National Republican., 1883-10-20
GOOD BY, SISTER"
Last Words Of Woman on a Georgia
SCafold.
iangcl cor Poisoning n Child-A New
York Murderer Executed.

CALHOUN, Ca, Oct. 19.--Margaret Harris,
colored, tho murderer of little Leila Lewis,
was hanged this morning in the presence of
crowd varously estimated from $500 to
1000. Tho prisoner did not rest we'll last
night, not sleeping any and praying all night
At 1885 a. M she was taken from the Jail
under an armed escort and carried to the
gallows which was erected three-quarters of
a mile to the north of tho court house. After
singing Jesus, Lover of My Soul" prayer
by Rov. w. ID. johnson, colorod, and the
singing of "Swoot By and By" she made the
following statement; Gentlemen, ladies'
irionds and all | hope tho congregation
will be quiet while | make this last state
ment of facts in this case. l am going to
tell the truth before God-the holy truth
hope you will all take warning from my
fate, and none of you stand on the gallows as
do this morning. | am innocent of the
charge. l did not poison Leila Lewis, and |
hope to meet her in heaven. My kin people
brought mo to this, and / want them to pray
to meet mo in heaven as there is no parting
there. l have heard they said hanging was
too good for me, that | ought to be burned.
hope they will repent like mo and meet me
in heaven for there is no forgiveness here.
Every tub must stand on its own bottom here.
but up there L will get justice. | am inno-
cent, and my people arc to blame because
stand whore do to-day. l hopo you will
all raise your children so as to meet in heaven
and never stand on the gallows. Farewell
all, am going to die Farewell all. Good
by. / must diol hope this poor man will
be released, as he is innocent before God. He
is innocent"
Her sister was ON the scaffold, and, turning
to her, she told her to bo warned by her fate.
| want to be buried by the side of my
mother" she said, but they will not allow it,.
They don't care what becomes of my body.
Goodby, goodby. Sister, goodby."
All her statements were made in clear,
ringing voice, though at times she became
incoherent, and repeated sentences over and
over again. AT 1907 tho trap was sprung,
and she was dangling in tho air. In eight
minutes her pulse ceased to beat, and in
twenty minutes she was declared dead. Tho
fall was six feet. Her neck was broken, and
she died without struggle. Tho body was
turned over to her sister for interment The
crowd was very orderly and quiet, no drink
ing being allowed.
New YORK, Oct. 19-Edward Hovey, the
murderer of his sister-in-law, was hanged
this morning. Hovoy passed tho night
quietly, sleeping part of the time. He had
| frequent communings with his PASTOR the
Rev. DR.. Guilbert. Stimulants were admin
| istered to him at long intervals, and shortly
before he was led to execution a hypodermic
| injection of morphine was given him. He
| expressed himself as resigned to his fate and
said that he would meet his death like man.
IIo said he had forgiven all those who had in
| jured him and hoped that those whom he had
| injured would do the same. Hovey expressed
sincere coutriton for his crime. Services
were conducted and the sacrament admins
tered to him in his cell this morning.
Shortly before s o'clock, accompanied by
his pastor and some deputy sherifs, he
took up his march to the scaffold. There a
short prayer was read and the moose ad-
justed. At 1855 o'clock the rope was cut and
Hovey swung in the air. His legs and arms
worked convulsively for few minutes, his
chest heaved for half minute, and all was
over. In fourteen minutes he was pronounced
dead, the heart having ceased its action. The
| physicians said that his neck was dislocated
and that he died a painless death. His body
was taken to an undertakor's, from where il
will be privately buried in Woodlawn ceme
| terry tomorrow.
The impression prevailed among the spec
tators of the execution that Hovcy was intox
icatcd at tho time of tho hanging, but thi
was denied by the sheriff and Hovey's spirit
ual advisor.