The Forrest City times., 1891-09-11
HANGED A DYING MAN.
HORRIBLE SCENE ON THE ScAF.
 FOLD AT SAVANNAH MO.
Murderer Bulling Shoots Himself Dut is Strung Up-The Action
 of q Priest.

tory Ol tuo SdAioWS tSliS no morc story than that of tho execu- tion of Louis Bulling, the St. Joseph at Savannah, Mo. Just before the time for the execution the doomed man shot himself in a vain effort to commit suicide and finally died on the gallows shrIeking for mercy and cursing his executioners Up to few days ago Bulling seemed cheerful and hopeful in the face of approaching death. He had twice be- fore cheated the gallows by jail breaking. He reasoned that that chance still remained and to it might be added two others-commutation 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 wore taken from him, Perpetual guard was kept over him and all visitors were searched be- fore being permitted to enter All means of escaps were cut off. Then the doomed man sent for his father and mother and pleaded with them to appeal to the governor for Q commuta- ton of sentence.
 The faithful parents went up to Jef- ferson City and had several personal interviews with Gov. Francis, but the govern or was firm in his decision not to interfere. Still the parents did not lose heart. They made another call on the governor ycster- day and pleaded for their sons life. The governor would not inter- pose. Then Mir. and Mrs. Bulling telegra phed thelr son the govern ITS decision and followed the message to Savannah. They had an affecting parting from tho doomed man last night and never saw him again in life.
 When Bulling received from his parents the message that the governor was obdurate he faintcd and was with difficulty revived He was a confirmed opium eater. and during the night he was gwen large doses of the drug. 1t failed to have it's accustomed effect, and the condemned murd Ter slept less than two hours during the entire night The Rev. August Lavake, dur ing Bulling's waking hours, spent the time in reading the Bible and praying, exhorting Buliing 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 o'clock to prepare the doomed man for the scaffold Bulling pleaded so pitt fully for an extension of few hours that the sheriff yielded and give him until clock to live. Bulling ate 8 light breakfast and spent the rest of the time in pleading with the sheriff for mercy and attending to the re- ligious exercises conducted by the Rev. Lavake. He still had faint hopes of commutation, but as noon sub mitted to the baptismal ceremony and received the sacrament.
 When o'clock arrived he renewed his aptication to the sheriff and plead ed for enc hour more. He fell on his knees before the sheriff and begged piteously for mercy. The sheriff gran ed his request. Bulling asked for brandy and the sheriff gave him a pint. Injections of morphine were ad- ministered, but neither of the drugs had much Feet.
 The sheriff then retired, leaving the muraerer with the Rev. Lavake, nt the same time removing the guard from the cell door at Bullings request to be left alone with hls spiritual ad- wiser.
 The silence of the jnil was broken only by the voice of the priest, when suddenly two shots rang out The sheriff ran to the cell. The priest lay prostrate on the floor. At his side lay Bulling weltering in his own blood which flowed from wounds Tn his breast He had shot himself twice with . revolver.
 The priest had tainted A hasty ex- animation of Rulings body showed that one of tho bullets had entered the left breast and plancing from rib had passed around his body and come out of his back. The other bullet had inflicted only slight flesh wound in his left side.
 He had not lost consciousness, and when the Sheriff ordered four deputies to carry him to the scaffold he cursed and swore at them in horrible man ner. i he deputies dragged the strug- gling mar to the courtyard and lifted him upon the gallows. He refused to stand and they placed him upon a chair. As he sat there he presented q revolting spectacle, He was dressed only in shirt and trousers. His hands and face were covered with blood. which also stained his shirt, and blood was streaming through his shoes, whence it had run from the wounds in hls breast and formed dark pools on tho floor of tho scafold. dripping thence to the ground beneath.
 He cursed and swore at the deputies, cried and screamed for mercy and shrieked in terror Tho sheriff gave him a large glass of brandy and he swallowed il at one gulp. Finally he was told to get up and stand on the drop. He refused and four deputies held him up while the rope was bcins adjusted.
 Tho black cap was placed over hi. head. and, yelling. screaming and blaspheming, he shot through the opening at 3:2l o'clock. His neck was broken by the fall and he died almost instantly.
 The Rev. Lavalse has been arrested for giving Bulling the revolver with which he attempted suicide, but dc clines to be interviewed.
 Bullings cell was thoroughly searched last night and no weapon was found. The only persons admit ted to the cell since that time were a newspaper man, the deputies. and the Rev. Lavake. Suspicion rested upon the latter.