The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1895-02-06

Ear the Murder Oh e. W
rnocence to the Last. The Gov
amor Refused to Interfere.
IN Wednesday at o'clock Harrison
Stevens died on the gallows for the bru-
t,1 murder of j. G. Wells.
The doomed man was brought down
from Americus the safternoon before by
c,ori# Christie, To avoid the large
.uoud that had assembled at the Central
donot TO see the prisoner, Sheriff Chris
10 ont off the cars at the junction with
stevens and. placing him in a clio 'ed
b,ok had him almo st to the Jail door
before the waiting throng knew what
had been done.
Awhile before night DR.. Scruggs, pas
tor of the Methodist church, called at
the Jail and talked with the condemned
negro concerning his spiritual welfare.
When supper was served he ate
with relish of the usual prison fare,
and rested comparatively we'll through
the night.
THE DAY OF THE EXECUTION.
Stevens was awake early Wednesday
morning and ate hearty breakfast
five biscuit, quantity of syrup and two
slices of bacon. Jailer Slade offered to
4 have prepared any thing he wanted, but
he ate when the other prisoners were
served and said he did not care for any
Il thing else.
During the morning several OF Steven S
4 male relatives and friends called to see
n him. his brother being admitted to the
Jail Just few minutes before the execu-
ton He was entirely deserted by his
& female relltives, however, MT one OF
them calling to tell him good bye. The
absence Of his wife was especially notice
able.
As the hour for the execution
il approached a large crowd of people,
regardless of the very bad weather and
sloppy streets, gathered on the outside
Of the Jail yard. The Guards were on
duty under command of Captain Clark,
and 40 ol9 was permitted to inter with
out Instructions from Sheriff Christie.
The crowd in the streets was not allow
ed t. approach even as near as the side
walk.
1t was 10 o'clock when News report
eF succeeded in passing the pickets and
entered the Ijail. Bailiff G. g. Lewis,
VINO was keeping the death watch, and
one Or two visitors were on the in
side. Stevens had just finished a sh)lt
talk with Colonel Parks, and was
locked alone in his cell when the report
er approached the door and spoke to
lm He was in very nervous and ex-
cited condition, and almost his first
words were to declare, with trembling
voice, that he was inn ocent. The
Interview WAS cut sh ,rG by the arrival of
81 NeVS' K. S. Lucky, E. W. Whitfield, j.
w. Thomas and Ben Mallory, all color,
Fu' bringing with them dish of tempt
" food. Stevens said he did not care
VI anything to eat, aud did not touch
'lat was brought him. Just before the
0poFIer withdrew the doomed man re-
iu'SVed him to call again just before the
Aecutlon, as he had a request and a
'a'ement he wished to make.
Inc preachers were admitted 10 the cell
~ Tue door closed. After few minutes
conversation an earnest prayer by Rev.
-"'Ay WasS heard through the grated
U.S. and at its conclusion another sup
'''on was offered by one of the other
-u'SIeIs. Their appeals to the Mercy
4''ne Tor the c,ndemned man were at
40 e'oquent and pathetic. During
prayers Stevens was overcome by
ana wept freely, his sobs being
''u'y heard by those in the corridor of
Pc Jail.
-0 ministers remained in the cell un-
:, CLOCK, the hour determined upon
1"eFlH Christie for the execution.
1"' hour Deputy Slade opened the
le, the ministers pass out and
1'"iled the man whose last nom ents
~ near. Before leaving the cell
~" 10 one side and, almost i n "a
p''' made known his request to THE
II was to state that the reason
n"d not been to see him that
vas because soon after his ar