The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-06-27
HIS DAY COMING.
Christian Young on the
Verge of the Tomb.
THE GOVERNOR HISHOPE
That Official Only Between the Con-
demned Man and II Legal Death.
THE SHERIFF MATURING PLANS.
The Place Of Execution Selected and
Work to Begin on the GallOws
neutrality-suspicious. to Secure
u Communication OF
the Sentence.

Unless Governor Francis shall exercise
the power vested in him, and commute
the sentence of death to one OF imprison-
ment in the penitentiary, and unless the
condemned man die or escape before the
day of execution, Christian Young, the
slayer of Steven Ferguson, will be hanged
in the Jail yard here abou the noon hour
of Thursday, July 2, less than u week
hence. A strong effort, by petition and
personal supplication, will be made to
bring about the first result, and vigilance
is being practiced in the Jail to prevent
suicide or escape. There seems lite pro-
liability OF either result following, for
Young firmly believes hat he will yet
escape the gallows. He is unconcerned
and calm-the calmest, apparently, of all
the men who will have to do with the
execution.
Very few preparations have been COM
menced for the execution, and nothing
will be done toward the erection of the
gallows and the enclosure surrounding it
until Monday, Sheriff Mitchell saying
that then he would have time enough.
Thursday morning he and Tailor Wade
inspected the lot about the Jail, and de-
cided to inclose a space some 12x25 feet at
the southeast corner of the clerks office,
at the rear OF the rooms used by the pro-
bate Judge and recorder. A board wall
twenty feet high will be erected around
the gallows, and a canvas covering will be
put over the enclosed space. The distance
from the main door of the Jail will only
be u few feet, so that Young, in his pas
sage from his cell to the place OF execu-
ton will have but a bare glimpse of the
MONDAY sun.
The attendance of spectators will be
limited to some thirty or forty persons,
who will be admitted only on presenta-
ton of tickets of admission furnished by
the sheriff. A strong guard will be placed
aroun the court house yard, to prevent
the encroachment of the over-anxious
who will not be entitled to see the execu-
ton.
The details of the crime, which was
committed at Corder, December 10, 1887,
have been so recently and so suscinctly
told in these colum MS, that their repeti-
ton here and now would be superfiuous.
Young, the readers Of the INTELLIGEN-
GER well know, was arrested the morning
after the commission of the crime. He
was tried at a subsequent term of the
criminal court, convicted and sentenced
to be hanged. An appeal was taken to
the supreme court N a new trial granted.
At this second trial he was again convict
ed,a appeal again taken, but the supreme
court, at its April term, 1891, affirmed the
verdict OF the jury and sentenced Young
D to be hanged July I'd.
3 His attorney, j. 8. Blackwell after read
ing the opinion handed Town by Judge
CAN'T, presiding judge OF division No. 2
1 of the state supreme court, filed a motion
| for a rehearing of the case in that court,
2 basing the motion upon a statement made
in the opinion that Young might well
Z have been convicted of a lesser degree OF
, crime, under the evidence and rulings Of
Trial court. LdSL lueSuay tniS IuObioH
A was overruled, and no other course was
left the faithful attorney but to appeal tc
the mercy of the governor.
. Father j. j. Lilly, pastor Of the Catholic
church here, has interested himself in
the condemned man, and it is understood
that ne is circulating a petition asking
for a communication of sentence. Young
y is a Catholic, but 80 far has had little Il
/ say on religious subjects. He seems quit
. Indifferent to the future, both in a spirit
ual and physical way.
The followi ng two sections of the re
vised statutes of 1889 are applicable, ant
e will be read with interest. Section 425
providesthat the execution OF persons con
!, victed of a capital crime shall be by hang
ing:
Section 4258. The sentence of deaf
shall be executed within the walls of tn
Jail at the county seat of the count.
y wherein the conviction was had, wheI
+" such Jail is so constructed that the execu
d ton can conveniently take place therein
but il the Jail is not so constructed, the
such sentence shall be executed in an en-