The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-28
A RED HANDED DEMON HUNG
Doc Taylor Pays the Penalty for His
Part in a Massacre.


of the Mullins Family Still at
Large-The Trio Waylaid the Family
as They Were Drivi2g Along a Noun
tain Road in Virginia and Fired Into
Them at Close Range-Five Killed.
Robbery the Object, and 81 600 OBJ
tanned.
Roanoke, Va, Oct. 27.-Doc Taylor,
who massacred the Mullins family on
May IA, 1892, expiated his terrible crime
on the gallows at Wise court house, 5
miles from here, few moments before 2
O'Clock to-day.
AT his own request the sheriff allowed
him to address the multitude in the fore
noon. He appeared at a window in the
court house at 1918 a. m, and stood for a
moment looking over the vast throng who
stood in the pouring rain to get a glimpse
of such a famous and eccentric man. He
was dressed in a white suit, made of a
damask linen table cloth. He wore a
standing collar and pure white tie His
footwear consisted of black slippers and
white cotton socks.
OPENS THE SERVICES.
After he had viewed the crowd he
reached for his book of worship and read
a selection from the New Testament and
asked the thirty persons who stood
around him to sing How firm a founda-
tion, " which was followed by prayer, led
by the prisoner, who took off his slippers
and knelt on his wifes faded black shawl
Another song was sung and he read from
his text the verse in Revelation, begin
ming Behold, ! stand at the door and
knock" He then consumed an hour and
a half in reading and talking, but
seldom touched the text. He was
not agitated, made no confession, said
nothing of his crime, and closed his
speech a few minutes before noon. He
then went back to his cell and rested
until 2 o'clock, when he was taken to the
gallows Thirty persons witnessed the
execution. He spoke but a few words be-
fore the black cap was adjusted.
According to his request his remains
will not be buried for three days, when,
he says, he will rise again.
TAYLoR's CRIME.
The crime for which Taylor paid the
penalty to- day was committed May II,
1892, and was more in the nature of
massacre than an ordinary murder. So
hideous was it in every detail and so
heartless in its execution, that it shocked
even the inhabitants of this mountain re-
gion, who are not unused to hearing tales
of murder.
Ira Mullins, man who was so lame
that he could not walk, lived at Pound
Gap, near the state line between Ken
lucky and Virginia. At the time the
murder was committed he had been to
Lecher county, Kentucky, to dispose of q
tract of land, and was returning to his
home in company with his wife and hls
daughter, his brother John Mullins, and
the latter's wife and son. This, with a
silly boy, who was the driver, composed
the party.
A SURVIVOR TELLS THE STORY.
Mrs. John Mullins and her son escaped
to tell the story. Mrs John Mullins was
the principal witness against Taylor Her
evidence in court was to the effect that
Ira Mullins and his family were in the
wagon short distance in front OF her,
and where the pathway led into the main
road, when she heard a VOlley fired
Fastening up TO where they were she saw
the horses aud driver dead Immediately
Doc. Taylor and two others, John and He
nan Fleming, came out of the woods that
lay between the pathway and the road
and commenced firing at close range into
the wagon. Ira Mullins and his wife and
son were killed in that vOlleY. At that
instant her husband, John Mullins, and
her son came up the pathway. The guns
of the murderers were turned on them
and John Mullins fell lifeless; but his son
fed and escaped alive.
MRS. MULLINS ALLOWED TO GO.
In the meantime Mrs Mullins had
alighted from her horse, and running up
to them, begged them ''for Gods
sake to quit shooting, as they are all
killed now, f." when one Of them turned to
her and said, that if she did not leave
there d quick they would kill
her too" She then ran away and left
them The Inurderers then proceeded to
rifle the pockets of their victims, securing
from Ira Mullins the price of the land he
had sold, which was about 81 900 They
then mutilaUed the bodies of their victims
in the most horrible and revolving man
ner Taylor, for some time afterwards,
made his abode with the Elemings, where
he was in tolerably safe hiding. Fearing
capture there, he went to Norton, boarded
a freight train and went to Bluefeld.
THE ARREST
The authorities of Norton wired Detect
i've w. G.. Baldwin, of the Norfolk and
Western railroad. who arrested him as he
was boarding the west-bound passenger
train. He was tried in the circuit court
by Judge Norris. The verdict was guilty
anu nc was SGnJeuEtOl 10 QcdJn, Delng
taken to Lynchburg for safe keeping
His counsel secured writ of error and
argued the case before the court Of ap-
peals, which sustained the verdict Of the
lower court, and he was brought back and
to be hanged to-day. He
leaves family, all grown and well res
pected.
1t was claimed by his friends that he
was insane and petitions were circulated
last week TO ask the governor to eX-
tend the time Or commute his sentence to
life imprisonment, but not many signed
it. He was very eccentric and had queer
religious ideas, kind Of faith which may
cause some to think his mind was unbal
anced.
THE FLEMINGs STILL AT TARGE.
The Flemings are still at large, al
though strenuous efforts have been made
for their capture. Last July Sheriff
Miller led posse OF twenty In
quest Of them. While Sheriff Miller was
walking alone he discovered them, and
firing commenced on both sides at once.
He succeeded in wounding one Of them Ia
the shoulder, but they made their escape
before the posse reinforced the sheriff
Another posse was organized, but the
search was in vain.
TAYLOR's HISTORY.
Dr. Marshall B Taylor was born in
Scott county, Virginia, about hfty-eight
years ago After having acquired a prim-
tive education, he went % Lee county
and studied medicine From there he
went 10 IleLcher county, Kentucky where