The sun., 1896-09-06
THE HANGING OF HANYE.
FIXTURE OF sPECTkCULAR EFs
FORTS TO SAFE HIS LTSz.

A Remarkable Sunday Dsmonstrsttoa ne
the Residence OF Gov. Atkinson TO Ssesre
Communication of Ssntenee-A "Living
Petition" Prcsentcd-Pieas for Mercy.
Arthur nanyc, white, go years old. was
hanged In Atlanta on Friday last for the muir
der of Will Spinks. II was a noted case In
Georgia. The two mon had been bosom friends,
and eight years ago they were implicated In the
murder of an Italian. Spinks's testimony ssved
Hanye. Last winter the two friends quarrelled,
and Hanye killed SpInks. Twice professions
were formed and marched through the city to
petition Gov. Atkinson TO commute Hanyo's
sentence. The Governor replied each time that
as there was no new evidence favorable to
Hauye he would not interfere with the verdict
of the jury.
The last OF these demonstrations occurred on
Sunday, Aug. IL. Tho condemned man had
many friends. Not content to cease their efforts
TO save his life after usual means had been ex-
haustcd. n new plan was put into operation and
an appeal so fervd in aspect as to bo spcctacu-
lar was made TO the Governor under the au-
spices OF the Church and tho leadership OF .
clergyman.
The Young Mems Prayer Association pro-
cured the announcement at morning worship
in all the churches on Aug. 10 that o living
petition for clemency would be presented to
the Governor in the afternoon. and the an
nouncement followed by n request that
everybody who favored the Communication OF
Hanye's sentence to one OF life imprisonment
should go to the Trinity Methodist Church at
3 O'Clock. Three hundred and tfty men assem-
bled at the appointed hour and. after prayer for
the condemned man and beseechinR the Ale
mighty's aid In their mission, they formed
themselves in ranks. and under the mid-after-
noon blaze OF the Southern sun. while the ther-
mometer ranged among the nineties. they
marched to the Governors home in Peachtreo
street and disposed themselves about the house.
almost filling the spacious grounds
the Rev. DR.. Brown. President of the Prayer
the prisoner on behalf OF the several hundred
Christian young men OF the city. who thought
The minister was followed BY tho Hon.
Charles !. Branan who declared that, although
nounsed Hanye a murderer the greatest Jury Of
all. the public. protested to his EIcellency that
clemency. Other speakers urged tho Governor
to show m,srcy. ana one one appeal was was made IN the
the place OF mother to tho motheress young
man. Pathos was in all the speeches, and the
inpressiveness of the appeals and Of the un-
before him in the grounds Of the Executive
mansion on torrid August afternoon. praying
who spoke with feeling as he replied to the petit
TONERS, whom he called my friends" But he
did not permit his emotions to sway him He
reviewed the case and said that he would gladly
have shown clemency when his attention was
first directed to It had It been possible, hut it
had been I'm apostolic
81 He has been convicted by jury OF your
fellow citizens and the Superior Court has de-
clared that he is guilty of murder" the Cover
nor said. lit 10 the Governors duty to grant
cemeucy only when there Is valid reason for
so doing. II Is not question OF sympathy. No
one feels greater sympathy for this young man
than L. There must, however. DO good reasons
advanced bofore can commute this sentence.
There is a great and sacred responsibility rest
ing on the Governor; II. however. any Of you
know Of anything which could affect my deci-
sion in this matter. beg You. for Gods sake. do
not withhold It. II there j. any new evidence
good reason why this sentence should be COM
muted. ubrnt it to me this week and will
open the case and hear what you have to say"
The petitioners undertook the preparation of
further reasons which should convince Gov.
Atkinson that the case was one in which he
could act, but the whole town was convinced
that only valid reason, as the Governor had at
the first declared. would avail anything. He
respited Hanye. however. for two weeks.