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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: TUESDAY OCTOBER 23, 1883.—TEN PAGES.
THREE NECKS TWISTED.
MAR04RBT HARRIS HANGED
GORDON COUNTY.
rbl S'*rj or Her O atid ExfCatlon-T.yUr Ury
•at Pa/a lit F«rMt la w«lna Otu*f/-A
Vaaiiar'i I tqatDl rr»jr*r-1 Iw«rd
Hot*/’* Place* la 2T<w York Cup.
Special to the Constitution.
Calhoun, October 1#.—Margiret Htrrie,
colored, who poisoned little Lei. Lewi., »M
limited here at noon to-day in tbe pretence
of 1 crowd varfnuity estimated at from S 500
to4,000 people. Those livings! adltiancefrorn
bare came in laat night, tome even camping
on tbe road. They began to oouie in long
line, of wagons, carriages, buggies, horses and
on foot, until by It) o'clock there was such a
crowd as Calhoun has not seen for yeare. The
passenger train from Atlanta brought In a
large crowd, not many of whom were from
Atlanta, however, being principally negroea
from the towns and stations along the line.
The crowd was orderly end quiet and there
was eery little drinking aa this la nprobibi
tion town.' There were a great many women
among the crowd and they evinced as much
curiosity to see tbe revolting sight as tbe men.
many of them tilting near tbe galiowe for
two and three houre to aa to get an unob
structed view.
THEOCILTV WOMAN.
In an interview tbie morning Margaret
Harris stated that the did not tleep at all,
but prayed all night. Bbe waa feeling aa well
ae the circumstance* admitted; felt that her
tins bad been forgiven and bereoul was ready
to meet its God. At 10:35 she was taken from
the jail under an eacorl of fifty picked men
armed with double barreled allot guns and
conveyed to the gallows which was situated
three-fourths of a lulls to the north from tits
courthouse and fifty yards from the Western
and Atlantia railroad track. It waa tbe same
on which Johnson was.hnng in Rome A
rope Imd been atreebed around thetci.gold to
keep the crowd back. With the assistance of
Sheriff Taylor ahe mounted the steps. Then'
"Jesus Lover of My Botil” waa sung In which
Margaret joined. Than Itev. W. II. Johnson,
colored, made a very affecting anil earnest
prayer, during which the prisoner eang to
herself in a low lone. Alter which "Sweet
liy and lly" wee sung with great
unction, the prleoner joining in with a
_ _ t clear,
strong voice. The eberiff then told her that
if she so desired the could make a statement
to tbe erowd. Toe preechrra then exhorted
her to tell the truth, whiob the promised to
do. Rising and facing the north, aim com
menced in a clear, ringing voice tbefollowing
statement:
llta STATSMKNT.
"Gentlemen, ladies, (tienda and all; I
went you all in be qoiet and hear what I say.
1 am now going to lull the trutu. Before dial
I am innocent of thia crime. 1 hope you will
all take warning from my fate, and none of
you, like me, ever aland on the gallowa. I
am innocent of the charge. 1 did not poison
Lela Lewis,but hope to shake hands with tier
in heaven. I want to tneelyuuallin heaven.
My kinfolks caused me to eland where 1 am
to-day, and I want them to pray that they
cen meet me in tieevin, aa there it no for
giveness there. I want them all to hear me,
for they know I am telling the truth, they
made me eland where 1 stand to-day. I
heard that tome of them said that hanging
was loo good for tue, that 1 ought
to be burnt. Every tub must aland on its own
bottom, and if I cannot get justice hero 1
will iuffieaven. It la awful to intuit when one
it Innocent. I aiu innocent. 1 did nut poison
Lela Lewis, and want to meat her in heaven.
1 want to meet you all in heaven. 1 want
you io raise your children to Hint they will
never aland on the gallowa, but meet me lit
heaven. I wish that teu thuusaud ruuld hear
me to-day. 1 hops that pocrnian will be re
based as lie Is innocent. It would be wrong
to tend him to tue chain gang fur something
lie never done. I want to see tuy
family here, but I can't tee them.
Some of them will sulfer for tins.
1 have been treated better at ill* jail than 1
ever was he fora. Mr. Taylor and everybody
has been kind to lue. My tiiim is up. Good
bye all. 1 want to ba burled by the aide of
my mother but they won't let me. I don’t
csre what beouuiee of my body, just to my
soul is at reel. 1 ho|ie none ul you will pester
my kinfolks for tills, aa iliay have enough lo
1 meter them. Good-bye all, tuy time la up.
must die. I want you all to lake warning.
Uood-bye. Fsreweltl"
Tiiaocou vita Tear,
The etatemeul grew rambling and ahe re-
pealed euiuetcuteucea ovtr and over. Her
brother and sitter bade her goodbye; the
eberiff piulonad bar arms end feet, and et
12:97 the trap was sprung. Tue fall waa tlx
feet and her neck waa broken. Hhe made nil
etruggle, ouly • lightly drawing up her feet
once. In eight minutes her pnUe Staged to
beat end in twenty minute* eh* was pro-
nuuuced lifeless and tbe body was cut down.
It waa turned over to her brother
and ilater for Interment, It
wee rurrently reported that an
short would be made liy the nrgroee to res
cue her, hut no attempt wee made. Indeed,
everything pasted off as peacefully as could
be dttind^Sneriff Taylor and Deputy Bueritt
Vick an highly complimented by llie good
clliiena here for the way iu which they
way iu which they
managed the hanging.
Tits uistuav or tus cants
Margaret Mams was about in years of age,
coal black, lira feet two Inches In bright,
heavily built, and weighed I5U pounds Site
baa ouly out eye, the right out being out,
and altogether tier face la not pleasaut lo look
upon. Added to Mila tbe has very large hands
and feat, which make bar apperauce even
worse looking. To your correspondent the
talked freely,outdid uul seem to comprehend
Itie enormity ol her emus The min* was
commuted m August last. She wished to
marry a certain negro man. and kl rs Lewis,
IMUIIJ ■ ITIIEIU IHKIU man, unit mim, kchii,
who raised her mint a babe, opposed tbe
match, ebe Ural stated In oourt that this ne
gro men, Howe McDowell, or Dave Dukee, as
be tm belter known, and whom aha listed ahe
wished to miry, Induced her to try lo "con.
Jura 1 ' tba old tody's lift away by puttlngaorae
white bcana in a Dottle with water in it aud
burying it with tbe neck ol the bottle down
ward. She said ba told that when the btane
began to swell tba old tody would get aick,
sod when tbe beans bunt ebe would burst
too. Tuta ooojurtog ptoceee did not “work"
and so tbe eaiu he gave her poison to put in
the food. Bat pnt the poison In some rice,
of wbicltth* wool* family el*. As toon as
they became tick they aeut fora doctor, who
discovered that they were poisoned, and ad
ministered emetics All have recovered
from the effects of the poison but one child
Which died. She, however, now makes a
sworn statement that M. Dotted or Dukea U
not guuty of giving bee the poison, or ol
kuoaitig anything whatever of lue crtuia, but
fixes the guilt upuu out Dick Binire. wbo
the lays gave her the poison aud wuo told
her to tta tba crime upon Dave Dukea ao that
the aud Barnet could marry Christmas Ou
her tworu statement Mi Dowell ur Dukea was
tried and cuuvlctod ea being aeesaory lo ui*
deed, and tue same term of court at which
she was found guilty, aud sentenced to peual
servitude for lue. Seotence has been suspend
ed m bit case pending e new trial wucu has
been granted, uu the alaleiarui a Inch ba now
a wears to. Me it an old man til jean old
with whit* whiskers Me esya that ba lived
level! miles from Mrs Lewis's That he
knows no bing whatever of tbs crime, aud
baa been a consistent member of Bine L.-g
ebufeu for teu or twelve years Richard ll.ru-
*e. whom sue now accuseaol luruiaiiiug her
the poison, to ah old man *t»u, heiug At y-two
C era old. Ms lived three mile# from the
wts place aud le a member ul Fatruioutn
MetuoJist church. Me has uul been tried
•el. nor has not even engaged counsel, hav
ing been arns-s.l since We wee eeuiauoed on
her ifront itatameut that h» furnished her
with the poison with which to commit the
crime, so that lie and she might marry next
(,'hristmue. The gallows upon which she was
ba'-gitl is Slid to he the tame as Hie one upon
which Gus Johuson waa hanged in Floyd
county some yeaia ago.
TUE List XXKCUTIOH.
The last legal execution in Gordon coanty
previous to tbo one of to-day occurred in
1857. The noose was litted around a white
man's neck. His name waa Hawkins, and ha
bung fur murder. Me remained in jail two
yt ars and every effort was mailt to aave hit
life. By request of Hawkiue, Rav. H. T.
Buchanan, who waa than in charge of tbe
Baptist cuurcb in Calhoun, preached hie
funeral on the scaffold before the drop fell
Hawkiue listened alentively lo the funeral
sermon and wept almost constantly. Tnero
wi re fully seven thousand people there. Mr.
J. F. Buchanan, one of the present station
house keepers in Atlanta, waa a young man
then, and raid Hawkin'a Ufa to tbe crowd.
Uswkin'e died denying tbe crime for which
he hung.
TAYLOR BRYANT'S THROAT.
Tbe Fatal Twl.t et tke llasamta'a ttese Beds Ills
Ufa.
Special toTbsConaUtnllon.
Monhox, October 19.—For the first time in
twenty years tbe gallows waa seen in Walton
county yesterday. On it perished a wretch
whose wayward life led through a variety of
crime to this dismal gloom.
The story of the crime for which Taylor
Bryant gave up his life, recalls a singular ca
reer of crime. On the night of the 29.b of
Angnst last, Mn. Elisabeth V. Swords, a
highly respectable widow, who lives alone
with her two little children, wo* awakened
about two o’clock in tbe morning by tome
one teereng down tbe window end getting in
her room. She asked wbo it wae, end was
told it was a white man, and that he would
kill her if aba (creamed. She reached for her
pistol and snapped it at bint, but, like many
other pistols, It failed to fire when moat need
ed. In title helpless condition the poor wo
men wee caught and choked and her mouth
covered until the villein accomplished hie
hellish desire*. He then left her and bar
children screaming with fright, telling them
, if you don't hueli I'll come
God damn you, .
back and kill every damn one of you.” No
sooner htd he left the house then shu ran to
a neighbor's house end gave the alarm. Sbe
told her friends that it wee a negro; the did
not know his name, but It waa the one who
lived on Mr. Muon’a piece, and had been to
her bouse a few day* before to Mill her some
wheat; that the knew him—tbe moon was
shining, and she oould tee bit else aud color
end could readily recuguise hie voice. Fifty
or sixty tuen were toon on his track. One
negro living on Mr. Moon’e place wee arrest
ed and carried before her. "He to not the
oue,” ebe promptly esid, and he wee liberated.
Another one waa then arretted, liviug ou tbe
same place. When brought within fifty
yards of her ebe r.cogniaed him, and iaiu
most positively that lie was the right one.
Tui* negro hau been to her house twice be,
fore, and had made impudent and imprope
remarks to tier. She had told her triend
about it, aud was afraid of him. He was
taken to tbe place wbere tbe man bad run
from Mrs. Swords'a house.and the tracks were
found to be identically the asiue. There
could be no loniter auy doubt of hie guilt
ami It required the hardest kind of persuasion
to keep tue orowd from hanging him to a
limb. He waa carried to Loganviile and aent
from there under strong guard to Monroe,
where the grauii jury fuuod a true bill against
him next day, end be wee put ou Uriel et
once, aud convicted, and eeuteced to death
within three days from the date of the crime.
On the way to jail he aatd that he was in
nocent of lint crime, but that he gave that
other while womau bell. Tula remark was
explaiued a few hours later by tbe eppear-
atice-of another body of men, who told of the
black villaiu'a raping a white lady in another
part of tile county.
* I I si It Ml I pp.twltol •
of them sat away ont in the thicket in their
wagons and commented on the proceedings
in stentorian tones. At half put twelve
Bryant mounted the gallowa. With him were
Sheriff Ammons, Deputy Sheriff Nowell, and
Rev. J. U. Hall, colored, who bad been tbe
spiritual adviser of tbe condemned man.
The sheriff called ont to tbe crowd to keep
quiet and hear what Bryant wanted to lay.
Tbe negro walked to the edge of the scaf
fold and looked over the crowd. His voice
quivered aa be began to talk and drawing bia
handkerchief be placed it to fall eyea and
wept freely.
sis srsicn
was remarkably distinct and empbatio In
every particular. He spoke very correctly
and had rather less than usual of tbe "balla-
lujsh lick" in his remarks. Heuid: “You
BUCK CANTRILL.
have brought me on this stage to die. but I
am not going to die. My body will die bat
my peace la made with God and I am going to
Him. When anything is done it to laid on
tbe poor niggers. I remember when I wu
twelve years old-I uw something I promised
never to tell. I wouldn't tell It now bat I
have made my peace with Jeans. He bu
whispered to my soul that it is sll right and
'' to tell all I know. I eaw two white
l’nt going
men take n negro ont in tbe river
in a boat. They had a dog
with them and when he barket
one of the men shot the negro. I saw them
put his body in tbe river. I wu riding a
gray hone on tbe river bank looking forcowe.
The men uw me and said It I told they
would kill me, but I mast tell now. Tbe men
who shot the negro wu Dsn Scott, eon of Dr.
Scott.”
A voice—"That's a d—d lie) X know Dsn
Scott.'
Bryant continued—"When a man is hang
everybody goes loses him hang u a guilty
wretch, but he la not always guilty.”
Some one in the crowd here called ont
“Are you gniityT"
~ ' replied, "No, thank God! Yon
Bryant iceucu, uu, u»ua uw, ,uu
look on me u vile, but I am pure in heart u
He iiu made me so.”
Ho wu proceeding to say more, and by this
time bad ceued to press bis handker
chief to Ills eyes, and seemed perfectly calm.
As he began the next sentence sc viral voices
asked him different questions. Sheriff Am
mons cried out, “Men, be quiet and let him
lalkl”
Bryant uid; "There's no nse in raying any
more I am not guilty; but God knows it,
and this is for the nest.”
Itev. J. H. Hall then raid tbat the prisoner
wanted tile crowd toeing for him. He gave
out line by line the familiar hymn, "A Charge
lo Keep 1 Have,” and raised tbe tune with a
fine baritone voice. Hundreds of tbe crowd
joined in tbe song, the doomed man singing
uieerly and calmly with the rest. Aa the
music rang through tne pines several negro
women began to shout, and one negro man
screamed out: "You see Jesus on ue cross!
]Ie say its flniahed. He ray It suffice. Glory!"
At the conclusion of two verses of the hyum
tbe preacher asked all to joiu in prayer. A
thousand heads were uncovered in an Instant
and clear above the silent thousands rose
a BXAUTirDi. raAYxa
from the lips of the black minister. He
raid:
lie bad crawled into the window and wu
In the bed before the lady know it. Sue waa
living alone. Tba negro accomplished iris
sdatassslflaa Alisa I SI #1 If '1 - IV*. ,sl as If.aif lauAlhlA
desire despjie the lady's efforts. Her people
took tils tracks, hut oould nut follow them lo
any distance, They measured them, how
ever, aud compared
tracks, aud they were
uiiduuhledly the same. The same night this
same negro went into Mr. Sand's home and
gut Into the lied wbere two of Ins grown
daughters were elerplug. Tne whole family,
consisting of seven m number were at home.
Tne screams ol Hie ladles eaused the brute to
fly, however. A hundred cit'scna met at Bay
creek meeting bouse and decided if the Jury
didn't llud him guilty they would go to Mon
roe and lynch him. Taylor Bryant wu a
■mall black negro, eon.e 95 years old, and
■ until IMUIA nr^iu, BUI1IU MAS vmu uiu. Mists
wots tha face of a hardened criminal. Just a
year ago ba waa liberate 1 from tba peniten
tiary after serving a term fur this tame crime.
Judge llutoblua, in sentencing the prisoner
to death, delivered the following remarks:
You were iudioted by the greud jury of
this oouuty for tha uffenae of rape, commuted
on a poor, defeneelwM widow, wuo alone ‘in
this world, except witli her little children,
labored and struggled to earn an honeat sup
port for her little family—a woman wbu had
maintained her good fame and virtue, and
wlto might liar* again been made happy by
the love and oareuf her husband; but a vil-
ltau by force, and against liar will, lias robbed
berof that which wai dearer than life, for in
the oanientplation of virtuous women aod
brave men into crime to iuexpmslbly more
horrible than death liaelf. Tue court deter
mined that you should have a fair trial, and
that you should not be connoted unless
proved to be guilty, anil appointed lawyers ot
high standing and ability to represent you,
and, afters calm and au impartial trial iu
wbloli you were ably represented by your
counsel—a Jury of your oounir/uien, select
ed by youreell—have by llietr verdict pro-
nuuucett you guilty. The law flits the pen
ally which you are to suffer. Controlled by
your anituai paauons, your aaaault on this
pour woman exbtb.la you to your fellow-meu
as an unmitigated bruit—a disgrace to your
race and lo civilisation, and tba law declares
you are unlit to live. Your days are num
bered, and under the law and tha vardict of
the jury it becomas tuv painful duty to pro
nouns* llu-ir limit. Fur the ask* ol your
wile aud children and your own, 1 regret the
heavy doom that hangs ovtr you, however,
richly you may deserve it. If you are inno
cent, ao much tha better for you, and tba
won* for earthly courts. You must toon ap
pear before a oourt where no mistakes are
made—where condemnations and judgments
are just. You bava a soul to aave, aud 1 ex
hort you to look for pardon trout Mint alone
who cun grant you pardon.
TAX IN SACS VOS SXZCOTION,
Bryant had been bruugut to Atlanta to be
rafely krpt, Thursday afternoon be was
token to Mouroe by Deputy Sheriff Nowell,
A. M. Kemp and George tVaiker. On hto
way down ha talked freely to the officers aud
raid he bad maos up bia tuind to die, but
that "he was all right.” He slept well Thurs
day night and ytaierday morning atea hearty
brraklast. By sunrias people began to pour
into tha towu to see tne extcutiob. They
cam* from all parts of Walton,Gwinnett aud
Newton and Jasp<
Asper counties. By uoou tbe
at reels Wen tb rouged and tha usual noisy ex
citcmtul of such au occasion waa to full
play.
A few minutes after 12 o'clock the prisoner
wu told tnal hto time had come. He aatd he
wu reedy, and walktil out of bia cell quite
. - *
cheeilolfy. Me wu placed in a spring wagon,
in the bottom of which lay his Codln. With
him rode Sheriff Ammons Deputy Sheriff
W. \V. Nowell, bptcial Deputy George
Walker aud Marshal Phillips. The wagou
wu driveu to tbeswueof the execution along
a crowded road, preceded aud followed by a
great crowd of whiles aud blacks. Tue spot
ctiuten wu an open apace iu a pins thicket
half a mile neat of tba town and the gail,w>
«u iu a slight hollow, which enabled every-
buoy to see every detail of the gbul-y scene.
Tore* thouvaud people gathered around
the crosatree. They wauiluted the
same Uuleeiiug cmiueny which usually ebar-
WIWIIW such invasion,. Wbiaey had
luucueii Hie longues ol many of tba wen and
UU Wagged lu all suit, of sense.»• Jaijrao.
The negroes were especially uixauvc. Susy
be a anelter in eeery Mono. Come and
poor man In tbla exiremliy. II ihecupuf this Mi
leruaas insy uoi pats from Dim apeax lo bis soul
and uy ih.t tnli.euwu sou did drflik It aud that
'I bon lovest tbote wbo suffer Wbeu be goes
llnough these dorp waters may be feel beneath bis
tool tno rock of my Miration, aud about bis neck
ilio arms tbat lifted Peter Horn ibe waves.
Ihrotigu their toaHugand uieir danger lead him
•aMy and bring him lo ibe othersbore. Ob I Tbou
friend III the friendless, to whom,ball he turn but
unto TheeT Tbou hast promised comfort In sor
row and peace lu pain, be with him now and lo
theeudibal bo may be with Toes wbere the
wicked oeue from uoubiini and too weary are at
rest."
As these pathetic werdi fell on tbe etill air
Bryanl’a lips moved os If he aero praying
also. He ruse sail whispered to the sheriff
that he wu ready. Unarms and hands were
tightly pinioned and the black cup weut over
his heud. Blit-rift Ammons placed the noose
around his neck unit guided him to the trap.
Nut u muscle of his frame moved end be nod
ded to the sheriff that he was ready for Hie
drop. Deputy Nowell pulled tbe trigger and
Taylor Bryant met bis late. He fell only
about two aud a ball (eat. His neck was not
broken. He struggled aa violently as the
curds would permit, and for several minutes
his body wu writhing. The trap went down
at ten minutes to one. At one
o'clock there wuatlll evidence of life. Five
mliimea later Dra. It. A. liumntoni, Gibbs
end Ualaway felt the pulae and it wu faintly
perceptible. In a minute all throbbing hau
ceued. At teu tuiuuies put one tbe body
was out down and placed in the coffin. None
ot the relatives were preeent. Bryant’s wife
■aid sbe believed be wu guilty end she did
nut waut his body.
ailOASlTIISTf
The coroner received a letter from two At
lanta pliyeiciatie declaring tbat Bryaut had
willed his body to them end they wanted it
Kilt to Atlanta. Tbe ooroner declined to
recogtiixe tbie alleged order and took the re
mains in cnarge. Tne coifin wu driven back
to towu to be interred In the pauper ceme
tery while Ibe crowd joetled and joked aloug
the dusty road u If nothing Imd happened.
axccutioN oruuvav.
New Yoax, Uotouer 19.— Huvey, who mur
dered his stater-in-law, wu hung to-day.
DBBR HUN UNO IN TWIOOS.
Tbe Peer klllti fcy a Ulsw Urllb ■ Bbevel by e
It.t.r.aS tab
From the Uawkhuvifft .Newt.
Mr. John T. Daly, Jr., writes us the partic
ulars ot the killing of a deer near Bunsrd
lionet, in Twiggs county, oue day lut week,
under very eiuguler circumstances. Mr. Dsly
is tb* foreman of “gang No. 3," on tbe E,sl
Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad. Go
Tuesday of lut week Mr. Daly had hit gang
aiwurkonlba railroad. A party of hunters
from about Jeffersonville were deer
hunting the earns day In what le
known u Tarver’s awainp. Tbe
dugs started a deer, which left the ewafupand
took Me course towards tbe railruad. Mr.Daly
discovered the deer, and decided that it was
Cuming directly toward bia gang. He told
the negroes to get back in tbe bushee, end
told them to kill tb* deer with their ebovtls
if it oama near enough to them. Tbe doge
were at leut a quarter of a mile sway. The
deer earn* right down the ditch, and the first
negro it came to struck at it with hto above),
btcaking both of lu hind legs One
of tbe hunten wu near enough
hear the deer cry when
it wu caught by the railroad gang. He
claimed tbe deer according to the
up and
laws of burning, u he elated. Mr.'Dally at
ouca gave up tue game after a promise that
be and hto gang ehonld have a share, bm up
to lut accuuuu the Jeffersonville hunten
had uot divided. We think Mr. Day wu
entitled to tome of that veniton, and we be
lieve that if the question were left to a com
mine# of old hunters, such u Major Zeke
Wimberly, of Houston; l’btletue Duster, of
Wilcox; aud Dr. Cluk, of Texu, they would
decide that tbe Jeffersonville burners did not
■ct geueruualy toward Mi. Daly and "gang
No. 4.”
THS LkST PGH r OF A DARNO
DESPERADO.
From the Philadelphia Times
Victoeio SrxiKo, Texas, October 9.—Thia Is
not much of a place and never will be, A
tiny creek flow! from tbeapringandltaweteri
are utilixed for Irrigating purposes. About
two miles from tb* spring the creekelooaes
itself in tbe sandy alkali soil, and bare the
farm ends. The proprietor of Victorio spring
raises corn, potatoes,.kersbaws and barley, and
•alia all tbat bis place produces at a good
price. His farm comprises about one hun
dred acres, bat that la a big track to work on
the frontier, wbere agrionltural labor la ernde
and untrained and tbe implements of egricnl-
tare of the rudest possible description. The
spring is on tbe government road which leads
from Fort Davie to Toyah and, being a half
way water-bole, Is a favorite stopping-place
for the United States teamsters. There to not
mneb grass in tbe neighborhood of the spring,
but tbe water is excellent, and although
thousands hare camped here, there is still an
abundance of mesquite roots to be found for
fire-wood. I used to stop here yean ago,
when there was no raneb and no irrigating
ditches. Its only visitors were predatory In-,
dian bands and parties of scouts and hunters.
After the Victorio raid in 188o tbla seciion
of country began to sell up a little. A fe w
cowmen came in and located ranobes, and at
tba principal aprings and water holes farms
were laid off aud irrigating ditches dug. The
hacienda at Victorio wax tbe lint one built.
Immediately following the arrival of tbe
arrival of the honesi emigrants, there wts a
considerable influx of desperadoes and rust
lers and we were kept tolerably busy round-
' ‘ trading store
-tag them up. There Is a smell
Lera, and 1 am writing this letter uta table on
tbe porch. 1 can look out Viver a wide field
lo a thick matte of willows and cottonwoods.
Under the spreading branches of one of the
iargtst of tbe last-named trees is a grave, tbe
btetury of which I propose to toll. It was un
marked until a few munlbs ago, when it wee
enclosed by a neat railiDg aud a atone was
set up at its bead. Flowers have been pleot-
ed on me grave, and ibe dark-eyed tuachaco
wbo accompanied ue to tbe spot wheu I
visited it a few minutes since explained tbe
reason of the change. The headstone is a
plain shaft of white marble and bears thia in
scription: ',
—BUCKNER CANTRILL—
—Died Ocroaxs 13, IMO—
—Aoxd 23 Yxars—
—III Waa A Good Son-
suck CANTRILL.
I knew Buck Uautrill welt. I was one ol
the parly that rounded his outfit up and 1
stood betide him when he died from tbe
Wounds received during bis last fight. Buck
was a brave man and he died game. He wu
a typical Texra bed man—a gambler and a
robber, and possessed of such daring that no
danger Uaumed biin. He first distinguished
Iliuuelf in Menard and Mason coumies,wbere
he "punched cowa” for a living. Becoming
embroiled in one of tbe many cow wars,
which for several years raged fiercely in these
counties, he killed a man, saved himself from
tbe penitentiary through poweful influence
end became a rustier. He wu on tbe fugi
tive list for aeveral years, and although
rounded up many times by the civil officers
him. “Let me look at yonr arm, and when
I have fixed tbat I'll get you eorne breakfut.”
Buck ut down near a window and the
woman dressed bis arm. Afterwards ahe pre
pared him some breakfut.
"You look tired and sleepy," she said,
when he rose from the table.
“Yes,” he answered; "I am very sleepy,
walked all night."
"There Is a good bed in the other room, 1
•aid Mn. Bornwell. Lie down and get some
sleep. Yon will not bo disturbed and I will
wake yon up before night.”
“Where’s Bornwell?"
"He's out on tbe range and will not be back
before to-morrow."
Bock hesitated a moment, but wu finally
prevailed upon to lie down, and he soon fell
into a profound sleep Early in the after
noon tbe rangers who bed surprised him the
night before rode up to tbe spring and aeveral
of the men went Into Bornwell’s house.
They little dreamed tbat in the naxt room
the dreaded rustler was quietly sleeping. The
rangers made a camp and cooked their din
ner at the spring, and when they finally rode
away Mrs. Bornwell awakened Back. She
had dinner ready fnr him and white he was
eating she told him abont the rangers.
‘'There is a good pony in the corral," she
raid, finally, "but It belongs to our Sally,
Sbeeatsobool at Davie, and If anything
should happen to 'Billy' ebe’d cry her eyes
out. if you II promise to send the pony back
you can rido him away, for you are too weak
to walk."
A mist dimmed the rustler's eyea and bli
voice trembled a little when he spoke.
“I’m a hard case," he said, “and everybody
gives mo a bad name 1 but I never forget a
kindness and yon bare been u good to me u
a mother."
Hie voice aoftened at tbe mention of tbat
name and for a moment he wu silent. Fi
nally bespoke:
“If you'll trust me with the pony I’ll see
that he is brought back," be raid.
Mrs. Bornwell got a saddle, caught up the
pony and brought him around to the door
ready to be ridden. When Buck wu iu the
saddle he held out bis band.
"Buck Cantrill never forgets a kindness,”
he said, "and yon’ll find that I’m always
your friend for—for my mother's sake,”
end the state troupe always managed to es-
tp into Preaidio in the sum
cape. He came op
msr of 1880, and at first operated in oompany
■llh ImiUi Ktfitna ■run mm “IVillty tVira IT ii^V’
with Jesse Evans, wno wu "Billy the Kid's'
partner prior to tbe breaking out of the "Lln-
coln oouuty, Now Mexico, oow war.” Buck
found it impossible to get along with Evans,
and after making oue or two raids with that
celebrated .desperado, ho branched out for
bimaelf, and beiug juuned by several men aa
desperate as himself became their leader.
Tue outfit had a camp in tbe Prison moun
tains, and for aeveral months they were a ter
ror to ranchmen and to tbeover,and travelers.
We got on their trail in the early part of
September, 1880, and pushed them so closely
that they were obliged to break their camp
anil seek a more secluded hiding-piece in the
mountain! of Death.
SULLOWSD BT Asnowxx of BULLETS.
It waa while they were In this new camp
that Buck etarted to pay a visit to El Paso for
the purpose of purchasing tome necessary sup
plies. Me went by way of Carla i Pass aud
raveled alone. On tbe night of tbe 11th of
September be camped at a little water-bole
■bout twelve miles southwest ol Antelope
spring aud near tbe head ot Apache pass.
Hie journey that day had been over high
mountains and through rough aud rucky
canyons, aod be wu very tired. After picket
ing hie horse be ate eupper aud then rolled
biutstlf in bis blanket 'io get^the sleep he
stood ao much io need of Hie eyes were
hardly closed when be heard tbe tramp of
horses coming up tbe para. Hastily springing
to hie feet he kicked uide the (mouldering
remains of his camp fire and raddled bte
bone. He wu just un the point of mount
ing when the ou-ueming outfit galloped up
to the Identical water-bole at which be waa
camped and ba found bia retreat cut oft It
wu a party of rangers returning from a scout
alter Indiana in tbs Sierra Diably, and wbeu
Buck attempted to lead bia horse by them be
wu discovered aud sternly commanded lo
bait. Instead of obeying this mandate be
•prang upon the back uf hie horse aud duhed
down tbe canyon. Tbe rangers discharged
their six-shooters at tbe fleeing .uan and
several uf them started in pur-nit. His horse
bad been badly wounded end he ouly rude
him a few hundred yards when Hie uniats!
fell dead. Buck wu wuunded al-o tbruu ,b
Hie right shoulder, but he distog-ged binm 1:
from the dead bone aud broke tor the chap-
para I Justus the rangers dashed up. W* beat
tbe uirtquite brush pretty thoroughly iu
search ot him, but, tbe night being a..k, we
were unable to find him aud wo returned to
the water-bole, carrying bis liorae trappings
ir. It wu from some papers
A Htttow Escape.
From the Dooly Vindicator.
A few days since, while Mr. Z. T. Penny,
our eiUelent clerk of the superior court, wu
returning (com a squirrel bunt in the river
swamp, near Dray ton, about dusk, he stepped
utride a hugs rattlesnake, bia foot Just mus
ing It. Mr. Penny quickly dupe toned him.
Ills enakeship wu five or six feet in length,
and s|>orted thirteen rallies, which were am
putated and brought bom* u a memento of
the event. Moral: Never go In a ewamp
without a sufficient quantity of “snake
poison."
Ware’s OsaeraUsas,
ifrfi Dih)ou«i* Siguti.
11. W. Ward, of two-Ruo, hu a remarkable
family. He married Rachael Gaddis in De
cember, 1848, end raised eleven grown cull-
iriuiHT, me, um raises! eleven grown CUI1*
dren. Hu family now numbers silty—chil
dren, suht-iulaw and grauucUiluren.aud there
never hu bsen ■ deem among tnera. Mr.
."’ard two yean to the war and two years
la California.
and Winchester,
found in the saddle pockets that we weraaole
to establish the identity of the man and the
next morning we wade further search for his
traiL After a great deal of difficulty it wu
found, but wa could only follow U a abort
distance, on aooounl of Ute rocky nature of
(he ground.
Buck ascended tne mountain on tbe left of
the water bole, end llndiogeorne water «lining
Ibe recks on top dressed uls wound and took
down tbs ndge toward Victorio. He had lust
considerable blood and felt weak. All night
he walked and the sun was several hours high
wbeu be reached a point opposite tbe apriug.
Ue wu now completely broken down ami
hunger added to hU misery. In hia flight be
bad dropped bia tix-ehouter and although
tbere wu an abundance of amall game about
bim he wu unable to kill any. Ha deter
mined to go down to the spring and beg for
something to eat. Tha owner of the little
farm at tbie time wu a nun named Bornwell,
end be had a cow and sheep ranch above the
spring. Uta family livad at the spring. De
scending the mountain Buck approached the
cssa boldly. Bornwelt'a wife met him at the
door, and he uw from the quick start that
ahe gave at tight ot bit lace that she recog
nised him.
"Yon know me?” he said.
"Yee," answered the woman. "Yon are
Back CentrilL"
“And I'm woanded, hungry and unarmed."
ha said, holding ap the arm ha bad rudely
bandaged. "I wok sum* hones from your
nojp once—”
"Never mind that,” interposed tha woman.
"Come in."
“1 haven’t any money to pay yon,” he ad
ded, pausing In lb*doorway. "Uul—"
"lait's all right," she raid, interrupting
BtlNOIHO BACKTHI PONY.
Tears stood iu his eyes wuen he rode away.
Mrs. Boro well returned to her work and
when her husband come home the next day
she said nothing to him about Buck's visit.
A three day's real in camp brougiit Lite out
law aruuud ail right agaia and one morning
he mounted Ills hone to takeSallv Burnweli'e
pony "Billy” back toVictorio spring. When
he rode up to tbe casa a Mexican woman
came out to meet him. Sbe told him, in
answer to hia inquiry after Mrs. Bornwell,
that bis benefaciress had been taken sudden
1y ill that morning and was in bed moaning
with pain. Buck entered the bouse and ap
proached the bedside ol the sick woman.
"Are you 1117" be asked.
“Yee,'' was tbe feeble answer. "It is my
heart. I shall die this lime and I have no
one to send for Sally."
"I’ll go for berl" answered Back, qaickly,
"end fetch oat a doctor, also. Yon will get
bettor.”
"No," contradicted Mrs. Bornwell. "I
shall die this time. I would like Sully to be
here, but yon must not go for her. There is
dange;
"D—n the danger!" cried Buck; “I'll risk
it," and rushing from the room he mounted
bis horse again, first puffing a side-sadule on
Billy for Sally Bornwell to ride back.,
He rode briskly and reached the post just
after retreat. He dashed through the town
with his Winchester cocked and thrown
across bis arm. He wu recognized by a hun
dred people, bat no one ventured to stop
lllm Rlllinir Itmtcpht In tfm dnotna'a tianau
him. Biding straight lo the doctor's bouse
he called that gentleman out on the porch
and made known tbe object of his visit.
"Her daughter la going to school here,” be
said in conclusion, "and I broogbt ont this
pony for ber to ride back. I’d see that ahe
got it myself, but I've got plenty of enemies
here and 1 mast vanios poro pronto. Well
you eee tbe girl and escort ber home?"
"Yee," answered the enrgeon, and Back
galloped away.
He bad the gauntlet of the town to ran
again, and this time a deputy sheriff saw him
and hurried to tbo jail to notify tbe rangers.
The rustler wu not a mile from town when a
party of men weft in hot pursuit. When be
arrived at tbe spring tbe sick woman's hus
band bad just retnrned. Mrs. Bornwell wae
much worse, bntabe wu comforted by Buck's
assurance tbat her daughter and the doctor
would soon be tbere.
"I'd eiay here with you," he raid, "but I
expect there's a squid of rangers at my heels.
1'tu going over on tbe other eldn of the creek
io get a little eleep. Wheu tbe doctor comes
•end somebody over alter me."
•uaaouNDXD it Sanders.
He picketed hia horse and lay down under
the cottonwood* about three hundred yards
(torn the cau. Toward morning tbe doctor
end the dying woman’e daughter arrived.
Behind them wu a squad of rangers, and
when they rode up to tho door Daniel Burn'
well went ont to meet them.
“You are banting for Back Cantrill?" he
raid to tbe sergeant In command.
"Yee," wu the answer. "Have you seen
himT"
"He wu here about three hours ago."
"Where is he now?"
“What’ll you give me to tell?"
“Tbere la a reward of $1,000 out for bim,”
uid the sergeant, "If you will tell us where
he Is, and we succeed In capturtog or killing
bim, I'll see tbat you get $100.”
"Make it two hundred aud 1’U take yon to
tbe epot where he is now aleepiag."
"All right I" cried tbe sergeant, and he
ordered tne men dismount.
Bornwell conducteJ us through tba com
field and we crusted tbe creek below tDe
"He if in the grove," whispered Bornwell.
I promised to wake him up when tbe doctor
came.”
Wa crept along through tbe reeda which
fringed tue creek bank and Bornwell walked
boldly forward. At the edge of the timber he
was baited end we heard tha click of Buck's
Winchester.
Who's there?" ho asked.
Me," answered Bornwell. “It's all right
Buck. Tbe doctor is here. He aaya she can't
live long and aba wants to ace yon.”
Thus assured Buck came out ot the matte
and walked toward the epot wbere we were
concealed. When he wu a few feet distem
tbe sergeant cried "surrender,” and we sprang
' '“ ' tied, ana
up to arrest bim. "Carago!" he crii .
jumping back threw ap nil Winchester and
fired at tbe sergeant, who was in advance.
Tha ballet ouly grsxed tbe sergeant's head,
but the shock stunned bim and he frit back
in Hie reeds. We thought him dead and
fired upon the outlaw, lie ran back toward
the grove limping aud we knew that he wu
wounded.
HIS LAST rtSHT.
Surrender, Buck!" yelled one of tha men.
Never!" was the defiant answer, and he
discharged hit Winchester again.
We relumed the fire, but still kept In the
shelter of the reeda. (Several of the men
crossed tbe creek aud hurried through the
com to surround tbe little grove. Tbere wu
a silent of aeveral minutes, but finally Buck
apoke:
"You’ve got me at last, d—n you!" be said.
"I'll surrender.”
Throw up your hands then and come
out 1" we commanded.
T can't,” was tha answer. “I'm wound
ed!"
We thought tbla a ruse, but finally two of
the men volunteered to creep toward tbe
gore and ere it he was really tutdly wounded.
uek teemed impatient tithe delay aod
callrdout again:
"Come on, yon d—n cowards! I can't hurt
you."
Waallttuhed forward now. Ha waa ly
ing right on tha spot where wa afterwants
buried h' * '
him. and wbeu we lifted bim up the
Mood gushed from a half-dote u wounds ut hia
body.
. Dtn , Bomw*n, Hit cowinlly
bound r he raked.
We looked around tot Bornwell, but he
had disappeared.
"He has gone to tbe home, I reckon,’ 'said
one of the men. "We'll carry you over
there.” _ „
“No, no!” he answered. "I'm dying. Tell
ber—bis wife—that I remembered her to the
lut. I’ll settle with him for betraying me
when I meet him In hell. Sbe is good, like
my rao—"
He struggled to complete the sentence, but
only gasped, shuddered and hia limbs straight
ened in death. When we reached the case
Mrs. Bornwell was dead also and her daughter
wu crying bitterly. We buried Buck wbere
be died. Bornwell moved away and I think
went to the states. He never came forward
to claim hu share of tbe reward. It wu not
known positi-ely what section of tbe courtry
Buck wu from, out it wu afterwards learned
tbat he had an old mother living in Illinois.
Sbe raw a notice of his death in the papers
and wrote to tbe commander .of the frontier
battalion abont bim. In her letter sbe said:
"I am a poor woman, and Buckner always
took care of me. He wu a good son I"
A few months ago ahe died, and on her
death-bed requested tbat a portion of the
scanty stock of money she left be devoted to
marking Buck’s grave and tbat flowers
planted on it. Her wishes were carried out.
ADA ATKINSON’S DEATH.
OLD MAN NBLLNOS CONFESSES
THE DtSBD.
Tht Indiana Tea gad/ tuvct by lla Ccrfrrsfoa
tbe Murdarar-TfceOire'a Biluo aaoa to Die—
Tne Beene In Court—me Mob Prepar*
ing to L/non tat Marderer.
Oxford, Ind., October 17.—Jacob Nelllng;
.j presence of Coroner Hitsie and Detective
Harris, made affidavit yesterday, to the fact
tbat be wu tbe marderer of Ads Atkinson.
“I wu engaged at work when the feellug
came ever me that I must kill her. Entered
the house, ucendcd the tbe stairs, aud told
her I wu going to kill her." He said: “She
did uot waut to die, I caught her by
tbe neck, cut her throat first aud
afterwards made .the other woundi. wash
ed my bauds in a basin at the pump
and returned to work. Had no teistaiics aud
no mutive." Ue eaye that while wurkiug in
theurchardatul knowing that Ada wualotie in
the huuae, he was seized iiy an insatiable im
pulse ur hiauia tu murder her; that ue choked
Her to iueeuaibility uud in his murderous
frenzy cut her witti his knife. He uye he
went down stairs and out to tbe milk house
and wuhed hie bloody hands
aud threw tbe water ou the
grass. He deoies tbat he outraged her per
son, and solemnly asserts that he had no con
federates in the crime. He makes tbe confes
sion freely, without reservation and without
hope of mercy.
„ IUk KUIDZSZn'l DIMIAN0B.
Nellinga coulessiuu wu read in open court
in the atternoou in his presence, and he con
firmed It in every part, speaking of tho
bloody deed with no more emotion then if ho
bad been telling of alaugbtering hogs. He
said he had no malice or motive. He wu
only impelled to the deed by a sudden frenzy.
When tbe lormal arraignment wu made
charging bim with malicious and premedi
tate murder, aud he wu asked to plead, he
raid he wu nut guilty of the whole charge.
He had no malice, and there
wu no premeditation. There wu
on exciting scene when he wu removed from
tbe court room to the JaiL Tbe spectators
rose and were ordered to sit down by the
sheriff* They did Dot obey, but Dioved to-
ward the prisoner, muttering. He wu taken
out of the rear door, which wu immediately
locked, aud the deputy sheriffs announced
"no man leaves tbe court room for five min
utes." The eberiff placed NeJling lu tbe
most secure cell in tbe jail, and went inside
with a trusty well armed force ol eight men.
The mob numbered three hundred, and stay
ed about the jail all nigbt, but teemed to
have no leader. The militia from LaFayetto
la expected soon. The mob have built a
acaffold and provided a rope. At 10:30 lut
night a gung of fifty men went to get railroad
Iron to hatter down the doors of the jail.
utAtoay or nix ousts.
It will bo remembered that on the morning
of September 24, Mr. Cephiu Atkinson, a
"fanny farmer of Benton county, and hia
wife leit home in the early morning, and
drove to the railway station, some nines dis
tant. When they left, Miss Lucy and Mias
Ada were the ouly occupants of the home
stead, the latter being tne younger of the
two sisters. After dinner Miss Lucy At
kinson concluded to make a visit to the
town of Oxford, a few miles distant, and
left her abler alone. This seems to be the
ast time the girl was seen alive save by
her murderer. About 6 in the evening Miss
Aiklnaon returned from the town, and going
through the lower part of the house, was un-
able to find her sister Ada. bbe next went up
to their bed-room, where ahe found her sister
iying on the floor, covered with blood. She
gave en alarm, which aummoned an old man
who wu nt work near at baud, and to him
the related what she had eeen. A passing
neighbor wae hailed, and examination snowed
tne girl to have been dead sous lime, the
limbs being rigid. Word wu nut to tbe
father, aud ha came home on boneback from
tbe etetiun, riding like mad— Physicians
ware eummuned end pusses of tuen sent ou
iu every Utrcotiou iu ins hope tbat tbs scoun
drel or scuumlrels might be captured. Dra.
Gunnell and Welle made au exami
nation of tne girl’s persou, tbe supposition
beiug tbat tramps had outraged aud then
murdered her. They fuuud that her penun
had nut been violated, hut the body wu lit
erally backed to pieces, tbere beiug twenty-
live separate anu distinct cuts. The mur
derer Usd evidently first severed the jugular
Vein, and after that had gone to wurx tu aeo
how muuu be could mutilate the body.
There were cute on the head, face and necK,
also on the back, loius and buttock; great
gushes across the etumacb exposed the tutee-
tiuee, while everything near wu spattered
wtih blood. A tramp named Putts was ar
rested for the muroer ou suspicion, but tbe
evideoce against bim was slight, aud be wes
released.
A RUUOH JOKS
la Wktska IVIILIssu Ceesij Sh lsr<n-t,Mns
XWM. aaa e esses i« ■ n.uir,..ilka,.,. *
Special to The Gonsdtudon.
Macon, October 18.—Allen Sapp wu arret
ted tore lut night on a warrant sworn out
by Mr. J. A. Baum, ul Wiltiuson county, on
a charge of misdemeanor. He wu placed in
J**{** c **» Md this morning compromised
with Drum and wu released, k i short
time be was rearreued on another warrant,
sworn out by Mr. Harden Johnson. It seems
that the aulortunate man wu (arming with
his brother in Wilkinson county, renting
* n ^u U ! >m i.^ r ' Baum ana securing
tuppliei from him peysble when the crop.
Were gathered. The season hiving arrived
he brought the cotton to tbie market foreale,
lor which he receivcd$119 35. HU brother at
borne in the meantime, in •
joking manner, circulated the renort
mat ne wu going to Texas, whereupon Mr.
Baum accured a warrant and same here to
have it executed. He succeeded in effecting a
ootupiomias with 8tpp by bia paying $199,
after which he waa released. In the mean-
uroa Mr. Johnson received a letter from hie
overseer informing him of the feet that Satin
was going off, aud he bed bim arrested but
afterward* effected a MlUement and Sapp is
once more at liberty. He is a poor maa ind
*“* name. Public opiniou is
witli mm.
DCVLxr't cask callkd.
The cue of Juper Dunlap, charged with
murdering the negro sometime since it Vme-
ville entering on the Central railroad, wae
railed this morning before Judge Mat R.
Freemen, end wu postponed uuiil Monday
on account of eorne a bunt witnesses* and an
opinion advanced by Solicitor General Harde
man to the effect that the grand Jury would
meet,Monday and the cet could then be dis
posed of quickly.
{