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02-067; Albert E. Haunstine and his Wife
1880-1889
Janet E. Finley Collection of Quilt History Photographs
Broken Bow, Nebraska, United States
Carte De Visite (CDV), dated 1888
Photographer: Trefren & Meseraull, Broke Bow, Nebraska
Size: 2.5" x 4"
"Had some bed quilts in the back of the buggy, and a Winchester rifle," reads the wanted notice for Albert. E. Haunstine, who murdered Hiram Roten and William Ashley on November 6, 1888, then escaped in the company of his wife. A $900 reward for Albert's arrest DEAD or ALIVE was offered by Sheriff Charles Penn, Custer County, Broken Bow, Nebraska. ALbert Haunstine, an involved community member and the teacher at the sod schoolhouse, was visited by school board members Roten and Ashley sometime during the day on November 6, 1888. Both men accused Haunstine of stealing the school clock and parts of a wooden bench. After questioning him about the stolen property, Haunstine quickly gave it back to the men, but as they turned to leave, the teacher shot them in the back. He took their watches and about 40 dollars cash from them and proceeded to drag the bodies near the barn and throw some hay on top of them. Haunstine, 25, and his wife, 17, prepared their team of horses. Mrs. Haunstine, not knowing what to anticipate, hastily threw their bed quilts in the back part of the buggy. Meanwhile, the families of Roten and Ashley became concered and began a search for them. When they arrived at the school teacher's home, the place was a mess, with animals running loose and items missing which indicated a hurried departure. Someone noticed a strange looking stack of hay with hogs gathered around. When upturned, it proved to be pieces of Roten's and Ashley's bodies, or what was left that the pigs had not devoured. Haunstine was later recognized by the wanted card's description and picked up at the train station in Columbus, Nebraska. He gave up without a struggle and was grateful it was the sheriff and not a bounty hunter. In March 1889, Haunstine was tried in Broken Bow and found guilty. After appeals and issues of insanity were resolved, Haunstine's execution date was set for May 23, 1891. But it doesn't end here. On the day set for the execution, crowds gathered at Broken Bow courthouse for the hanging. Sheriff Jones brought the prisoner from the jail cell and up the 13 steps. Haunstine gave a short confession, asked forgiveness, the noose was slipped around his neck, the trap door spring, but as he fell, the rope snapped upward as it had broken. Eli Roten, a relative of one of the murdered men, was heard saying, "Since Haunstine killed two men, he should be hung twice!" Again, Haunstine climbed the 13 steps, and this time was pronounced dead by the local doctor. Foul play has never been proven.
-- With permission of the publisher, excerpted from Janet E. Finley, Quilts in EveryDay Life 1855-1955 (Schiffer Publishing, 2012).
Photographer: Trefren & Meseraull, Broke Bow, Nebraska
Size: 2.5" x 4"
"Had some bed quilts in the back of the buggy, and a Winchester rifle," reads the wanted notice for Albert. E. Haunstine, who murdered Hiram Roten and William Ashley on November 6, 1888, then escaped in the company of his wife. A $900 reward for Albert's arrest DEAD or ALIVE was offered by Sheriff Charles Penn, Custer County, Broken Bow, Nebraska. ALbert Haunstine, an involved community member and the teacher at the sod schoolhouse, was visited by school board members Roten and Ashley sometime during the day on November 6, 1888. Both men accused Haunstine of stealing the school clock and parts of a wooden bench. After questioning him about the stolen property, Haunstine quickly gave it back to the men, but as they turned to leave, the teacher shot them in the back. He took their watches and about 40 dollars cash from them and proceeded to drag the bodies near the barn and throw some hay on top of them. Haunstine, 25, and his wife, 17, prepared their team of horses. Mrs. Haunstine, not knowing what to anticipate, hastily threw their bed quilts in the back part of the buggy. Meanwhile, the families of Roten and Ashley became concered and began a search for them. When they arrived at the school teacher's home, the place was a mess, with animals running loose and items missing which indicated a hurried departure. Someone noticed a strange looking stack of hay with hogs gathered around. When upturned, it proved to be pieces of Roten's and Ashley's bodies, or what was left that the pigs had not devoured. Haunstine was later recognized by the wanted card's description and picked up at the train station in Columbus, Nebraska. He gave up without a struggle and was grateful it was the sheriff and not a bounty hunter. In March 1889, Haunstine was tried in Broken Bow and found guilty. After appeals and issues of insanity were resolved, Haunstine's execution date was set for May 23, 1891. But it doesn't end here. On the day set for the execution, crowds gathered at Broken Bow courthouse for the hanging. Sheriff Jones brought the prisoner from the jail cell and up the 13 steps. Haunstine gave a short confession, asked forgiveness, the noose was slipped around his neck, the trap door spring, but as he fell, the rope snapped upward as it had broken. Eli Roten, a relative of one of the murdered men, was heard saying, "Since Haunstine killed two men, he should be hung twice!" Again, Haunstine climbed the 13 steps, and this time was pronounced dead by the local doctor. Foul play has never been proven.
-- With permission of the publisher, excerpted from Janet E. Finley, Quilts in EveryDay Life 1855-1955 (Schiffer Publishing, 2012).
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Collection
Janet E. Finley Collection of Quilt Hi...
Finley, Janet E.
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Ephemera
Quilts Used as Backdrops in Old Photog...
Mahan, Vista Anne
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