The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-09-04
JUSTICE GRIM.
A BaURDERER AND TWO INCEN.
HANGED

For the first time in the history OF
Laurens three felons were suspended
from the same gallows at the same mo-
ment, last Friday. They were Jonn Fer
guson who killed his wife I'm March
and George Bowers and Wade Cannon
who burned MIR. j. u. Hairston's house
near Goldville last July. Tho execution
occurred as usual in the old Jail stable
and was performed neatly and with
proper decorum and dispatch. The num-
Der OF persons permitted by law were
witnesses. Three hundred people, me-
groes for Ia most part, stood about the
jail yard in the d%renching rain until long
after the CHASTITY transaction within had
been completed.
An ADVERTISER reporter called on the
three doomed negroes shortly before
their death. Ferguson was foundread-
ing bis Bible, when the reporter reached
his cell. He was in a cheerful frame of
mind apparently and talked freely. He
was entirely reconciled to his fate and
expressed full assurance Of salvation.
Bowers and Cannon were singing a
hymn when the reporter entered the
passage upon which their cell opens.
They were far from being in the pleas
ant humor in which Ferguson was
found but neithor manifested any owl
dencos OF terror or remorse. They de-
MED with vehemence that they had
burned Mr.. Hairston's house and one of
them said that he had shed tears when
he heard OF the fire. Both declared that
they were frightened int confession.
At the gallows Rev. j. Il. Jackson, of
the colored Methodist church read a
passage Of Scripture, the twenty-seventh
Psalm, and delivered a brief pr aver. A
few lines of q hymn were sung. Bowers,
who Is a slight and spare made fellow,
Walked rather unsteadily to the gallows
but otherwise ho as we'll as his comrade
in crime were firm in their behavior.
In answer to q question from the sheriff
both declared that they had no further
statement to make in reference tt the
burning. Bowers asked that his sister
be fold good-by fore him. John Ferguson
maintained his cheerful behavior to the
last. He said that ho died with malice
in his heart towards no one. A few nm
utes before the cap was adjusted he was
observed to smile and address some
question to Sheriff McCravy relative to
the death apparatus.
AT fifty-tour minutes past twelve
o'clock the trap was sprung and the trio
foil about -four INC a half feet. The
necks of Bowers and Cannon were bro
ken but Ferguson died from strangula-
tion. The bodies were allowed to re-
main hanging for %thirty-six minutes
when they were cut down and placed
in collins.
jennings and Green who wero also
sentenced to be executed ON September
LIST. will at least not be hung before next
March even If they fail to obtain new
trials. Appeals in theil cases are pend
ing in the supreme court.
The following note was sent to the
w local papers by John Ferguson a
fow days before the execution:
Editor LaurcnS ADVERTISER:
SIR: Please give mo space in your
paper to express my last desires. l am
fully ready to suffer the penalty of the
law, ii the debt can be paid in that way
and shall be. L am ready to meet my
righteous God; 1 am confident that 1
shall live with Him in glory. 1 have
nothing in my pathway; I nave done all
that my bettor nature has prompted me.
/ have asked forgiveness of man and
God for all the wrongs committed by
mo. [ have committed murder and l
pay for 1t. Now, I have only ono desire
and that is to see Mrs. WILDER, my wife's
mother. 1 nave sent for her several
times, but she will not come. l want to
say love her as dear as my own mother.
n If / had the power would bring her
daughter back to her arms. I have
something to tell her that would put her
unrest to sleep and she would be Bone
flied. Fell her, please, 1 go to my Father
in Heaven and | hope to sec her there
some day. I pray God for her while
1 am on this earth that she be forgiven
for not coming to see me and reconcile
matters. I should have gone to herlopg
since if I had been at Libel ty.
Now, I bid farewell to all. 1 go to my
homo of everlasting felicity. Thanks to
relatives and friends for all kindness
done mo while in prison.
Yours,
JOHN FERGUSON.
FERGUsoN's CRIME.
During last March Ferguson was at
WI CIV 1hoAOO' INV ouhudy ulOTnluB
he came to Laurens and went to a house
in a negro quarter of the town where
his wife, Emma, was visiting. Emma
was afraid of him land refused to come
out of the house. In the early afternoon
the other occupants leaving Emma and
her little girl, went to a funeral. Fergu-
son had remained about the door all
day and had sought an interview with
Emma. Finally the latter camo to the
door and Ferguson seized her by the
hair aud dragging her to the wood pile,
cut her throat with a knife. He imme-
diately ran away but came into town
after midnight and delivered himself
to the sheriff. His relations with his
wife had not been pleasant and she had
refused to live with him. jealousy is
supposed 10 have been the motive for
his deed.
AT the trial the defense undertook to
prove that the prisoner was subject to
epileptic fits and was not responsible at
the timo of the killing, but the jury
promptly found. a verdict of guilty. The
presiding Judge and and solicitor de-
clined to join in a petition for executive
clemency.
II CRIME OF BOWERS AND CANNON.
id. Hairston lives in a locality where
incendiary fires have not been uncom-
mon. n night about l o'clock during