The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-11-17
POTTER EXECUTED.

Daniel c.. Potter, condemned TO death,
for the murder of Willis McMahan, was
hanged last Friday at Newport, in the
presence of {, 900 or more persons. The
prisoner was taken from the Jail at II:
30 and conveyed to the place of cxecu-
ton, accompanied by his wife, son aged
| IL, daughter aged 10, Father WEIGH, of
| Knoxville, and Sheriff Boyer. He
wsuld not be Intercepted, but confined
his attention to the priest whs read from
a Catholic book, He manifested total
indifference to his fate, and only spoke
a few words as follows: II wish to say
tn you ladies and gentlemen, and every
body, that you have GENE here to see
an innocent man die cruel death But
il men are willing to perjure themselves
to destroy my life, ! am willing to give
it; let 1t &C." Then turning around
with a wave eff the hand said; 81 bid
had requested the sheriff to adjust the
rope so as 10 cause as easy a death as
possible. The knot catching under the
chin delayed death and the body swung
several minutes with violent cOnvul-
sions and hard breathing sounds, audi
BILE for considerable distance. The
sheriff adjusted the rope and in 10 min
utes the physicians pronounced life ex-
tiuct. The bedy was taken to Bridge.
port for interment, where relatives Of
the criminal are buried. A year ago
Potter acted as guard at the execution
of Griifey and expressed wish to die
before so large crowd. During the
morning he talked very reckless and
profanely regarding his death and the
future.
The murder for which the unhappy
man yielded up his own life, was
committed April 9Th, 1870, in Cocke
county, seventeen shert months ago.
The victim, Willis McMahan, and the
murderer were always on friendly terms
and the tragedy is distinctly traceable to
that demon whisky, which is the fruitful
source of nearly all similar occurrences.
The tive were walking along the public
highway when they became engaged in
some trifing quarrel concerning broth
er of McMahan. Potter struck him
terrific blow in the face and followed it
up with several deadly blows with his
knife. He then went away from the
spot, but fearing that life had not left
the unfortunate mans body, returned
and stabbed him again. McMahan lay
all night alone with his wounds, but was
found early the next day. He was carri-
ed to a neighb0ring house and attempt
were made to retain the vital spark
which was Pickering and waning, but
all to no purpose. Before he died, how.
ever, he was able to fix the terrible
crime on Potter with such success as 10, /
after a very brief time, bring him to the
gallows II is related that after McAIa- |
han had had been found, Potter think |
ing that he would be too far advanced !
into 1.-THE valley of the shadow of death"
to recognize him or speak the fatoful |
words that he did speak, proceeded to /
the house where his victim was slowly /
to death from his seventeen /
wounds, and after gezing down upon I
his PROSTATE antagonist said: 'The
man who did that ought to be hung"
No sooner had the tones of the man
who had cut short bis span OF life en-
tered his ear than the dying man half
rose from his bloody bed and exclaimed,
while pointing at him his accusing flag
er: Eyes, he ought to be hung, aud
you are tie man aud y0W ,OiR Be hung" /