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Bert Delige
The crime took place on the evening of Sunday, October 16th, as the church bells were tolling the hour for evening service. Bert Delige lay in wait for Mrs. John Baudis, a frail little woman. After criminally assaulting her, Delige cut her throat with a razor.
Mrs. Baudis body was found shortly after seven o'clock in the same evening. Although there was no direct evidence against Delige, accounts indicate that he was "naturally suspicioned because of his general bad character." The following day, district attorney W. G. Runkle and sheriff W. E. Hurley made as thorough an investigation of the case as was possible in that limited time. As a result of their investigation, they found sufficient evidence to warrant the arrest of Bert Delige. The arrest was effected without any trouble and he was immediately brought to Bellefonte and placed in jail.
The missing link in the chain of evidence was the absence of' the murder weapon. From all indications, a sharp instrument had been used, evidently a razor. All efforts to find the razor proved futile until Bert himself told his brother where his razor could be found and the Bert's brother in turn told the authorities. After securing the razor Delige made a full and free confession. While the confession was used against him in his trial, held at the December term of court, it was not vitally necessary to his conviction. The Commonwealth's attorneys were able to weave a very strong chain of circumstantial evidence.
After a three day trial, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree at nine o'clock on Saturday evening, December 10th. On Saturday, December 17th Judge Orvis sentenced Delige to be hanged. It was the responsibility of the Governor to set the date of execution. On February 22nd Governor Tener named Tuesday April 25th as the day for the execution.
As late as 10:30 o'clock on Monday night the sheriff and deputy sheriff accompanied by George Hurley, of Philipsburg went into the jail and left Delige out into the corridor for a few minutes recreation. He walked up and down the corridor and chatted freely and laughed heartily at a few harmless jokes. Shortly after that he retired and slept quite soundly all night.
Delige awoke about six o'clock on Tuesday morning and ate a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, ham and eggs, bread, butter and coffee. After breakfast he was given clothing to wear. About 8:30 o'clock he was visited by his pastor, Rev. P. E. Paul, of the A. M. E. church, accompanied by Rev. H. N. Hepler, of the Free Methodist church, with members of the Salvation Army, who held a one hour's prayer and praise service and remained to accompany him to the scaffold.
Just past ten o'clock the condemned man, supported on either side by the sheriff and his deputy, appeared at the door leading from the jail office to the jail yard. The three men were proceeded by Revs. Paul and Hepler. The prisoner walked with a firm step and mounted the scaffold without an apparent quiver. When the five men stood upon the platform, Rev. Hepler offered up a brief prayer while Rev. Paul prayed at greater length. At 10:13 o'clock the prisoner was given an opportunities to speak if he had anything to say. He stepped to the railing of the scaffold and spoke for three minutes. A portion of his remarks were as follows:
"Gentlemen and friends, it's a very pleasant day. I thank God my life has been spared this long. I have been bad and committed a crime and I am willing to suffer for it. I feel thankful for the belief that God has forgiven me and in a minute I hope to be with Jesus, just as soon as the drop falls. God bless you one and all. I wish to thank the sheriff and deputy sheriff, as well as those who had me in charge, for treating me so good. I also wish to say a word about the grub I was given ever since I was in jail. It was good and so nicely cooked and served by the sheriff's good wife. I pray all my brothers to turn from a sinfullife and live right with God. Let then take warning from me. I hope none of my family may ever be where I am now. Again God bless you all and keep you right. Goodbye to everybody."
At the conclusion of his remarks Delige stepped back upon the trap and while the sheriff and deputy adjusted the strips exhibited the only signs of fear, but it was only momentarily. It took one minute to adjust the straps, noose and black cap and it was just ten o'clock 17 minutes and one second when the drop fell. After the body fell, aside from a slight swaying from side to side the only thing noticeable was a brief twitching of the fingers and a convulsive drawing up of one leg.
The jury who attended to Delige's execution was composed of the following men: Col. H. S. Taylor, Robert Cooke, Harris Hugg, Hamill Holmes, I. J. Dreese, John P. Sebring, George Hurley, J. L. Williams, M. S. Betz, Henry Kline, Harry Weber and George Hamer.
Sources: Bellefonte Newspapers
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