The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-05-09

- l--E'l ~ AA-'' u '@-h
At $50 a. IN. Virgil Conkling, Tay-
tor-s principal counsel, made Il last
hopeless appeal to the governor. He
wired as follows:
Hos. w. J. Stone, GOVERNOR. JEFFERSON
CITY. Mo-: Can you not give Taylor a pit
Cance Of ten days life: Is Missouri too weak
% guard him safely that lons:.
iSignedi VIRGIL
No reply was received to the appeal
20 the governor.
THE ASSEMBLING CROWD.
Long before sunrise, from every
quarter, down every country road,
there came crowds of men to witness
Ele execution. They came in buggies,
in farm wagons, driving mules and
Jacks afoot and on horseback, in twOs
aud threes and scores, eager and anX-
touS over the sensation of the day. a
man was to die, and even though they
could not see him as he swung from
the scaffold with the rope around his
neck, the fascination was irresistible.
Before six o'clock at least 500 men
had gathered around the Jail, where
so deputies stood on guard with loaded
Winchestcrs. Every man of them was
cIamoring for a ticket and but for
force OF arms the frail Stockade would
surely have been leveled to the ground.
By sun-up a wire rope had been
stretched across the streets at the in
~tersection of which stands the Jail.
1t was guarded by the Hale Rifles, un-
der command of Capt. Black. The
men were in full uniform and with
their bayonets glistening in the morn
ing sunlight, added a touch of grim
splendor to the scene.
The militia assembled at the armOry
Al G:30. The company consists of 40
Young men. the best blood Ct the
town. They were told that in the
event of trouble they would be cX
;s,cted to do their duty and fight,
Without imputation to their courage it
may be said that this duty was highly
distasteful to the soldiers. Many of
them had tickets admitting them to
the stockadc and their duty as guards
prevented them from witnessing the
spectacle.
RITES OF TIE CHURCII.
Shortly after 100 FIR. Kennedy, ac'
:ompanied by DIR. Tull and q number
of Catholic ladies, repaired to Taylor's
cell to celebrate mass. He joined in
the services. The last sacrament was
administered to the man and after a
AaIf-hour the party retired.
In the meantime preparations fol
the hanging continued. Deputy shcritf'
fitted in and out Of the Jail, lodging
rheir friends, who We're continuously
3mportuning them for passes. Sheriff
Stanley of Carroll county had discard
ed the gray suit with which he is usual
" adorned and appeared in a full sui
of black.
Sheriff Ed Allen of Linn seemed t.
exercise more authority than Stanley
and with good right, as he had his wit
about him and a more thorough knowl
edge of the grewstone proceedings.
The only regret over the affair tina
C~arrollton seemed to feel was the al
sance of George Taylor, the brother Q
BEL. condemned to die with him for tn
same terrible crime. last effort wa
made Wednesday night to capture him
but it was u%navailing. A report
InOuOnI - oc L 4OAAAASA.
town that George had been seen hic
ing in the brush u miles to the mort
of C~arrollton. Little was said, but
posse, composed of a number of Lin
deputies and n number of local mel
started out to run him down. BLOOD
hounds were taken along, and tn
search continued late into the nigh
but no trace of him was found, and tn
posse returned without him, and S
Bill Taylor dies alone.
~TAYLoR's LAST NIGHT.
The prisoner passed as calm a nlgi
as could have been expected under til
circumstances, never once appearln
TO lose in any degree the show OF fort
tude. The early part Of the mighty W;
spent in making final arrangement
Cor the disposition of his body, In col