Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1896-09-10
A TRIPLE HANGING
LEE AND FREEMAN
THE VICTIMS.
All Three Men Were Found Guilty OF
Murder in the First Degree and Their
Punishment Assessed AT Death-Abou
100 in Attendance.

Paris, Tex, Sept. 5.-Yesterday was
hangmans day for the last tern of the
United States courts located in this
city, and as a result three souls were
ushered into the great beyond in the
persons of George L. Wheeler Silas
Lee and Hickman Freeman. The
former, a white man, and the letter re.
groes.
All three Of the condemned men
aroso at an early hour yesterday |
morning. Wheeler partool of slight
breakfast, while the two negroes de-
clined to cat at all.
1t was 1920 when Marshal Williams
reached the prison. He Immediately |
repaired to the room occupied by
Wheeler, and in the presence of press
representative bade him stand up and
listen to the reading of the death war
rant Wheeler was visibly agitated
AM very nervous. He arose, resting
his orm on a window sill at His side.
When the marshal reached those hor-
lible words, and there hang by the
neck until you are dead, dead" the
condemned wretch wiped the tears
from his checks and one tremor after
another shook his frame. He was ask
ed to drink a stimulent, but declined.
The marshal Immediately proceeded
to the colored ward, and read the death
warrant to Silac Lee and Immediately
afterwards to Hickman Freeman.
Neither of them were affected in the
least, although many Of their fellow
prisoners were moved to tears.
Wheeler expressed desire to be cx-
ecuted alone. which waa granted. 1t
was originally intended to hang all
three at one time.
At exactly II o'clock the two nc
Croes were brought over from the col
ored department 10 say farewell to
Wheeler, who preceded them to the
Gallows. The leave-talling was not
marked by any affecting scene. The
negroes were then returned to the col
orod ward, where spiritual consolation
was administered by Rev. W. NJ. Coz
nor, colored.
The march to the g1llows was imme-
diately taken up with Wheeler vino
had completely regained control over
himself, being thoroughly rerved for
the ordeal.
Services were conducted in the shade
of the scaffold by Rev. George NJ. For
tune, formerly pastor CT the First Bap-
list church. Wheeler again shed tears.
At 11:14 his spiritual adviser babe him
goodbye and retired. and the ascent of
the steps to the gallows was begun.
The moose was adjusted Il half minute
later, and the arms and legs pinioned.
Deputy Marshal G. r. V. Hamilton,
who acted in the capacity of hangman,
in the absence of Hangnan Oglesby
pulled the lever that sprung the trap at
11:17. Not a tremor passed over the
body, and after hanging for eighteen
minutes it was pronounced dead and
cut down. The remains were turned
over to the undertaken to be inferred at
the expense of the government, no one
having put in appearance to take
charge.
1t was arranged to hang the two ne
BEDtS lllllJtNlaNClg esANSi 'NNNA~'p N~-
but little time was lost.
Lee and Freeman EXPRESSED desire
to have their religious exercises con-
Quoted in the colored ward, that the
negro prisoners might all participate.
The request was granted.
The leavetalting of the prisoners was
most affecting scene, where scores OF
hardened criminals and outlaws were
moved to tears and eXhortations, and
scarcely an eye remained undimmed
by tears.
The hour of high noon marked the
beginning of their march to the scat
fold, with a smile upon their faces. At
1907 p. m. they were pinioned, after
declining to make statement in per-
son, although Rev. Conner stated that
they requested all to take warning at
their fate AMI shun evil companions, to
whom they attribute their sad end. Ten
minutes later the moose was adjusted
and the trap sprung that ushered their
souls into the presence of their maker.
They were pronounced dead and cut
down at 1926.
Their bodies were delivered to To-
cal undertaken, who prepared them for
interment and shipped them to rela-
tives at Goodland. l. T., yesterday af-
ternoon.
About 100 persons witnessed the ex-
ecutions, including legal witnesses,
clergy, court officials and members OF
the press.
Convict Shot.
Luling, Tex, Sept. 5.-About day
light Wednesday morning a negro
named Ed Jennings, working in the
Caldwell convict gang, escaped. Over