The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-03-25
EXECUTION OF BEN LANE
THE WOMAN SLAYER OF SAN
AUGUSTINE.
Snecial TELEGRAM to The Statesman.

Special Telegram TO Inc statesman
SAN AUGUSTINE, March 22,-Ben Lane who was
convicted for the murder of Susan Dykes few
months ago, of murder in tn first degree and
punishment of death assessed, was executed to-
day His case was appealed and affirmed Then
Governor Ireland was waited on and asked toin'
tetfere, but to no avail
The hanging was public He left the Jail at II
O'Clock a M, being escorted by strong Guard To
the gallows, which had been erected in suburban
part of the town He ate brt akfast, after sleeping
the night before, and took leave of his wife and
children in the forenoon. He bore himself calm
y and nonchalantly during the journr to the gal
lows He a, ,cended the steps with full and steady
tread Rev. MIR. Smith otliciated as his spiritual
adviser. His remarks We're few and were delivered
in st ong, calm, but very low tone OF voice. lie
advised all persons to take warning Of his impend
ing fate, and to take care lie they would occupy
the same position He confessed to the murder,
but as an accident. He prayed and sung. Inc
only emotion shown, was when the cap and ropS
had been adjusted and Sheriff Lewis hid hlm good
bye aud descended the ladder to spring the trap
Then he called on the Lord several times to for
give him. The trap was sprung at IL :lO his neck
| was broken by the fall of about eight feet. Inc
hearts action gradually became feebler and tee0er
| until about fifteen or eighteen minutes, when IL
ceased to beat. At twenty-five minutes he was
pronounced dead by Drs. Tucker aud harrison
| and cut down, and his remains turned over TO MS
wife, who will take them home, where they Will be
inferred. He died without even perceptible mus
cular movement. The sheriff and his assistants de-
serve credit for the efficient and busnessllke man
ner in which the execution was carried on.
The universal sentiment. of the people OF this
county is that foul and heinous crime has been
avenged and that justice has been done.
| HISTORY OF LANES CRIME.
On the evening of December "a 1884, about
twenty miles south of the town OF San Augustine
Sy lney Ann Dykes, poo', friendless re- telnale'
ABOUT "a years of age was murdered at tne resi-, u
dence of Ben Lane The latter was suspected OF
the crime, and on the 10th day of February follow
ing, he was duly charged by the grand jury OF san
Augustine county with murder! On the 18th he
was put upon trial, and on the 2lst the Jury re-
urned verdict Of guilty and assessed his pHnisn
Rufus Price and r. f. Davis, of San Augustine, ,ano
Colonel r. II. Quinn, of Rusk, and prosecuted ny
Messrs. r. II. Morris and ii, b. Short, OF Nacog
doches The evidence detailed untoded crime III
atrocity and cowardce never before equaled in east
Texas. AT the previous term of the San Augustine
district court the deceased was forced to ap:ear pc
fore the grand jury and disclose what she knew ol
certain offences committed by Lane. lie
that she would never testify against
him in court. On the morning of the fata
day he left home, went to aneighbor house, sever
miles Distant left there at II NJ spurred his morse
forward through the woods and bypaths, reached
his home coolly shot down tho helpless vlctlm o
his malice while she tremblingy stood with mel
four months-old babe upon her breast, in his oWt
yard and in the presence OF his wife, then rapldl!
retraced his woody way; gained the highway nea
where he had left it, rode rapidly down it until HI
reached neighbours house about four miles iron
his home, where he was found by MS wiIe nohcnai l
antly eating his supper, who informed him tina
some one had killed Sydney Ann Dykes. Otcourse
he was much surprised outraged and fertile III Ill
coniecturAs about who did the murderous deed.
hair, sandy beard piercing blue eyes; has wife
who by the way, has striven nobly to save ne
husband-and several children He has been Il
San Augustine county all his life; has been a VIC
lator of the law for ten years, but sucn Is III III
shrewdness that though often charged he was neVe
| convicted.