The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-19
ANOTHER GALLOWS' CONVERSION.


Orthodoxy presents another object
lesson from the gallows. 1t has just
shrived another brutal murderer, affixed
its official stamp of repentance on a
deeply guilty wretch, and swung him
direct from the scaffold into heaven.
The new made convert thus sent with
| such shameful haste into glory, was
Zephyr Davis, colored boy of seven
teen years of age, who was hung in this
city on Saturday, for the murder Of an
innocent young working girl, on Feb
ruary 81, under circumstances of dia-
| bOlical cruelty. There was no excuse
or provocation for the crime. 1t was
in all its circumstances most henious
and dreadful affair, too revolving to
permit any show of sympathy for the
murderer.
Davis was attended during his last
hours on earth by Rev. DR.. Henderson,
of Quinn Chapel, African M. E. church,
who duly gave him his passport to
glory. He prayed and sung with the
guilty young man, and succeeded in
making him believe that he had made
true repentance and was ready and
prepared every way for the great change.
In evidence of Zephyr's opinion of his
own renewed state, we submit the fol-
| lowing epistle, written short time
before the execution:
May 12-Dear-: 1 am prepared to
face my God, and am going to better
land than this. 1 hope you will follow
me. Put your trust in God. Don't
wait commence rite now, before it is too
late. l have made my peace with God.
| What nice thing it is to be ready to
meet your God. Goodbye, dear, and
tell all goodbye.
| (Signed.) ZEPHYR DAVIS.
Moreover, we have DR.. Henderson's
testimony that he Henderson, was
positive that this murderer's ''profes-
sion of faith and penitence was
sincere" In all the minister's CONVEX
sation with the doomed man he finds
nothing to throw doubt on the alleged
conversion and it is further noticeable
that there was no suggestion of any
need of further preparation, or hint
from the clergyman that the young
murderer would find himself other
than very comfortable, when once in
the presence of God. His conversion
had fixed the whole matter at once and
| forever.
Davis's own idea of the case is made
evident above. 1t was, in his opinion,
''a nice thing to be ready to meet
God He was sublimely satisfied
with his repentance, and from out of
his renewed experience, at the eleventh
hour, he could bravely exhort others to
follow his example, and commence
rite now, before it is too late." He
went to his doom, praying and singing,
shouting "amen" and "glory to God,"
and 'praise the Lord" in the assured
belief that he was entirely made over;
that his soul was saved after the most
approved fashion of Orthodoxy, and
that God and the angels would give
him welcome and call him to no further
account for his awful crime. Zephyr
Davis had complied with all herequire-
ments of the orthodox system, and of
course expected to enter upon the ex-
perience of the redeemed, when once
his wretched neck was broken by the
swift machinery Of the gallows.
No wonder that there are inidels and
even atheists in the world when such
scenes with converted" murderers are
constantly presented on the scaffold.
1t is, again, no wonder that religion is
made a matter of scorn and reproach
when Christian minister presides
over such farce as this, and is instru-
mental in fostering the decisions of
such gross caricuture of repentance,
with all the teachings of the Gospel re.
garding salvation. 1t is high time that
protests should arise against the theory
of religion that advocates and counte-
nances such proceedings. 1t is fragrant
scandal on the cause of religion; a
shame beyond expression, that murder
ers, with blood fresh upon them, are
thus landed officially into heaven, and
their exit attended with such shallow
assumptions of an immediate saliva
ton. Orthodoxy is accountable for
these things. 1t should be called to a
strict account for exposing Christianity
to such unmerited reproach. Let it be
held duly responsible.
lie Petit Journal, Of Paris. says: "There |