The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-15
Nerve on the scan Id.

Several travellers, While smoking their after
dinner cigars in the rotunda of the (4rauu Pr
cifc, had been drawing on their inaginaticus
for the purpose of. relating some singular exhi
ol Ion o. nerve on tbs ga lows when OPP Rea H.
happening along, took ris pipe from his mouth
long enough to tell the following actual occur.
renee, says the Chicago Post: 1t was in the
town OF Clarksvlile Ark, in 1884, and the execu-
ton was Governor johnson and three pals, all of
them commonly referred to as the Mulberry
train robbeIs They had held UP train on he
Little Rock and OFT Smith Ilroad, secured
S15,0O belonging to the express conlpanY and
killed the conductor.
"A great deal Of attention was attracted to
the occurre ce, aud when the four me were led
70 the scaffo'd there were fully 5000 persons
present, among tIem nlySe1.
1t was very not day, but no one stayed
away on that account not even tue pri; c. pals
when the nooses hat b.eu adjusted Gov
Johnson-everyboiy called him governor be-
cause that was the hiyhest title in the state ami
IL was expected that not more than few years
would einpse before the Office would be so dis
graced that its very name would disgrace a
train robber--was asked if he wanted TO saw
anything. He did. He was magnincently
proportloued fellow, and as handsome as thoy
could make them.
''Glad to see you all here he began. #
never saw many of you before, and don't sup
pose Il see any of YOU again. Tue crowd
lau yhed. You see the point That's good, he
said.
Some one in the crowd asked him why he
had robbed the train.
That's foolish question he replied. 4
| robbed it for money, of course You see l
| hal been following the races and got broke
| And | like e. rob, anyway. may be wrong
but somehow it has always se9me to me as If
things In general were wrong Fefore ever
did any robhing used to have to work hard for
my money. and when spent it it took a long
| time to gel any more
But there were fellows all about me who
made it easy enough and honestly, too, SO far as
the law was concerned. And wnen [ saw
them have SO much money and leisure quit
! work
when went broke on the race Governor
went on, after stepDing aside to prevent tie
| bg1t Of the rope being blown against his head
| i got some of the boys and we agreed to rob
| the tram 1t was understood that We were not
| to take a cent from the passengers We didn't
want their money. But the express company
was We knew, rich ana could afford to lose
whatever money 1t rnight have on the train. and
that was what wanlej.
" Another thing | made them agree on was
that we W re to shoot nobody tod them to
let others do the shooting, And il all b I'D kept
that agreement we wouldn't have been here
But one poor fool broke it and kiled the con
ductor. | won't say which one it is. However
we have got TO die some tine, and suppose
this is as good time as any
Are YOU afraid TO de-? somebody yelled
No Governor yelled BACK. Why should I
be? or course living Is pretty good to- but
| thisll all be over in minute aud that Il end all
so far az we are concerned. We won't know
anything more. It's just like light. You turn
the handle and ont it goes. Another light NAV
come. But 1t won't be the same, and neither
will the gas.
And so say just quit when we leave
here. There isn't any he'll The preacher,
ca lie to us to ray to save our sou from hell
after we were sentenced
81 told them they might pray all thew
wanted TO. although ii they had done it before
we might not have committed the murder But
the praying couldn't do us any good How
could ity Thtr3 isn't any hell. | wish there was
tell you, 1t is this not knowing anything that
bothers me.
I'D rather be in hell and suffer through
eternity and know | was something than to
know nothing and be- nothing However it's
got to be as it is. Toe only thing regret
| said Governor, his voice mellowing as he turned
| stood beside. him with a moose around his neck.
too. the only thing regret is that this boy has
| got to be hanged.
Never mind, Uncle Governor said the
youth with brave voice, never mind Uncle
Governor, never was afraid TO 90 along with
| you.
Governor stepped back at this" continued
| Opie Read, looking at his extinguished pine
and the preacher began. He talked for a
| long time. No one on the scaffold seemed to
mind its length. however, except Governor,
He shifted from one foot to another, and
| could see he getting impatient Finally after
casting glance at the preacher ana seeing no
! signs OF let up, he said: Say. Mr.. Preacher.
| Just let us have the peroration will youp, AID
| as the preacher continued, without giving heed
| to the interruption, Governor looked at the
crowd and cried: Can't some one pass me an
umbrella? Great! ITS hot as an oven UP
here. | can stand hanging. but don't want TO
| be roasted to death
but no one had an umbrella his request
couldn't be complied With, an so he turned his
attention 10 the Lreacher and besought him to
| stop Just cut it off anywhere add much
| obliged to you, he said At last the preacher
| stopped and Governor ranged himself alongside
| the rest, calling out in loud, lusty tones as, he
saw the sheriff give the signal for the drop
We'll, here we go The drop fell and all was
| over