The Atlanta Georgian. (Atlanta, GA.) 1906-1907, December 06, 1906, Image 1

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MppnpRpnBHi If You are an Advertiser and Want Results, Test Us. The Atlanta Georgian. ADVERTISERS USE THE GEORGIAN FOR RESULTS VOL. 1. NO. 192. ATLANTA,. GA.; THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6,1906. PTfTfTJ'. Atlanta TWO CRNT.s. I JXJLVjII) : On Tralna VIVB CUNTS. “YES, I KILLED HER,” DECLARES GILLETTE TO HIS ATTORNEY Prosecuting Attorney Knew of Prison er’s Confession. youth explains WHY HE KILLED Says That Girl Came Prom Her End of Boat To ward Him. Herkimer, N. Y., Dec. 6.—Cheater (lillette has confessed that he murdered (trace Brown on Big Moose lake. To his counsel he admitted: "Yes; I did kill Grace Brown. "She stood up and came from lie? end of the boat toward me and was crying, and said she was discouraged. To end It all I took my tennis racquet out of the straps of my dress suitcase and struck her twice. “Dumped Her Overboard.” "She fell full length backward, her head striking the seat. Then I dumped her overboard." When Gillette, on the witness stand, told his story of how his sweetheart had Jumped Into Big Moose lako and committed suicide, at least sin persons knew he was lying. These were: Gil lette's two lawyers, the prosecuting at torney and Sheriff Richard and Turn key Evans. Knew of ths Confession. During the cross-examination of Gil lette District Attorney Ward said to film: "Did you not confess the night before last that you struck Grace Brown when she came up beside the boat?" (lillette made a denial. Later, In the dramatic events of the trial, the pur port of this question was forgotten. The district attorney, however, knew at the time that Gillette had confessed, and he had witnesses to prove It. To Fight for Family, it is understood that had the verdict been guilty of murder In fha. soepnd. degree Glllette'irr lawyer would have made no move to save him from life Imprisonment. Because of the urging i.f the doomed men'*"parent*, however, Die lawyer* will fight to save the fam* Hy from the stain of having one mem* her put to death In the electric cbalr. A dispatch from Denver tells of the grief with which the parents of Gll- lette learned of III* confession. Mrs. | I rank Gillette, the mother, who was a: in Salvation Army olllcer, still de- i • lares her belief that htr son I* Inno-1 • "lit of tho crime of murder. Parents Want An Appsal. The parents wired to Chester's at- i"i:ifys as follows: wish yen to appeal the cuee at • nee. end tdenro let us know when the new trial Is likely to come, as wo are both entiling to at ter.d It. How much money will we need lo raise for an a|>- 1**1? Thank you for the hard tlglr. made for our boy. We believe politics Influenced the Jury In Its decision, and that n higher court will reverse ft.” Sheriff Overheard 8tory. He feured, however, to put the con fession In evidence, as It had been made to the prisoner’s lawyers and might cause the granting of n new trial. (Illleite had told former Senator Al bert M. Alllls, his Junior counsel, how he had slain Grace Brown. His state ments were overheard by Sheriff Rich ards and Turnkey Evans, who at once Informed the district attorney. Lawyer .Mills had been wrestling with i he problem whether he should permit Gillette to go on the stand and tell Ills Gory. He finally derided Gillette's story could not. make his rase any worse, and went to Olllette’s cell to have him again go over the details of hl« story of the girl's death. Gillette Told All Details. 'lillette went over the events of ths fateful day aa he had related them before, until he came to the point where Ji“ had said the girl leaped out of the boat to drown herself. Then, In deliberate manner, he told 'bat. aa the girl rose In the water be side the boat, he struck her a terrible “low over the.head and the girl sank to her death. "You little wretch." cried the horrl bed lawyer, “why did not you ever tell fo« this beforer' Gillette was silent and the angry lawyer left the cell. The next dey "hen the trial was resumed It was ob- -erved that there was a coolness be- t ween Gillette and his lawyers. Mills anil Chase D. Thomas, his other lawyer, old not alt near him, and until the end of the trial they seldom spoke to him. Circus to Winter In Macon. s l"" lal to Tbs'Georgian. •daeon, Dec. 6. — Permission was granted by council on Tuesday night >" the O. W. Rawlins Circus Company to Vinter at Central City park In Ma- "in. and In a few days animals will be transferred to the winter quarters, which will be prepared to receive them. I h» Circus has a well-stocked menag erie. RAWLINS BOVS TO ESCAPE GALLOWS SENTENCES ARE COMMUTED TO LIFE; PRISON COMMISSIONERS MERCIFUL LATE AGAIN! DELAYED RAILROAD SCHEDULES HAVE BECOME A GRIM JOKE IN GEORGIA. Milton and Jesse Raw lins Were to Die Friday. DEATH OP FATHER EXPATIATED CRIME WROTE OWN EPITAPH ■ . IN SHADOW OF DEATH Rawlins Sent Letter to Old Mother at the Last. °«ooooooooooooo«H»ooaoooo £ CHURCH PERSECUTED £ IN FRANCE, 8AY8 POPE. O “ 0 “ Rome, Rely, Dec. t.—At the O “ consistory today eighty-four new O r bishops were appointed. The pope O 2 "Poke feelingly of what he con- O 2 "Idered the persecution of Catho- O ? lies in France under the law sep- O ° “rating the church and .state. g CCOOGOO0OOOOOOO0OOOOOOOOOO (Two hours before, he died on the gal lows In Valdosta last Tuesday, old man J. G. Rawlins borrowed a bit of pencil aud wrote a letter to his old, mother, who had come a long way to see him, asking that It be given her after his death. The letter was given by Sheriff Pass more to the widow, to be delivered to fhe mother of Jinwllnx. It was guard ed carefully by Mrs. Rawlins and was shown only to a friend of The Geor gian. at Fitzgerald, to whom Mr*. Rawlins expressed her gratitude for the spirit of this paper toward her family. _ When opened It was found that Raw lins had written Ills own epitaph—a brief, relentless epitome of his wrecked life, such as only a man of ills stern type could wish to carve In marble to tell the world the hard facts without the gloss of the usual obituary. Here Is the letter from Mr. Parrish, at Fltz- gerald, with a copy of Rawlins' letter to his mother and the epitaph which was written during his last hours: Bsaring Body Homs. Fitzgerald, Ga„ Dec. 5, 1906. Hon. John Temple Graves, Editor Atlanta Georgian, Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir: Airs. J. G. Rawlins passed through here today with the body of J. G. Rawlins en route to Jacksonville, Ga., for burial. The attached Is a copy of a letter f saw In their possession here today that the old man asked them to deliver to his mother. As The Georgian has been so well spoken of by him, 1 send you the letter which he wrote on the morning of his execution. This was written In his cell at 9 o'clock, two hours before his death. Your, truly,, PARRISH. Letter to His Mother. Valdosta, Ga., Dec. 4, 1906. Dear Mother: I am sorry I brought, all this trouble on you and the rest of my people and friends, but 1 don t want any of you to grieve after me, one bit. I would have been glad to see some of my people If I could. I am not guilty of what I am accused of; my boys are Innocent of that crime; they did not do It. or have anything to do with It In any way. 1 believe the negro will own the crime when we go on the gallows. I want Lee to get me a cheap tomb stone and put It to my grave. Ange lins frill give him the money to pay for It On the other side of this sheet you will see the words I want put on It. *" our MyWard b0y> J R. RAWLINS. Thin I* the epitaph written on the reverse of the letter: * J G. Rawline, horn June 19th* IMS. Hung at Y'aldoata, Oa., Dec. 4th, 1M. Thla bark wan well built, but, mlf- fulrieri, ran hard on the rock* of de struction. RA WLJNS WRITES EPITAPH FOR HTS OWN TOMBSTONE Thla la the epitaph written by J. O. Rawlins for hit* own tombstone. It Is typical of the item old man. once a preacher, well versed In religion, who went to his death believing that he had no hope of salvation. J. O. RAWLINS. Born June 19, 1865. Hung at Valdosta, Ga., December 4. 1906. This bark was well built, but misguided, ran hard on the rocks of de struction. LETTER TO OLD MOTHER TS TOUCHING MESS A GE This Is the last letter written by J. G. Rawlins. It I* addressed to his old mother, who visited her son Monday, hut who could not witness his death: -Valdosta, Ga., Dec. 4, 1906. .Dear Mother: I am sorry I brought all this troublo on you and the rest of my people and friends, but I don't want any of you to grieve after me, one bit. I would have been glud to see some of my people If I could; I am not guilty of what I am accused of; my boys arc Innocent of that crime; they did not do It. or have anything to do with It In any way. 1 believe the negro will own the crime when wo go on the gallows. I want Lee to get me a cheap tombstone and put it to my grave. An- gellne will give hint the money tiT pay for It. On the other side of this sheet you will see tl\e words I wunt put on It. Your wayward boy, J. G. RAWLINS. Revulsion of Sentiment Re sulted in Saving Life of Two Boys. Life far Milton and Jesse Rawlins! With the gallows on which their fa ther perished Tuesday standing within the Jail Inclosure at Valdosta, ready to send them to eternity Friday, mercy was shown them Thursday morning by the prison commission and Govern or Joseph M. Terrell. Chairman J. S. Turner and General Clement A. Evans signed the recom mendation which meant life to the boys. Colonel Tom Eason, the other member of the commission, Was not present. Contrary to general expectation, the commission made short shift of their ' hard task. The opinion had been ex pressed that the decision would not be ) made before late Thursday afternooh. Before 10 o'clock Attorney John R. Cooper was on hand. His every move, mem gave expression to his Intense anxiety and nervousnegs. They waited until near 11 o'clock to give Colonel | Eason an opportunity to come In. but as he did not. Chairman Turner finally sent for Mr, Cooper. Face Told Story. He was not In the private office of the commission more than ten minutes when he came out. his face wreathed in happy smiles. He fairly exuded his good news. "What Is the decision, Mr. Cooper?" asked a newspaper man. "Sorry I can't tell you," was the smil ing reply. "But you know the matter cannot be given out until It has gone ! to the governor." Afaybe Mr. Cooper did not realise It, but he might as well have shouted the news of the commutation from the house tops. No man could have smiled as happily as he did with any but good new*. And he has been terribly In earnest In this case. He believed with all his being (hat Afllton and Jesse Rawlins ought to be commuted to life Imprison ment. Now that It Is all over, he con fessed that he gave up hope absolutely for old man Rawlins months ago, hut he did not for the boys. “I guess I'n, about as happy as those two boys," he said. "And think of the Joy In that old mother's heart! Sho Is In Coffee county today burying, her husband, but this news will lift the un utterable weight of sorrow from hsr." Mr. Cooper was profuse In his praise of Governor Terrell. "He's a man with a heart In him,*’ he said. 8snds News to Mother. "But let me get the news to the boys and that old mother," and the fighting lawyer fairly ran from the cepltol for the telegraph office. He sent the fol lowing message nt hope and life: Jesse and Milton Rawlins, Valdosta. WILL SPRING LIVES Tl Defense Claims He Was Cruel to His Wife. Men and Women Vic tims of the Blast. Ga.: both WILL WORK FOR PARDON; COOPER WILL NO7 GIVE UP UNTIL BOYS ARE SET FREE “We have won. 1 have accomplished what I have'been striving for during eighteen months and the lives of your boys have been saved. I sympathize with you In the loss of your husband and I rejoice with you In the saving of your two boys.” This Is what Attorney John R. Coop er, of Macon, wrote to Mr*. Angelina Rawlins, wife of J. G. Rawlins, anil mother of Milton and Jesse Rawlins, who were snatched from the scaffold Thursday morning. His strenuous fight against big odds for eighteen months to save these boys from the gallows has been won unit after sending telegrams to Airs. Raw lins and the boys, Attorney Cooper dic tated letters fa them at the Piedmont hotel. But even with this great victory to his credit he Is not yet done fighting. He Is for the present—for a few years —but he declare* that he will go to hi* grave believing Alllton, Jeese and Leon- Continued on Pane Fifteen. JOHN R. COOPER. Th* Macon Attorney who hot fought to hard to *a*e hit Clients. "Governor Terrell saves you from the gallows. "JOHN R. COOPER." •Airs. Angelina Rawlins. Ambrose, Ga.: "Your boys saved from the gallows by Governor Terrell. "JOHN R. COOPER." Though news of the commutations became known quickly about the capi tal, the official order was not drawn by Chairman Turner and sent to the gov ernor until about 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon. Governor Terrell had been busied all the morning with the meet ing of the agricultural school trustees, but he Immediately signed the order Hint gave the boys life. Reasons for Commutation. The order drawn by the commission recommends Alllton and Jesse Rawlins for commutation and that they he Im prisoned for life. After stating that J. G. Rawlins and Alf Atoore had been hanged for the crime, the commission says: "These defendants (Jesse and Allltonl nt the time the crime was committed, were aged respectively is and IS, and were doubtless completely dominated by their father, who would brook no opposition from anyone, much less his minor sons. Their participation In this atrocious crime must have been at his Instance and command. "Since the execution of the father and Aloore, public Bentlinent seems al most universal that the ends of Justice will be completely met by the clemency recommended, which Is urged by more than 2.000 citizens of the state, from every portion thereof and In every sta tion of life. This Is represented by more than 200 letters and telegrams besides petitions. More than 600 Lowndes county people have asked us to commute them and the list Includes lawyers, bankers, newspaper men, min isters, city and county officials and members of both the house and senate.” Long after the commission had reached a decision telegrams from all parts of the state kept pouring In pleading for the liven of the boys. Sheriff Passmore has’been wired that the boys are not to hang. Court Officials Return. Judge Newman and other officials t the United Statee court of the Western district of Georgia, are expect ed to return to Atlanta from Columbus, Ga., Thursday night. Several Impor tant cases were disposed of by the court In Columbus during the past four days. The court adjourned for ths term. - It Is stated Thursday that the prose cution In the case of Albert L. Thomas, the young railroad man who Tuesday afternoon shot and wounded Dr. Wil liam Cawhern, will spring a sensation at the trial In contradiction of the charge of Thomas that the physician had wrecked his home. Attorneys Eugene D. Thomas and David R. Quarles, counsel for Dr. Caw hern, assert they Vlll be able to shoi- that Thomas by the commission of certain acts, mistreated his wife, And that It was this alleged cruelty that prompted her to leave him last Mon day. It will be further shown. It Is stated, that advice given by Dr. Caw- hem aa the family physician, In the Interest of the health of Aire. Thomas, was disregarded by the husband. Airs. Thomas, It Is understood, has expressed a willingness to go on the wltneas stand, If permitted, and brand the chargee of her husband as utterly untrue. Mre. Thomas Is still atfthe home of her sister, Mrs. Cook, 23 Or chard street, where she went after leaving hw home Alonday. "Reason Wife Loft Homo.” Another new feature In connection with the affair has been developed In the declaration of Airs. Thomas to friends that her husband had not spoken to her for a period of two weeks before ehe left hlin and that this prompted her to leave. Mrs. Thomas, It Is said, stated that this conduct on the part of.her hus band greatly annoyed her and that she remonstrated with him, but to no avail. Finally, Sunday afternoon she Is said to have threatened to leave' him Mon day If he did not become more socia ble. According to Mrs. Thomas, the hus band Is said to have replied: "All right, Just leave the keys where Continued on Pago Fiftaon. Lynn, Ala**., Dee. 6.—Several factory workers, among whom are said to be some women, are reported killed in a boiler explosion which wrecked the big Harney Brothers' shoe factory at ■'West , Lynn shortly after 7 o'clock today. The big boiler blew up Just after the power had started and the help were assem bled for work. To add to the terror of hundreds of <nen and women rushing from the fac tory a Are sprang out In the vicinity of the power house. At first two alarms were sent In, but Inside of ten min utes It was found necessary to bring out the whole fire fighting apparatus of the city. Dozen Man Are Hurt. It Is feared the fire will spread and arrangements are being made to get. fire fighting apparatus here from Boston and other cities by train, should a call be necessary. The force of the explosion demolish ed the entire front of the building ami flaming debris was thrown.through the j floors of the building. Injuring at least twelve men In the tasters department. The fire caught Immediately and the long wooden structure was a mass of flames instantly. The workmen had to flee for their lives, and It was with great - difficulty that the Injured were taken from the building. Ten men were taken at once to the Lynn hos pital. FIs* in Night Clothe*. . In half an hour the factory was de- troyed. The fire spread to the West Lynn station of the Boston and Matnu railroad, and from there was communi cated to the shoo factory of Tuft A Friedman, a three-story building. Sev eral cottages surrounding the Harm-v factory Were burned to the ground and ‘the Jewish occupants were forced to th* street, some In their night clothes. FLED FROM CONVENT TOWED HER LOVER BUT POLICE CAME TOO SOON following a highly rdmanttc elope, ment from Alarlon, Ind., Walter B. Neal. 22 years of age, son of a well- know retired Methodist minister of that place, and Miss Irene Keck, 17 years of age. pretty and vivacious, who fled from the confines of a Catholic con vent In an effort to marry the man she loves, were arrested late Wednesday afternoon by Policeman Rosser, after a clever bit of detective work. The two young lovers are now held In the police station, the arrests hav' Ing frustrated the proposed marriage, temporarily at tenet. The young people were taken Into custody on a telegram from the chief of police of Marlon, who wired for their arrest at the Inntlgntlon of Airs. Mary Keck, mother of the runaway girl. Atrs. Keck, It Is understood, objects to the marriage on account of the tender age or her daughter. "Police Wore Too Quick.” The authorities of the Indiana city have been notified and the lovers will be held pending Instructions. Both declare, however, their Inten tion of yet taking a voyage on the sea of matrimony. "1 love Walter and I want to marry him." said Miss Keck at the police station. "That I* why I left school and came all the way to Atlanta. I don't see why they want to Interfere with us In this way.” I certainly Intend to have Alisa Keck for my wife," asserted Neal. "If the police had waited Just a little bit louv er, It would have been all over and she would be my bride.” / Young Nea| came to Atlanta about two weeks ago and Aflss Keck arriv.-.l here a day or two ago, engaging a room In n boarding house In East Hunter street until Neal could complete tho ar. rungements for the marriage. Rosser Shadowed Girl. When the dianppearance of the girl became known, the police ot Afarlon were at once notified and a telegram was sent to Chief Jennings, It being thought she had come here to meet Neal. Officer Rosser was detailed on the case and Wednesday Rfternoon found Neal at work In the plant of the Foote & Davies Company, where 1m was taken Into custody. The olllcer could get no Information from the young man concerning tho whereabouts of the missing girl, hut i dose search was soon rewurded. While walking along one of the down town streets Rosser’s attention was attracted to a pretty maiden who was strolling along through the crowd. On taking a closer look the officer at once renltv I that she fit the description of Miss Keck. Satisfied lie waa on the right track, he shudowed the girl for some time, she finally entering the bouse m Hunter street. Going Into the house himself, the officer began to queetlon the girl, and she finally admitted she was Miss Keck. She was then taken to the |m- llce station and placed In the care if the matron. WASHERWOMEN IN UNION SHIRTS AND SHIRTWAISTS MUST DO DOUBLE DUTY Tt the housewives of Atlanta refuse to pay from 12 to 63 more a month to have their washing done, .hey may be seen In the very near future stooping over their own washtubs, scrubbing the clothes of their families front morning until night and causing their dainty- hands and arms to develop Into mus cular members. Negro unions have been formed on Decutur street with a large member ship, which pruhibU any of tho mem bers from doing washing for less than 66 or 66 a month. As the charge for merly made by these washerwomen was only 66 a month, a formation of the union haa caused a raise of from 62 to 66 a month In price. Several house wives who formerly secured their washing at 66 were startled Wednesday when they were told they would huve to come across with mors cash or do their own washing. Some of these women have already started for the first time In their lives to do their own washing, preferring to do this rather than submit to the raise In price. At Adamsvllle the conditions are till! I worse. The negro tthlons there. It l< said, prohibit any of the members from taking In any washing whatever. Every \ woman who had taken In washlin In the community previous to the forma tion of the union, became member* the body except' one, a negro named Robinson. This woman wo* swamped with customers and was the mainstay of the community In the laundry But, sod to relate, two county poltcs* mcn went to her home recently to I her husband. They did not even i l>ect the negro ot any crime, but had evidently been up to some mischief, for when the police appeared on scene, Robinson skipped the counit and has not Iteen seen since. His ■ picked up and left later. So now, all of the matrons of Ad vtlle tin their own washing, as s t ot the unions, and Just such a i tlpn threatens Atlanta. Atlanta this advantage, her negroes do washing at 66 more & month, the Adamsvllle union prohibited members from doing any. *uch work whatever. \ ■am