The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-02-06
THE EXECUTION. E.
[Contlnued from first page.l

During Montgomery's imprisonment
|. w. Rivers, in Jail for stealing har.
ness, etc, seemed to have the most in
fluence over the condemned boy, and
1t is thought was the cause Of his per-
sistent story of the McKercher version
of the killing. He is said to have con.
tinually beld out the hope that the
Governor would send pardon or re.
prieve If he stuck to that view of it.
The night before the execution he had
nearly ali hours private talk with
Montgomery.
Among the sheriffs present were:
johnson, of Lane; Cathcart, Of Doug
las; Osborne, of Benton; sears, of
Multnomah; Ford, of Washington;
Henderson, Of Yamhill; Knight, of
Marion.
HIS LETTER.
Thursday afternoon Montgomery
penned the following letter and at night
gave it out for publication;
ALBANY, Linn Co. Or, Jan. 80, 1895.
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: l take
this last oportunity Of writing to you a
few lines. | feel as though must send
to you one more message before my
time arrives to cross that daik river,
although my mind is not as clear as /
would like to have it to write this last
letter to you all, and besides my nerves
is somewhat unstrung this morning. |
fully realize that this is my last day on
this earth only few hours more and |
will be no more here below, and feel
when my soul departs from my body
that my name will appear on that great
register in heaven, and when the great
judgment day comes will answer to it.
/ cannot find words sufficient to explain
my feelings and situation. This life
seems to me like dream, in fact life is
nothing but a dream; but remember,
dear brothers and sisters, that when we
depart from this life here below we must
be prepared to gain that eternal life on
high, where there is no sin and sorrow.
And dear sister you told me you have
Joined the church OF God. | trust and
hope you will keep your promise to me
and live up to Gods word and be his
faithful servant until the end, that you
may wear crown Of glory in the world
to come.
And, dear brothers, / wish to repeat
to you what ! have said before; stop and
think before it is too late, that you may
bs delivered from darkness into light. |
trust and hope that you may live long
and happy Christian life, l feel as
though the prayers for me has been
heard and answered and hope when
your time is near at hand to die you all
can say the same, and l hope that the
good Christian people will extend a
word for you all in their prayers as well
as me.
1t seems to me hard to leave you all
30 young in life in such way as / have
to 60, but as long as it has to be done
the sooner it is over the better. l am
ready to say Jesus take me as | am"
! am ready to go and meet our father
and mother in heaven, and hope when
your time comes that we will all meet
around that happy throne where the
word farewell is never used, and
when the race OF this life is run our
Master can say, "Well done, my faith
full servant"
Then why should we sigh or fear to die,
When trusting in Jesus upon high.
Though we here should meet no more,
Yet there is q brighter shore,
There released from toll and pain,
There we all may meet again,
Now, dear ones, will bring this to
close. When this reaches you, and be-
foie your eyes follow these, my last
lines to you, will be cold in death. I
feel that my prayers have been
answered, SO God be with you all. We
will meet in heaven. Farewell; fare
well. LLOYD MONTGOMERY.