William C. Olander

OLANDER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/15/2015 at 23:14:02

Ottumwa Courier
"Sept-7-1923-" (handwritten above)

OLANDER RITES
SUNDAY AT 3:30
---
PUBLIC SERVICE IS AT THAT
HOUR IN SHAUL CEMETERY;
PRIVATE EARLIER.
---
William Olander, executed yester-
day in the Ft. Madison prison for the
murder of a Ft. Dodge grocer, will be
buried here tomorrow. The body ar-
rived overland late yesterday.
The services at 2:30 o'clock at the
Roscoe mortuary, 434 West Second,
will be strictly private and no admis-
sion to the public. A. O. Smith of
Ottumwa and James Erskine of Des
Moines will be in charge.
At 3:30 o'clock there will be a public
service in Shaul cemetery and a large
crowd is expected. Burial will take
place there.
LAST STATEMENT
The complete statement of Olander,
made before he went to the gallows,
and the signed copy of which was
given to A. O. Smith, 304 West Fourth
street of this city, follows:
"I, William C. Olander, was born
December 1, 1893 in Boone county,
Iowa, and am sentenced to die at 6:30
a. m. September 7, 1923 at Fort Madi-
son, Iowa.
"I was the oldest of three children.
When I was four years of age my
mother was left to support the three
children and I always knew poverty.
At the age of eleven I was hired to
a farmer who was to feed and clothe
me and allow me to go to school. I
got what was essential; no more, and
allowed to attend school when there
was no work that I could do. My life
was hard and unpleasant. At the age
of 15, when I left that place, I had
about a second grade education.
"I was married when I was but
eighteen. After marriage I decided
that I needed more education and so
took a correspondence course. What
education I have, I obtained thus.
"I was a soldier in the World war,
serving about one year. When I re-
turned I had a little money and my
job was gone. I sought work for I was
never lazy, but could not get work of
any kind to do. My wife and children
were in want; they faced cold and
hunger. In this condition I was tempt-
ed to obtain, in an illegal way, the
means I had sought to obtain in an
honorable way, but in vain.
"In company with my companions,
I sought to obtain money by burglary.
When our plans did not work out, we
fled and attempted to escape. In the
excitement of the moment, I uninten-
tionally pulled the trigger and shot.
Twenty-four hours later I learned that
I was a murderer. When I was ar-
rested I confessed for God knows I
was sorry for the deed I had uninten-
tionally committed.
DESERVED PUNISHMENT
"I do not now and never have felt
that I should not be punished, but if
murder in the first degree is willfully
and knowingly injuring a fellowman
to death, then I affirm that I do not
deserve to die for the crime I acknow-
ledge I committed.
"I naturally shrink from the death
that faces me, but in the firm faith
in Jesus Christ as my savior and ad-
vocate with God, who knows how
sorry I have been for my sins as my
judge I go to my death in the firm
faith that I am a pardoned sinner
saved by the grace of God. The tears
I have shed have been secret be-
fore God. I deeply regret that there
are those who, if a man in my con-
dition weeps, will call him a coward,
and if he does not, will call him un-
feeling. I only plead for the truth.
If there were more of the spirit of
Jesus manifested, I know there would
be less temptation for man to lead
sinful lives.
"I regret ? my wife, with
whom I have been so happy and who
has been ? and loyal to me for I
realize that upon her has fallen the
burden of raising our children. I trust
that no one will hold it against them
that their father died as I die.
"I die blaming no one for doing what
he believes to be his duty. I know
that I am at peace with God and man.
"Signed this 6th day of September,
A. D. 1923.
(Signed) W. C. Olander"