The New York herald., 1870-08-30
THE GALLoWs.
The Hanging Of Murderer In Tcxns-Deash
In Jail of nm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of the
COndemned-Account of the Murdcr-Inci-
dents Of the Trial-Scenes mt the Gallows.

u WuT0er6r VC10o-Dc0km
in Jail of I'm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of the
COndemned-AccOunt of the Murdcr-Inci-
dents OF the TriuI-Scenes mt the Galiows.
From the Houston Telegraph, August H.
In the afternoon ON the hrst day OF December last
while large NUMBER OF our citizens were at tho
courthouse square, attending the election report
reached them mat B " LoveaDd, VINO Kept gro
Gerry store on Fannin street, had been lOund muir
dered IN his store. Our community very
much shocked at sucn an event occurring right in
the heart OF our peaceful city.
An examination OF the premises showed that Mr..
Loveland had been engaged IN cutting or piece OF
bacon from a large side on the counter, and subse-
quently was STOPPING down TO draw bottle OF mo
lasses when he was struck over the head with =
round bar OF iron, breaking his skull. dray pin
covered with blood was found near the premises.
The store had been closed all day though one OF
the doors stood aar. negro woman some chill
dren seeing the door open, looked In and discovered
lamp burning. This was In the middle OF the af.
ternoon. Further examination showed the body of
the murdered man lying by tho moasses barrel The
hUrrid deed had been perpetrated between eight
ana nIne O'Clock on the evening or November 80.
Mr.. Loyeland was an excellent citizen an ODD
Fellow ana a member OF the Presbyterian Church.
lie mad no family and lived In back room adjon-
Ing his store. twas supposed he had considerable
money ON the premises. AS Loveland was not
known 10 have an enemy In the world 1t was at
once conJecturcd that he was murdered for his
money coroner's jury was summoned ana YER
dict given III accordance with the facts have
detailed them. The odd Fellows took charge CT the
body and Inferred .!' .n the cemetery. Both
offered handsome rewards Tor the apprehension OF
the murderer or murderers. The Cher OF Police
circumstances combined to throw suspicion on GER
tain freedmen, Jake Johnson among the number.
Aner the commission OF the CRIME he had left the
city. and gone 10 work on IL farm m Trinity county.
There he had made some indscreet remarks to the
effect that he had killed man, OF which lie Dragged.
1his lei 10 his apprehension by Captain DAVIS Chief
oi Police OF Houston. who, accompanied by Samuel
kceand deputy sheriff OF Harris county, LETT the city
about the middle vi February Tor Trinity county,
where they arrested the prisoner. Returning with
hiin another freedman was taken into custody on
charge OF completely. This was Doc Wheeler, who,
stiated. was seen with Johnson counting out money
IN back room on the night OF the murder.
Wheeler was never tried. After his arrest he
seemed to be overwhelmed with q sense OF his gutC
and weighed down witiI remorse. He lost his appe-
lite ana continued TO pine away ana finally died In
Jail on the I1th March, n poor demelted creature.
Or his guilt there Ia not tine slightest doabt.
Jake Johnson was tried at the April term OF the
Criminal Court, charged being accessory TO the
murder Though ably defended, the verdict OF
guilty In the nrst degree was rendered against the
| prisoner at the
jules Mitchell was indicted an accompce In the
anar. but discharged under s.ote proseq,a as
! one OF the principal witnesses. John JamlsOn was
| also Implicated but discharged. Johnsons counsel
| applied for new trial, but the motion was over
! ruled ana appeal taken TO the Supreme Court. The
judgment was affirmed, and, ut The following term
OF the Criminal Court the prisoner received his pen
! tence from Judge Dodge.
| Since Jolnson's conviction he has lot denied that
ne participated IN the murder, though hIs statements
nave been somewhat contradictory. At times lie
sad he stood AT the door ana watched. while Jules
Mitchell and Doc Wheeler did the killing.
On wednesday, Jaly q, lie had an Interview with
MS counsel MAJOR Crank. and his spiritual sdviser.
Rev Sandy Parker pastor OF OF the colorcd Bap.
st churches IN this city: He made his Will. leaving
$500 III coin To his daughter, Lisa Johnson and ap-
pointed Mr.. Parker her guardian.
THE MUEDEREn5 CONFESSION.
our reporter accompanied by friend, visited tho
doomed criminal, Jake johnson. In his cell at the
Harris County jail at sunrise this morning The fol-
lowing occurred. The jailor being present =
REroRTER-I have come 20 get your last confess
sion and VIII take down anything you have TO say
PRisoNER-i DON'T want TO be bothered now All
| the time I've got must give To my God.
hEPoRTEf.-Nell. you gong die and vOu
shoald make some confession; 1t might warn Others
| not TO do as you diu re
| PRisONER--rye said all that can saw Now r
| want 10 pray.
REpoRTER-I have come TO see you with the best
| intentions ana hope YOU will say something Where
| were you boini
PRIsoNER-ln South Carolina, Beaufort nistrtcs. I
! used to belong TO lillor Johnson: | came ~, y.
Texas during the war;
REronrhn1l have heard you said you dis tho
murder Tell us wno killed L0veland2
PRIsoNER--I did IL. Doc Wheeler didn't 90 n
DOC DOC wheeler and John Jamison persuaded me. We
three made 1t up together to Kill Lovelind. n
appointed to meet me on Monday night C2pth
vember, ls63l 10 Mi Loveland; didn't meet M
that night, bul met them Tuesday night--tlio ne
night; they were playing cards when I cane "
them. tiiere the murderer suddenly broke on and
leaned his face on his hands and seemed lost u
KEPoRTEn-Who struck the lick2
PRISONEK--I did.
REPORTER-Iiow many licks were struck7
PRiSONER-Unly two.
REpogTER-W hat was Lovcand doing at the ,imep
PRisoNEK-Hc was standing UP when struck
him.
REPoRrEE-What did he do or say when you
struck him the first icky
hex he fell. Aiterb.oveand was killed divided the
money with Doc Wheeler and Jules Mitchell
REPOErER-DId anybody else strike Loveland?
PKisONER-No. Tne other Two men didn't strike
him. Nobody struck him but me. Now don't want
10 say any more.
JAlLoR--You ought to tell all about It.
PRiSoNER-N0. want to think God. do
hope ana irast am going to a better world. Oh,
let me pray to the Lord. 60 the jallor.) want ali
my friends 10 come and pray with me. | Will say
something when come TO be executed.
THE MuRDERER'S CONFESSION ON THE GALLOwa
Long before eleven O'Clock this forenoon the
freedmen began arriving at the jail, ana by noon
II glimpse OF Jake Johnson as he emerged from the
PRISON on his way to The gallows. Precisely NJ noon
the crowd gave way and the prisoner appeared,
attended by the JallOr, police officer and the sherln
who placed INN IN Il hack and drove rapidly TO the
scene OF hanging, at langmans grove, III the south
western suburbs oi tie CITY large number OF per-
sons on horsehask rode out simultaneously with the
carriage containing the prisoner Arriving at the
Sdlows. newly ereSted under the funeral pines
the graveyard, the prisoner nrmty ascended the
steps followed by the Jallor, sheriff, c0lored
preacher ana one or two Others. While
tue Jaor adjusted the rope the prisoner
surveyed The assembagc with Il calm eye, and In
CURED II his brother were present. He then ad-
dressed the vast crowd, making substantially the
same statement and confession In The morning
adding that lie had had dream IN which John Jaini-
son or jules Mitchell had appeared 10 him pressing
him TO confess.
The dream led him to confess. He did the murder,
bnt mad made peace WIN Cod for It, Doc Wheeler
mad pressed hin 10 take part IN the deed. and he at
nrst backed out; but was finally persuaded, and did
the crime alone. lie went 10 LoyelaLds, pretending
to buy moasses. As Loyeland was measuring IL h0
| Nakc) struck MIN. lie Killed LovelaDd, and nobody
else had anything TO do with It but HIM. The money
was divided between Doc Wheeler, Jules Mitchell
and hmscif. Requested OF the crowd to grtcye
after him. lie was going home. Wished 10 meet all
| on canaan happy shore.
lie warned All young men like himself who was
about To appear before God. but wasn't afraid OF that
rope; asked the prayers OF all present. He once
thought he would never come to be hung. Had
this 10 say that he hoped no man would hurt hair
OF Jules Mitciel's head. The colOrcd minister Rav
Sandy Parker, tnen read hymn, winch was sung
by the entire assemb!age. prayer was theI
offered by the colured preacher after which tho
prisoner himself knclt down and prayed. The
doomed murderer said farewell TO the vnst crowd