Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-05
A Wife-slayer's Efforts to
Cheat the GallOws.
One of the Most Sickening Exc
cuti0nS ON Record.
The Culprit Shot Himself Before Be-
ing Dragged to the ScaffOld.
Swearing. Ehriekfng, BlasPheming and
Weltering in His Own Gore, the
Wretch Was Launched
Into Eternity.
as.Oeia.ea Press Dispatches.


Kansas Cry, Sept. 4.-The history of
the gallows tells no more hideous
story than that of the execution of Louis
BuIling, the st. Joseph wife murderer,
at Savannah, this afternoon. Just be-
fore the time for the execution, the
doomed man shot himself in vain eff
fort to commit suicide, and finally died
on the gallows, shrieking for mercy and
eursing his executors.
Up to a few days ago, Bulling seemed
cheerful and hopeful, in the face of his
approaching death. He had twice be-
fore cheated the gallows by jail-break-
ing. He reasoned that a chance still
remained, and to it might be added two
others-commutation of sentence and
suicide. One by one these chances
faded again. 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 personal interviews with Gov
ernor Francis, but the governor 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 re-
vived.
He was confirmed opium eater. and
during last night was given large doses
of the drug. 1t failed to have the ac-
customed effect, and the condemned
murderer slept less than two hours
during the entire night. Rev. August
Lavake, during Billings waking hours,
spent the time in reading the Bible and
praying and exhorting Bulling to con-
Tess his sins and receive baptism.
Sseriff Barry set the hour for the
execution at 10 O'Clock this morning.
When he went to the cell at O'Clock, TO
prepare the doomed man for the scaf-
fold, Bulling pleaded SO pitifully for an
extension of few hours, that the
sheriff yielded and gave him until
o'clock to live.
Bulhng ate light breakfast, and
spent the rest of the time pleading with
the sheriff for mercy and attending to
the religious exercises conducted by
Rev. Lavake.
When two o'clock arrived he renewed
his supplications to the sheriff, and
pleaded for one hour more. The sheriff
granted his request. Bulling then asked
for brandy, and the sheriff gave him
pint. Injections of morphine were ad-
ministered, but neither of the drugs had
much effect.
The sheriff then retired, leaving the
murderer with Rev. Lavake, at the same
time removing the guard from the cell
door, at Billings request to be left alone
h.o ex,r;fuol oAvioor C,11Ionlxv
two shots rang out, the sheriff ran to the
cell, the priest lay PROSTATE on the
floor At his side lay Bulling, weltering
in his own blood, which flowed from
wounds in his breast. He had shot
himself twice with revolver. The
priest had tainted.
A hasty examination of Bulling's
body showed that one of the bullets had
entered his left breast, and glancing
from the ribs, had passed around his
body, coming out at the back. The
other inflicted only a slight flesh wound
in the side. He had not lost conscious
ness, and when the sheriff ordered four
deputies to carry him to the scaffold,
he cursed and swore at them IN hor-
rible manner.
The deputies dragged the struggling
man to the courtyard, and lifted him
upon the gallows. He refused to stand,
and they placed him upon chair. As
he sat there, he presented revolving
spectacle. He was dressed only in shirt
and trousers. His hands and face were
covered with blood, which also stained
Ais shirt. Blood was pouring through
his shoes, whence it had run from
wounds in his breast, and formed dark
pools on the floor of the scaffold, drip
ping from thence to the ground be-
meath. He cursed and swore at the
deputies, cried and screamed for mercy
and shrieked in terror.
The sheriff gave him a large glass of
brandy, which he swallowed at one gulp.
Finally he was told to get up and stand
upon the drop. He refused, and four
deputies held him while the rope was
being adjusted. The black cap was
placed over his head, and yelling, scream
ing and blaspheming, he shot through
the opening at exactly 8 :2l O'Clock. His
neck was broken by the fall, and he died
almost instantly.
Rev. Levake has been arrested for Civ
ing Bulling the revolver with which he
attempted to commit suicide. The priest
declines to be interviewed.
AUGUSTA, Ca, Sept. 4.-Frank Dan
forth, colored, who murdered his mis-
tress last June, was hanged today.
Danforth made full confession and
profession of religion.
RUSSIAN REFUGEES.