The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-24
THE ASHLAND TRAGEDY.


Graft Found Guilty and Sentenced to Death
The Prisoners Impassioned Speech.
GRAYsoN, Ky, Feb 23.-The court met as
usual, at $780, The jury in the Craft case
promptly retired, and few minutes after
were returned into court. At 9:10 the fore
man answered the usual questions, and re-
piled that the verdict was guilty and the pun
ishment death. The prisoner scanned the
faces of the jurymen as they came in, and
was in manner prepared for the declaration
of the foreman. Craft was less affected, APP
parently, than the others in the courtroom,
the only change being the dull pallor of his
face. Mrs Gbbons's face was study for
painter. With few words to the jury, the
Judge discharged it. Counsel for the defense
asked and obtained leave from the judge
for a consultation, in which they were
Joined by Craft, who protested
to his lawyers that the time would yet come
to set him right The defense then asked an
adjournment till / o'clock, to give time to
prepare an affidavit for new trial. After a
brief consultation with Colonel Allen, the
Judge cleared the aisle, the prisoner marched
off with military guard, and the judge an
nounced recess till o'clock. On the reopen
ing of court, Crafts counsel filed an applIca-
ton for a new trial, supported by the affi-
davits of Obediah Gallagher and Craft, de-
caring that Gallagher, an important wit
ness, who was released on the Neal case,
supposed he was released for the term of
court and went home, and could not be got
back till the arguments had begun. Crafts
affidavit contained a statement that Gal
lagher would have proved the attempt of
Ellis to escape.
Judge Brown overruled the application,
read the indictment in the Boyd Circuit
Court and after stating the verdict and the
penalty, asked the prisoner if he had any
legal objections.
THE PRISONERS SPEECH.
Craft stood up, and with imprisoned
voice and gesture, said:
81 can say one thing: I am not guilty of
that charge. l didn't have time to get all
my witnesses here that ought to have had,
and don't consider had a fair trial, for
know am clear OF that for l never thought
of Neal. l never as much as thought of it.
There is the old mother and father of those
children, and can tell and prove that |
never as much as laid my hand
on them. never did. You
might as well take a little innocent
child and hang it as to hang me. The closest
/ was to Mrs. Gibbons house that night was
when lay in bed at home, asleep. | didn't
see the house, or George Ellis, or Bill Neal,
or any of the children, that night The last
time saw any of Mrs Gibbons children
was on the Wednesday before that. I saw
little Fanny and spoke to her; that was the
last time till l was reused by the alarm Of
fire. l did all [ could not knowing the
children were burned up. | can stand on
the scaffold and hold my hand up and swear
before high heaven that | did not see those
children, Neal. or Ellis, that night am as
innocent as the angels of that thing. You
are all standing round and looking at me.
Let me tell you one thing: That
the time will come when it will
all unfold, when you will see it all palmer
than you now see me. I never thought of
such thing l was better raised, and had
more respect for the people about me. l
respected Mrs. Gibbons and her children. l
am glad | stand here ard say / am
innocent; it's the truth. If everybody was
to-day as clear of this charge as | am, Mrs
Gibbons would have her children with her.
1t would not take the State guards. | know
it is a put-up job on me- for / would not be
guilty of it for the round world. Gentlemen,
the day is coming when it will be found out
that am innocent"
The prisoner was here interrupted by Mrs.
Gibbons. crying "Oh. my childrenl If they
were only here now" She was led out
Craft sat down and said no more.
The judge pronounced sentence of hanging
on the 25th of May. Craft fell in with a
guard of soldiers and marched to camp. Be-
fore noon the soldiers struck tents and prepa-
ratiohs were made to leave by the Eastern
Kentucky railroad for Riverton thence down
the Ohio river.