The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-10
PREAN pEON WAS HANGED.
He Spent a Sleepless Night and
Asked for PRAYERS Early.
lie BREAKFASTEn OFF WATERMELON
Denied His Crime, Then Admitted II
Large Crowd Witnessed the
Murdercr's Execution.

| Orange, Texas, July AT three minutes
after 1 o'clock this afternoon Prean neon
was hanged at this place for the murder of
his wife. Margaret Deon. in April. 1896.
Prean sat up all night last night. not
sleeping u wink This morning the first
thing he asked the watchmen around his
cell to Join him in prayer Ilo ate nothing
for breakfast but a slice Of watermelon.
Al five minutes after IL Sheriff Jen d.
warrant to the condemned man. AT half
past II he again approached the cell and
told proan that he would be hanged in
just one hour The ministers present plead
ed with Deon TO make fun confession as
to what part be had in the crime for which
he was to be hanged. Yesterday he con
fessod to having committed the murder
and said that only he and Hannah Merritt
were implicated in it. This morning. how
ever. he denied doing the killing,
For more than an hour the ministers
pleaded with him TO tell the truth and tell
what he knew about the crime and to thus
make his peace with God. For long time
he refused TO say anything, but finally.
Just before being taken out of the jail.
said. Yes, / was there but did not do the
killing. Hannah and ----- did it" Again
he said they put up the job and got him
into it,
At 1920 O'Clock Prean was brought out
of the jail and talked and laughed with
the officers while ascending the sallows.
After taking seat on the gallows he asked
g.,h had l.ft
hind in his cell Several prayera were Of
fercd and songs sung on The gallows.
While this was being done. at Prcnn's
request the coffin in which he was to he
buried was brought out and placed under
meath tho gallows, He kneeied down and
looked through crack in the floor at the
coffin and laughingly sad TO the officers:
us tha. the best you can do for nle?'
just before the black cap was adjusted
over his head Prean asked permission TO
say few words and stepping TO the center
of the scaffod said; 81 want TO tell every
body am here TO die: will die in Il few
minutes and Will rest with my Wife. She
rested in my arms night before last, and
/ will soon be by her side. ! am ready to
die. / want 10 say that everybody ough;
10 be punished for what they have done.
am going to heaven and want 10 say good
bye TO everybody"
He then called for Ell Boykin, father Of
the murdered woman. who ascended tho
scafiold. Proan shook hands with him and
said. II am going now and am happy l
have treated you wrong and was a fool TO
be led away into this. The Lord has for
given me and now | want TO know II you
VIII forgive me.
The Cd man said he would, and Prean
again said he would soon be with his wife
The black cap was then put on his head,
hut he had 1t taken off TO say something.
The cap was taken off the second time. and
Just before being put on the last time Deon
said; II want this to BIO token TO every
body not to be persuaded into anything
wrong"
The black cap was then placed over his
head, and Just before he dropped Prem
cried In q loud voice: Good bye TO every
body"
Deputy Sheriff ". W. Bland put fhc
rope over Prean's neck and adjeS,ed the
knot Constable Henry Bland tied his feet
and at a signal from Sheriff jeff d. Bland
sprung the trigger. the trap fell and Prean
Deems soul WAS launched Into eternity. the |
trap being sprung exactly at ;03
Just thirteen minutes after the trap fell |
he doctors pronounced him dead He never |
made a motion after tho trap fell except |
. slight contraction Of his muscles twice. |
The body was allowed TO hang eleven |
after Deon was pronounced dead, |
and before being cut down. and Just twen- |
w. four minutes after the trap was sprung |
al that remained OF Prean Deon. tho wife |
was lowered into the coffin be- |
meath the scaffold,- DR.. Horace Seastr,lnk |
the body after It was lowered |
md pronounced the neck broken.
The crowd who witnessed the hanging |
vas estimated at from $500 to 1000 The |
;allows was erected inside the fail yard.
,ut could be seen from bridges. fences ana /
near by.
Camille Deon. Prean's father. took up I
lubscripucn yesterday 70 rake money ~