St. Landry democrat., 1885-05-16
FOR WIFE MURDER.

Moses Cation Suffers the Extreme Penalty
at NIorganHeld, Ky., and Dies Protesting
His Innocence-His last Hours.
MoRGANF1ELD, KY, May 9.-At an
early hour Thursday evening crowds be-
gan to gather from Webster, Union and
| Henderson Counties to witness the hang
ing of Moses Cation, the Wife-murderer,
| and those who could not get lodgings
| camped out on vacant lots and wherever
resting-pace could be found. Up TO the
time of the execution yesterday, large
crowds were coming from every direc-
ton, many of them by river, including a
large crowd of excursionlsts from down
the river. Others came in by rail and by
every other conceivable conveyance, until
fully 5000 people were blocking the
streets.
1t had been intended to have the execu
ton private, but the people from this and
adjoining counties declared that it should
be public, and that if wall was built
around the scaffold it would be torn
down. In view of the strong public feel
ing upon the subject, the original plan
was abandoned and the scaffold was
erected on the lot back of and la sight of
the Jail where Cation and his sons We're
confined.
Up to dark Thursday night the muir
derer had shown no repentance; on the
contrary, he had been stubbornlv
defiant and had fully determined to kill
himself before the fatal day arrived.
For several days he had refused to eat
Thursday night, about nine O'Clock, he
requested that the Rev. Mr.. Petrie,
Methodist clergyman of UniontoWn, be
called to his cell. Mr.. Petrie responded
to the request, and had a lengthy inter-
view with the doomed man. In
his statement he declared himself
which he is charged, and for which his
life is to be taken. He denied killing his
wife, and said he Eswouldn't lie about it
now" He said he felt no malice toward
any one, and was perfectly willing to die;
that he felt his sins were forgiven, and
that he had made his peace with God;
that, though perfectly innocent Of having
killed his wife, he was resigned to
his fate, and that it was all right
for the future; that he was sure of going
to Heaven. He also expressed wish
that he might be buried i'll his old clothes
so that satan might know him when he
came across him.
At late hour he retired and rested
well until called yesterday morning to
purtake of breakfast and be prepared for
the execution. When breakfast was
brought him, he ate piece of beefsteak,
one roll and and drank a cup of coffee.
At 12:45 p. m. religious services were
held in the jail, but during the whole
time Cation remained stolidly quiet and
took no part in what was going on.
After the services were concluded the
prisoner was led out of the jail by the
iailer and an armed escort. He walked
to the gallows firmly and mounted to his
place on the trap without hesitation. He
was if he had anything TO say, when he
replied: 'tNo."
Everything passed off quietly, though
the hanging was witnessed with relish by
an outraged populace. The moose was
adjusted at three minutes past one
O'Clock, and the trap was sprung two
minutes later. The body shot downward
distance of eight feet, breaking the
neck instantly. Twenty minutes after
his body was cut down and given over to
the charge of his brother, who came here
to receive. it. The farewell scene be-
tween Cation and his son was very |
touching.