The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-07-15

hotel door to the vehicle. Fifteen min
utes later Sheriff Russell appeared, with
the prisoners in charge OF the deputies, and
made his way to the carriage, they follow
ing him. Charley was in front and step
ned lightly down the steps. Billy
was slower, ard leaned heavily on
his guard. The line of march was
then taken up, the csnalcade moving north
on Holden street to Pine, and thence west
to the place of execution. On the way the
following conversation occurred between
the condemned men;
TOO MUCH LEvITY.
Billy was laughing and making fun OF
the guard surrounding them, and seemed
to be enjoying himself immensely.
"This must be a pleasure ride" SAID
Charlie; "you had better be thinking OF
your fate" -.
aAh." said Billy, .'that is not troubling
me. can stand it better than you cam"
Have you made peace with your God?"
asked Charlie, in a solemn tone.
81 am better prepared than you. Are
you prepared to dief"
al want you," said Billy, after q short
pause, during which both were looking
out of the carriage window, ito make q
statement on the gallows and tell the truth
about this matter"
"You had better do that yourself" re-
piled Charlie, 81 have nothing new to
| tell"
| Here Sheriff Russell interposed and beg
oed them TO remember the occasion, and
not spend their last half-hour on
earth in vituperation and sinful quarrel
ing.
| AT THE SCAFFOLD.
When the procession arrived at the
ground. considerable difficulty was expert.
enced in forcing a way for the carriage
through the immense throng OF people. Ii
is estimated that 5000 people were pres
ent, all trying to get a position near the
guard line, in order to hear what might be
said. and the task of making ones way
through the ranks was no easy one, letting
alone the carriage and fifty soldiers or
foot. The Hamiltons stepped from the car
rage TO the ground, and so far as casual
observer could see, assembled the steps of the
scaffold as If going to their own private
rooms. The scaffold was built SO as 10 fact
the north, the trap near the north edge, the
steps from the south, and chairs placed
along the east and west sides. Charlie
the
FIRST TO MOUNT THE STEPS,
passed TO the east side and took the iron
seat, facing the audience on the north
, Billy went to the left and took a seat
! They Sere followed by Rev. Hermann, o
Sedalia; Sheriff Russell, james Gossag'
and others of the death watch. On tn
scaffold, Mr.. Russell stepped to the iron
and spoke as follows:
"Gentlemen, / hope and trust you al
realize the awful soliminty and terribl
responsibility of the proceedings about t
be enacted here, and observe that decoruI
and reverence due an occasion so fraugh
with the tragedy the law, made by man Il
protect himself and society, has made neces
sary."
He then asked the Hamiltons If they ha
anything to say, and Charlie came forwar
and said:
{ CHARLES SPEECH.
I "Kipd fellow creatures, you ell kno
that am doomed to die, and L die for
:. offence have never committed. You
heard the evidence, which pointed out 10
Innocence. Although convicted, and viii
> the rope of the law around my neck, L ar
: standing here before God and man and a.
sert that the blow / struck that man di
not cause his death. All know these fact
am prepared to die, and hope to meet 20
is all in heaven. AS God above knows, a
@ the statements have made are true. l.
# this be a. warning to you against fal
|, friends. I believed this man" lpolnting
e Billy1 to be my friend, and you see VIII
IS he has brought me to. False friends WI
D, get YOU into trouble. l hope you will r
IF member me. God bless you ALL"
lie Billy then arose and spoke In broke
is English as follows:
le "oLD INNOCENCE %
l. Gentlemen of the assembly, my frien
h ali / had on earth, has been killed, and q
ID Jury found me guilty of the crime. u
to cumstances are against me, and accordin
5 w. / must die. He" LCharliel "has col
Sc yicted me, but, gentlemen, / am not guilt
D. have made many mistakes In my life
K all men commit errors, but L would n
Sc kill a man. Let the scientists exhume {
lie body and it will be found that the blt
struck by that man was the cause OF
death. What did was through fear
him. and loved my own life. He wou
us have killed me as he did my best frier
Is He held him down on the rail and ma
y. me get away. am not afraid to die, a
u face death like a man."
70 The two men knelt while Rev. HERNIA
" offered prayer in the German langua
lS and at Its conclusion Billy rose and tool
AZ seat, while Charlie remained kneeling a
~ offered an audible prayer. He prayed e.
y nestly, and seemed truly repentant.: II
r the condemned men took leave OF tn
IA around them, shaking hands with all
nss the platform and then with each 9th
% na While their hands we're clasped, Char
'u' said:
"Do you forgive me? 2"
mt eyes" said Billy.
ch Thank God tor thatW CALCULATED Oh
lie. They were then