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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”