Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-10-17

after Mating Confession Of Ms Cruel
Murder,
and EFFORTS Against Manipulating and
Ell Companions.
The Camesf Man that Ever Net an IqnobIe
Death.
from iSTEnIoR JouRNAL Extra Of Friday after-
noon, October 49,
Az some Of our readers may not know
or have forgotten the history Of the Gaze,
we give the following summary Of
The Crime
On the afternoon Of the goth Of last Jan.
nary, the citizens Of Gsrrard-not yet re-
covered from the effects Of the Wilmot
tragedy Of a few days before were shocked
to learn that Mis- Betsy Bland, an old
maid Of IS years, who lived with her broth
er, Joseph Bland, J miles from Lancaster,
had been cruelty murdered in her own
room. Mr.. Bland had gone to town and Will
liam Austin, granddaughter Of his and
the murdered woman, had left as he did for
IIerring's distiIlery, where he remained till
about 4 r. NJ. and until he had gotten out
side Of quantity Of the new liquor This
was the last seen OF him ill he met party
Of men in the road near his aunts house
and informed them that some one had kill
ed her. Loath to believe such story, they
we're finally induced to 20 to the house,
where they we're horri6ed 10 see the old
lady lying on the floor in apool Of her own
blood, with several deep gashes from an AZ
on her head and face and another on the
neck which severed the vertebra, any one
Of which would have been fatal. Without
disturbing the body, which was still warm,
the men haslened back TO town and inform
ed Sheriff JIM. Higginbotham and Marshal
Singleton, who went At once 10 the scene.
Suspicion had already been directed to
Austin IS the murderer, and when, on a
little closer scrutiny, stains Of blood were
found on his pants and boots, he was i'm
mediately arrested, and during the Coro.
nor's inquest, which was held that night by
Squire Boyle, made several Intellectual at
tempts to escape. The inquest adjourned
without a verdict at 10 o'clock, and Austin
was taken to Jail til the following morning,
when it was resumed. Further examine
ton Of the body showed that the face bore
numerous imprints OF a boot heel, as IL the
wretch had stamped her a. she lay in her
death throe- Austin's boot heel not only
had blood on il, but a number Of gray hairs
which compared exactly with the hair Of
the dead woman. The chain Of circum.
stantial evidence was now 20 complete that
the least idea that he was innocent was dis
PEELED and he was taken back to Jail, and
bail Of course refused. The excitement
over the affair was al blood heat, and threats
loud and long were made Of lynching the
prisoner, but upon promise that the case
should he tried at the court then about to
convene, it was given up. Twice during
the term was the case continued to give the
defense further time, and finally Judge
Owsley fixed special term for the trial Of
the case, to begin February 18th. 1t was
commenced that day and a jury obtained
after $50 men had been examined The
evidence adduced at the inquest wa'
strengthened and corroberAted, and at P
NJ. Friday night the jury returned a verdict
of guilty and fixed Austin's punishment at
death. With the Indifference that had
characterized him since the murder, he
said with a smile: "Well, its no use tC
cry over it, But want every man on that
jury 10 be at the hanging-l want to talk
TO him. The execution WAS fixed for Apr
Is, but his attorneys filed some 30 odd ex
ceptions and took the case TO the Court Of
Appeals. This stayed the execution ant
in June the County Judge fearing that ef
forte would be made to release or mob Aus
tin, he was ordered 10 be taken to Rich
mond for safe keeping. Hearing this, he
borrowed a razor from fellow prisoner and
made an Intellectual attempt to kill himself
but il hurt 30 badly that he stopped afte
severing the outer jugular vein and he was
taken up the same day, where he has beef
till Thursday last