The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-23
HURLED TO HEAVEN.
ALECK BROWN, JACKSON EDWARDS
AND WEsTLEY TURNER HUNG.
The MurIerers Address Five Thousand
Spectators In Dying spp peches, and
50 Go ON to Eternity.
Especial to the Democrat

80 30 On 10 ETERNITY.
Especial to the Democrat
FRANKLIN, La, April 22.-The hanging OF
the three murderers, Aleck Brown, jackson
Edwards and Westley Turner, took place at
Franklin at IL o'clock to-day In the presence
Of at least five thousand people, The best
order prevailed, nothing but sentiment Of
awe could be traced upon the five thousand
silent faces that looked anxiously on to see
the last OF
THE DOOMED MEN.
Promptly at II o'clock the prisoners. clothed
in white. were led out from the jail ON to the
scafold, Immediately preceded by Father
Rivelon and Sheriff Gordy, and conducted
each by deputy sheriff.
They were seated In chairs on the scaffold
and were calm and appeared resigned Brown
asked for chew OF tobacco just before mount
ing the scaffod.
SHERIFF GORDY
then addressed the crowd, counseled silence
and submission, and with great feeling said
he had an unpleasant duty to perform, but,
by the help Of God, he intended to do 1t to the
best of his ability. He commanded Of the as
sembly that attention which the law required.
After prayers by the holy father, during
which the doomed men knelt and prayed ear
nestly, they each spoke as follows.
JACKSON EDWARDS,
who had murdered his brother In a fit Of an
ger and iealously by running him down and
stabbing him in the back, said:
Ladies and gents whisky has brought me
to this; it has fought me hard and driven me
to this place. Take my advice, my friends,
hrpt I ki11pd him rUhep podHapaH 1yy
drink. 1t has caused me to be hung by the
neck am ready to die; God has forgiven
me. I am going right home to glory
"Amen Amen" was shouted by the crowd
OF colored people.
ALECK BROWN
who had murdered man for money, said: II
killed William Dudley for money! killed
him in cold blood. God has forgiven me-
am going to heaven. / call upon all men to
remember the sin and fate Of Aleck Brown
and profit by it. Farewell"
wEsTLEY TURNER,
| boy about seventeen years old, who was
convicted on the evidence OF his accomplice OF
killing an old German by the name OF Ehr-
hard, with deep emotion declared his innO-
cence to the last. He said: II am Innocent.
! | am just as innocent as newborn baby.
never harmed that old man no more than o
person who never saw him; but / am ready
to die; all the devils In hell and all the powers
are waiting for me- when this trap, drops to
take me right straight to heaven.
BAIL SMITH
| killed Mr.. Ehrhardt, and he and Silas swore
against me. My advice to you all is to keep
out of bad company; bad company has
broughtt, me to this Farewell, farewell to
you all.
The sheriff then read the death warrants.
He and his deputies shook hands with the
prisoners. The ropes were adjusted around
their necks and the caps drawn over their
faces. For one awful moment they stood
there
AN AWFUL SPECTACLE.
Then the trap was sprung and the souls of
Jackson, Edwards and Turner. with it's fall,
were hurled into the presence Of their God.
The knot slipped from around Aleck Browns
neck and he dropped Immediately to the
ground, stunned and insensible, but
NOT DEAD.
He was soon revived. He asked the father
"How long must | suffer this way" He was
brave to the last. He walked upon the scat
fold again, where he was hung by the neck
until he was
DEAD, DEAD, DEAD.
The neck of Turner was broken by the fall
| the other two strangled to death. The crowd
soon dispersed in perfect order, but deeply
affected by the solemn scene. Too much
praise cannot be spoken OF Sheriff Gordy, on
| account of the deicacy and firmness with
| which he managed the whole affair. The
negroes are not little incensed at BAIL Smith,
whom Turner accused Of killing Ehrhardt,
| and there is talk of their lynching Smith.