The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-30
The Murderer Expires on the
Scafold at CarrOlltOn.
a Few Minutes Before Eleven
This Morning.
MEEKs' ARE AVENGED.
Three Hundred Spectators Wit
ness the Hanging.
Mrs. Meeks, Who Stood Near the
ScaG0Id Nearly Painted

ltGTWCAErDU. Mo- NAA 0y INV -AAa t-s
Tor. who with his brother George muir
dered the 1Teeks family, was hanged
In the Jail here a few minutes before
ii o'clock this morning
Carrouton was a mixture Of a polit-
fcal convention. Christmas and popular
feIicitation- Visitors to the city had
come from all around and all were anX-
Ious to see Taylor swung into eternity
and most of them glad to hilarity that
the 1Ieelzs family murder was at last
to be avenged
Taylor spent a night practically de-
void of sleep and this morning his eX-
preston was that of resignation After
receiving the benediction of Father
Kennedy early last evening and being
received into the Catholic church, he
spent his remaining hours in medita-
ton, during which he would frequently
kiss the cruciax given him by the
priest.
AS late as Ill o'clock he talked to a
group of reporters and others and q
little later quietly gave directions to
an undertaken about the disposition Of
his body. He ate sparingly at break
fast and spent the time before his exc
cution in pacing his cell. Shortly be
fore beginning the death march, Tay-
Tor handed letter to his lawyer
lI1alAHe4 40 the uD4AE
That's my last and only statement
he said In it the murderer said that
prejudice and perjury had convicted
him and that the mobs and that ele-
meut had bounded him to his grave
He had hoped to at least live till the
good people realized the injustice done
him. but he was prepared to meet his
God.
READING THE DEATH WARFAN Mt
Sherim Stanley began reading the
death warrant ait 1915 and a minute
later the march to the gallows was be-
gun Taylor walked between Stanley
and Endersherim Allen, Father Ken
nedy followed, chanting. Taylor walked
firmly. carrying a crucihx. His eyes
We're set STRAIGHT to the front and he
remained stolid to the last.
AS he appeared before the 300 eager
spectators who had been admitted to
the stockade a few minutes before an
audible expression of grat1ncatlOn arose
from the aver ged CarrOlltOnites.
Sheriff Stanley pulled the trap at 1917
and Taylor shot through to death Not
q muscle QuiVered- Ia eleven minutes
he was pronounced dead
Old Mrs. AIeeks. VINO stood near the
scan0ld almost tainted.
Taylor's lawyers paid him their last
Well if I had 80 days more would
never hang. said Bill They are hang
ing an innocent man"
The woman in Sheriff Stanley's par
Tor, situated near the murderer's cell.
laughed and chatted as if the occasion
was one of merit rather than death
The prisoner could hear all that was
going en- i'm and about the jail, and once
he got up from his chair and drew him
self UP nigh ON the grating to catch
q glimpse of the crowd. His lDs uuiV-
cred and he looked pleadingly at the
spectators. His nerve seemed remark
able.
At 10 o'clock the spectators were ad-
mitted to the stOckade- Not over 300
men presented tickets. All were eager
~ awaiting the appearance of the prfs-
0ner, and many chuckled at the fact
Justice
At 1920 Father Kennedy entered the
prisoners cell to offer extreme JUNCTION
to the condemned man. Old Mrs.
Meels saw the priest when he entered
and crowded her way to the door to
listen to the Administered ton. Finally a
hymn was sung This was too much
for Taylor and he instinctively clasped
the cruciflS to his breast while his body
shook with emotion
BY 1915 fully 5000 men. women and
children surrounded the Jail. All were
apparently more happy than otherwise
Shortly thereafter Sheriff Stanley
mounted the gauows and addressing
the spectators requested all to remove
their hats. Presently Taylor came OUT
side the jail.
Some women followed the death pro
cession Of officers and prisoner and re-
spending to the chanting of the priest
Taylor mounted the steps with slight
assistance and stood in the middle of
the trap His face was rigid and not
q tremor shook his form While the
priest was stiIl praying. j. B. Ross a
deputy. strapped. Taylor's ankles.
Allen pulled the rope tight around
his neck and Deputy Cummings adjust
60 the black cap; the prisoner made no
last remark, and all ready. the trap
was sprung by Sheriff Stanley at 10.47.
The body shot through the trap. turn
ing from side to side when it reached
the length of the rope
EXACTLY lS minutes IS seconds elaps-
Sc ana Taylor was pronounced dead
me death certificate was soon signed,
Lne cover 70 the coffin screwed on and
rne pan bearers took up the burden
and started for the undertakers.
- 1eef4ng, laughing. Misunderstanding
crowd greeted the arrival of the cor
nege outside the stockade and a SQUAD
Of company "A followed to prevent any
disturbance.
George Taylor who plotted the crime
for which BIZ was hanged today and
who was to have been executed at the
same time as his brother. is stfU at
large. the result Of his escape two
weeks ago.
Hay Have Seen Better Days.