2
Clay, in Speech on Gallows, Warns of Life of Sin and Begs in Vain to Lie Beside Wife He Slew I
SPENDS HIS LAST HOURS PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS
Slayer, as Ex e cution
Draws Near, Admits
He Feigned Insanity
to “Save His Neck;”
Begs Forgiveness of
Victim’s Kin.
Continued From Page One.
and 1 -hot her down hot her twice
That's all.'’
"But I know 1 did wrung, and I'm go
ing to pay the penalty. I’m going home
to heaven to join my rweet, true love—
my darling wife and to be attain like a
little child and again lay my head in
the lap of my dear mother. I'u never
bad a home here on earth, but I'm go
ing to have a beautiful horn- now a
horn where the sun never arts and the
lea' never fade, wile e beauty and
lo eternal and reign supreme. My
g >ple. I hope my death will be an
■ and that any man who has a
<i< heart for murder will go
to > t l .aver Had 1 done so, my
prcclop- would be alive tieday and
1 would have swe< t home, and would
not be hen meeting such a denth as
tilt.-. I hope that no oilier emit will ever
liuv< io go into eternity in such a man
ner. My player Is that there may be
no more need of w-ill Ion:-. (1 >«d-bye
to you all, and mat tied nb • ■■ every
body.'
Visit of Brother
Breaks Long Silence.
Clny'r long silence had lasted since
the moment of bls u .s: until today,
except so an Inadvertent moment a
fi w w< ek ago, when he complained
that his cottee was cold, and then re
lapted into silence again. It was the
visit of his b other, .luliu- flay, that
caused him to speak again today. He
was sitting i n Ids bunk, his head in his
hands, when the b:other poke to him
through the bars.
“Bob, it s all over, old mail," sui l
Julius flay. “There's no hope. Your
last chance is gone."
Robert flay raised his head and
smiled faintly. The color rushed back
to his pale cheeks and his lips opened
slowly. Then, with an effort as though
his vocal organs had partly been
paralyzed by long disuse, lie surprised
the attendants by speaking slowly and
distinctly.
“That’s all right. I'm ready to go.
I've been ready tor three months," he
Mid.
He rose from bis bunk and stepped
to the grating Ills sister-in-law and
another woman, with Clay's tiny ne
phew, hnd come to the corridor then,
and the condemned man extended a
thin, white hand through the bars and
placed it tenderly on the head of the
child.
“I've made my peace with God,” lie
said, gently and without a trice of ex
citement. “I will go to him like a little
child. I am going to heaven to Join
my wife. I am confident of that. 1
want to be burled beside her."
Begs to See His
Little Boy Again.
He was silent for a moment, and
then, as though he wished to make up
for his seven-mor ths -lienee, broke Into
a torrent of conversation, speaking to
jailers, visitors, attendants, talking as
rapidly as be could.
“Won't you bring my little boy to
see me before I die?" lie begged. "I
want to see him again." )
Jailer Golden promised to send at
once and try to locate the child before
the hour of execution flay contin
ued bls conversation.
"You were good to me, Mr. Golden,'
he said. "I remember something you
did. When 1 was taken up to be re
sentenced a month ago 1 was so cold
1 thought I would freeze, and you took
off your overcoat and put it around
my shoulders. I haven't forgotten.'
Sings Old Hymn
As Aged Father Calls.
Shortly after Clay had broken his si
lence. his old father, Johnson Clay, of
116 Piedmont avenue, and his sister,
Mrs. W. H. Whitaker, called at the
Tower and were taken up to the cor
ridor outside the death cell. As they
entered the hall they heard Clay sing
ing loudly, his voice filled with emo
tion. The prisoner had chosen an old
camp-meeting hymn:
“I’m going home, I'm going home,
I'm going home to die no more."
As the last words died away, Mrs.
Whitaker collapsed and sank to the
floor. Her father caught her in his
arms and comforted her, and in a few
moments she was led up to the grating
of the cell. Clay reached his hands
through the bars and clasped hers be
tween them.
Doomed Man Prays
As He Holds Sister 's Hand.
“Don’t cry. sister," he said, tenderly.
"I’m Just going home to mother We'll
all meet there some day."
Mrs. XX hitaker sank to her knees out
side the cell and wept. And, then,
clasping her hands in his own. Clay
began to pray.
"It 1» the first prayer 1 ever heard
him utter,” his sister said afterward.
"Muy it mean the turning point in his
destiny.”
Then, while the clock ticked off the
few minutes remaining of his life, Rob
ert Clay talked to a reporter of his at
tempt to feign insanity by playing
dumb and keeping his h< ad bowed on
his breast.
“It whs awfully hard," he said.
“Sometimes I thought I couldn’t stand
There were times when 1 wanted to
Aalk so much that I thought I’d go real-
crary, and 1 had to bite my lips to
k
J LAST PHOTOGRAPH OF CLAY |
'ml./;,
J ■ r
MB > /
u MH, ■ - Si. /
W M* w M . MM /
.*AiOBwEjWB
Mt
/ 3 - -Y*'
/ H \
Robert L. Clay, wife slayer, who pays the penalty for his crime on gallows in the Tower today.
keep back the words. And holding; my
head In that one position nearly killed
me. I thought sometimes my neck
would crack before it reached the gal-
Ic .s. But I got more used to it In
time, and decided to stick it out to the
end. But I never had much hope.
Then Clay spoke with evident pride
of the manner in which he had kept
trace of the passing days without read-
Inga newspaper or conversing with
anybody or seeming to show interest In
the world outside.
'The big whistle of the Atlanta Mill
ing Company just outside the Tower
has been my calendar,” he said. "The
whistle blows three times every day
When it does not blow 1 know it is
Sunday.
"I began figuring by the whistle when
1 first came. I counted four Sundays to
a month, and filled In the other days, so
1 kept track of the dates. I knew that
I was sentenced on November 9, and I
heard Judge Roan fix Friday, December
13, as the date of execution. 1 made no
sign, but 1 had felt that this would be
the day of my death. T had dreamed
that I would die on the 13tn. some day.
and 1 knew that a Friday would be
chosen by the court. My dream has
come true.
Since that day last November my
old friend, the whistle, has told m.e
every day that I was so much nearer
the grave. There were to be just so
many days before my death. The whis
tle was to blow just so many times. I
heard It blow once this morning—it will
blow again at noon. But I will not hear
it next time.”
Then Clay began to speak of his wife
again.
'I loved Kate better than all the
world.” he said “My God, how I loved
her! There was never anybody who
could take her place. 1 hope her people
will fo'give me. as God has forgiven
me. and that they will let me be buried
by her side. Good-bye. I’ve seen you
outside my cell lots of times, and heard
you asking questions of me. Some-
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS.FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1912.
times I was crazy to speak to you, but 1
had to keep up my game to the lasi.
Good-bye.”
Women’s Prayers
Fail to Move Him.
In the hope of cheering Clay and
strengthening him for the ordeal of
today, in the event he was feigning in
sanity, three sympathetic women spent
more than an hour at the barred door
of his cell yesterday afternoon, singing
hymns and offering fervent prayers for
his soul. The women were Mrs. Min
nie Everett and Miss Christian John
son, of 342 Simpson street, and Mrs.
Eola Medley, of 94 Newport street.
Os all those who heard the songs
and prayers of the women, the doom
ed man himself appeared the least
touched. Not once did a tear moisten
his downeast eyes, and not once did
he speak. Leaning against the cell
bars, his gaze fixed on the floor, he
showed absolutely no emotion. He
merely stood as If fascinated.
When Dr. Samuel H. Green, county
physician, called at the Tower yester
day afternoon and made his final ex
amination of the prisoner and found
him nervous and his pulse nt 102, he
said this was the first evidence shown
of a breakdown. Dr. Green said this
was a sure sign that Clay was sane
and that he realized his doom was
close at hand.
Explanation First
Given by Slayer.
The first explanation of his crime
given by the slayer following his
arrest was the night of the murder,
just after he had been locked in the
police station. When prisoners in the
same ward asked Clay why he killed
his wife, the slayer, still in a drunk
en condition, replied:
"1 loved my wife, and she wouldn't
live with me. I couldn’t stand to be
away from her. and I killed her.”
Since jhat time his lips had been
staled until today. On his trial, and even
when the death sentence was pro
nounced, he never uttered one word in
defense of his act. He successfully
defied every effort and every ruse used
to break his silence.
Boy, 3, Made an
Orphan by Execution.
The execution of Clay leaves a lit
tle orphan boy, less than three years
of age. This little fellow has been
cared for since the tragedy by rela
tives of the slain mother, and will be
educated and reared by them. They
say they Intend to give him every ad
vantage possible, and to strive in every
wav to keep this dark blot from stain
ing his future.
The feeling of relatives of the slain
woman was manifested In a dramatic
manner when a sister of Mrs. Clay call
ed at the Tower with the explanation
that she “merely wished to look at
Clay.”
As she gazed through the bars, the
young woman is said to have ex
claimed :
“Bob, we're going to break your neck
—you have but a short time to live."
History of Crime
For Wliich Clay Hanged.
To the jailers she expressed the firm
belief that Clay was feigning.
Clay shot and killed his wife, Mrs.
Kate Hughes Clay, on Sunday night.
May 12. in Mrs. Clay’s home, 201 Lee
street. West End.
Clay, who was living apart from his
wife, was Intoxicated at the time, and
fired two bullets into her form as she
screamed and begged him piteously to
spare her life. She died in an ambu
lance on the way to Grady hospital.
Clay was arrested a short distance from
the house.
Clay and his wife separated early in
January of this year, Mrs. Clay assert
ing that Clay came home drunk and
abused and mistreated her. For this
she had him arrested, and he was ar
raigned in police court.
I
JAP CREW OF SHIP IN
MUTINYjJHREE SHOT
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13.—Seventy
eight Japanese, the crew of the steamer
India, mutinied against their offeers to
day while the big vessel was in the har
bor here ready to sail for Yokohama.
Three of the sailors were shot. A police
tug with officers armed with shotguns
were rushed to the scene.
The crew attacked the captain, S. J.
Parsons, and four European officers,
rushing at them with drawn knives.
An Elegant Coat, With
Fine Materials Behind
The Ultra-Stylishness
It has a rich, smart appearance, drapes
gracefully from the shoulder, and affords
great warmth without
excessive weight.
It’s a “Benjamin” -
model—the “ B o u d
Street.” And being zA / mW
made by America’s
Foremost tailors, it, 0 vJ |j|
of course, embraces b, 0 Vi f
all the good points
that go to make up a j
strietlv first-class gar- IVk ■
ment.
Brown mixtures and Vl
Oxford mixtures, with \ | ,
popular belted back. Us
1 s-v-v-w-*
x OUR size is here. Benjanvn c i °’k es
$25.00 and $27.50
CARLTON
Shoe and Clothing Co.
36 Whitehall Street
A Great Suit and Coat Sale
Many Garments Marked at LESS THAN HALF
watching the markets, close buying and being out-
N< -AxXt, side the high-rent district, we are ALWAYS able to save
y° u i ro,n ONE-THIRD to ONE-HALF on your purchases
here; but in this instance, we can save you even more than
I that - And re ’uember that when we tell you an article is
worth DOUBLE OUR SALE PRICE, you can DEPEND
/xAatwAX upon the GENUINENESS of our valuation. Positively no
/vI M fictitious valuations are allowed in either our advertising
r 1 R » B 01 0111 store -
L- ASsi-1 \n Today we are offering:
1 I ly, YfL
f. *■] Vfr\ handsome and stylish Suits of tine serges and man-
LSj kA y ftrl uish mixtures, elegantly tailored and lined with guaran-
'du 'WJ teed satin. These Suits are easily worth DOUBLE OUR
■ ; / ®£s PRICE. Tomorrow we offer them AAA rtC
■•’■/' Wa ' at, choice efrfcfc.Wv
<-■■ -, r W> Blue, black and fancy mixed Suits; plain tailored and
P handsomely trimmed stvles. Suitswell ip <4 OJ! £?
) worth ONE-THIRD MORE: only | C. 4&
At One rack of stylish mannish serge Suits; plain tailored
. .yj • an< l trimmed effects: lined with guaranteed satin: blue.
rtVwSßf* ~ | 1 brown and bjack. Worth at least A»ft
jaMl ' j . ONE-THIRD MORE; only
•. ,4 | $18.95 (oats for only $8.95. Think of this! They're
, ■ It. I brand new styles just received. Handsome mannish
* Hl 1 clot hes in many styles, with latest belted back, patch pock-
W <tS ’ wit,e co,lar and Impels, deep cuffs, etc. QC
/ fl I J A genuine high-grade ('oat. only
< f 'f'j jja Junior ( oats, only s4.9<>. I his is a new shipment just
f.'j I’j fl received. The styles are very snappy and stylish. Belted
w "U backs, two-laced cloths, fancy collar and cuffs, patch
pockets, etc. A very unusual «?» Jl rtC
w ' offer for only 54,“0
NO CHARGE FOR ALTERATIONS
Stylish Hats and Shapes at % to % LESS
Trimined_ Hats; worth'Silk Beaver Shapps;! Shapes worth up to $6;
up to sls; choice, $3.95 $6.50 valuessl.9slchoice7sc
Save Money On Your Blankets and Comforts
Large Wool-Finish Blankets; very Large 12-4 Cotton Blankets, only ' SI.OO
soft and fleecy, 0n1y51.95
Fine Wool Blankets; gray and white; .... Double-Faced Silkoline Comforts;
choice s4.9s cotton filled; SPECIALSI.9S
Christmas Goods at ONE-THIRD to ONE-HALF LESS
Dolls. Toys, Rocking Horses, Wagons, Autos, Velocipede., Books, Games. Skates, Toilet Sets,
Jewel Cases, Manicure Sets, etc.
SMITH & HIGGINS
“The Underselling Store”
Take Walker Street or Lucile Avenue Cars
: :
: 12TH GRANDCHILD :
: IS BORN ON 12-12-12:
•" 1 ' •
• ROME, GA.. Dec. 13.—“Twelve”'*
• is a significant number for Alder- •
• man W, L. Dagilel. Yesterday was •
• the twelfth day of the twelfth •
• month of the twelfth year, and •
• Mr. Daniel’s twelfth grandchild •
• was born. And the day was also * ;
• Mr. Daniel’s fifty-ninth birthday. • 1
SHIPPING TRUST
TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 7
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—The house
committee on merchant marine announced
that the hearings for an exhaustive i a .
vestigation of the foreign shipping trust
would begin on Tuesday, January 7 at
10 o’clock.
THE ATLANTA to B %ght
Also Saturday Night
Matinee Saturday.
-vLAW & ERLANGER PRESENT
Trail o’ the Lonesome Pine
WITH
CHARLOTTE WALKER
Nights, 25c to $1.50: Matinees. 25c to $1
ALL NEXT WEEK N ' 8 Q H 6 TB
MATINEES DAILY 3 P. M.
Pau! J. Rainey
African Hunt
Most Marvelous Pictures
Prices, 25c, 35c, 50c. Seats now selling
**"“ 1
GRAND * £,rH Te77~
______ __ Mwemu ck“it
frfgar Afcliesas.E,', (, C< > Os
toinona Winter You'll
Con Fa uno- Van Ossman so Hurrv ta
Rcn.irb
Butterworth-Martini 6 Seafi for,
— Show like
H EXT WCEK GUS hDWhROS 1 his
JOHsilH w o%‘ e K r BUNTING
Miss Bunting and the Stock Players
Presenting
“The Three of Us”
_ A Play That WHI Be A PPeallng
Next Week, ■■', Little Gray' Lady 7,
LYRIC vGAJi
Matinees Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
The World s Greatest Musical Success
MADAME SHERRY
Star Cast and Beauty Chorus
Next Week SHEA In 3 Great Plays.
Uv b next
M fl WEEK
Matinees Tues., Thurs. and Sat.
,H T SHEA
In Three Great Plays.
Monday Night and Tues. Matinee,
‘‘A MAN and his WIFE”
