The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1896-05-02
TAYLoR's LAST Ware

Inc prisoner passed as calm a night |
as could have been expected under ths |
circumstances. never once appearing |
to lose in any degree the show Of forti. |
tnde. The early part of the night was
spent IN making final arrangements
ior the disposition of his boIv. in con-
versation with newspaper rsh and
with a number IL Sisters Of Charity
who ealled About lao he retired for
the night and went to sleep. Appar-
emily ais rest was dreamless. for not a
sound disturbed the quiet of the place
Shortly before FIVE o'elcsE he awo'ss
and came out Of his cell once more. lie
said he had slept we'll Noticing ths
Two guards in the jail WITH him. he sat
down at his table and wrote these
words 90 a piece Of paper: ''Oae of the
men guarding me is Harry Wilson, of
Linn county, and a mebbera
He passed the message Though 10
the reeortets and suiiied feebly as they
read H. SOME one asked him ifhe had
anything to say.
No, was his answer. III the peo.
pie can stand 1t, can
Breakfast was brought the doomed
man about six o'clock. II was not
credit to Sheriff Stanley or Carroll
county. When men are about to die
u u the custom to let them have what
they want to eat They are eveh
humored with all the delicacies of tho
sensert But no questions were asked
Taylor. His morning meal, served in
a tin pan, consisted of twr flied eggs
and three biscuits and tin cup full of
eoHee. There was no knife or fork,
not even spoon.
Taylor found q spoon finally on his
table, and wiping It on n newspaper
began to eat In storial, lid fferent
way, A gentle ihufmur of Indignation
went the rounds of the reporters
us that all you wish, Mr.. Taylor?"
one OF them asked sympathctically.
ayes, this will do" he answered re.
signedly.
But his eyes filed with tears and he
struggled to suppress his emotions
This touch Of sympathy from the men
who had been sent here to describe his
last hours and his ignominous death
moved him more than hate or bitter
ness.
rArfoBs DYING STATEMENT To THE
| PUBIC.
just two hours before he was TO be
led to the gallows the doomed man
made statement to the public. Col.
Hale and Mr.. Conkling had been talls-
ing with him, and as they went to
leave he handed Col Hale letter ad-
dressed to the public. II contained
this statement, his formal farewell to
the men who believed him guilty and
his friends who still stand by him:
40 THE PUBLIC: have only this addl.
tional statement to make. l ought not to suf'
fer as / am compelled TO do. Prejudice ant
perjury have convicted me. by this eonvic
tion my wife is left widow, my babies are
made orphans In . cold world my brothers B
mourn and my friends to weep. You hastct
my gray-hslred mother aud father to thci
graves Tho mobs and that element hounC
me to the grave. I have hoped to liv'
at least until the good people realized thu
injustice done me. but It can not be So
feel prepared to meet my God, and ! nov
wing my way to the great unknown where
believe everyone Is properly judged. l hop
my friends will all meet me In Heaven. be
lieve am going there. Good-by all.
wv p. TAYLOR"
The note also contained this printed
certificate, given him by the priest ant
signed his name.
II, the undersigned, desiring that In the even
Of my death the truth concerning the condition
OF nv soul should be told at my funeral. d.
hereby testify that / have been born again b,
! believing In the Lord Jesus Christ II di
, tonight will go to Heaven
Both messages were under date o
, April 20. Before giving out this lette
! Taylor wrote one on a scrap OF news
i paper and, signing 1t, handed !
! through the bars to the reporters. |
r ran as follows:
4 ITO THE PuBLIC.-Thc clamor for my bloo
is soon to be satisfied by numbering me COOL
i aud deliberately under the gulse OF law
! NAV be you are not murderers. 1t Is betwee
: you and your God.
. TAYLOR chose r. NJ Kneisley, Virgi
: Conkling's law partner, to attend t
e the disposition of his body. Kneisle.
b had talk with him in his cell, in whic
+ he calmly discussed the details an
n asked him to accompany the remain
to the Yount cemetery, near Laclede
Y Mo. where the interment will occur.
0 Don't leave me- he said, until TIN
c last clod of earthshas been placed upol
e my grave" ;,
= During all this sorrowing talk h
!. never faltcred, and was apparently nc
4 as much affected as the lawyer.