Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-03-11


cock and deputy Hooton and the
editor of this paper, left for the scaf-
fold. The guards followed in an
open wagon and about three thous-
and men and boys followed the carri-
age, which went down Liberty street
about half way to the creek, when 1t
turned to the right and went through
negro town. On the way down Kill
gore talked but little, the priests talk
ing to him most all the time, while
he fixed his gaze on the cross he held
and did not take it away. AT ten
minutes after one he assembled the
scatfold with a firm and steady step. |
Not less than five thousand persons
surrounded the scaffold, some in trees
and some ON the railroad bridge. |
We even noticed great many wo-
men present. None but the repor-
ters and doctors were allowed near
the scaffold ant; on the scafold were
the two priests, the sheriff and depu-
ty with the prisoner. Kilgore was
still firm, and repeated after the
priests in a clear, audible voice dur
ing the devotional exercises, which
. were verv impressive. He truly died
like cb, tian. He said, just before
the drop fell, and after he had re-
= peatcd- the Lords Prayer, Into Thy
hands, oh, Goo, l commend my
soul" He then kissed the cross.
At twenty five minutes after one the
sheriff read to him the Death War
rant, which We publish above.
kilgore did not look at the crowd,
but kept his eyes fixed on the cross
Twenty eight minutes after one the
sheriff tied his hands and feet, adjust
ed the rope and put on the Black
Cap, and kiigore then bid them all
good bye. The priests knelt beside
. him, and at exactly 20 minutes after
one the drop fell with thud. just
as the drop fell you could hear one
terrible sob from the vast throng
standing around. Sheriff Glascock
bowed his head, and although he is
a man of nerve, we could see the
tears trickle down his cheeks.
kilgore died without struggle
When he fell through the drop, his
body swung around and around, but
even his fingers did not twitch ant
not muscle moved. No man coult
have died quicker or easier. He hae
nothing to say to the crowd before h
died. He did not seem to think o
anthing in this world. He die'
gam. and easy. He did not know
the drop was gjng to fall until b
was despatched in,o etefiity. Seven
teen minutes after the drop fen he ffeSs.a VI
dead. and had been hanging thirt
minutes exactly when he was C,
down by the sheriff. His broth,
took the body and put it in coii
after the rope was taken from
neck.
His neck never broke at all. f
died by strangulation. His tong,
was clinched between his teeth, Gu
ting it slightly. Discoloration
face very slight, and eyes n,
closed
Kiigore's Spiritua. Condition.
John Walker was baptized &
Thursday, March 4th, and he recei
ed the Holy Viaticum on Friday, Il
morning of his execution. John "
kilgorc went to meet his hard ia
with a deep sense Of religion, an III
swavering faith in the doctrines
the Catholic Church and a firm hol
which that faith inspires. Whatev
may be said of his untutored mind
extenuation of his guilt, he had be
ter apprehension of the mysteries
religion, and of the grounds of
redemption through the merits
Jesus Christ, than many more lear
gh. ed. Naturally dociIe, he was witha
IN a man of his own mind, as appeart
vas from his almost intuitive faith in tt
ng- doctrines of the Roman Cathol
tde Church, which he embraced of b
md own aceord-moved thereto,
sed course, by the grace of God-and
the his persuasion, that 1t was the on
p religion to die in. This will be plea
my ing to sympathizing and friend
ak community that John w. Kilgore
at in ''better land," where all is ha
ok. piness and peace and bliss, and whe
use no sin lntrudes to mar his union wi
.st. God. 1t would be well for many
lin us to receive the blessings of as go,
his a death. LIE. those who think he b
M been dealt unjustly with take the vie
;, of it and they will come to corsid
ie. that here God brought good out
OF evil. G. +. O'LEAnY.
ter corro,or,,,on Of tn. co,f.s.,on Md,
md the Editor of the Ledger.
md Mn. HENRY KUNKLE-Dear Frien,
oc- Please tell all the folks to come
ith see me next Sunday, as it NAV
,n the last chance they will ever have
en' seeing me. Henry, 1 want you
sth take this for good lesson and new
IN get fhsssa- apx trouble, and keep out
bad company. elNeyer carry a,
. weapons Of any kind about you Y
have seen good times together, bs
~ we may never see them any more
ur You must never get into a place O
ds this kind, for it has been a hard plac,
a to me-. l have suffered a thousan,
pains since l have been here. Ivan
" you to promise me that you will re
OF form and be better boy and leav
ce OF all your wild ways, if you do not
be you will get into trouble, sooner O
40 later. aseUer got. into this troubl
: af my oacn accord; was led into i
= by others. You must never forge
II. what L have said to you, and yo
he must never forget me, for 1 though
as much OF you and the rest of tn
a family as If they had been my parent
and if | cannot be with you in thi
e world, l want to be with you in th
~ next. This world is nothing bu
He trouble and full of 6ardships an,
he trials. have given, up eyerythin
do in; this world, and am preparing for
- better one. When the girls wer
Is here the other evening and told m
20. that Lena was married, and 1t almos
his broke my heart to think that she di
ar not.come to see me. She seemed t
i 1,ns al L