The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-07

would gather to witness the execution,
but such was not the case. A crowd OF
men assembled early upon the street
corners and discussed the solemn event
The gallows was not an elaborate affair.
1t stood within a forty foot enclosure to
the jury last night The little crowd OF
witnesses who entered the inciosure
waited with solemn whispered conversa-
tion.
AT five minutes before 10 o'clock the
prisoner came from his cell The process
sion to the gallows was headed by Sheriff
Horpbeck and Sheriff Smith, of Sedalia.
Then came the prisoner between guards,
followed by his spiritual adviser. The
prisoner wore long black Prince Albert
coat and looked quite like clergyman.
He wore his hair rather long and it was
slightly disarranged and his face was COW
cred with full yellow beard. His fore
head was drawn in wrinkles, as though he
was undergoing deep mental anguish; but
his bright blue eyes greeted the crowd
without sign of fear. He assembled the
scaffold with firm step, and walking to
one side. said: MY men. / have nothing
to say. wish you all well. May God
bless you" He then stepped upon the
fatal drop.
finched. He looked straight ahead. After
the black hood had been drawn over his
head, the minister stepped forward and
said: "Do YOU believe in the Father and
the Som" From beneath the hood came
the firm answer, Il do" Then may
God bless you," said the minister, 'tand
have mercy upon you" Then the two re-
came as distinctly from beneath the hood
as from the minister's mouth. At the
word Amen" the drop fell The body
swung around several times, and then re-
manned perfectly still There was not
stir or a move. In eighteen minutes the
heart ceased to beat. He has no friends to
claim his body, and it will be inferred in
the potter's field.
TURLINGToN's CAREER.
John Oscar burlington was a desperate
of the worst kind. In appearance he was
more like farmer than a criminal He
was born in the backwoods of Kentucky,
and, although only 26 years of age, he had
a record that few criminals have equaled.
About year ago, while going through
Missouri, he was ordered from freight
train, and, while jumping of, he fired at
the brakeman, and then ran. He was ar
rested and confined in the Boonville Jail.
Owing to his quiet behavior, which was
assumed, he was allowed considerable
liberty. On the night of June IA Sheriff
Cranmer was alone in the Jail AS Gran
mer was in the act of locking the prison
ers in their cells, burlington drew a
revolver just as the sheriff inserted the
key in the lock of his cell door The sheriff
quickly drew his revolver, and shots were
exchanged. Cranmer receiving wound
from which he died the next day.
burlington escaped but was captured in
a short time. At the trial it was shown
that released prisoner had secretly pass
ed the revolver to burlington through the
window of his cell. burlington was con-
victed of murder and sentenced to be
hanged September II. The case was taken
on appeal to the supreme court. The citi-
zens of Cooper county, growing impatient
at the delay, threatened lynching. Tur-
lington learned of the threat and deter
mined to escape. On the night of Novem-
Der be made good his escape from the
Jail. For over a week the search for the
fugitive was kept up, but burlington
could not be found. On November r.
however, he was captared in Kentucky. A
little later came the following telegram:
"A. Hornbeck, sheriff Boonvile. Mo.
II am captured. Please have your depu
ties to have me protected from the mob.
John OSCAR BURLINGTON"
A deputy was sent to Kentucky with |
the proper requisition papers and the pris-
oner was returned to the sBoonville Jail. |
After being returned to the Jail he once |
more escaped, but was captured at Otto |
vile, On January ri the supreme court |
refused new trial and fixed the date of !
execution for today.