow's brain.

DDESTROW's ORIMK.

Duestrow shot and killed his wife and only child, a boy eighteen inonthH old, on February 13, 1894. For some time tlio millionaire meJical student had been unfaithful to his wife. Hβ had an engagement to take hia wife sleigh riding, and when ha arrived at the houso he mot her and struck her down with his list. Ho then took his boy and went into another room, returning with a pistol, "Don't shoot, Arthur; you'ro drunk," said his wife. "I'll ehow you who is drunk," ho said, and fired two shots into her body. For a moment lie seemed to realise the enormity of hia crime, and fell on his knees be.'iide the dying woman and asked, " Tina, Tina, are you dead!" Receiving no roply, hie drunken fronzy returned. He grasped his child, hold it by one arm to the wall, and fired a shot into its brain. With the pisbol in hi* hand he ran into tho street and surrendered to a policeman. From the day of tho tragedy till the drop foil to-day a notable legal battle has beon fought by Duestrow'a attorney 1 ) to save him. Former Governor Charles P. Johneon was principal counsel for tho de/once, and he called to his aid a corps of lawyers, medical experts and specialists on mental diseases, and sot up a plea of insanity. There have been live continuances, one mistrial, one appeal, and one change of venue in the case. Duestrow was convicted on Fobruary 2, 1896, and sentenced.

SMOKED KOKTY-TIIKEE THOCSAND CIOAKKTTES.

Duostrow was a confirmed cigarettesmoker. During his stay in gaol ho smoked aboub forty cigarettes each day. This brings hi* iot.nl for the entire timi up to about 43,000 cigarettes. Diiestrow's fortune has disappeared, and his aistor has spent much of her money in a fruitless endeavour to savq his life Ho had dissipated a considerable portion of his patrimony before tho criin<j, and what was loft has beon spout for legal expenses. Ho securod ox-Oovernor Charles F. Johnson as sonior counsel. Mr. Johnson is perhaps the best criminal lawyer in Missouri, and someone paid him the compliment of saying, "Had ho defended Satan, John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' would never have been written. Mr. Johnson made a hard fight for his millionaire client's liffi, and doubtless earned tho fee of 50,0U0doie. which he is said to have received. But money could not save the niiin who so brutally murdered hia wife and child. EVADIJB THE X RAYS. A week ago an effort was made to make an X ray shadowgraph of Duestrow'a brain. When the apparatus was placed in tho gaol the murderer at first consented to the experiment, but suddenly changed his mind, jumped from the chnir, deslnrert that) the whole proceeding was " irregular," and refused to let) the experiment proceed. His millionq brought him nothing bo* evil, and when murder terminated the vicious career produced by his large wealth, tho power of money was sufficient only to prolong hie life three years, Had he been a poor man ho would probably have been hanged within a year. Being a millionaire he clogged the wheels of justice, but did not stop them. Other millionaire! have committed murder in tho United States, bat not one of them was hanged, But nob ona of them killed hia wife and then shot) his helpless baby while clasping it in the arms that should protect it. Arthur Duostrow was unique in hia crime!