The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-24

on the night of the Goth he met the
sheriff.
Has any reprieve arrived YETI" asked
Bowen. The sheriff shook his head sadly.
He had never yet hanged man, and did
not wish TO begin.
NO said the sheriff And from
what heard this afternoon none is likely
to arrive. The governor has made up his
mind at last that the law must take its
course"
Pm glad of that" said Bowen.
well, I'm not"
After 9 o'clock messages almost ceased
coming in, and Bowen sat reading the
evening paper. Suddenly there came a
call for the Office, and the operator
answered. AS the message came over the
wire Bowen wrote it down mechanically
from the clicking instrument not under
standing its purport; but when he read it
he jumped to his feet with an oath He
looked wildly around the room, then re-
allied with sigh of relief that he was
alone, except for the messenger boy who
sat doing in a corner with his cap over
his eyes. He took up the paper again, and
read it with set teeth.
Sheriff OF Breuting county, Brentingville:
Do not proceed further with execution of
Prior Sentence committed. Documents
sent on by to-nights mail registered. Answer
that you understand the message.
JOIN DAY, Governor,
Bowen walked up and down the room
with knitted brow. He was in no doubt
as to what he would DO but he wanted to
think over it. The telegraph instrument
called to him and he turned to it, giving
the answering click. The message was TO
himself from the operator at the capital,
and it told him he was to forward the
sheriff's telegram without delay, and re
port to the office at the capital-a mans
life depended on it, the message conclud-
ed. Bowen answered that the telegram
to the sheriff would be Immediately sent.
Taking another telegraph blank he
wrote:
"Sherid Of Brenting county. Brentville:
Proceed with execution Of Prior. No re-
prieve will be sent. Reply if you understand
this message. .~
John DAY Governor
1t is a pity it cannot be written that
Bowen felt some conjunction at what he
was doing. We like to think that, when
a man deliberately commits a crime, he
should hesitate and pay enough difference
TO the proprietieS as to feel at least a
temporary regret, even if he goes on with
his crime afterward. Bowen's thoughts
were upon the dead girl, not on the living
mad. He reused the doing telegraph
messenger.
Here" he said, take this to theIail
and find the sheriff. If he is not there go
to his residence. If he is asleep wake him
up. Tell him this wants an answer. Give
him blank, and when he has filled it up,
bring it to me; give the message TO no one
else, mind"
The boy said: eyes, sir and departed
into the night. He returned so quickly
that Bowen knew without asking that he
had found the sleepless sheriff at the
Jail. The message to the governor, writ
ten in trembling hand by the sheriff,
was: II understand that the execution is
to take place. If you should change your
mind, for God IS sake telegraph as soon as
possible. l shall delay execution until
last moment allowed by law"
Bowen did not send that message, but
another. He laughed-and then checked
himself in alarm, for his laugh sounded
strange II wonder if i am quite sane"
he said to himself. 81 doubt it."
The night wore slowly on. A man
representing press association came in
after IL and sent long dispatch. Bowen
telegraphed iG, taking the chances that
the receiver would not communicate with
the sender of the reprieve at the capital.
He knew how mechanically news OF the
greatest Importance was taken of the
wire by men who have automatically been
doing that for years Anyhow all the cop
per and zinc in the world could not get
message into Brentingville, except
through him, until the day operator came
on and then it would be too late
The newspaper man, lingering. asked If
there would be only one telegrapher on
hand after the execution.
II shall have a lot of stuff to send over
and l want it rushed. Some of the papers
may get out specials. l would have
brought an operator with me, but we
thought there was going to be reprieve
although the sheriff didn't seem TO
think So" he added.
THE day operator will be here at 6. /
will return as soon as I've had a cup of
coffee, and we'll handle all you can
write" answered Bowen, without looking
up from his instrument
Thanks. Grim business, isn'titl"
cit is" .Gs.
81 thought the governor would cave;
didn't youl"
Il didn't know
He's shrewd old villain. He'd have
lost next election if he'd reprieved this
man. People don't want to see lynching
and weak need governor is Judge
you in the morning"
Good night said Bowen.
Daylight gradually dimmed the lamps
in the telegraph room, and Bowen started
and caught his breath as the church bell
began to toll
1t was ten minutes after when Bowen S
partner, the day man, came in.
"Well they've hanged him, he said.
Bowen was fumbling among some pa
pers on his table. He folded two Of them
and put them in his inside pocket. Then
he spoke:
There will be a newspaper man here
in a few moments with good deal of
COPY to telegraph. Rush it off as fast as
you can, and I'll be back to help before
you are tired"
AS Bowen walked toward the gaol he
met the scattered group of those who had
been privileged to see the execution.
They were discussing capital punishment
and some were yawning, complaining
about the unearthly hour chosen for the
function they had just beheld. Between
the outside gate and the Jail door Bowen
met the sheriff, who was looking CHASTITY
and sallow in the fresh morning light.
II have come to give myself up" said
Bowen, before the official could greet
him.
ITO give yourself up2 What for2"
For murder, suppose"
This is no time for joking, young man"
said the sheriff severely.
do ] look like a humoristl Read that
First incredulity, then horror, over
spread the haggard face of the sheriff as
he read and reread the dispatch. He
staggered back against the wall putting
up his arm to keep himself from falling.
Bowen" he gasped "Do you-do
YOU mean TOTO tell me-that this mes
sage came for me last night"