Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-03-29

last mOments When L got the repriavo
they wanted to come in and take me out
and hang me. They didn't want TO
wait TO give me any show for my life or
abide by the law"
Mr.. Dunbar "You think that the
use of ardent spirits or opium was fea-
ture, either remote or Immediate, OF
bringing you to this end!"
"No sir; | never touched opium or
morphine. or anything Of that kind, un-
til l got into this trouble, when / came
to San Bernardino--not until after got
into this trouble. after this thing hap
pened. As far as liquor is concerned, II
Is something never used great deal
Of Once in while would, but was
great deal more temperate than most
young men-in fact. detested it. l |
have seen SO many people under the in
fuence Of liquor, staggering around the
streets, and there was nothing more dis.
gusting TO me than TO see a man under
its influence, and for that reason never
took IT,"
Mr.. Dunbar-"At the time you fell
into sin were you entirely free from the
Influence Of intoxications"
Eyes, sir; l was entirely free Of it."
Mr.. Dunbar-"You think that the
three great mistakes were disobedience
to your mother, want Of veracity, and
keeping bad company--lewd women?"
There is no mistake about that.
Yes, think that covers it. Pause.
In regard to this it is very hard, the
ignominy and disgrace Of the gallows.
Death is penalty we all must
pay. II is debt Of nature. 1t is some
thing that don't fear in its natural
form. Pause.) As long as in genera
tions the name lasts; not only mine, but
also Mr.. Bells. 1t will be q stain upon
them"
Mr.. Dunbar-Have you any addition
al facts in regard to the guilt Of Rosa or
any other party that would be Of benefit
to this commonwealth?
To this Mcdowell vouchsafed no an
swer at first. After waiting awhile, he
said:
Gan that know is that don't care
to say any more about that than will be
necessary, for the simple reason that the
people have said that they wouldn't be-
lieve me. And don't know as it would
be right for me to say anything to have
people commenting on il. (Pause.) II
would say anything they would cay
that did it to withhold the stain from
my character and name. That is what
they would say. They would say it was
false. (Pause.) And l told Mr.. Bled-
see (ths District Attorney Of San Bernar-
dino county, one day, If he would get
my sentence commuted or get respite
for me that would assist in giving all
the circumstances that knew to help
the prosecution of Rosa. He wanted TO
know II knew anyt thing. Pause. J He said
that nothing would say could help me
and wouldn't then say anything about
it,"
The Sheriff then hastily entered the
cell. and whispered to the Rev. Mr..
Dunbar, who said:
1.-THE TIME is UP,
Mrs. Bell, the Sheriff says"
The prisoner, during the above con-
versation, was perfectly cool and col
lected, no indication whatever of nerv.
BUSINESS being in the least perceptible.
His hands were steady, and no quaver
In his voice during the whole Of the
statement. However, he spoke slowly
and almost inaudibly, hesitating and
pausing as il seeking his words, but
there was no doubt at all as to his being
entirely attentive to the matter about
which he conversed.
Mr.. Byron Waters here approached
and said that Mr.. Burkhart, by request
of the condemned mans mother, had
agreed that whatever religious ceremon-
les il was intended should be had, might
take place in the cell, instead of upon
the scaffold.
The ministers, the culprit, his mother
and her friends, thereupon fell upon their
knees, and Mr.. Dunbar offered .
prayer. after which oil got up.
The prisoner, without showing the
slightest emotion went to the
table and picked up clothes brush
with which he very deliberately cleaned
few specks of dust of the knees of
his pantaloons. Rev. Mr.. Dunbar hav-
| ing told the mother and son to say
THEIR LAST GOODBYE,
Mrs. Bell threw herself frantically into
| tho arms Of Mcdowell and the two
remained locked in one strong embrace
for at least three minutes, the poor
mother all the while giving vent to
piteous means. When they were sep
arated, Mrs. Bell fell down almost
| fainting into chair, where her son once
more clasped her hand. and then with
dry eyes and remaining just as collected as
he had appeared all the morning, shook
hands with those present and said good
bye-rather unconcernedly, it seemed.
He was then led out accompanied by
Sheriff Barkhart, Sheriff VIM. Martin,
of Tulare, the clergymen and the
sheriffs aids. At the entrance Of the
enclosure, Mcdowell stopped and said:
"Whcre are the reporters, want to
say something more 7"
He was told to walk up to the plat
form, where Mr.. Benjaman, the official
stenographer followed.
ON THE scAYFoLD,
Mcdowell said: II want to say this
about the officers and what has been
said In regard to their helping me to es-
cape and in regard to Mr.. Bell saying
that II had busted him up buying the
officers, want to say that nothing of
the kind happened, to my knowledge.
No officers whatever knew that was
going 10 get away. II they did, l didn't
know it, and l don't think any blame
should attach to them tor my getting
away. The liberties given to me were
through kindness. l suppose that il the
people wanted them to they would have
kept me in the cell and I would proba-
bly, have missed this trouble. But feel
now - thoagh l had nothing more to
say."
Sheriff Martin-It is very kind of you
10 exonerate the officers, and I am glad
to hear you do it. / am satisfied the
people are also.
swell, that is all have to say"
Mr.. Dunbar--You still insist that you
did not strike the fatal blow!
To this he returned ne audible an
swer. The work of pinioning the hands
and legs Of Mcdowell was then quickly
commenced by Mr.. Burkhardt. Nc
Dowell asked him II he didn't think he
had better take of his necktie, to which
the Sheriff replied he guessed it was not
necessary.
McDowell-You had better put tina /
rope around my wrists little higher mp.
Pause. How much fall have You got,
Mr.. Burkhart?
Sheriff-Between and 8 feet.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and feet!
Sheriff-There is fall enough, should
Judge.
The prisoner was now pinioned, but it
appeared that he con.se cd he was not
bound tight enough, for he remarked,
with smile, whilst shaking and bend
ing himself, rs that all you are going to
tie! Il seems kind of loose. Please
kind Of steady me little bit. Youwan
to put that knot up. 1t is choking me
now. Can't You make that drop . little
longer! 1t is little too short. Please
make it little longer"
The Sheriff did as requested, covered
him with the black cap and replaced the
moose.
Prisoner = Don't that knot want to
come behind me,
Sheriff-No; that is right.
/ Prinouor-Iuof hoII Il nm "a that II