Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-29

railroad track, with broad, unfenced field
extending to the right and left. As non'
ofthe citizens were willing that the execu
ton should take place on their premises
the instrument of death had been raised
upon the property Of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad Company.
1t was little after eleven O'Clock
when the solemn procession started from
the jail. The band took the lead, followed
by the infantry under Lieut.. Maize. Then
came the wagon with the prisoners, fol-
lowed by the one containing the cetdns
and the rear was brought up by the citizen
guards. As il moved on, the masses who
had collected in various places fell in and
marched with it toward its terrible desti-
nation.
| Many, in their haste to reach the place
where the gallows stood, made short cuts
and saved ground, arriving some time in
advance of the prisoners. When the.guards
| and prisoners arrived the military were
compelled to drive back the crowd and
clear the way to +
THE scAFFoLD,
which the prisoners assembled, followed by
the Sheriff, clergy and reporters. About
5000 people, from all parts Of country,
many of them, strange to say, ladies, COM
posed the assemblage surrounding the gall
lows.
At the request of the prisoners, Were
going home to die no more" was sung, both
joining in the singing, and after prayer
from Rev Mr.. Morrds, they were notified
that they would be allowed twenty minutes
each TO address the people.
Capt King was the first to speak His
utterance, though sometimes little husky
and choked, was generally clear. He
said: ~
CAPT. KINGS SPEECH.
My DYING FRIENDS: / see here TO-DAY
many OF NV old acquaintance and friends
We never before met on such an occasion
as this. Eight months ago, my dying
friends, | was as free..as anyman now stand
ing before me. | have only few minutes
to live, and then will be called upon to
die the most honorable death that man
can die. But can die with as good grace
as any man. God witnesses my innocence,
and though | am on the gallows, could
take nav bitterest enemy, who swore against
me, and love him. Thank God, l have
hope beyond the gallows, of home in
heaven. l would like to talk good deal,
bat my health will not permit / have
been buffetted from one place to another,
but | hope now to be for once free man.
/ am here with you now, but hope that in
a few hours | shall be with nv father in
paradise.
Peace within mans heart is the great
est consolation that can be afforded. He
can lay down and sleep at night and
nothing crosses his breast | mean by
that, the man who sets the example of
christian. Do that and you can lay down
in the most humble place, if you have the
Saviors love and peace.
Since | have been in Jail, | have been
like wild animal in the forest. NY mind
has been directed to my dear mother, my
loved sisters and my darling wife. Since
| was taken from them, l have never been
able to be free man. / have done all /
could to be a free man.
Oh, if | could only be at home once
more it would be the happiest moment Of
my life. But if it is the will of the great
Jehovah that l should die, Pm the hap
piest man in the world. Pm bound to go
to heaven. You may swear this on me,
and take away my life, but you. can't take
away my SOUL Thank God, | have
friend and redeemer in heaven
| have not studied to make this speech,
and don't want to weary your patience. If
| had the strength and voice | once had,
could talk TO this crowd. want you to
forsake your sins, and meet me in heaven
Tell Grit. Wright want to meet him in
heaven. Yes, Grit, you promised to stand
to me, and to be true and faithful, but you
forsook me, and plunged me as deep az
you could. You hunted all the testimony
in the courts of Simpson county.
Pm as innocent of my brothers death as
any man here / said Abe Owens done it,
and you hang me with what testimony Won
get against me Pll never -stand befoes
you again, and all / can say is, meet me in
heaven, where no trials, no troubles, no
sorrows ever reach.
am Go-day poor worm of thedust. |
am here only few minutes and you will
see me no more. want to leave the wokId,
and leave it happy, and in glory and honor,
and ! want you to tell your children that
died like a man. 1t may be the Lords
will for me to hang to-day. 1t may put
an end to murder in your county. Why
should say 50 The little boys are grow
ing up, and they can say a man was hung
because he was a murderer. 1t has been
said and sung that Pve been one of the
bloodiest men that ever lived. While in
the service l have killed men in self-de-
tense, but never in cold blood. If Pye said
anything to hurt the feelings of any one
here, wish to be pardoned, but cannot
take it back.
Pm to go up before my God, and would
not stand on this scafiold and tell you a
lie. II was guilty I'd tell it, but Pm as
innocent of the death of my brother as any
man can be. Great love existed between
me and my brother. There is not person
within the sound of my voice who loves
their brothers better than L did mine, and
had known who killed him l should have
avenged his death. l would rather have
left the continent of America than to do it.
If I'd been guilty of the death of my
brother, wouldn't have been hung here
| to-day I'd have been too sharp for that.
/ | knew not till saw my brothers body
that he was dead. Pm proud to say rhat
would have killed the man who did it, l
| loved my brother, and would have fought
| for him to the death. / never knew him
| to have fuss with any one without look
ing 70 luc lOE pAOtcCtiOu. III 40 AuhOCSht
as lobe Proctor or Art. Wilson over there.
Pll tell you why said Abe Owens had
done it, had seen the blood on his pistol,
and ana proud that | said il.
1t is better for a man to die guilty than
innocent. A guilty man can say he de-
served to die, but it is a hard thing to
take an innocent man from his family for
ever.
/ would to God that in the hour found
my brother, he could have told me who
killed him. / wouldn't have asked civil
law to prove it. l said L believed Abe
Owens was guilty of my brothers death,
and let him defend himself if he can.
But Mr.. Ovens says he is not guilty, and
| don't know to-day who did it,
/ have to die, and will never meet you
| on earth again. l don't want to say any
thing against yon, but if am going TO the
place hope TO, I'D rather do it than stay
here with you. would TO God 1 had
died when l was an infant, or at some other
time before this thing commenced. Eight
months ago had as little idea of being
hung "a you. Ips only momentary pang
4 L.. 49,. To-. ca1s, gtxrar t.ytak PAT think