The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-29
HANGED BEFORE
DRAM COMFY FURNISHES VIENNA
A ROMAN HOLIDAY.

Led From the JAN TO the Scaffold to
the Beat OF q Drum and Surrounded
by Armed Guards - Story OF the
Crime Which Cost Him His Life.
VIENNA. GA, Oct. 2s-Orau Coney was
hanged here to-day before a large crowd
The prisoner ate hearty breakfast this
morning. and, as he has been since his SEN
tence was pronounced, be was cool and
talked to his companions in a lively
manner When the MORNING NEWS cor-
respondent saw him he was smoking cigar,
and between puffs gave the information
that be was to be hanged and stewed with
dumphngs. He was dark mulatto. The
suit of clothes Furnished him was reSpecta-
bic and we'll fitted When asked if be was
satisfied with the suit he said he was going
TO heaven and would, therefore, rather
wear better pair Of shoes
THE MARCH TO THE GALLOws.
At 1850 o'clock Sheriff Powell placed the
handouts on the condemned mans wrists
and led him from the Jail seated on coffin
in q wagon surrounded by thirty guards
armed with rifles. COney was carried from
the jail to the gallows, followed by several
thousand people. As the procession moved
Jenny beat the funeral march. At 1920
O'Clock the prisoner assembled the gallows,
accompanied by the sheriff, three colorad
praashers and the prisoners sons. At 1925
O'Clock the death warrant was read by the
sheriff One of the preachers read a pas
sage Of scripture, q prayer was uttered and
hymn suog.
HIS LAST STATEMENT.
At1:0S o'clock the prisoner rose and be-
gan making his statement. De spoke for
forIy-seven minutes The statement was
full Of bravado and contained numerous
witty Jokes. at which the crowd laughed.
At l;56 O'Clock the black cap was placed
over the prisoners head and the moose ad-
justed. He shook hands with the sheriff,
and as be uttered the words "good-bY, Mr..
Powell the trigger was pulled and Consy
fell six feet. His neck was broken and not
q muscle Quivered.
At 2:OS O'Clock Drs c. T. StovaIl, W. Il.
whipple and L. C. Woodson pronounced
the body lifeless.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The Grim for which Oran Coney was
hanged to-day as committed In Co-dele On
the night OF June s, 1891, and was one OF
the most atrocious and cold-hlooded muir
ders ever perpetrated IN Dooly county.
About O'Clock on the night Of the murder
those VINO passed near a negro womAn's
of pistol in quick succession. hurried
scuffliuR sound followed, accompanied by
the shrieks of woman. A man tumbled
headlong out the door and fell heavily to
the ground. Il occurred SO gu ckly that
the sounds we're hardly located before the
disturbance ended. crowd rushed in and
found Moses Morgan, a negro crosstIs cut
ter for the Savannah, Americus and Mont
gomery railroad, lying III pool OF blood on
the floor while Oran Coney lay insensible
Just outside the'dOor. Coney's wounds were
found to be slight, but Morgan had
pistol ball in his shoulder and one In his
breast near the heart.
The neg o woman's story was that the
two men we're rivals for her affection. On
this night Coney learned that Morgan was
in the house with her and became terribly
enraged He forced sn entrance into the
house. having in one hand pistol and IN
the o her torch. Without utteringa word
he pointed the pistol at Morgan and fred
twice ] ne shots took effect as already
stated. Strengthened by the desperation of
of the situation, Morgan rushed madly upon
his antagonist and succeeded in bruising
him considerably, finally knocking him
completely out Of the house.
Morgan died next day and Coney was
carried to jail at Vienna. He was sick for
a month from the effects Of the terrible
blows his dying victim had dealt him
At the eptenber term, 1891, OF Dooly
supe Tor Co.rt Comfy was tried and con-
victed of murder. The case was appealed
TO the supreme court, but judgment Of
the lower court was affirmed. At the
September term of court this year he was
sentenced by Judge Fish 20 be hanged TO-
daY