The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-05

company her to the execution. He
came in at 81! o'clock, appearing
jaded in body, but serene in coun-
tenance. Resting for while on the
piazza of the hotel where he had
allghted conversing calmly among
the many who had been awaiting his
coming, after brief interval, he in
quired for the sheriff and when the
latter arrived the two walked to the
Jail together, followed by the crowds
who were not already there. The
guards opened ranks to allow them
to ascend the steps. They remained
within not more than a quarter of an
hour, Appearing again, the sheriff
stood in the open door, and Mr..
Sanford stepped upon the gallows;
smoothing back his long white hair,
and casting his eyes over the sea be-
meath him, he said:
"My friends and fellow-citizens:
You have assembled today to witness
the execution of the law upon most
grieveous crime. | have prayed and
SO have some of you, | doubt not,
that the lessons to be learned now
may not be improbable to our souls.
think l know my neighbors, my
acquaintance and my country-men
well enough to feel sure that, al
though one expectation of their as
sembling here in such multitudes to-
day will be disappointed, they will
feel the solemn joy that have in
rendering renewed gratitude and
praise to Almighty God, who holds
in His hands the issues of all our
lives. The ways of God are not
like our ways; forever blessed be
His holy name! Three days ago,
friends and fellow-citizens, | came
into the knowledge of a fact that it
will surprise all to hear except the
poor, humble beings to whose rescue
He has come just in time to save.
Immediately upou astertaining that
fact began a journey to the town
of Milledgeville, where dwells the
Governor of this State. That Gov
ernor is known personally to nearly
every one of this vast congregation,
all Of his elders and equals in age
having known him from his child
hood. On being made acquainted
with what | had to communicate his
Excellency has pronounced Edy Ad-
kins innocent of the charge for
which she has been condemned.
Yes he exclaimed, rising on tiptoe
and extending both his trembling
arms, INNOCENT! and | have borne
and have just handed to the Sheriff
of this cotntv his warrant of execu-
tive pardon There~was the mo-
mentary deep silence not unusually
attending the announcements of news
that Supplies. Come out, Edy,
and go long home cried the Sher-
iff aloud. She came forth, stopped
and cast a bewildered look around.
In another instant Shade, who had
rushed up the steps, many at a
bound, seized her in his powerful
arms, threw her high up as if she
were a young babe, and seating her
upon his shoulder began the descent.
Then arose a shout, both races 81
multaneous in its utterances, that
sounded sufficient to rend the heav-
ems, and that in very deed was
heard at distance of many miles.
Long afterward old men would talk
of that dav, and with overf1owing
eyes tell of how persons of all condi-
tions went about reeling and embrac-
ing one another, and we're able to
give utterance to their gratitud only
in lamentation and wailing. Where
was Beverly Sheals? None except
Mr.. Sanford ever knew, and he at
no time with continuing certainty
for two years, at the end of which,
as by the request of the wretched
man, his confession was made public
after assured news of his death in a
distant State. "a remarkable man
was old Brother Sanford Governor
Rabun used to say. "When he
came to Milledgevill to ask for a
pardon for the woman Edy Adkins,
who had been convicted of murder
on Rocky Comfort, l did my best to
get from him the name of the real
murderer, assured in my mind that
he must know who it was. He did
not deny having such knowledge,
yet he persistently refused to men
ton any name. | said to him finally
that such crime must be expiated
by somebody, and unless | could
know whe was the real perpetrator,
| hardly thought | ought to disturb
the verdict of the jury and the judg-
ment of the court. What do you
think the old man said then? He
rose, Strengthened himself and said:
William Rabun, refuse to tell you
more than the fact that | do know
positively that Edy Adkins is not
guilty of this murder. If you be-
lieve my statement, and yet will not
interfere to prevent her execution,
what | have to say is that the time
may come when you will think that
the same rope with which that friend
less creature was hanged ought to
have been used to launch you into
the same eternity" "What did
you say then, Governori" "Well,
first | made out the warrant of par
don, as, of course, | intended all the