The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-29
Extraordinary seems and Speeches
at the 0alloWs.


"
tempt TO arrest and punish the criminals. II 10 prob
able that this outrage would have passed in
silence had mot the reward Of $4,000 offered by the
railroad company tempted Of the gang 70 turn States
evidence and disclosures which led 10 the arrest
BY the military authorities Of the whole party II soon
became known 10 the rascas that Of their number
had turned States evidence. According TO solemn
oath taken by them before engaging in tho robbery any
turning traitor be killed by the rest OF the
company. On Sunday, November 10, one Of the rob-
bers, Harvey King was shot through the head and
killed. On the 18th OF December, 1865, the
Grand Jury for Sampson county indicted Alb
nsr Owens, William p King, Charles Smith. Abram
Owens Wesley Finn, VIM. Finn, D. R. wanscot Joseph
Payne, John Calvert and Robert Hey for the murder Of
Harvey King. true bill also found against the
parties for the train robbery which ndict-
msnt they held for trial at the following regular
June term Of the Simpson Circuit Court special
term OF the court held January 1867 to try the
parties the indictment for the murder Of Harvey
King. This trial resulted In the conviction OF William
King. who was the brother OF William p. They were
to be hanged on the I'D day OF March follow
pardon. but without success Captain King wrote
letter to Governor Bramlee the LIST OF February asking
for a respite The Governor respited the condemned
until the 18th OF May. About the 10th Of that month
strong appeals were made to the Governor for further
respite Il was represented 70 him by men Of high
standing that certain facts had light which
TO prove the prisoners innocent Of the murder and 70
fasten It upon other parties Ars King the mother OF
Captain King, also addressed the Governor letter. pte-
ously asking for pardon and the Governor again
pited the condemned until this day, when AZ eleven
O'Clock they paid the penalty Of their crimes BY stepping
from the gallows 70 eternity.
PREPARING FOR RxxcurIoN
The prisoners were taken from jail to the place Of
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Besides the Sheriff
and assistants they were guarded BY Company OF the
United States ntsny and By twenty 't: s
and pistola At halfpast nino A. n. the condemned
visited in jail BY I'VE ministers, who prayed with
and oOliscIed Before leaving the cell King protested
bis innocence or the murder and OF the train rob
Ss 9ss ss sy @s.s .1 their
their suits Of black lustre clothes, straw hats,
white cotton gloves and lasting shoes. Their arms
securely bound by leather straps and they were
surrounded BY citizen and soldier guards While Dress
ing the prisoners laughed and joked with the Sheriff
nscks with running moose. They then took farewell
OF their fellow prsonerA Owens oxhorted his brother,
sS AN for he $ 0a up %
got into the wagon with the Sheriff and Deputies
on RI. WAY 70 ,H n. oALLows Ii.
Company r. second United ssasss Infantry.
v The P1 dcn,ss, and I Snsf Linn.
Citizen Guards
The Cergymen on Foot
The Citizens, male and female.
Tho band played funeral march oil the way 70 the
place of execution. King and Ovens called TO their
trends as they saw them in the crowd and exhortsd
hem 70 meet Them in heaven Between three and four
thousand persons ola and young ,sssmolsd a to wnss:
the sight Of spider came many miles through the dust
and stood in the brong sun for hours TO the poor
was the on IL
ascending ladder With firm step and bowling TO the
ministers and members Of the press who wero
with seats the scafold Tho Rev. Mr. Horn, Of the
Bsps; church; sung the rsS SsS
joining In the singing OF the hymn Rev. Mr. BEDFORD,
Of the Methodist church, then offered prayer
SPEECHES OF THE CONDEMNED
AZ conclusion OF the prayer the Sheriff introduced
Captain King TO the immense crowd breathless
arms released until they made few remarks the re-
quest could not DO granted and Captain King spoke as
fore, but we now NEE, FOR the Las. on earth
yoans ladies' and gentlemen with whom have passed Inc
son my i S:si sssn .ys:
the proud consciousness Of knowing that am limo.
heaven ss g " Which would give my He ny Dying
u: s O. s Ss cam lay M sa
And sleep soundIy In ny lonely cell have vailed
sssas ?ss 1
Sss sa H'' .y: on q; ;s &:
..s S:: sss n !:
Ssss:s 'S ass. Sias :.s.;s
& . v,s, m, , nf ss him n Ss
fsisSiSs, wrshI That y:u would iSrsush
a. hare sr. nS:s s ssa.y ! ...s
sssp.:s Sab; sss isIss: = nj .s.s NJ il heaven
W. n. =. ssS:
a rs e. s.s -.
scSS have 1 sss az men <. nh The put
standing Win rope .rosnd my neck about . Be- hung
' SSs ia a T; an sss e ny
No one could have caught me- smars for that
oa:ss !: ss guilty HIM 'ss' easier ''s :: 's az
a..s ss
cent terrible Perhaps ~ risss God may and doubt
many ys.~I. may prsysn. many cfimes / am prepared
.ss him nsn a.. s.d % Z. 81 M c
| under Divine law We arc all guilty
King repeated the substance Of the foregoing speech
| many tmoa occupying thiry-nvs minutes. He IRE.
Qusn,y paused and asked FOR wsef and concluded by
urging Oh who heard him V meet him in heaven. He
words with stamp q hss foot when speaking q his
wife and mother he faitsrsd but he displayed not the
| slightest fear Of death
Owens nsxt advanced 70 the front OF the scsold with
| perfectly self possessed air and said;-
LADIES GExrs-I about make my frat speech.
have LILLE Of no sdue.a:n am soor. 70 = s,scuisd for
dying man that Innocent fought three years
s1 on =: fer not =. sssas 1'Y'. .ss man + ss
been % Rs unSs man , snS shan die one
two days l did not haze q fair trial Ths jury
were prejudiced against me and witnesses have been
| bought take Away my life. Money speculatons In
blood thousand dollars viii buy two mems lives
time. Nothing was proved against me. borrowed the
pistol Tennessee my relatives ssnt back
70 Bly King IL went through many hands s,sr leaving
mine and Two days after proved that there was
blood did not justice. have been very
bad man but am prepared 20 die. Before leave THIS
Il world ] wish TO speak 70 Grih. Wright who
| swore 70 . notorious he and barered away
life Tell him forgive him He has caused me 70 die
wish tostel you all now that O. Wright the FIRST
who ever proposed 70 rob and murder man He
dying man Ask simpson n he did not Gee US 70 The lane
living between Gallatn and Franklin Did GOT No, cir
You say that Abe Owens tells lice the scaod ron
tried for train robbery and u n not for tina, am "a
| 10 murdered. great many men have come
long distance suppose 70 Sc great character Every
Thing bad had been reported Of va u said that Billy
l wife. Now, brave King believe out could
DO that II has been ssd and that blood
thirsty men. ~ ever hicd man, DO MOI know u
vas murder elo GO Of Railroad
Company y what convicted bought Witnesses tka