The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-25
OZBURN ON THE GIBBET.
He PLAYS TIE INSANITY DODGE
TILL THE TRAP FALLS.

HIS Neck Broken by the Fall, and the
Execution Accom- panied by No IN
usual Features-ais Wife's Farewell
Interview With Him-The Story OF
His Crime
| ATLANTA, GA, July 24-Charles al.
Ozburn was hanged to-day. The drop fell
at 10 IS o'clock, and his neck was broken.
Gov. Northen did not answer the petition
of Ozburn's counsel until this morning, but
the preparations for the execution were not
stopped on that account The final decision
was annou aced at 9 o'clock, and was to the
effect that there would be no interference.
The interest through the city was great.
| 1t is acknowledged on all sides that had the
| governor repreved Ozburn mob law might
/ have done the work.
HOW He PASSED THE NIGHT.
Last night at very late hour Ozburn
was seen, and he looked much better than
he did when he was being tried for insanity
He slept very little. and though he was not
nervous, he evidently felt and knew that be
| would be hanged.
He spoke of mis- hanging not once. When
| spoken to concerning Is, he would not
| ans wer, though he talked nationally about
all other matters. Frequently he would
| ask for a cigarette OF a toddy, both Of
which were given him at intervals.
ATE HEARTY BREAKFAST.
This morning Ozourn ate heartily, but
| would say nothing concerning his impend-
| ing fate. Many thought Osburn would
| commit suicide during the night, out had
| he so desired he could not have done SO, as
| the death watch was put on him yesterday
morning, and there was some one with him
all the while. At 10 o'clock this morning
| Ozburn's wife called at the jail, heavily
yelled, and talked with her husband for
some time, but apparently he did not recog
nize her. The doomed man showed no emo
| tion during the conversation, and when his
wife told him he must die, he said: 81 know
| it, | don't care" just as il he did not know
| what he was talking about.
UNCONCERNED TILL THE LAST
Through this morning he was as uncon-
cerned as If ne were a free man without
care He was given a toddy at II 80
o'clock and another about IL o'clock. In
the meanwhile he smoked cigarettes, but
woult not have one unless he saw it rolled.
At no time did he take any concern in what
was going on around him. While bein
dressed he simply submitted without taking
any interest in it.
THE CROWD IN THE JAIL YARD.
When the time for the execution arrived
there were probably $50 persons in the jail
Sergs. Bob Oz5urn OF the police force and
E. l.. Bradley, the murdered mans brother
Bradley was so drunk that he could not be
kept out of the way of the officers.
A large crowd, principally negroes, had
gathered in front of the jail, and they re-
manned there until the execution was over
Among the persons in the Jail were four
| little boys: Ed Bradley, son of the muir
| dered man; Roy Bradley, a son of P. B.
Bradley, and Frank and John Jordan, sons
of JAN er Jordan.
SHORT RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
Just before Ozburn was carried from his
cell DR.. G.. B. Stricken and DR.. E. H Bar
nett went in and hold a short
religious service, but the murderer
paid no attention to it further than
to be quiet. A prayer was offered
and the ministers came out, leaving Ozburn
sitting on the side of his couch. The death
| warrant was read, and at 1890 o'clock the
Jail was cleared of all persons and Ozburn
was led into the yard the jailers,
Messrs. Miller and Faith, supporting
him. When he appeared there
were many expressions of surprise
| that he looked so we'll by those who had not
| seen him for some time. Ozburn, tall and
| erect, walked unfalteringly toward the gal
| lows with no sign of fear or hesitation and
mounted the steps between Miller and
Faith. All the while he was smoking a CT
| garette which he carelessly threw aside just
before the last prayer was offered.
THE LAST PRAYER.
When Dr. Strickler said, LET us pray, ="
| Ozburn took off his hat and held 1t in his
hand during the prayer; his head was
l bowed. When the prayer WAS finished
| Ozburn raised his head, showing by these
| acts that he knew what was going on.
| OZburn said in answer TO a question on the
| gallows: Yes, l would like TO have further
| religious advice" When he descended DR..
| Strickler said: "Osburn evidently realizes
that he is going to be hanged"
| The murderer made one or two careless
| remarks while he was being bound, and
when his arms we're being tied he f1Inched
perceptibly once. He stood perfectly erect,
without the slightest sign of emotion; in
deed, his face never changed its expression.
FALL OF THE TRAP.
When Sheriff Morrow counted, Zone u
1.-TWO" three the trap fell from under o.
| burn, at IL :3S o'clock, aud not even his knees
| ever bent while his body was suspended
in the air. There was not a movement
not culver, not muscle seemed TO move
His neck was broken by the fall In three
minutes his pulse was hardly perceptibe
! and in five Drs. j. S. Alexander, d. Howell
and j. NJ. Griffin announced that all circu-
lation had ceased. In seven minutes there
was no motion of the heart. In fifteen
minutes the body was cut down and placed
| in an imitation mahogany coffin.
| ., If Ozburn was a sane man, and that Is the
general verdict, he played his role well until
the very last minute. His utter indifference
and his careless manner lasted him we'll.
His counsel did all in their power to save
him.
A SENSATIONAL STORY.
Ozburn's sanity is question that nc
longer affects his fate on earth, but it is 8
matter still being discussed with great
interest here, and concerning which a very
sensational story is afioat here tonight
This is to the effect that Ozburn this morn-
ing made a practical confession to one
of the jsilors that he was feigutng
insanity. The statement, or confession,
complexities DR.. Griffin, the county phys-
clan, as party to the fraud. Here is the
story in substance as a jailer told 1T TO-
night
When Osburn's wife called this morning
one Of the jailers informed Osburn.
Charley" he said. won't you see and talk
to her nowW
"Wkat has the governor done" asked o.
burn.
He was told of the governors refusal to
interfere.
won't you talk to your wife now?" re,
peated the jailer.
81 will, said Ozburn, "if nobody else is
in here"
well have to keep the watch in here"
Ozburn looked disappointed.
"Well," he reiolned, thoughtfully. "iust