Newspaper Page Text
ESTABLISHED 1884
TAYLOR HAS GONE
TO HIS LAST ACCOUNT.
*
The Wife Murderer Paid the Dread Penalty of His Crime in
The Bibb County Jail Today
DEATH MNSTANT
Great Crowds Surround the
Jail For Hours.
TATLOR’S LAST WORDS
Full Description of the Fearful
Event—History of the Crime-
Other Hangings.
Today Abner Taylor, <the wife murderer,
wa« hanged in the Bibb county jail.
Everything had been pur in readiness. The
death trap had -been oiled and tested and
the rope which had been stretching for
■the past few’ days, had been greased and
the knot tied.
Taylor had been kept for the lasit few
days in a cell to himself and the watchful
eye of the guard was always upon him.
For the past two days he has been lying
face downward on his bunk and has
spoken scarcely a word.
Taylor retired early last night but did
not sleep very well. He rolled and tossed
on his bunk and the death-watch who was
on said that he must have had something
on his mind. iHe was constantly talking
but no one could understand what he said.
He arose several times and knelt beside
his cot in prayer. All during the night
th£ death watch was pacing up and down
the corridor and keeping his eye constant
ly on the prisoner.
He arose early this morning and dressed
and read his Bible for over an hour. At
8 o’clock Jailer Stephan brought in a bar
ber by the name of Johnson, who shaved
him. Taylor was then conducted to the
ibath room w’here he was given a bath and
was then dressed in a black suit, white
collar and black tie. He returned to his
cell and began reading his Bible again.
His Brothers Come.
About 9 o’clock his brothers, Eli and
Richford Taylor, called on him. They were
allowed to go in the corridor the cell.
They remained with him until the drop
fell. During their conversation they talk
ed of their mother at home and what a sad
blow' it would be to the family. Taylor
remarked how sorrow he was that he had
committed the crime but said that his
wife’s family had been the cause of it all.
Several times his brothers burst into
tears but Taylor remained firm, though
at times his .voice faltered somewhat.
He advised his brothers to make their
peace with God and to keep out of bad
company. He was interrupted *at this
time by Jailer Stephan, who asked him
what he wished for breakfast. He said
that- anything would do and the jailer
brought him up a tray filled with steak,
eggs, coffee, ham, biscuit and cakes. He
ate heartily and said that he felt very
much better.
Dr. Matthews cam? in at 10 o'clock and
was allowed to enter the cell. He read
several chapters in the Bible and then
prayed for a short time. At the conclu
sion of the prayer he sang “Rock of Ages
Cleft for .Me.” Taylor joined in the chorus
and at the conclusion of the hymn Taylor
said that he knew would be saved and that
he. was ready to die.
io a New* Reporter.
A News reporter called on him in a few
minutes and asked him how he felt. He
replied:
“1 feel all right and I know’ that I will
feel better after it is all over.’’
He expressed his regret at the reporters
being unable to be present.
Jailer Stephan allowed a few gentlemen
to call on him and he had a pleasant word
for each one. Several of the gentlemen
said that his nerve was the most wonder
*ul that they had ever seen displayed by a
human being. It was remarkable, as his
brothers were outside the cell weeping and
Taylor did not even shed a tear and tried
to cheer his brothers by saying that he
would be better off as soon as it was all
over.
The Death Trap Ready.
In a few feet from Taylor’s cell and only
kept from sight by the iron bars was the
gallows on which he would meet his death
tn a few minutes. The rope was hung and
the trap door oiled and ready. A small
rope attached to the spring of the trap
door which would send him into eternity,
was hanging ready and could almost be
seen from the cell.
The gallows had been washed off and
cleaned and was ready for its work. Dur
ing this time Taylor was as calm as pos
sible for a man to be and did not seerh to
be affected at all by the noise and talking
that was going on.
f The Jail i* Cleared.
At 11 o’clock Sheriff Westcott ordered
the jail cleared and everybody with the
exception of the guards, ministers, sur
geons and friends of Taylor were shown
out of the door. The judge had ordered
the hanging to be strictly private and even
THE MACON NEWS.
the newspaper men were excluded. Taylor
was then told to get ready and say a last
farewell to his relatives and friends.
The La*c Prayer.
As soon as the jail was cleared Dr. Mat
thews offered up another prayer lor the
soul of Taylor and in a few minutes Tay
lor had said good-bye to all of his rela
tives. It was a sad scene at the parting
and Taylor’s brothers were allowed-to go
into the cell and embrace him. They broke
into tears and went out of the jail crying.
Taylor, however, showed no sign of fear
and was cool to the last. In a few min
utes after his brothers had left, the jail
officials came in and told him good-bye.
Sheriff Westcott then told him to prepare
to go on the scaffold. He arose without
trembling and said “I am ready.”
On the Gallow*.
He was conducted to the scaffold be
tween two deputies. He was stood on the
trap door and his legs and arms were tied
by Jailer Stephan and Deputy Sheriff Me
nard. As soon as that was completed the
sheriff asked him if he had anything to
say and he replied that he had said all
that he thought was necessary. Mr. Me
nard then drew out the black cap, which is
so much dreaded by all criminals and
hesitated a second to let Taylor take his
last look at God’s sunshine. He then
placed the cap over Taylor's head and
drew the strings.
Everything was then in readiness and
Taylor was placed in the center of the trap
door. Sheriff Westcott caught the rope
which was to send the man to his doom
and said:
“Good-bye, Abner.”
Taylor replied:
“Good-bye, Mr. Westcott and all of you;
I thank you for your kindness to me while
in jail.”
As soon as the last words were said
Sheriff Westcott pulled the rope and Tay
lor dropped like a shot through the trap
door. He bounded back in the air and
then was still. The drop fell at 12:01 and
in eight minutes the doctors pronounced
him dead, his neck being broken by the
fall.
His pulse had ceased to beat at 12:04
but Lt w.as eleven minutes after before the
body was cut down. During the whole
fifteen minutes that the body hung it never
moved. Dr. Stueber, the surgeon of the
Second Ohio, in company with Dr. John
son and Dr. Derry, pronounced the man
dead.
His body was placed in the coffin which
had been provided by the county and was
turend over to his brothers, who had a
wagon in waiting.
Taylor Died Gania.|
The nerve displayed by Taylor was won
derful .and Sheriff Westcott says that never
before in his experience as sheriff has he
seen a man display such nerve. Only once
did he falter and that was when the black
cap was being placed over his head and
his knees began to tremble just a little.
He also shuddered as he was being brought
down the steps to the gallows but he
quickly recovered himself.
Taylor’s brothers and cousins who were
with him all during the morning left just
before he was carried to the gallows. Mr.
Eli Taylor said that he could not bear to
be present and had to leave. He came out
in the jail yard and stayed until the body
was cut down. He and his brother were
crying throughout the time and everybody
present felt sorry for them. When they
went into to get the body their sobs could
be heard for some distance. The body was
given to them and it was taken to Keat
ing's undertaken establishment and pre
pared for burial. It will be taken to
Dole’s church in the Hazard district where
the funeral will be held this afternoon.
Hanging Was Successful.
The execution this morning was one of
the most successful that has ever taken
place in Bibb county. Taylor’s neck was
broken by the fall and his death was
painless. Dr. Steuber in speaking of the
hanging said: “The execution was one of
the smoothest I ever witnessed. It sur
passes our method in Ohio and I think it
is the most humane way to execute a man.
Taylor's neck was broken by the fall and
his spinal cord ruptured, which caused
him to die a painless death. I do not
think that he could have suffered a second
and that the only pain he could have suf
fered was when the rope was placed around
his neck. We electrocute criminals in
Ohio but this method surpasses all I have
ever seen.”
Dr. Johnson said: “It was the most suc
cessful I ever heard of.”
Dr. Derry said: “I think the man died
without pain.”
Every man that has been hung by Mr.
Westcott the neck was broken by the fall.
This is a record to be proud of. as all of
the men suffered no pain.
No one was present at the hanging ex
cept the officials, no newspaper men be
ing allowed. Those present were: G. S.
Westcott, sheriff: L. B. Herrington and
V. A. Menard, deputy sheriffs; D. H. Riley,
bailiff; T. C. Hunnicut, bailiff; E. J.
Rainey, guard; W. P. House, guard: Drs.
J. C. Johnson. Louis Steuber. H. C. Derry,
Rev. Mr. Matthews and the jail officials.
A large crowd was in the jail yard all
during the morning, thinking that they
would be allowed to see the man after he
was hung but they were disappointed.
When the drop fell jt could be heard by
everybody present and there was a solemn
look on the faces of all. Many of the peo
ple remained until the remains were
brought out in the coffin before they dis
persed.
Taylor will be the sixth man to be hung
since 1883, and will be the second man to
MACON NEWg FRIDAY DECEMBER x 5 1898.
be hung on the gallows now in th*e jail.
I Following is a hie terry of the hangings
which have taken place-since Mr. Westcott
l has been sheriff.
(Double Hanging.
On the first day of June, 1883. the first
'double hanging that has ever taken place
in Bi'bb county, Henry Wimbush and John
Bailey, two negroes were both hung on the
, same scaffold at the same time. They were
s hung for different crimes and were sen
tenced to death by Chief Justice Simmons,
i now of the supreme court. Wimbush kill
i ed a negro man on the Southern Railway
j bridge over the Ocmulgee river, and John
1 Bailey killed -a negro named John Tatum
in a bar room on Cotton avenue.
This hanging was the last public hang
ing that has taken place in Bibb county. It
was very successful and 'both of the men’s
j necks wer broken. Both of the negroes
killed their victims in cold blood, and they
came very near being lynched.
Will Bell.
The next man to be hung in Bibb coun
ty was Will Hell. He was convicted of
the crime, of murder, having killed Deputy
Sheriff Wilder, who was trying to arrest
him. His case was in the courts for a
long time. He was only 'fifteen years of
age at the time he was hung and it was
on account of this extreme youthfulness
that the case remained in the courts for so
long a time. His lawyers made a great
fight for his life, but without success. He
was hanged bn the jail yard on the 29th of
i November, 1892.
Louis L»wi*.
■Louis Louis was the next man who paid
■ t/he penalty of his crime on the gallows,
i He was convicted of killing his wife near
I Dillon’s dairy, and his crime was one of
j the most atrocious in the history of the
; state. He killed his wife in cold blood and
■ made his escape. He was captured, tried
i and convicted, and on the 3Jst day of
March, 1893, he was hung on a scaffold
i built in the Jail yard.
Henrg Miller.
' Henry (Miller was the last man to be
| hanged in Bibb county and was hung on
i the scaffold on which Taylor will meet his
death. On the scaffold at present can be
seen a scratch made by Miller’s heel as
the it ray door dropped from under him.
Miller was convicted of killing John Bras
well, a farmer, out on the six mile branch.
! Miller killed his victim and robbed him.
He roamed about several weeks before he
: was caught. He was hung on May 25th
! 1894.
History of Tavlor’s Crime.
I The readers of The News well remember
j the horrible crime committed by Abner
Taylor, who was hanged today. It war,
about the middle of July when Taylor
killed his wife and made his escape.
The crime was committed late one Sun
day afternoon. Taylor’s wife had left him
and had gone to live with her father. Tay
lar’s wife had left him and had gone to
live with her father. Taylor had begged
i her to come back several times but she
: had refused u> do so, and on the day men-
I tioned Taylor, in company with his brother
Eli, went to her father’s house to persuade
her to come 'back.
When they arrived at the house Taylor
.begged her to come back, but she refused,
and turned to go into the house, when he
rushed on her with a knife and began cut
ting her. He stabbed her about twenty
times and was trying to shoot her, when
her father, attracted by the woman’s cries,
came into the house. Taylor tunned his at
tention 'to old Mr. Logue and fired at him
twice, one shot striking him in the hip.
j Taylor then made his escape, and it was
sheveral days 'before he was captured. He
was found one day by a posse lying in a
peach orchard near Lizella. When the of
ficers came up on him be pulled out the
■ same knife with which he had cut his wife
and began stabbing himself. The officers
got ito him. however, and stopped him. He
■ was brought to Macon on the same day
and it was thought for some time that he
■ would die. He receovered. however, and
; was able to .stand trial.
At the first trial he was re]sdresented bv
.Messrs. Dupont Guerry and Charles Hall.
' He was convicted of murder and was sen-
I tenced to be hung. Ills lawyers applied
' for a new trial but it was refused, and they
carried the case to the supreme court. The
decision of the lower court was sustained,
however, and Taylor was resentenced to
hang.
His crime is regarded as one of the most
brutal that has ever been committed in
this county. The killing took place near
Lizella, in Bibb county.
Hi* Period in Jail.
When Taylor was brought to the jail he
was very quiet and it was thought for a
I time that he would die on account of his
self-inflicted wounds. He recovered, how
; ever, and soon began to mingle with the
Other prisoners.
Late in August he atempted to commit
suicide by swallowing pulverized glass.
The doctors were called in and worked on
him several hours until he was allright,
j For a time he was put in a cell to himself
i with a ball and chain locked onhisle g. He
: was kept there for several days until he
i promised to do better. From that time he
i has given the jailers no trouble and has
been a model prisoner. For the last few
days he has spent most of his time in
reading the Bible and he said that he de
rived grat satisfaction from It. He made
friends with all of the other prisoners be
fore he was hung and expressed a warm
: feeling for them all.
Jailer Stephan says that he was one of
rhe most orderly prisoners that he has
ever had anything to do with and that he
. bated to part with him.
COTTON SHIP ON FIRE.
By Associated Press
New York, Dec. 16. —The Hogan line
steamer, Mattewan, which left Galveston
December 1, for Boston, arrived today. She
was considerably overdue at Boston and
some anxiety was felt for her safety. The
■ Mattewan had 8,100 bales of cotton on
board in which fire was discovered, but to
all appearances it was extinguished pre
j vious to her sailing from Galveston.
GOVERNMENT WINS.
Bv Associated Press.
Vancourver, B. C.. Dec. 16—Official
count for the Alberni bye election eivee
Neile I government.) a majority of of 23
over Ward.
AT WEE
The President Sneaks to Boo
ker Washington.s School
BEFEBS TO RACE QUESTION
Counsels Patience and Moderation
—What the Negroes Should
do for Themselves,
By Associated Press.
Ttit-keegee, Ala., Dec. 16.—The presiden
tial party arrived at 8:50 this morning and
was met by the mayor and town council.
The trip from Atlanta was without inci
dent. The party entered carriages and
were driven to the Tuskeegee Normal
school, where they were greeted by Booker
T. V\ ashington, the pricipal, and escorted
into the lecture room. Professor Wash
ington epoke first, introducing Governor
Johnston, of Alabama. The governor ap
priately introduced the president to the
scholars and guests.
The president said: “One thing I like
about this institution is that its policy has
been generous and progressive. It is not
so self-centered or interested in its own
pursuits and ambitions as to ignore what
is going on in the rest of the country or
to make it diicult for outsiders to share its
local advantages. I allude especially to
the spirit in which the annual conferences
have- teen held here by leading colored
citizens and educators with the intention
of improving the condition of their less
fortunate brothers and sisters. Here we
can see is an immense field and one which
cannot too soon or too carefully be util
ized. Conferences have grown in popular
ity and are well calculated not only to
I encourage colored men and women in in
dividual efforts but to cultivate and pro
mote amicable relationship between the
two races, a problem whose solution was
never more needed than at the present
time. Patiei*c£, moderation, self-control,
knowledge, character, will surely win you
victories and realize the best aspirations
of your race. An evidence of the sound
ness of the purposes of this institution is
that those in charge evidently do not be
lieve in attempting the unattainable, and
their instruction in self-reliance and prac
tical industry most valuable. No country,
epoch or race has 'a monopoly upon knowl
edge. Some have easier but not necesar
ily beter opportunities for self-develop
ment. What few can obtain free most
have to pay for, perhaps by hard physical
labor, mental struggle and self-denial.
But in this great country of ours all can
have opportunity for bettering themselves
provided they exercise intelligence and
perseverance and 'their motivs and conduct
ar worthy. Nowhere are such facilities
for universal education found 'as in the
United States. They are accessible to
every boy and girl, white or black. In
tegrity and industry are the best posses
sions which any man can have, and every
man can have them. Nobody can give
them or take them away from him. They
are good things to have and to keep. They
make happy homes. They achieve success
in evry walk of life. They have won the
greatest triumphs for mankind. No man
who has them ever gets into the police
court of before the grand jury or in the
work house of chaingang. They give one
moral and material power. They will
bring you comfortable living, make you
respect yourself and command the respect
of your fellows. They are indispensable
to success. They are invincible.”
, - - t
BRYAN TALKS.
WITH BAILEY
He Visits the House and Gets
a Warm JOvation.
By Associated Press.
Washington, Dec. 16. —William J. Bryan
came to the house of representatives at 1
o’clock and was given a most cordial re
ception by his colleagues in congress.
Earlier in the day Representatives Bailey,
of Texas, Decocratic floor leader, 'break
fasted with Bryan at the latter’s room and
rt is understood discussed in a general way
questions of public and party politics.
When Bryan reached the house he was es
corted the Democratic cloak room where
he was surrounded by members and made
the recipient of many attentions. He talked
for some time socially and politically with
that unreserve which marks cloakroom
discussion.
SUCCESSFUL TRIP
New Military Transportation Service is Sat
isfactory.
By Associated Press.
Washington, Dec. 16. —The war depart
ment has received the following report of
the first trip of the new transport Mobile,
which made her initial trip from Savannah
to Havana, arriving there yesterday. This
is the first trial of the new transport reg
ulations which are very satisfactory:
“Havana, Dec. 15. —Adjutant General,
Washington: The Mobile reached Cuba on
Thursday morning. The command appre
ciate the excellent transportation and ar
rangements. All in charge deserve credit
for the suceesful trip.
“WILLISTON, Commanding.”
CLOSE ELECTION
Decided by a Soldier Vote in the Pa
cific.
By Associated Press.
Topeka, Kas., Dec. 16 —The state can
vassing board decided a tie between A. E.
Scott, Republican, and L. M. Marks, Pop
ulist. candidates for the legislature from
Jefierson county, by ordering the drawing
of lots. Mr. Scott won, but did not demand
his certificates, going home with the ex
pectation that it would be sent by mail.
Before the certificate was sent, however,
the Mid-Pacific ocean vote cast by the
Twentieth Kansas, en route to Manila,
was received. Upon examination one vote
was found for 'Mr. Marks. Accordingly the
state canvassing board reversed its decis
ion and issued a certificate to Mr. Marks.
NO HURRY TO CEDE-
Spain Will Wait Until our Senate Acts on
the Matter.
ar
By Associated Press.
Madrid, Dec. 10.—A semi-official note
issued today says; “As the American sen
ate must ratify the treaty of peace before
it becomes effective our government
should wait for this ratification and not
hasten to cede territory which the United
States senate may not accept.”
STEAMER STAANDED.
Strikes a Rock and Goes to the Bot
tom.
Py Associated Press.
Falmouth, Dec. 16. —The British steamer
Brinkburn, Captain Martin, (from Galves
ton, November 22, and Norfolk 'November
30, for Havre, stranded on Maiden Bower
Rock, Seilly Islands, during a fog last
night. At high water the vestsl is sub
merged. The crew landed. The Brink
burn was of 2,096 tons.
CONFESSED
TO PERJURY
A Woman Admits False Test
imony in a Murder Case,
By Associated Press.
Topeka, Kan., Dec. 16. —Something of a
sensation was developed in the Collins
murder case When Ella Buchanan was re
called and testified that her testimony as
given on Monday, that she eaw a man on
the roof of the 'Collins kitchen on the
morning of the murder, was absolutely
false. 'Miss Buchanan said:-
“Mrs. Burnett came to see me on Bran
non street in the morning of che 3rd and
told me that I was to swear that she had
been to Granton and had come home and
that I met her and then we went looking
for a house and saw a man on the roof of
the Collins house. Mrs. Burnett told me
I must swear to this or go to the peniten
tiary.”
The witness then told how she had
sworn falsely in every particular, and ex
plained in detail how Mrs. Burnett had
told her to swear and what to swear to.
NEEDED CONFEDERATES.
Bill to Open Soldiers’ Homes to Them Off
ered in Congress.
By Associated 'Press.
Washington, Dec. 16.—Representative
Rixey, of Virginia, today introduced a bill
in the house for the admission of Confed
erate as well as Union soldiers into all
the soldiers’ homes and government insti
tutions maintained by the government.
Although somewhat in line with the Pres
ident’s suggestion in his speech in Atlan
ta, that referred to the government care
f° r Confederate cemeteries, whereas Rix
ey s bHi refers to living ex-Confederates,
who are “maimed, crippled or needy.”
The text of the bill' is as follows: “That
after the passage of this 'act all soldiers
homes and other institutions ma? b Mined
by the government for maimed, tuionled
and needy soldiers and sailoin of the
United Sta.es shall be open to all soldiers
and sa ior.s of the civil war of 1861-65 upon
the same terms aal without discrimina
tion :i.- tc whether thej r enlisted upon the
side of the union or the Confederacy.”
Some miscellaneous business, including
the passage of several minor private bills,
was disposed of at the opening session of
the house today. The debate upon the bill
to incorporate the international American
bank was then resumed. Mr. Bell, pop
list, from Colorado, opposed the measure.
At a meeting of the senate cmomittee
on privileges and elections today the
charges of bribery against Senator Hanna,
made by the Ohio state senate in connec
tion with the senator’s election to his
pesent term of office were briefly discus
sed and referred to a sub-committee con
sisting of Senators Hoar, Spooner and
Turley, to investigate the question and de
cide how far it is necessary to go into the
matter. The charges were filed during
last session of congress and have not been
pressed by the authors.
AMATEUR BILLIARDS
A Western Player to Tackle the East
erners. •
By Associated Press.
Chicago, -Dec. 16. —It is now settled that
Clem Ellison, the western amateur billiard
■player will participate in the tournament
oc the Knickerbocker Club, of New York.
The Chicago A. C. club declared that it
could not see its way clear to paying the
expenses of Mr. Ellison and W. P. Mussey,
of this city, has said that he will assume
a.l of the expenses of IMt. Elison in order
that he may be in the tournament.
THE DANES RELENT.
By Associated Press.
St. Thomas, -Dec. 16. —The United States
quartermaster steamer, Gypsum King,
which arrived here Wednesday last from
Porto Rico in order to be docked, and
which was prevented from so doing by the
Danish government officials, who took the
ground that it w-as in violation of the neu
trality laws to permit her to do so, has
now -been permitted to dock by orders
from the authorities at Copenhagen.
NOT IN DISTRESS.
By Associated Press.
London, Dec. 16. —A dispatch received
from Lloyd’s agent at Skilbereen, Ireland,
says there is no truth in the report from
Baltimore, Ireland, which said the steamer
supposed to be the trans-Atlantic liner,
was throwing signals of distress off that
place. The Dominion line steamer New
England, which was thought might be the
vessel reported in distress, has arrived at
Liverpool.
PRICE lx/e CblNlS
'■'Ji
OWMIII
Insane Printer Assaults the
British Embassy
MISS PAUNCIHTE IHJURiD
Fine Plate Glass Windows Ruined—
An International Inci
dent.
By Associated Press.
Chicago, Dec. 16.A special to the Tri
bune from Washington, D. C., says:
The British embassy was subjected for
several minutes last night to vicious bom
bardment with brickbats by Joseph W.
Pearson, a Washington printer.
One of Sir Julain Pauncefote’s daughters
was struck on the foot and slightly hurt
by the first missile thrown by Pearson.
Several windows, the glass in the storm
doors and the great plate glass doors of
the embassy, which were magnificently
cut in a design of the British coat of arms
were smashed and riuned. Sir Julian has
requested that Pearson be held until Sec
retary of State Hay can be informed of the
incident.
Sir Juli'an and his daughters were sitting
in the drawing room when there was a
crash and the rattling of falling glass.
Miss Pauncefote leaped to her feet with a
cry of pain. Half 'a brick lay near Miss
Pauncefote’s foot, which had been struck
and cut. In a few minutes the police
were on their way to the embassy. Mean
while Pearson took a position under the
porte-cochere and began to bombard the
storm doors, soon smashing the glass out.
of them. Behind there were the main
doors of the embassy, great sheets of plate
glass into which the arms of the embassy
were cut.
These glasses were imported 'and were
valued at .S3OO each. Pearson deliberately
stood in the porte-cochere and threw his
remaining missiles at these fine glasses,
breaking one after another. A policeman
reached the embassy and arrested Pearson..
He refused to reply to questions. He
is 26 years old and has been working for
the electric street railroads recently. It is
thought he is insane.
“AGAINSTThT
_• WHOLE WORLD”
Dewev With the Monitors
Readv to “Hol Dem’ Phil
ippines.”
By Associated Press.
Manila, Dec. 16. —According to recent in
formation received here the Filipino in
surgents will endeavor to maintain a brave
show for the purpose of securing the best
terms possible from the Americans. It ia
the opinion of Admiral Dewey that it
wouid be advisable for the United States to
pay the insurgent troops their arrears of
wages. The whole amount would be a
comparatively trifling sum and the pay
ment of the troops would have a valuable
effeca and may save incalculable trouble.
Admiral Dewey is strongly convinced the
Filipino insurgents are deserving of ac
knowledgement. He believes in the prac
ticability of liberal measures in the direc
tion of local autonomy. Regarding the
possibility of international com-plicatioas,
Dewey says: z
“Prior to the arrival of the monito’s I
felt uneasy, but now I am ready io hold
this position against the whole earth ”
AGUINALDO’S PROTEST.
Hls Representative in Parris Addresses the
Peace Commission.
By Associated Press.
Paris, Dec. 16.—The entire American
peace commission leaves here for the
United States via Havre and Southampton
tonight and sails for New York tomorrow
on board the American liner St. Louis.
It is learned that Agoncillo, the repre
sentative of Aguinaldo, the Philippine
leader, has lodged a strongly worded pro
test with the commision, which thus be
comes a part of the records. It begins
with saying: “The very noble and gallant
general, president of the Philippine re
public” had honored him with “the post
of official representative to the very hon
orable president of the United States.”
Agoncillo then reviews the case at length,
saying that at the time of the “imploring
of the armed co-operation of Aguinaldo
other Philippine chiefs” both the com
mander of the Petrel, Gaptain Wood, in
Hong Kong before the declaration of war,
and the American consul, General Pratt,
in Singapore, Wildman at Hong Kong and
Williams at Cavite, acting as international
agents of the great American nation, at
the moment of great anxiety, offered to
recognize the independence of the Filli
pino nation.”
MEETING POSTPONED.
Certain Membersof The East Macon Bap
tist Church Will be Tried Sunday.
The meeting of the conference of the
East Macon Baptist church, which was to
have been held last night, to -try several
members on the charge of voting for
whiskey was postponed until Sunday.
The members will be brought up on that
day unless they apologize and if guilry
they will be expelled.
By Associated Press.
Champaign, Ills., Dec. 16. —Dick Collier,
of Danville, was hanged in the county jail
at Urbana today for the murder of Charles
Free Bryant in September last.