The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-23
DOTOONS INSTANT DEATH.
The Murderer Of JEFF Coates Pays
The Penalty.
His Execution Witnessed by
Less Than a Dozen People.


The Condemned Man Chooses His
Own Hour TO Die, and the Drop Fell
on Time-Dotson Met his Fate
Firmly-His Neck Broken and Death
Instantaneous-The rderer's last
Hours Spent With His Spiritual Ad-
viser-Scenes IN the jail During the
Execution.
Lucius Dotson paid the penalty Of his
crime yesterday.
The drop fell at 1925 o'clock and death
ensued instantaneously, Dotson's neck being
broken by the fall At 10:41 o'clock his
pulse ceased to teat and at 1912 o'clock his
heart ceased also.
The hanging was as quiet, orderly and
well conducted as it is possible for an affair
of the kind 10 be. There were not over
dozen persons present, including the sheriff
and his deputies, the county physician.
reporters and jail attaches. Outside there
were hardly q dozen people gathered, and
the two policemen stationed on Hsoersham
street we're not needed. There seemed to be
an entire lack Of interest in the execution
among both whites and blacks
FIXED BIS OWN HOUR.
The execution was at a rather early hour,
the time having been fixed from 10 until
o'clock. The hour was Of Dotson's own
choosing. however. he appointing 1925
o'clock as the time he preferred TO die.
Those whose duty brought them to the
scene arrived early. aud at O'Clock a little
knot of officers, reporters and physicians
was gathered in the jailer's Office
Rev. Alexander Harris, Dotson's spiritual
adviser, arrived at the Jail about $3.50
O'Clock and proceeded at once to the con-
demned mans cell, where be engaged in
prayer and singing hymns. He found
Dotson prepared aud calmly awaiting his
fate. In fact Rev. Harris said afterward
that Dotson had made up his mind some
time ago to die and had prepared himself
for death. He said Dotson had no hope Of
reprieve and expected nothing Of the
kind. He spent Thursday morning with
him in his cell praying and conversing and
ministered the sacrament to him. Dotson
was a member of the Baptist church before
coming to Savannah.
DOTsoN's LAST CONSOLATION.
The jail was very quiet while Rev.
Harris prayed and sung with Dotson, not
one of the sixty-nine prisoners in the jail
making a sound. The tones Of the aged
minister's voice sounded through the cor
ridors to the words of the hymn,
"There Is a fountain filed with blood,
Drawn from Emanuels veins,
Ard sinners plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains"
After each hymn he would spend few
moments in prayer, but his voice was in
audible in the office below. Occasionally
some of the prisoners joined in the hymns
in low murmurlng tone, but otherwise
they we're very quiet and seemed to be
listening intently. Dotson followed the
hymns part Of the time
The party in the jailer's Office at 10
o'clock awaiting the execution consisted OF
Sheriff Roman. Deputy Sheriff Higgins of
the city court, Constables Nathans. Harti-
gan and Dunno, Assistant Chief of Police
Killourhy, Drs. Owens, Chisholm and
Brunuer. and Representatives Of the MORN
ING News and the Press and two or three
others.
Ihh FINAL PREPARATIONS.
The final preparations for the execution
began shortly after 10 o'clock aud an ex-
animation was made to be sure that every
thing was in proper working order, and
that no mistake was likely to occur at the
last moment.
At 1918 o'clock the deputies and con-
stables were admitted to the inner corridor
of the Jail and the locks were turned, throw,
ing open the doors of all the cells upon
each side of the corridor. The intention
was to allow the prisoners on that floor to
view the hanging, as in the case of Moreas
execution, but of the twenty odd prisoners
on the floor only two awaited themselves of
their cells, evincing no sign of what interest
they felt in the proceedings.
MET DEATH CooLLY.
Dotson walked out Of bis cell in company
with Rev. Harris. He was firm and com
posed in manner. He was dressed in a neat
suit of dark goods provided by the county.
AS he came out of his cell he dropped upon
his knees and prayed for awhile with his
back turned toward the officers. Speaking
privately with Sheriff Roman, Dotson said
he did not wish to say anything. He was
advised, however, to state his feelings In q
few words ct least, and consented to do 80.
The physicians and reporters were then
admitted and Dobson spoke up suddenly
from where he stood in front of his cell
without any preliminaries:
well, have nothing to say, gentlemen.
The hour has arrived and must die
have had good attention since l have been
in prison-the best of all from mankind.
and Kew. Harris, my spiritual adviser, he
has done me good. All ! have to say 10
good oy-good by"
SPOKE WITH AN EFFORT.
The condemned man spoke In disconnected
sentences as if il cost him an effort. He
then advanced in front of the gallows
cell where his hands were tied by Bailiff
Marcus Hunter (colored). His manner was
calm but depressed. He was looking we'll,
but his skin was pale and sallow from long
confinement. He was of low, medium build
and stoop-shouldered. He advanced into
the cell and stood upon the trap with his
head upon the rope. Then his feet and legs
were bound. SWhile this was being done be
closed his eyes and his lips seemed to be
moving in prayer. while his head
swayed slightly back and forth. He
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