The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-30
LIFE PROLONGED by A DREAM.
Why Governor Taylor Granted n Re-
pite to Condemned Man.
Memphis Commercial Appeal.


People may laugh at the idea of visions
ana dreams in the last days of the nine
teenth century, but il was dream that
caused Governor Taylor to grant the thirty
days respite TO Harvey De Berry.
Governor Taylor did not dream the dream.
but Memphis man did He is a man of
influence, a man who has weight with the
powers that be. He does not believe in
dreams. But he is just man, which may
IoiioW, lnasmuch as al one time, before ne
followed his present calling his name was
written at the head of the list of the Mem
phis bar. and, had he continued therein he
might now occupy seat in congressional
halls. if not in the executive chair
rms gentleman was out of the city on
business while the De Berry trial was going
on, and returned after the sentence had
been passed. but knew nothing of the oc-
currence. He was very tired, and. after
or his return, he awoke with a start for IL
seemed to him that some one said TO him
in very emphatic tone, That niger must
not hang. He sat up in bed, turned on
the light and when he found every one
asleep he awakened his wife and asked her
if she had called him or if the children had
called; When assured in the negative he
turned out the light and lay down He
could think of no one in his knowledge who
was under sentence of hanging who was
In danger of lynching. After long time
he dropped asleep. but only to have a
dream that was so horrible that its fortunes
were akin to nightmare. He thought he
was under sentence of death, but for what
ne did not know, and that one of his dear
est friends was to be the hangman lie
IN the condemned cell and none of his
friends appeared to be doing anything to
rescue him, and he was to die he knew
not for what, but for some crime of which
he was innocent Finally, when il was
put ten minutes 10 o'clock, he called to
his friend, the hangman, and said as he
took out his watch, ut is only ten minutes
now until | am to be hanged You know
1 am innocent. and won't you please go out
and see some one and see If you can't save
me?'
The hangman left the Jail, but the pris-
oner stood, watch in hand, counting the
minutes as they sped by. Each one seemed
an interminable age. Then the appointed
hQur, o clock, passed. and after a while
the hangman returned with heavy steps and
apparently heavier heart. AS soon as he
was inside the grating the prisoner called
10 him, 1T is all right now. The hour is
past and you cannot legally hang me
AT this point the dreamer awoke to find
hlInSelt IN a cold perspration, holding his
watch In his hand. He tried in vain to
ulspel the horrible feeling but could not
and was afraid to go to sleep again lest
ne cream II third time. He said 20 him
self; Yes, you would know how to get
out II you We're to be hanged but this poor
negro does not know what to do" He got
up and went downstairs and sat on the
gallery and smoked until his morning paper
came, and he opened it eagerly to see If any
one was to be hanged, and then he saw
now DE Berry was under sentence of DEATH
and that all appeals to the Governor for "A.
respite fell on deaf ears The article also
stated that the reason of his counsel for.
asking this was some important evidence
that had been introduced He read on
through the paper, trying to wear off the
bad effects of the nights dreams, but in
vain They haunted him throughout the
entire day until he almost dreaded to go to
bed and to sleep.
He thought the matter over carefully and
calmly and came to the conclusion that It
there was a shadow of a doubt of the
negro S guilt, in all justice he ought to have
the thirty days respite, that the matter
might be thoroughly investigated. Having
made up his mind to this. he stepped %
the telephone and dictated the following
message to Governor Taylor: Grant De
Berry, thirty days respite for good rea-
sons, and signed his name A few hours
afterward the respite came; but no one, not
even De Berry or his attorney, knew why
it came after all the delay.