Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-10-15
! ON THE SCAFFOLD.
William Austin Makes q Confession
Of a Most Brutal Crime, tho
Murder cf HE Great Aunt
Then Mounts the Platform and
Launches on into Eternity
Serene and Happy.
Scenes Before the Execution
Very Successful Affair---He
IS Did the Deed From Drink.

otu ttso oOou ~ WI ~ INV
| DAxvILLE, KT.r October A.-During the
whole Of yesterday morning chilling rain
| fen at times in torrents from dark and
angry looking clouds. Fifty special guards,
wrapped in green oyercoats and armed
with needle guns, kept back the cdfious'
crowd that surged in thousands around the
| Jail. Austin arrived in Lancaster about 8
| o'clock Thursday morning from. Richmond,
where he had been taken about three months
ago for safe keeping. Shortly after his ar
rival his photograph was taken, and he was
visited by his brother, Bob. During this in
terview the condemned man seemed to be
Moro Powerfully Affected
than at any other time since he was sem
fenced. Taking final farewell of his
brother, his feelings overcame him. Later
on Thursday he dictated an account of him.
self innocent OF the murder of Miss Betsy
Bland. Thursday night he slept soundly
and calmly, and on arising at 8 o'clock In
the morning partook Of q hearty breakfast
After this about dozen of his old school
mates, including several ladies and his old
teacher, visited his cell to tell good by.
His former instructress, who was greatly
affected by the meeting, said she would
never have thought that the bright and
handsome little Willie Austin, who used to
make the fire for her of winters morning
in the country school house, would ever
die felon's death on the scaffold. At 8
o'clock he saw his lawyers, and still as
serted his innocence. About IL o'clock he
yielded to the solicitations OF his spiritual
advisers, and said he was ready to make
clean breast OF the whole matter. One of
the reporters acted as amanuensis, while
Austin made the following deposition:
Dying Confession.
This is my dying voluntary confession.
did murder my greataunt, Betsy Bland
sole cause OF it. / had nothing in the
world against her. had no motive in
the world to kill her. l loved her like
mother. She had always been a mother to
me. I am twenty-five years old. / did
not rob her or take any other thing from
her. When / got home from the still
house saw on ok at the woodpile, and
then an awful thought came over me to
take it and kill my aunt. did take it,
and when got into her room she was sit
ting at the fire knitting. fret sat down
near the fire, and several minutes there
after rose with the ak and struck her
with the sharp edge of 1t. This is sll
recollect about the killing. have no ex.
cuse on earth TO offer for my fearful deed.
/ want my fate to be warning to all, old
and Young, white and black. / offer my
self willing sacrifice on the gallows for
the deed. do hope and believe that the
repents. believe that God has given me
full pardon. I believe my aunt was a
Christian, and hope to meet her in
Sid. Vaughan but am not guilty 81 that |
crime. l am also accused OF trying to rob
Randall Pettis, but am not guilty OF that
either. Ialways tried to live honest, and
the murder of my aunt is the only crime l
ever committed. say this in view Of i'm |
mediate death, and it Is all true.
WILLIAM AUSTIN.
Preparing for Death.
Duringthe.morning he,,wrote q lonaletter ,
with his own hand to his parents and
brother, telling them that he was perfectly
willing to die and urging them 70 avoid
whisky and bad company, The gloomy
corridor into which his cell opened was
thronged during the whole morning, and |
the.prisoner conversed with all without re.
serve. In answer TO the query rs to what
possible motive he could have had in the
crime lie replied: None whatever. was
could plainly see the scaflold, which was
erected Immediately in the rear Of the Jail.
against the corridor window. When the
town clock struck the hour of IL NJ. he
said Praise the Lord. only one hour to
liye," His Scriptural advisors, Reys. Noel,
of the Baptist Church, and Peoples, OF the
Methodist Church, then entered and re-
mained with himuntil the moment. ustin
was member of what is known as the
Forks Baptist Church. He besought the
ministers 10 give him good counsel and |
buoy up his spirit to
Facing the scaGoId Scene.
At a quarter 10 O'Clock all withdrew
from the cell except the two clergymen.
Shortly after / o'clock the Sheriff, J. N.
Higgenbotham, with an armed posse, left
the cell with the prisoner. The jail yard
and all the surrounding buildings and |
streets, as far as the eve could reach, were
densely crowded with eager spectators.
Austin advanced with steady step, and be. |
gan TO mount the scahold.. 1t was raining |
fiercely. He struck his tall crowned felt |
hat against some ones umbrellas, and the
hat was knocked off. When IL was handed
10 him lie smiled and. expressed his |
thanks.
1t was l 10 p NJ. when the company
Took Position on the scsfsoId.
A uortion Of the 5lst Psalm. was read and |
PRAYER offered amid a deathlike stiffness,
unbrOken except by the patter OF the rain
and the obscene quarreling OF some drunken
men scrambling for seats. This ceremony
concluded. the prisoner was told he might
state what he would TO the people. he
quietly removed his hat and stepped forth.
calm and dignifed. Nota tIemOr could be
seen on his handsome form or q culver on
his lips. He wore Jet black suit; his hair
was light. his eyes blue, his face handsome
and fair, though slightly flushed. He
seemed five feet ten inches in height he
eyes rivited upon him, and in q
Simple. EIoqusns Manner Said:
Gentlemen-I bid you all farewell. 1
leave you my best sympathies. l. leave my
love 10 YOU all. feel in my own heart
that am ging home to my rest. have
nothing sgsinst anybody in the world. l
love every BODY. Gentlemen. whisky has
brought me to this. Gentlemen, killed
| NV poor aunt, and what did,, did for
nothing put whisky ! was out OF my head
when did it. Idle a happy nan and
| Christian. do not ask for pardon on
| this earth. All want Is one in heaven.
| Gentlemen, all ! have TO say is this: 10
| Won men who lose drink, / sag lay all that
| aside. warn everybody. youHg and old.
white and black lay Il all aside, and live
nearer TO hessen. This isth
Be.a AAxies Caa Gave.
II
Sid yaugbsn, hnt 1 am a. innocent OF that
as an angel in heaven. IBevsy took q siu-
1 gle lite but this one. have not got any
| thu z against her in tbs world, and hooe
i 10 meet her in heaven l am willing %
/ give ny life in Satisfaction for hers wsnf
| 10 tell you thai IL is my only crime and ell
| the harm have done in the world L seye
| you ali in the hands of God, hoping thai
God sill turn yoa from your sins and that
you will let all intoxicating liquors alone
and all bad company. Gentlemen, you can
thus live happy life. am going 70. die
as happy man IS ever died IN tho STATE ~
Aeniueky. am going home 10 nay rest. l
bid ron all reweli, and hope % meet yon
all in heaven. haven't . thing sg1nst
anybody In this world. Gentsmea, god
bye.
He then shook hands With all o. the
seaiIold. his arms we're pinioned, the black
cap drawn, the moose adjusted, the tfap
I spsang - Qaiek - Riashs
and wB. Austin wss sgung into eternity.