The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-21
MAN AND WIFE HANGED.
= KISS AND A TOUCH OF THEIR
WRISTS ON THE GIBBET.

Love Was Triumphant Even in the
Face of Death-Both Protest Their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the Crime
for Which They Died-Both Bore Up
Fairly Well
ELKo. NV, June 20-Josiah Potts and
his wife. Elizabeth Potts. were hanged here
et10:43 o'clock this forenoon for the muir
der of Miles Fawcett in January, 1855.
HANGED FOR oUADRUPLE MURDER
orrREc June 2O.-Fritz Dubois was
hanged in the Jail yard here at S O'Clock
this morning. His crime was the murder
in February last Of his wife, his two chill
dren aud his mother-in-law whom he hacked
to nieces in a most brutal manner with
an ak
DIED PROTESTING INNOCENCE.
BELLEvILLE, ONT, June Outward
Davis, who on Sept. 10 last murdered his
naramour's husband by shooting him
through the heart, was hanged here at
O'Clock this morning. He declared his III
uocence TO the last. While standing on the
scaffold without a tremor he exclaimed:
81 am innocent so help me God" DAVIS
neck was broken. He was convicted on
circumstantial evidence.
At 1880 o'clock this morning the sheriff
read the death warrant to the condemned
The reading of the warrant took place IN
the doorway of the latticed hall which
Josiah has occupied for so long. He stood
in most respondent attitude, with his head
bowed down against the iron bars, and never
once during the reading did he lift his head
oreyes.
HOW THE WOMAN BORE II.
His wife stood erect clad in a muslin suit,
draped in black, with a red rose in her
bodice, pale. but with a most determined
aspect in every feature. During the read
ing of her own warrant only once did she
show any emotion whatever, and then she
cenvulsively clutched her throat.
When her husbands warrant was being
read, and the words hanged by the neck
until dead" were read, she gave hysterical
gasp, and seemed to exhibit much feeling.
The reading of the warrants was finished
at 1o:40 o'clock and both of the condemned
emerged from the jail, where they had been
confined for eighteen months, and proceeded
TO the yard between the court house and
jail, in which the scaffold had been erected.
BOTH PROTEST INNOCENCE.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
warrants Mrs. Potts earnestly calculated:
al am innocent, and God knows it," and
her husband reiterated: God knows we
q innocent
The gloomy procession made its way
through the side door, and, with bravery
unexpected by the spectators, the con-
demned couple seated themselves on stools
provided on the scaffold, while the deputies
proceeded to bind them with leather straps.
Mrs Potts helped to adjust hers herself,
but Potts sat in stolidity. When every
thing had been properly adjusted
they were directed to arise All
of the attendants shook hands with
the condemned. After shaking hands Potts
made several endeavors to clasp the hand
of his wife, but failed to accomplish it.
Finally touch of the wrist caused her to
turn her eyes towards him. The appeal of
love caused their lips to meet for a brief
moment. As the rope was stretched around
Mrs. Potts neck she clasped her hands to-
gether, and, lifting her eyes toward the sky,
exclaimed: God help me, l am innocent"
Her husband reiterated in a hollow tone:
"God knows we are both innocent"
As the black caps were drawn over their
heads, shutting out the last light of day,
the words of tine clergyman, who had re-
manned with them to the last, broke the
silence, "Put your trust in God and he will
see you righted," and then the drop fell.
Mrs. Potts was at once corpse, owing 70
her heavy weight.