Allen County OhArchives News.....Rope in Sheriff's Office is Reminder of Allen-Co Hanging January 29, 1928
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Judy Woerner judyw0113@yahoo.com May 7, 2006, 4:50 pm

Lima News January 29, 1928
ROPE IN SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS REMINDER OF ALLEN-CO HANGING
Lima News, January 29, 1928

Excerpts from the article:

For more than five decades a piece of rope has hung in the office of the Allen-
co Sheriff.  It is part of the rope that was used to hang ANDREW BRENTLINGER 
on Friday, April 7, 1872.  He was the only man ever executed in Lima.

BRENTLINGER, a resident of Shawnee-tp, stabbed his second wife, Sarah, to 
death on October 24, 1871 and dug and buried her in a grave a short distance 
from their home.
After his children gave the alarm, the murderer was found and although he had 
swallowed poison, medical assistance saved his life.

A trial was held before Judge Mackenzie.  BRENTLINGER was found to be guilty 
and sentenced to be hanged January 20, 1872, however, the governor, RUTHERFORD 
B. HAYES, granted a reprieve of 100 days.

Two days before the hanging, the BRENTLINGER children and grandchildren called 
at the jail.  His aged father and his brothers did not visit him.  His 
attorneys, ISAIAH S. PILLARS and C. M. HUGHES, visited him the following day.  
With them was T. E. CUNNINGHAM, who had assisted in the prosecution.

The night before the hanging the prisoner could hear the talk of a threatened 
mob.  Fifty men were assembled to guard the jail.  The prisoner arose early on 
the morning of the execution and ate a hearty breakfast.  A Lutheran minister, 
Rev. BARTHOLOWMEW visited and offered prayer and readings from the Bible.  The 
condemned man acted unconcerned through it all.

On the day of the hanging Sheriff COLBRATH led the prisoner to the scaffold.  
It was erected in the corridor of the jail and BRENTLINGER stepped from the 
landing of the stairway onto the death trap.  Spectators remained on the main 
floor.  The sheriff read the death warrant and the condemned man was asked to 
make a final statement, but he remained stoically silent.  The black cap was 
adjusted while Rev. BARTHOLOMEW chanted the hymn “Eternity Is Waiting.”  The 
trap was sprung and the scaffold disappeared from under the man.  After 
BRENTLINGER’S body was prepared for burial, his bier was placed on the street 
where everyone could see him.


  


Additional Comments:
Names and estimated birth years of members of the Brentlinger family: 
 Andrew Brentlinger  1819
 Sarah Brentlinger  1838
 Abraham Brentlinger 1852        
 Brant Brentlinger  1865   
 Caroline Brentlinger  1854   
 Cordelia Brentlinger  1849   
 John Brentlinger  1867   
 Lucilla Brentlinger  1869   
 Martha Brentlinger  1858   
 Mary Brentlinger  1861      
 Simon Brentlinger  1856   
 Susan Brentlinger  1863

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/allen/newspapers/ropeinsh82nw.txt

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