Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-01-08

freightcars TO catch sight Of the prison
er. The train, containing Deputy-Sher-
III Taylor, guard, coffin and prisoner,
beside about thirty persons, arrived at
Bartlett st a opsrLer-past eleven. The
ccffin was p'aced in Tom Kings spring
wagon, and as soon ss the guard, twelve
liz numb, r, had been fsrDished arms,
Deputy Sheriff Taylor asaiet.d Williams
into the vehicle. One OF the horses be-
ing frightened by the locomotive reared
up, but bsiug quieted, the prisoner, with
Depu V Sheriff Taylor, took seats upon
the cOfiiU, Parson Taylor NIghlingal',
of the Baptist church. sitting by
the driver, Mr.. John ]. Wood.
TIE gusrds, under charse OF Deputy
Sheriff Z. L. M'Gowan armed with
muskets, took their poaibon, three on
either side, three at the IesT, and three
Messrs. Gregg, Hall and Mike Wes-
son-precediDg tbs wagen, which was
driven up to the gallogs is front OF the
courthcuJe yard. Tue crowd pressed
close onto and around the wagon, it re-
quiring diligence on the part of the
gusrds to keep the peore at proper
distance, 80 great was their desire to
hear what the doomed man had to say.
Williams was in a Cheerful mood, recog-
niging his friends and conversing in a
natural and unconcerned way with those
who were near the wagon, from which
he alighted at the foot Of iie STEPS lead
ing up 10 the platform Ct Ehe galloWs
WILLIAMS
mounted the STEPS, snU with Par
son Nightingale tGoS his seat UPON tue
platform. It was now twenty-five min
~ 20 ~ HnOy,a
man, removing his white felt hat, sat
upon the sc3ffold, closely scrutinized by
the crowd, which was vsTious'y esti-
mated to be from fifteen bundled to
three thousand ptr-Ous, including
men, women and children. There
was a deep, solemn silence Ia tt e
great crowd, yet upon the edges were
low tones and murmurs like uBto the
slight noise of the beach waveIets by
night when the bosom OF the ocean is at
rest. There was pauss-sileGce-for,
mingled with the expression of eUriosi-
ty, there was perceptihle on the faces Of
nearly all feeling OF wonder and awe,
in expectation Of the fearful scene which
was to meet their gaze. This feeling
was magnetic, and 1t was strange and
unaccountable how calmly, yet silent
ly and dolefully, did the crowd gaze
upon the wretch who was to be swung
into eternity. A few, perhaps, made
comments, but they seemed to SPEAK in
whispers, and even then a tremor
marked the low tones that greeted the
ear, When the prisoner was carried
into Mr.. Mack BrOOksis room III the
courthouse the crowd begun to talk
MEN LACG HE'D
and talked, and jested, as If they
had assembled to attend an auc,
ton or cast q ballot. The realisLio
weight OF the occasion seemed to be lift
ed, and the mind, after It's fearful re-
stTaint, was 10th to be as frivolous as just
before it was solemn and thoughtful.
"Whst time is iI2" asked Williams of
Par oa Nightingale, who said it was
qusrter to twelve, and Mr.. Williamson
suggested the propriety OF retiring to a
room in the courtroom. "William, -
said the paTson, "the crowd is gazing at
you, but you necda't be afraid" "Oh,
no; Pm not afraid; l am glad to see
them come" responded Williams, who
soon after was induced to retire 10 the
Cfflce Of Mr.. Mack Brooks, where Elder
Harrison, of Canaan Baptist church,
Tom Chiffon, Tom Shelton, ard other
colored friends called to see him.
In the Office Williams talked to his
friends about a debt, and arranged to
settle it. he talked as coolIy as q man
soing to feast instead OF to his grave.
He said to them that he felt like he was
going home; be had been visited by
preachers who didn't understand him,
and he didn't understand them, fer they
wanted him to conf ss his sins to man.
II did not want any man to be his con.
fossor, nor to act ss witness to God for
him. He confessed his sins ia God, and
having been baptized was ready to die
and be buried in the graveyard at
HATCHIE CHURCH.
Being asked il he cherished any i'll
feelings toward the lswye. WAC pros
ecuted him, Williams said he once did
but now had no feeling but that If
kindness for him, and hoped 10 meet
b soul in heaven. AS the time was
drawing near Elder Harris offered up a
PRAYER, and sung from the Nrginid Sc
2ectjOns hymn No. rs
"And must this body die,
This mortal frame decay?"
which was followed by a prayer 1t
now being a quarter to one O'Clock, Dep
Taylor led the prisoner Out
10 the scaffold. Williams, with firm
step, mounted the platform, removed
his hat and took seat in chair, facing
the crowd calmly and coolly. Parsons
Rsrris and Nightingale, Deputy. Sheriff
Taylor, Major Batteau, and the death
Of the APPEAL and AUG- |
ydnche, also occupied places on the plat |
form. Depu'y-She;iff Taylor then read |
the death-waITant OF the suEreme court,
Issued November 80, 1875, and bearing |
the signature of John II Freeman,
clerk, and b. H. Hayes, deputy. CLERK, |
fixing the day of execution for Friday, |
December "a, 1875. He rext read the |
respite granted by Governor James D. |
Porter, December IA, 1875, upon the |
recommendation of judge E r Ray, |
Of the Bartlett court, and Attorney |
General G sorge w. Gordon, and silk |
ing Friday, January 7, 1876, as the day |
for execution. Turning to the prisoner,
Deputy-Sheriff Taylor said: BILLY, |
have you anything to say to this crowd? |
II so, epeak; the time is drawing to a
Close" Williams handed the officer |
the following note, which i'd aloud: |
Sheriff Taylor-I hope to-day you will |
announce to the public that tract my
body will be given to my friends for |
turial; that / may be placed by the side
Of my wife aud there reman umoleste1 |
by the living. Yours truly, etc.,
BILLIE WILLIAMS.
January Z, 1876.
PARsOH NIGHTINGALE
asked the attention Of the crowd, |
and, by request of the doomed man,
read several verses from the fist |
part Of st. John, chapter fourteenth.