The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-01
HAWESON THE GALLOWS
HE GOES TO HIS DEATH WITH A
FIRM STEP.

His Farewell Speech Only a Refer
ence to His Confession and the Fact
that Whisky and Vile Women
Brought Him to His Death--Life Ex-
tinct In Seven Minutes.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Feb. 2S.-At 1881
o'clock this afternoon Richard r. Hawes
was hanged in the Jail yard in this city.
The hanging was attended with no extraor-
dinary circumstances, and aside from the
fearful atrocity cf tho crime the hanging
would have been in all respects common
place. The doomed man spent last night
rather easily, and this morning at o'clock
told Sheriff Smith that he was ready to eat
his breakfast. It was brought, but he was
unable to eat, A little later Drs. Perser
and Slaughter, spiritual advisors Of Hawes,
arrived at the Jail, and from that time
until the sheriff called for him to go to the
gallows they talked and prayed with him.
1t was raining slightly when few minutes
before l o'clock 1t was whispered in the
jail yard that Hawes was coming. In an
other moment he made his appearance
leaning upon the arms Of Sheriff Smith and
Deputy Sheriff Love.
MOUNTING THE GALLows.
He ascended the gallows with q firm
step, and WHEN he reached the gallows floor
he surveyed the crowd in the yard very
carefully. The crowd consisted of about
100 people, nearly all of whom were news
paper men and officers. Hawes uken called
for two newspaper men, one of them NJ. s.
Caun, city editor of the Age- Herald and
said he wanted to forgive him for anything
he had written, and die at peace with the
world.
HIS FAREWELL SPEECHES.
He then turned TO the crowd and said:
II want to say TO tho congregation that
have made a written statement of this
whole thing from first to last, and it is the
truth. want people to believe, aud l
certainly hope that no one Will think that
l came to the gallows with a lie on
my lips" He told tho sheriff he
was ready and the moose was adjusted.
When first drawn around his neck It was
too tight and his face began TO grow red. It
was loosened and he said in a firm voice. 81
can stand this now for few moments" He
again turned TO the crowd and said, "This
has been brought about by whisky and vile
women. Take my advice, and let both
alone"
FALL OF THE TRAP.
A short prayer was pronounced by DIR.
Slaughter, and the black cap was placed on
the prisoners head. The sheriff descended
lfOul bue RhliOWs, anu uuIuSLlIiR inc rope
which was to pull the lever and spring
trap, he counted zone, two, three" The
man who pulled the rope was hidden from
the crowd and unknown to every one
There was slight pause after "three" fell
from tho sheriifs lips, aud then the trap fell
The body shot downward six feet and re-
bounded in the air. There were a few slight
convulsive movements, and muscles of tho
legs and the arms contracted little. The
swaying ceased, and at the expiration of
seven minutes Hawes was pronounced dead.
THE CONFESSION.
The confession which Hawes wrote is now
In the hands of his brother and gentleman
Of this city, aud they will dispose Of it for
the benefit Of Hawes little son. The state
ment is supposed to be a true account of the
crime. Mr.. Hawes Yesterday told one Of
his spiritual advisers that while he never
committed the crimes himself he was as
guilty as the person who did the killing, for
he had paid for the work.
CROWDS ON THE STREETS.
On the streets outside Of the jail there
were thousands Of people assembled when
the drop fell. A man on telegraph pole
which overlooked the gallows signaled the
crowd. mighty shout went up,
and as the dead mans body swayed
TO and fro expressions Of pleasure from out
side could be plainly heard.
In the court mousse just lOO rect away
murder trial was going on, aud just seven
minutes after the gallows was sprung tue
jury brought in verdict against Ben Elsey
OF murder in the first degree and fixed the
penalty at DEATH
ELsEY's CRIME.
Esey Ia the negro who killed white man
near the city few months ago, and it was
his testimony that convicted Gilbert Lowe,
who was hanged last Friday upon the same
gallows on which Hawes to-day suffered.
The attending physicians took charge Of
Hawes' body and made an examination OF
1t. IL was then turned over to the brother
Of the dead man, and tonight it was takon
to Atlanta, where it will be buried.