The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-09-05
AN UGLY SCENE
4 CONDEMNED MIlRDERER'S EFFORTS
10 CHEAT THE GALLONS.
HE Shoots HIMSELF Is MS CELL,
BUr r. AFTERWARDS HANGED
WILLS cURsING THE
ExECUTIONERs.


The history Of the gallows tells no
more hideous story than that Of the
execution Of Lonis Bulling, the St.
Joseph wife murderer at Savannah
yesterday afternoon. just before the
time for the execution the doomed
man shot himself in d vain effort to
commit suicide, and finally died on
the gallows, shrieking for mercy and1
cursing his executioners.
Up to few days ago Bulling seemed
cheerful and hopeful III the face Of his
approaching death. He had twice be-
fore cheated the gallows by Jail break
ing, He reasoned that an chance
still remained, and to it may be added
two others, communication Of sentence
and suicide. One Of these chances
failed. Early last week II was discov-
cred that Bulling had planned TO break
jail the third time. Steel saws were
found in his cell and they were taken
away from him. Perpetual guard was
kept over him and all visitors we're
searched before being permitted To-
enter.
All means ofescape being cut off
the doomed man sent for his father
and mother, and pleaded with them
to appeal to thegovernor for commu
tation of sentence. The faithful par
ents went to jefferson City and had
several personal interviews with Gov
ernor Francis, but the governor was
firm in his decision to not interfere.
Still the parents did not lose heart.
They made another call on the gov
ernor yesterday, and pleaded for their
sons life. The Governor would not
linterpose. Then Mr.. and Mrs. Bulling
telegraphed their son the governors
decision, and followed the message to
Savannah. They had an affecting
parting from the doomed man last
night.
When Billings second chance for
life disappeared he broke down com
pletely. When he received from his
parents the message that the governar
was obdurate he tainted. He was a
confirmed opium eater, and during the
night he was given large doses of the
drug. 1t failed to have its accustom-
ed effect, and the condemned murderer
slept less than two hours during the
entire night. The Rev. Aug. Layake,
during Billings waking hours, spent
the time in reading the Bible and pray
ing, exhorting Bulling to confess his
sins and receive Baptism.
Sheriff Barry had set the hour for
the execution at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. When he went to the cell at 6
o'clock to prepare the doomed man for
the scaffold Bulling pleaded 50 piteous-
| ~ for an extension Of a few hours that
the sheriff yielded and gave him until
2 o'clock to live. Bulling ate break
fast, and spent the rest of the time in
pleading with the sheriff for mercy
and attending to the religious exercies
conducted by Rev. Lavake. He still
had faint hope Of a Communication, but
at noon submitted to the baptismal
ceremony and received the sacrament.
When o'clock arrived he renewed
his supplications to the sheriff and
pleaded his request. The sheriff
then retired, leaving the murderer
with the Rev. Mr.. Lavake, at the
same time removing the guard from
the cell door at Billings request to be
left alone with his spiritual adviser.
The silence Of the cell was broken only
by the voice Of the priest, when two
shots rang out. The sheriff ran to
the cell. The priest lay on the floor
At his side lay BuHing, weltering in
his blood, which Nhowed from wounds
in his breast. He had shot himself
twice with revolver. The priest had
tainted.
An examination Of Bullingis body
showed that ONE Of the bullets had
entered the left breast and CHANGING
from a rib had passed around HE body
|and come out Of his back. The
other bullet only made a slight
flesh wound in his left side. He swore