Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-08-18
lConcluded from First Pare

a top ple'e eNlenulng, on when was
the rope, already knotted deprived
of every vestige pertaining to orna-
mental, and looked upfitted for the
task for which 1t was cun-tructed-
taking the life of one who bore, in face
and iurm. the semblance of man.
THE SPECTATORS
Fully 5000 people were present-the
hills on either side of the gallows were
crowded, aud the school house-the
only structure near had fa Ces in every
window.
SERVICES.
Rev. Mr.. Crutchfield rtad the 18th
Psalm, and gave out a hymn, asking
all tojoin in singing, but few comply
ing with the request. Prayer was Of
fered 10y the Rev. II. =. Ensor, the
prisoner kneelig during the time. Rev.
Mr.. Crutchfield took for his text 9th
verse, and 9th chapter of Pauls Letter
to the Hebrews, aud made an appro-
pirate sermon. Rev. A. J. Greer read,
as text, the 18th verse of the 4th
chapter of Amos, and made "a few, yet
pointed remarks, he not having time
~ longer dwell upon his subject, as it
was early = o'clock.
HOW THE PRISONER LOOKED AND
TALKED.
He appeared calm and collected, not
muscle moving good looking man
above average-Of medium height
and would weigh about $50 pounds,
left foot turned up, making a shorter
track than the right and upon arising
he spoke very low, so much so that 1t
was almost impossible to hear him at
the distance of thirty feet. He spoke
substantially as follows
Had | taken my mothers advice,
would not have been here to-day; kept
bad company ; went astray ; It's hard
to die such death am willing to 20
To God who made me, IN peace; will
die soon; hope tu meet all my friends
IA Heaven hold no enmiIy against
no man. wat sll To meet me there
want my I,ui- not To- grieve after
NE; lament(") your case, and meet me
in Heaven
GUILTY or NOT GUILTY %
Rev. NJ. Greer asked Honeycutt i'll
he was guilty or innocent, and the
prisoner said
"pve told it time aud again, and
will not tell any other tale than the one
told heretofore
The following j.
THE CONFESS 1oN
referred to 10y Huneycutt on the GLIB t,
when questioned as to his guilt or in
nOcence:
In view Of the death am about TO
die, Justice demands that | give a brief
history of my life from my birth to the
present day, and my connection with
the crime for which am convicted.
/ was born in Uninn county, Ten
ne.see, in the year 1850, and before my
recollection, was taken by my parents
20 the State NJ Indiana, and lived
here until / was about five years old.
But helm. ,ii>sati, fled with the country
they returned 10 Union county, Ten
ue--ee, and remained there until the
fir,t part OF the year 1862 My father
Avis Honeycutt, enlisted a soldier in
the U. :. Army, and l never saw him
since. When my father went a@ay to
Join the army, | was then about ten
years old. was the oldest child and
the only hoy, except little infant
brother, then about two years old. !
had four sisters younger than myself.
was then left in charge If family,
and il was expected that my mother
aud myself should support them until
my father returned home out Of the
army. But, to my sorrow, ! was in
formed by the soldiers of his company,
that he died in the latter part of the
year 1862, at Cumberland, Kentucky,
and his body now fills a soldiers grave.
I was then left, as | thought, alone.
! had no father to advise me or look
over me. But / remained with my
mother in Union county, until about
the year 1865, when we moved to Clai-
borne county, where lived and work.
ed for my mother, and assisted her in
raising her children until | married
| was raised a poor boy and had to
work, though | was raised honest.
But ike other boys | have been guilty
Of disohedience to my parents, have
often tished and hunted upon the Sab
bath, aud to avoid punishment have
told falsehuod-, and have been twice
in my life intoxicated by liquor. These
crimes may look small and have even
been called little offenses, but / warn
my young friends to avoid committing
them they are violation of the laws
of God, and the greatest felon known
in America, in giving the history Of
his life, said he began his course 10y
sabbath breaking, telling falsehoods
and swearing, aud from that he was
led on 70 commit the highest crime
known to the law. But in this way
lived with my mother until August
1872, when | married daughter o
Henry w. Meyers. | now leave he
widow with one child, about nine
teen months old. ] love my wife an,
little child, nud / forgive my father
in-law for the past. But If | had, new
er seen him or his sons, | would no
nave been here ia the condition / an
now in. Meyers was always abusing
me, and that for no cause. But, I
except my father-in-law, | never ha
a fuss, and never was accused or charp
ed with crime, until the death OF Thos
Asmus. This shameful ana bruta
murder is alleged to have been don
on the - day Of --, lS7-, and on tn
day of January, 1874, / was arreste
and charged, and have since been con
victed of the murder Of Asmus, an
for which L must soon he executed.
/ am innocent of the murder.
never did it, or knew anything abOu
IT until after il was done. But my is
norance of the law and the false swear
ing Of witnesses, together with til