The morning call., 1892-02-04
A BUYGLlNG EXECUTION.
4 MuTderer Twice Drops The Haudker-
chief for His Death Signal.


After TWO attempts William Mccoy was
hanged at Hinesyii!e for the murder OF
john W. Bowie at Jones Greek last Sep
TENDER. The gallOws was in the yard ad-
joining the JUL 1t was erected about two
years ago for the hanging of Bill Macon,
who killed John Spain, but was never used,
as Macon was aiterward sent to the pen-
tertiary and escaped the galows The
same rope has been kept.
few minutes after u o'clock Saerf
Smith announced to the doomed man that
his time had come. Mccoy asked Tor half
an hour IN which to pray before leaving
the cell Tits WAS granted. He sang and
prayed for about ten minutes, and five miu-
utes after he called 10 the Sheriff, I'm
ready any time" He assembled the steps
and stepped upon the platform. The depu-
ties fastened his feet together with a
rope, and examined the handouts and
rope which held his arms. When
the deputies had placed the black cap over
his head lie remarked TO the Sheriff: Nov,
when / throw this handkerchief down let it
&. Lord, l give myself 10 thee" The
handkerchief fell from McCoy's hands, the
Sheriff pulled the lever and the stage
dropped
The body of Mccoy descended eight feet.
reDOuuded aud the rope broke. The body
tumb.ed into the pit which had been dug to
give the proper distance. The spectators
saw the masked and feitered form WrIthlng
IN agony with tie moose end OF the rope
around his neck. One OF the deputies
quickly removed the rope and assisted Nc
Coy 10 q sitting posture. lie was suffering
from the terrible fall, and blood gushed
from his mouth. His neck was badly cut
by tie rope, but Notwithstanding all this he
was able 10 sit UP IN CHAR. and spoke to
tie Sheriff aud those arOt nd him.
After a few minutes dehberatiOn as to
the lawful right to administer relief under
those peculiar circumstances the doctor de-
cided that humane act was above re pTOach
from any Law and, therefore, gave Mccoy a
hypOdeTmlC Injection OF quarter CT grain
of morphine. la few minutes he seemed
someN hat relieved Of the terrible pain and
asked the minister 10 read him chapter
from the Bible. Rev. Mr.. Ashmore read a
chapter from the Romans, Mccoy asked
fer some more, alter which the minister
prayed with him, and as another rope had
been secured IN the meantime everything
was in readiness to 90 on with the hanging.
just then "a letter was received from
Jim Mccoy, a brother Of William, which
was read to him. Jim was on his way
20 Hnesyille and wanted William to tell
him where all LIS effects were and asked a
few other minor questions and expressed
hopes that his brother would not be hanged
Mccoy dictated letter u his brother aud
ted him that Sheriff Smith would give hun
all the information he required Then
he knelt aud prayed for a lew minutes.
after which he remarked that he was ready
again.
The condemned man had become weak
from the loss of blood and WAS not able To
ascend the gallowS alone. lie was assisted
by the deputies. II was with difficulty that
he stood upon the platform to have the rope
| and black cap readjusted. He took the
handkerchief again and alter several at
tempts 10 stand erect he finally reached the
proper position and at 45 the handker-
chief fell from his hand. His neck was
broken bY The fall.