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First hanging in Whiteside County - 1884

These excerpts were found in micro film files at Odell Library which had been published in the Whiteside Sentinel.

January 2, 1884

The quiet little village of Lyndon was last week the scene of a little promiscuous shooting. It seems that one Chris Reibling becoming intoxicated drew his revolver and began shooting at short range. Albert Lutia was wounded in the leg. Reibling was arrested, and at the preliminary examination Wednesday of last week was found guilty of assault with intent to kill. He was bound over in the sum of $500, but securing no bondsmen he was committed to the jail in this city.

January 9, 1884

Mr. Lucia of Lyndon, the gentleman who was shot by one Chris Reibling, a short time since, mention of which was made at the time in the Sentinel, has since died, his funeral taking place last Sunday. Reibling languishes in the county jail.

Thursday, April 3, 1884
The Murder Trial

Of Christian Reibling for the murder of Albert Lucia at Lyndon, Whiteside County, ILL. the jury returns a verdict of guilty, fixing his penalty at death.

The trial of the People vs. Christian Reibling indicted at this term of court for the murder of one Albert Lucia at Lyndon, was commenced in the circuit court in this city on Tuesday morning, the 25th inst., the prisoner previously pleading not guilty. The forenoon of the first day was occupied in securing a jury, and as both regular panels were exhausted before a sufficient number was accepted a special venire for ten more was issued from which the desired number was obtained. Upon the opening of court at two o’clock in the afternoon the defendant was brought into court looking pale, having been confined in jail since the 25th of December, 1883. The case was opened in an emphatic, but gentlemanly manner by State’s Attorney Walter Stager, who alone conducted the prosecution to the end. Mr. James D. Andrews who had been appointed by the court to defend the case followed Mr. Stager with the opening for the defense. The courtroom was packed with eager spectators from the beginning to the end of the trial.

This closed the evidence in the case, which occupied two days and one evening when it was given to the jury, who returned into court Thursday morning, March 27th, with the following verdict:

“We the jury find the defendant guilty in manner and form as charged in the second count of the indictment and fix the penalty of death.
[Signed]

John Hayner,

William McCoxel,

Jesse W. Scott,

William Aitken,

David Barnum,

John A. Stowell,

Augustu Johnson,

Warren Bond,

Joseph Wright,

Abel J. Mc,

Byrritt M. DeGrott,

James Beach

State’s Attorney Stiger prosecuted the case thoroughly and with great ability, and Mr. Andrews fought well and ably for the defense although he was appointed by the court only on Saturday night before the trial. Upon the decision of the jury Mr. Andrews submitted a motion for a new trial, which will be acted upon by the court before the term closes.

Reibling interviewed

The prisoner being interviewed the following facts were obtained: “I was born in Europe, I came to Milwaukee, Wis., when fifteen months old, where I remained until I was nineteen years old, then I went to Chicago, Ill., where I engaged to labor in a tin shop and hardware store for O’Brien Bro’s, where I remained three months, when they failed in business and I returned to Milwaukee, Wis. I then engaged in the butchering business for Frederick Meyer, where I remained for nearly one year, at which time I was seized with the disease known as small pox, and after my recovery I returned to work for Meyer, where I remained three or four months, when I engaged in railroading on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, where I remained one summer. Then I emigrated west, landing at Lyndon, Ill. The first year I worked for the Lyndon hydraulic company. I then hired out to John Helms, and worked for him about two years in the butchering business and until he sold out to Martin Sanderson, with whom I remained six months. Then I was in charge of the Lyndon ferry about two years and a half. I then worked on the C. B. & Q. railroad one year, and afterwards worked at the carpenter’s trade up to the time I was arrested.

May 15, 1884

News was received in this city Tuesday afternoon by Sheriff Beach announcing the fact that the Supreme Court would not interfere with the sentence of Judge Kastice in the case of The People vs. Christian Reibling, the condemned murderer who is now in the county jail. When the news was announced to him he turned suddenly pale, dropped his head and replied, “Well it is all right, you see how well I bear up under it.” Tomorrow will be “Black Friday” in Morrison, when at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon Christian Reibling will be swung from the gallows into eternity. Sheriff Beach is busily engaged in making all the necessary preparations for the execution, which will be witnessed by only those who receive a ticket of admission from the Sheriff. This will be the first execution in Whiteside County’s history. Mr. James Andrews, the attorney appointed by the court to defend Reibling, went to Mt. Vernon, before the Supreme Court now in session there, hoping to secure a stay of proceedings, but was not successful. State’s Attorney Walter Stager also appeared before that Body, opposing the movement on the part of the people. This ends the case of which so much has been said, and the condemned man will yield his life to the demands of justice upon the scaffold.

The Execution of Christian Reibling

The first hanging that ever took place in Whiteside County occurred in this city last Friday, when Christian Reibling was launched into eternity from the gallows by Sheriff Beach in the enclosure which was prepared especially for that purpose in the rear of the jail, it being thirty-five square, built of rough boards to the height of about twenty feet.

The scaffold, which was a simply constructed apparatus, was composed of rough timber, a cross beam, supported by two uprights, stretching ten feet above the platform. From the crossbeam the rope was suspended, and the loop hung over the trap. Everything about it was new except the trap, and it has a history. For several years it has done service in western Illinois. It was first used in Peoria, when McNulty was hanged; then it was taken to Cambridge Henry County, and aided in putting Clem Gallion out of the world; the next spring, March 1883, it was used in Rock Island when William Hellwagner was hanged for the murder of his daughter, and last Friday it finished the earthly career of Christian Reibling, just eleven years to a day from the time Joseph O’Neal was hung. O’Neal it will be remembered was captured under desperate circumstances by ex-Sheriff Ed A. Worrell on an island near Fulton for the shooting and killing of Hiram Rexford, and pending his trial was confined in the jail in this city and upon taking a change of venue to Mt. Carroll was there tried and convicted.

The last morning, which Christian Reibling was permitted to view in the world, dawned pleasantly, the sun as it appeared through the hazy sky seeming to be in keeping with the sad event to be witnessed and the cheerful singing of the birds was symbolic of the bright beyond which to all appearances the condemned man looked forward to hopefully. On Thursday night Reibling retired perhaps a little later than usual, and said Friday morning that he had slept very well. He was awake when the jailor entered his cell at seven o’clock. He was a little nervous and his stomach revolted against the time-honored breakfast of ham and eggs. He said he did not wish anything except the coffee, of which he drank profusely. The Sheriff told him he could have anything he desired, but he said it was not the kind of food he objected to. He simply had no appetite. He prayed almost continually and always in German. Now and then he paused to read a verse or two from the open Bible kept upon his table. To the few visitors who were admitted he spoke in the most cheerful terms, displaying incomparable fortitude.

The Sacrament

At nine o’clock Friday morning Rev. T. V. E. Sweet of this city accompanied by Rev. Edward Breen of Lyndon, entered Reibling’s quarters, and two hours were devoted to devotional exercises guarded by the strictest privacy. “We shall gather at the river,” and “The sweet by and by,” were sung by the three and a prayer was offered by Mr. Sweet. Reibling prayed also several times, sometimes silently, but now and then he spoke the words aloud. His prayer, as nearly as a faulty interpreter could make out, was that of a penitent rejoicing in religious salvation. He walked back and forth, most of the time talking and praying. The Sheriff’s little girl gave him an orange, which he ate. He also smoked two cigars. At his request Sheriff Beach, who possesses a good tenor voice, and two ladies and a gentleman sang a number of religious songs. In the midst of these he wept like a woman, and to conceal his emotions as much as possible he returned to his cell, still begging the quartet to continue. After that the harmony of the songs was broken frequently by sobs from the cell. The tears were not the expression of regret, but apparently prompted by the religious ecstasy toward which he had been drifting. Once during the forenoon he said that after all it was hard to face the gallows. Gradually he became more composed, and after the singers had retired Mr. Sweet administered the sacrament. Sheriff Beach then entered and read the death warrant, through which ordeal Reibling stood firm and quiet. Mr. Beach then announced to him that upon the scaffold he would have to submit himself to the necessary details such as pinioning his arms, legs, etc., to which Reibling replied, “all right,” and at once commenced praying earnestly while the procession was being formed.

The March to the Scaffold

The two ministers took the lead, the Sheriff walking with the prisoner, while two guards brought up the rear. As they proceeded toward the scaffold Mr. Breen read aloud the twenty-third Psalm. Reibling walked all the way, and took his place upon the trap without assistance. While he was being bound and the Sheriff was adjusting a white blouse, Mr. Sweet read the fourteenth chapter of John, beginning with the words, “Let not your heart be troubled, but believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions.” The Sheriff then delivered a brief address to the prisoner, stating that he had been tried, found guilty, etc., and closing with the usual sentence, “If you have anything to say, say it now, for this is your last opportunity.”

Reibling’s Last Words

“Well,” said Reibling, smiling sadly and bowing to the assemblage, “I am sorry for what was done and don’t have no unkind feelings toward anybody, and hope they have none against me. I believe I will be saved, for Christ died for our sakes. I believe it just as firmly as I live. I hope I shall go to a better place, and I believe I will be saved by Him.” He then hesitated, said, looking about him until he caught the face of the Sheriff, he smiled with surprise as if he had forgotten something, and added: “And I want to thank the Sheriff, Mr. Beach, for his kindness to me. He has always treated me like a gentleman.” Turning his face around towards the Deputy Sheriff who acts as jailer, he said, “Mr. Cois has also been kind to me and so has Mrs. Beach. Well, that’s all I have to say gentlemen.” This speech was made with the rope around his neck, the noose having been quickly adjusted by the Sheriff while his limbs were being tied.

The Execution

After the speech there was a peace, during which the Sheriff lifted the black cap. As it reached Reibling’s head he made a quick, low bow, saying very distinctly: “Goodbye, everybody.” As the cap was being adjusted Mr. Breen recited the Lord’s Prayer aloud, and as he came to the amen the lever was touched by the Sheriff and the trap flew wide open. The body went straight down, feet foremost. The knees were raised twice with a convulsive movement, and the whole body shook violently for an instant, then all was still.

The drop was sprung by Sheriff Beach at six and one-half minutes past 2 o’clock, the prisoner falling a distance of five feet, and in 15 ½ minutes thereafter, his pulse ceased its beating, the record being as follows: 1st record 40; 2nd, 24; 3rd, 25; 4th, 27; 5th, 40; 6th, 32; 7th, 29; 8th, 20. Upon being examined by the physicians it was found that in the fall the neck was broken, being dislocated and fractured. Upon the body being lowered and placed in the coffin the spectators and the crowd on the out side of the enclosure, were permitted to view the remains, after which the corpse was taken to the county burying ground at the Poor Farm for interment. Among those who were admitted to the execution were sheriffs and other officers from various places, physicians from this and neighboring towns, newspaper reporters from Chicago, Davenport, Clinton, Mt. Carroll, Rochelle, Polo, and the several towns in the county, the jurors before whom Reibling was tried and other gentlemen invited by the Sheriff.

In regard to the crime for which Reibling was hung it will be remembered that on the 25th of last December at Lyndon, while intoxicated, he shot one Albert Lucia, a young man about 19 years of age, who died a short time afterwards; and as the Sentinel was the only paper that published the trial in detail at the time, which embodied all the history of the crime, our readers are familiar with it, and it is not necessary to again publish it.

Sheriff Beach, upon whom all the responsibility of the unpleasant task devolved, cannot be commended too highly for the smooth and systematic manner in which the execution was performed by him and his assistants, and the Sentinel dooms it but just to compliment him and his force upon the highly satisfactory manner in which they performed their duty.

by dzuidema
2005-02-14 11:44:58