The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-05-19


adviser does not regard Bowen's spir,
llual condition M ut NIL satisfactory
lie has made no profession Of religion
10 speak Of, although he has no soru.
pies about indulging In religious exer.
cises. His pastor says that while Bowen
admits Christ IL able To save all men,
particularly those who forgive their
enemies, he (Bowen) can not forget or
forgive those witnesses who swore his
lie away.
ABOUT TEN O'clock
Colonel Parker served II written notice
on Sheriff Bass, citing Paschal's Di.
gest, demanding that the execution
take place in the cell by cutting u trap
door through the floor, but the sheriff
probably did not consider this u proper
time for making changes In the ar
chitecture VI the building, and de>
clined to grant the demand.
Before leaving the prisoner, your
correspondent, at the request OF the
former, took a copy OF u
LETTER HE HAD WRITTEN 10 HIS
NifEt
Mrs. Mary Bowen, at whiting, Ala.
bama, In which no used most ailec-
tionate language, but protests his in.
nocence, and and tells her to bring up
their boy to he good citizen.
EXECUTION.
The crowd gathered about the Jail il
at $500. The inside of the
jail yard was guarded by twelve men,
under command of Captain Lee Hall
and Lieutant Armstrong. Bowen
was 80 Frustrated that he could hardly
ait up to DO dressed. A few moments
before he was led out OF of his cell he
told the other prisoners he wanted
them to understand he was hung by
the mob.
The rope was three quarters OF an
inch, and arranged TO give seven feet
fall. Sheriff Bass was assisted by
Deputies Bruton and Lewis. Bowen
was assisted in dressing by Sullivan,
a convicted murderer.
AT half,past two Sheriff Bass, Rev.
Mr.. Scale and II deputy, taking places
on the scaflold, some delay was caused
by the clergyman accidentally placing
his hand on the trigger, nearly precipi-
tating the sheriff through the trap,
which fell.
Brown Bowen appeared Mt twenty
six minutes to three. Rev. Mr.. Scale
read the dying statement OF Bowen,
who stood on the trap. The state
ment is too long for publication and
contains nothing new. He
REITERATED HIS INNOCENCE.
After the reading the moose was ad-
iusted, he assisting. After the moose
was adjusted he called for John Halde-
man to come up to the scatiold and he
talked for u good while, interrogating
him as to the friendly relations be.
tween the murdered man and himself
The answers did not suit, and he
showed great firmness and bitterness.
The cap was placed on his head, and
he requested time for few more words
about his wife, and then he admOnish-
ed about bad company. After repeat
ing these words several times he asked
for Parson Scale to pray. The cap was
taken Off and Pars0n Scale mounted
the scaffold and prayed In most i'm.
pressiye manner. 1t was
A TERRIBLE SCENE,
and even the stern faces of the rangers
showed emotion. During the prayer
Bowen did not join, but looked over
the crowd with u stern, fixed gaze, as
If he was searching for somebody In
the crowd. Prayer ended at six min
utes to three. The prisoners voice
was firm, directing the kEot to be
placed under his ear. The trap was
sprung at five minutes to three. He
fell perfectly straight and remained
for one minute; then there
were convulsive movements of the
legs and arms, convulsive muscular
twitchings Of the limbs. His pulse,
still beating, after hanging four min
utes, ceased totally.
At seven minutes and a half Judge
De Witt took charge of the remains,
which will be buried ut his fathers
farm.
THE BEARING OF BOWEN
hbbOulsutu eHcIJ ouuy VIM buu eeeh
him during the day previous to his
execution, when he was 80 de-
pressed and Frustrated that it was
feared he would not be able to reach
the scaffold without assistance.
During the morning potion was adj.
ministered and he slept several hours.
When, with the moose on his neck, he
called the brother Of Haldeman to the
scsffold and urged him to say he
thought Wesley Hardin killed him, be
was very much excited at the persist
ent refusal of Haldeman to change his
mind and said, "You believe a burned
lie."
No such crowd has ever before beer
seen in Gonzales.
The murder of Thomas Haldeman
took place at Billinge's store on De
cember 10Th, 1872. According to the
testimony of Mac Billings, aged thir
teen, he was shot while drunk ant
asleep under a till, by Brown Bowen
who confessed 1t to Billings next day
There were half dozen carousing q
the store and all drunk. Bowen ais
confessed to one Clemens that he wa
rescued from Gonzales jail by Wesle,