The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-07-19

/ y
| I'm as innocent Of my brothers
death as any man here. / said Abe
Owens done it, and you hang me with
what testimony you get against me.
| III never stand before you again, and
all l can say is, meet me in heaven,
where no trials, no troubles, no sor.
rows ever reachi "'FtaJ
/ am to-day a poor worm of tte
dust, ! am here only n few MINUTES
and you will see the no more. ] want
to leave the world, and leave 1t happy,
and in glory and In honor, and | want
you to tell your children that ! died
llko a man 1t may be the Lords
will for me to hang to-day. II may
put an end to murder in your cohnty.
Why should / say so? The little
boys are growing up, and they can
say a man was hung because He was a
purderor. 1t has been said and sung
that I've been one of the bloOdiest
men that ever lived. While in the
service l have Killed men in self-de.
fvnse, but never in cold blood, If I've
said anything to hurt the feelings Of
any one here, | wish to be pardoned,
but cannot take it back. r~F
Pm to 60 up before my Cod, and |
would not stand on this seaffold and
tell you ale. If Was guilty I'd tell
1t, bnt I'm as innocent Of the death Of
my brother as any ntan can be- Great
love existed between me and my
brother. There is not a person with.
in the sound Of my voice who loves
their brothers betterthan / did mine,
had l known who killed him should
have avenged his death. | would
rather haze left the continent Of
America than to do 1t. If ia been
guilty of the death of my broth,
eryI wouldn't have been hung bero
to day; I'd have been too sharp for
that. / knew not till ! saw my broth.
er's body that he was dead. I'm
proud to say that | would have killed
the man who did it'll loved my broth
er, and would have fought for him TO-
the death, 1 never knew him to have
d fuss with any one without lo6king
to me for protection! I'm az limo.
cont as To6e Proctor or Art. Wilson
over there. I'll tell you why | said
Abe Owens had done it. / had seen
the blood on his pistol, and / am
proud that | said IT. '}|1,. a'Ffh
1t is better for man to die guilty
than innocent. A Guilty man car
say no deserved TO die, but it is a hard
thing to take an innocent man from
bis family forever r' nI1. a'
/ would to God that in the hour !
found my brother, he could haze told
me who Killed him. wouldn't have
asked civil law to prove it, I said i
believed Abe Owens was guilty Of my
brothers. death, and lot him defend |
himself if ho can. But Mr, Owens
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. ] don't want 70
say anything agains. you, but if /
am going to the place hope To, I'd 1
rather do it than stay hero with you.
/ would TO God | had died When
was an infant, or at some other time
before this thing commenced, Eight
months ago had as little idea of be.
ing hung as you It's only a mo-
mentary pang to be hung. l.ssoofr
over with. But, thank God, / have o
hope beyond the galIows and the
grave. aI.asl ssl ta
I've been like the balance of you,
and done wrong as well know !
have and confess it, but let bfm who
is without sin throw the frat stone.
The best happiness is the life of a
Christian; if yoa call him thiei, or
murderer, it does not make il so.
/ have confessed my sins, and now
look TO God for glory and acrOwn in
the happy home ! will soon reach.
I'm sure To- go to heaven. | feel that
| am on my way to glory. | love
you, and would to God you coald feel
as do.
] want 10 meet you all in Heaven.
Tell my neighbors and friends that
the last words Of Bill Hing we're that
they should meet him IN Heaven. Go
home and reflect upon your sins, for
you don't know how soon you may
share Bill Kings fate. Go home and
read your BiofcS. Be good Christians.
! love you all, and would not hurt
hair Of your heads, | give you this
advice, as you must one day appear
before the Great Judge. | hope TO
meet you in Heaven, Good by.
SPEECH OF ABE OWENS
Captain King having concluded,
Hbe Owens was allowed to speak
He said 3f rt ,Ei .Nlf1T
Ny FHrESDs I'm here 10 day to
make you speech. II is a thing
never before undertook. / have no
education, and can barely read and
write little. / am. and always was,
little bashful. I would like 20
know why | am here. Is there q
man on the ground who can say 1
am 10 bo executed for rnurder to-