The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-06-20

change of venue was obtained, and
his trial moved to Monticello. Ht
was tried at the April term of court
but the jury failed to agree and q
mis-trial was the result. At the
October term following, a new
jury was empanneled. He was
tried, found guilty, sentenced to bt
hanged, and on the 9th day of De
cember, 1850, he paid the penalty
of the law, protesting his innoceret
to the last. There are many nov
living, who heard that trial; there
are now living who heard WIN. Ora
ham one of the witnesses, am,
think II jurynan on the iuques,
held over Aliens body-testifiet
that Allen was shot by rifle bali
the ball penetrating his skull be-
hind, and passing out through the
eye he even swore that he insert.
ed his finger in the hole and was
positive the ball entered his skull.
Able counsel defended the prisoner,
but to no avail ; his guilt was appa.
rent to the jury, and he must die.
He had often sent after his wife,
but she failed to come to him.
The day of execution was APP
proaehing, only forty. eight hours
now interviewed between him and
eternity, when he made the follow
ing confession to Mr.. Frank Lar.
kin, who is now u resident of Brook.
haven, and to whom | am iudebt-
ed for many incidents in this strange
story.
"Frank," said Hicks, 81 am about
to die for a crime l am innocent of
and | am going to tell yOu the
whole truth of the affair. Allen
had, on one or two occasions, offer
ed insult to my wife during our
journey, and ! determined to quit
his company and stop with my
wife on theway. With this resolve
| started early on the morning of
the killing, to visit some houses
about a mile from camp. Allen
was apparently asleep when left,
but my wife WAS up, pounding cof-
fee for breakfast with an iron wagon
hammer. | had not left camp IA
great while before | heard my wife
scream, and upon Fastening back
found Allen lying on the ground,
with the blood running from his
mouth and nose. My wife explain
ed the matter, by saying Allen
had made improper advance boward
her after | left, and she struck him
with the hammer to save herself. l,
she had only stunned him,
to a little branch close by,
and got some water and bathed his
head, thinking to bring him to, but
found he was dead. Then became
frightened, thinking my wife would
be hung for murder, and perhaps
myself too, as an accessory. After
a brief consultation, We concluded
to secrete his body, take his team
and effects, aud leave the State.
The deed was done, and could not
be helped, so we dragged the body
into the woods, some two hundred
Yards from the camp, and left it !;
taking his pocket book, which cou-
tained a small sum of money, and
his watch, we rolled out of camp.
The rest is already known up TO my |
The night l spent in Jail |
n Greensburg, my wife on her
pended knees, made me promise
never to implIcate her in the affair,
out she has, during all my long
and trial, failed to
'isit me, and l must die tor crime
never committed. My time on
,arth is short, and the secret can
10 longer be of any use is the reason
now divulge it. die an innocent
nan, and in proof of what | say, l
lOpe some one who has heard my
rial, some one who has heard the
witnesses in the prosecution testify
hat that Allen was killed by a
itle ball, go, after, l am dead, and
Iig up his body and see for them.
elves if rifle ball ever penetrat-
d his skull. | have told the
ruth.n
The above recital made a great
npression on the citizens of Mon
cello many OF whom had enter
lined doubts, all along, of Hicks
ullt although circumstances point.
1 strongly against him, yet all the
iidence was circumstantial, Tor
0 positive proof had been produc-
The morning of the execution
awned amid cold, pityless, driz-
ing rain, which continued through
ut the day. The gallows was
'ected about a mile aud quarter
, the northwest of Monticello I
nd to the left. of the Jackson road,
a small hollow. Long before the '
our hundreds of eager spectators i
ad taken possession of the hills
4 either side and patiently await
the fearful spectacle which was a
satisfy the demands of an injur- .
law by taking the life of its :,
lhappy victim. The wagon con- ,
lining the condemned man arriv- :.
at the place of execution about /,
If past eleven o'clock. Seated y y
his coffin, between the sheriff = =
ID his deputy, and guarded by a :,
'sse of citizens, Hicks seemed -
composed and uncoucer1ed Is a "
sintercsted spectator. He as
nded the scaffold with a firm ate o.