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

| hO "ao ONlu0HIiy dnAlOuS lOI lu0 puullC
to know of her infdelity.
The reporter suggested to Stevens that
! he had but few minutes to live, and
asked him if he had anything to say con-
| corning the murder of Mr.. Wells. He
said: "Boss, an innocent man is going
| to hang. On the day Mr.. Wells was
killed | was never nearer than a mile to
where he was found, and J. know no
more about it than you do. Mr.. Wells
almost raised me and was the best friend
l ever had. When l wanted d quarter, a
half dollar, dollar or any piece of m On
ey, or anything else, all l had to do was
to go to Mr.. Wells and get 1t. l was
convicted by negroes who were arrested
for doing the shooting. They swore
against fine to save themselves. The
right man will be found some day, and
then everybody will be sorry that was
| hanged" When asked about his spirit
ual condition Stevens said he was unlike
n ost men just going to the gallows-he
did not believe he would go to heaven,
bat felt better in that particular since
the visit of the ministers.
Here Deputy Sheriff Slade called Ste
VEINS, and with firm step and calm
manner he started to the gallows. In
the hallway of the Jail a photographer
was waiting to take a picture OF the
doome man. This had hardly been done
when colonel NJ. c. Edwards, one OF
| Stevens attorneys hurriedly entered the
jail and handed the following telegram
to Sheriff Christie:
ATLANTA, Jan. 1910 NJ. c. Ed
wards: Will act on recommendation OF
! Judge and solicitor. Have them to wire
| me. W. Y. ATKINSON, GOvernro.
The governor had been wired for a
respite, and the above was the reply.
OF course the telegram stopped all pro-
ceedings until Judge Grggs could be
seen. Colonel Edwards and Colonel
Hart the latter, also one of the counsel
for the murderer, Immediately went
on thai; GRAND, and for an hour plead
ed with the Judge to recommend a re-
lite. He declined to interfere, and
second telegram was sent by the attor-
news urging the governor him to act
inst before ! o'clock the following,
which sealed the fate of Harrison Ste
vens. was received from the executive:
ATLANTA, Jan. 300 NJ. g. Ed
wards: | will not interfere In the case
of Harrison Stevens
w. Y. ATKINSON, Governor.
TTpon the receipt of this telegram
Sheriff Christie at once proceeded to ex-
ecute the sentence of the law. Although
mnch excited Stevens walked upon the
gallows with a firm step and stood per-
fectly still while the rope was being adj
iusted about his neck, remarkIng at one
time that it was too tight. 1t was lot
until the black cap was placed over his
cad by: Deputy Slade and Sheriff Davis
OF Calhoun county that his nerves gave
completely away. As the cap passed
over his eyes he gave long groan AMI
said:
"Good bye, everybody; let this be
waning to YOU"
Another groan followed, and he ex-
clai lined:
sOh. Lord, have mercy on me. nave
done nothing. Goodbye, everybody !
Scarcely had the last word passed his
Inns when Sheriff Christie cuC the rope
and suspended his body in the air. The
fall broke his neck, and not muscle
moved after the drop. The rope was
cut at 7 minutes past l, and in minutes
he was pronounced dead by Drs' De'n'
Dozier. Buchanan and Wall.
During the morning an otfer was
made Stevens by physicians f'r Ms
body. but he declined it. Relatives took
CHARGE of the body after the execution
and carried it to Shiloh for burial.
No hanging was ever better conducted
than this one, and Sheriff Christie. de-
serves praise for the manner in whicn
he executed his unpleasant duty.
The protestAtions of inn 'cence oy ote-
vans are believed by only very few,it De-
ino the almost universal opinion that TIE
r;ght man has suffered for the crime
Candy Pulling.
The ladies of the Methodist ehurch
"a . candy pulling at the armory FIJI