The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-05
Terrible Scenes Attend the Hanging
ora Wife Murderer at Sa-
vannah, Mo.
He Shoots Himself p Few Minutes
Before tho Time Set for His
Execution.
Carried to tho Drop with the Blood Pour
Ing From His Wounds and Held
while the Rope Is Placed.


The ST. Joseph wife murderer, at Savannah,
This afternoon. Just before the time for
the execution, the doomed man shot him
self in vain effort to commit suicide, ana
finally died on the gallows shrieking for
mercy and cursing his exeoutioners. Up TO
a few days ago Bullipg seemed cheerful and
hopeful in the face Of his approaching
death. He had twice before cheated the
eallows by jail breaking. He reasoned
that that chance still remained, and to 1t
might be added two others, Communication
OF sentence and suicide. One by one these
chances faded away. Early last week IT
was discovered that Bulling had planned to
break jail the third time. Steel Saws were
found in his cell and they were
taken away from him. His faithful parents
went to Jefferson City and had several per-
sonal interviews with Gov. Francis, but the
bovernor WAS firm in his decision not TO
interfere. When Bulling received from his
parents the message that the governor was
obdurate, he tainted and was with difficulty
revived. He was confirmed opium eater
and during the last night was given large
doses of the drug. It failed to have It's
accustomed effect and the condemned muir
derer slept less than two hours during the
entire night. Rev. August Lavake during
Bulling's waking hours spent the time in
reading the Bible and praying.
Sheriff Barry had set the hour for the ex-
ecution at 10 O'Clock this morning. When
he went to the cell at six O'clock to prepare
the doomed man for the scaffold BulllnR
pleaded so pitifully for an extension OF
few hours that tho sheriff yielded and gave
him up til two o'clock to live. Bulling ate
light breakfast and spent the rest of the
time pleading with the sheriff for mercy
and attending to the religious exercisef
conducted by Rev. Lavake. When two
O'clock arrived he renewed his supplications
to the sheriff and pleaded for one hcu'
more. The sheriff granted his request
Bulline then asked for brandy and the
sheriff gave him pint. Injections OF NOR
phine were administered, but neither OF the
drugs had much eject. Ihe snerln tnel
wake, at the same time removing the enart
! from the cell door at BullinR's request to b.
left alone with his spiritual adviser.
Suddenly two shots rang out. The sheriff
ran to the cell the priest lay prostrate or
the foor. At his side was Bulling, welter-
ing in his own blood, which flowed IRON
the wounds in his breast. He had shot him
self twice with revolver and the prizes
had tainted. A hasty examination of Bull
| lino's body showed one of the bullets hat
entered the left breast and glancinR from
the rib had passed around the body. comm
out at the back. inficting only slight fiesl
wound in the aide. He had not lost con
soiousness and when the sheriff orders
four deputies to carry him to the scaftol
he cursed in horrible name. The dep
uties dragged the struggling man to tn
court ward and lifted him up on the gal
lows. He refused to stand and they place
him upon a chair. As he sat there 3
was dressed only in his shirt an
trousers, his hands and face we're oovere
with blood, which poured down and ais
stained his shirt. Blood was runnm
thu ough his shoes, whence it had run froll
wounds in his breast and formed dark pool
on the floor of the scatfold, dripping frol
thence to the ground beneath. He curse
screamed for mercy and shrieked In tel
A sheriff gave him large glass of bran
DIV, which he swallowed at one gull
Finally be was told to get up and stan
upon the drop. He refused, and four dept
ties held him while the rope was beln
placed. The black cap was placed over h
head, and, yelling, screaming and blat
phemino, he shot through the opening. 9
exactly 1921 O'Clock. HIS neck WAS broke
by the fall and he died almost instantl.
. Rev, Lavake has been arrested for Rivinn
Bulling the revolver with which
attempted to commit suicide. Inc prie
declines to be interviewed.
Rev. Lavake was interviewed tonight r
parding Bu.ling's attempted suici le. u
was on his knees PRAYING when Bullir
fired the first shot. Muscular contractle
following the passage. OF the III
bullet into Bullinq's body, the prie
asserts, caused Bulling to. dischaarI
, the revolver accidentally, and the ba
whizzed by his head. He first thought Blu
: ling had attempted to murder him an
! tainted. a,
just before Bulling was hanged tn
sheriff had a short whispered consultatic
with him regarding the attempted suicld
The sheriff declined to say anything reRar
ing the conversation but it is conslders
significant that Immediately after the ex
: cution Lavako was arrested.