Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-09
BILL TAYLOR HANGED.
Brutal Murder of the Meeks Family
Partially Avenged.
He Meets Death ON the scanold without
FIinching-In His Last Statement He
Declared That Prejudice and
Perjury Convicted Him.

CARRoILToN, Mo-, May 1-Bn1 Tay-
lor, the murderer. was hanged here
yesterday morning at 1O:5z The exc
eution passed off without incident, and
Taylor was pronounced dead at HIS
by coroner's jury. The drop was
nine feet and the doomed mans neck
was broken by the fall. The body was
cut down and placed in charge of w.
6. Beckett, of Purdin, Mo, as per Tay-
lor's last wish, and will be buried to-
day at Yount cemetery, near Laclede.
Mo.
Taylor exhibited a remarkable nerve
and presence of mind during the try
ing ordeal and never once faltered-
He marched from the Jail to the scat
fold through the crowd of 500 people
without SO much as a tremor and as
cended the scaffold steps with a firm,
steady STEP He carried tiny crucifix
in his pinioned arms as he went to his
death and kissed it when it was offered
him by Father Kennedy. He scanned
the faces of the people who were
inside the stockade, while the straps
were placed about his knees, and turned
and looked Sheriff Allen, of Linn
county, full in the face when he tight
ened the moose about his neck. He
was not permitted to talk nor did he
make any request to be allowed to
make a statement. He raised his chin
as the black cap was adjusted. Deputy
Cummings dropped a handkerchief;
there was slight creak when Sheriff
Stanley threw the lever and the body
of Bill Taylor, clothed entirely in
black, shot into space, and the murder
of the Meeks family was partially
avenged.
efforts Bill Taylor was baptized and
admitted into the Catholic church. and
DR.. II. w. Tull. of Carrollton, stood
beside the doomed man Offering
spiritual consolation as the prepare
ton was made for the execution. At
the foot of the scaffold II women,
members of the Catholic church, who
had assisted Father Kennedy in ad-
ministering the last supper to the con-
demned man at the Jail and with high
mass at the church, knelt and prayed
while Taylor's soul passed into eter-
nifty. 1t was the first time in the his
tory of Missouri that women were per-
mitted to see an execution.
At iO:45 Sheriff Stanley went inside
the Jail with his assistants and read
the death warrant to Taylor, Father
Kennedy praying and pleading all the
time The prisoners hands were then
pinioned tight against his stomach and
he was led out Deputies Shelton and
Cummings preceded Sheriffs Allen and
Stanley, between whom the coz
demned man walked, his hat upon his
head and his eyes red and swollen
with weeping. Next followed Sheriff
Andriano and Deputy Marshal Ross, of
Jackson county. Father Kennedy and
DIR. Tull followed close upon the Of
fcials and were followed in turn by
the IL women and several young men,
who were praying aloud until the jolt
of the dropping body as it Strengthened
out the rope told them all was over.
Mrs Martha Meeks, whose son Bill
Taylor killed, and some women of
Sheriff Stanley's family, also saw the
execution.
Taylor passed a more or less restless
night before the execution. He awoke
about six o'clock and asked for break
fast. Eggs, coffee and biscuits were
given him, which he ate with indiffer
ent relish During the morning sew
eral of his attorneys called on him and
they talked to him in the presence of
two inside and one outside guards.
After the attorneys had gone he seemed
over-anxious to accept the attentions
of the priest. He gave to Col. Hale the
following statement to the public:
have only this additional statement to
make. I ought not to suffer compelled
to do Prejudice and perjury convicted me
and by this conviction my wife is left a
widow, and my children orphans in cold
world, my brothers to mourn and friends to
weep You hasten my gray haired father and
mother to their graves. The mobs and that
element have bounded me to the grave. had
hoped to at least live till the good people real
lied the injustice done me. but It cannot be
So feel prepared to meet my God and
wing my way to the great unknown where
believe every one is properly judged I hope
my friends Will all meet me in Heaven. I
believe am going there. Good-by all.
w p. TAYLOR
When the execution was over the
crowd, which had been kept at bay by
the militia, was given access to the
stockade- They cut off numerous me
mentoes from the scaffold.