Telegram-herald., 1888-05-14
HUNG BY THE neck
The muRDERea OF MAGGIE aAuGHAN
The Black Brute xsYh Davis Exptssss
nis Crisas % the Gaiisws- He MAKES
. Fun Coafssstss ana
Dies Gaxna

csrcAso. May l5.-Zephyr Davis who.
on February n. murdered httls Maggie
Gaughan, was, at ll:2o Saturday merning.
hanged by the neck until he vas dead in
the county Jail. in pursuance of the SEN
tencs pronounced by Judge Hswes. He
perssrved his calm dsmeanor TO the last,
when, with his neck broken by the fall.
he yielded up his life without strug-
re
Rev. DIR. Henderson read 20 bin his dying
statement prepared from notes taken the
night before. Davis signed il with ink. Ii
Was as follows:
40 my friends and beings Of this
city | wish to say that am sincerely sorry
tor the act for which l am 10 suffer. and for
ali other wrongs / have ever done. tor the
girl whose life took and for her parents.
am deeply and truly sorry, and would give
all have In this world II IL could be called
lack. But since il is done, and cannot be
undone. i am ready TO pay the penalty. l
have nothing against body on earth, and
leave the world feeling love for all. | feel
that by true, noble prayer and sincere re-
pcntence have found forgiveness with God
and ask the forgiveness OF all mankind
ask all TO be kind TO my mother and my
brothers; they are not 10 blame for any OF
my conduct. never went TO school day
in my life, and all / know about reading
or writing l picked up myself, and there
fore never had much of education. l desire
to say to all the boys with whom have
ever associated to take my warning and
always try 10 do right. i sincerely thank
the officials Of the Law and eli others for
any kind acts they have done for me.
pray God to bless them all. feel al per-
iect peace with God, and do not fear 10
meet Him. Mr.. Henderson has given me
good instruction and has prayed earnestly
for my soul. and feel that God has an
swered his prayers.
ready to 80.
[Signedl ZEPHYR DAVIS"
Hardly was the ink dry before Zephyr
Davis was on the scsffold- After signing
the declaration ne arose, put on his coat OF
fine black cloth. and lighting another
cigarette saio he was ''resdy to CO."
On the GalIows.
Just before he reached the scaffold he
tossed his cigarette away, and. preceded by
Mr.. Henderson. and with Jailer Folz on his
left and Sheriff Matson on his right. step
ped onto the platform and took his seat just
back of the dangling moose. which swung
slowly within few feet Of him. He eyed
it curiously and for several minutes more
raised his eyes from the silent instrument
that was to send him out of the world. At
the right side of the gaIlews stood Rev. Mr..
Henderson with q small Bible in his hand,
and at the left stood Rev. Mr.. Williams.
Behind him on the left was Deputy Galein.
directly back Sheriff Matson. whose face
showed plainly the unpleasant nature of
his duty.
Mr.. Folz adjusted the nooze with a care
full hand. and while he was unfolding the
cap, Mr.. Henderson asked Zeph. Have you
faith in God?"
MY faith is staong to the end" re-
sponded Zeph in strong voice. The cap
was then slipped over his head and tied,
and as the jaiier stepped of the trap. there
was brief pause. The Sheriff raised his
hand, click went the spring. and while
everyone held his breath navis plunged
into eternity. His neck broke with sick
ening, crushing sound. and save an almost
imperceptible drawing up of the knees,
there was no sign of consciousness.
DR.. Meyer counted the pulse. The drop
was sprung az 1l:20. At 11:22 the pulse
was 112; st 1l:22t, 120; at 11:23, 10; at
1l:243. 40 and very weak; at 1l:25. 100; and
at 11:2S all was still, he was pronounced
dead, and the body was lowered into the
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