Executed
William Heilwagen
Wm. Heilwagen was hanged at Rock Island on March 24, 1882, as reported by the Eureka Daily Sentinel the following day. The paper reported that he died without a struggle and that his neck was broken by the fall. The execution was carried out under the authority of the state, and this account is the only source describing how his death occurred.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state
Reported by: news reports.