The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-03
WAS HANGED At PAL0 PINTO
JOHN DOVE PAID THE PENALTY
FOR RAPE COMMITTED IN
AUGUST, 1895.
He STOOD ERECT and FEARLESS
On the Scaffold-Refused Religious Com
forting-With an Oath He Ordered
the Crowd Outside to Disappear.
The Crime Committed.

Palo Pinto, Tex, Nov. 2T.-(Special.)-
John Dove was hanged in the Jail here
today at 3 p. m
The crime for which he paid the death
penalty was for rape committed near
Thurber Mines, Texas, August, 1895.
Upon the commission of the offense he
fled the country and was at large for
some time. The governor offered re-
ward of $3.50 for his arrest and he was
captured by the sheriff of Franklin
county and brought here and 'odged in
Jail at the March term of the district
court. He was convicted and upon iden-
LITIGATION by the lady alleged to have been
assaulted and other circumstantial testi-
mony, the death penalty was assessed.
An appeal was taken and his case was
affirmed, and at the August term of the
court he was sentenced by Judge Strag-
han to be hanged on October 80. A petit
ton was circulated by his friends asking
executive clemency pending the investi-
CATION of his case. The governor grant
ed him respite until November 81.
After investigation the governor refused
to interfere and ordered Sheriff kork to
carry out the sentence of the court,
which was done today.
The condemned man partook of a
hearty dinner and then took Il stiff drink
of whisky, he then smoked a great many
cigarettes and the mixture disagreed
with him so he vomited excessively and
was in a weak and sickly state just be-
fore the time arrived that had been set
for his execution. He called for doctor
to give him something to settle his
stomach, and when the doctor examined
him he prescribed a stimulant, so another
dose of whisky was given him, this re.
vived him and he braced up consider
ably.
Rev. w. e. Caperton went into his cell
and asked if he desired that he and
the end. He said no, it would do nc
good. Brother Caperton then shook
hands with him for the last time and a
few minutes after he was brought out
for execution. He had to be helped tC
his feet but then walked without assist
ance to the scaffold and stood erect and
fearless looking straight ahead.
A broken pane in the window that
faced him gave him a glimpse of the
crowd collected below and he screamed
out to them: Get away. from there yor
later go away from there you damned
---, you.
His hands were tied behind him ant
his ankles secured when Sheriff Korl
asked him if he desired to make any
statement. He said: mo, l have not go
Il word to say" The sheriff then adjust
ed the black cap over his head and face
and at 800 the rope was severed, the
trap fell and John Dove was launched
into eternity.
He was pronounced dead by the attend
ing physicians in seventeen minutes ant
was cut down after twenty-four minute.
and placed in his coffin. Examination
showed his neck had been broken by tn,
fall.
Thus persisted II man who no doub
deserved his fate. The evidence showed
beyond question that he committed
| nameless crime upon Il respectable whit,
| lady of this county. rendered helpless b,
sickness, to protect herself from hi
brutal and tiendish assault. Dove was 2
years of age and was raised in Jacl
county. where his relatives now live.