The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-09-15
STR -NGE seems.
a Condemned Murderer breaches TO His
Fellow Prisoners.

Fellow Prisoners.
Il. S. Perry, the condemned mur
derer OF Belly Lanier, who was hanged
cn last wednesday. conducted religi.
Gus services in the Atlanta jail the
Sunday before he was hung, and
preached g sermon to the 500 conylc:s
assembled that led to scenes dramatic
almost bevond description.
When Dr. Stevenson, the chaplain :,
visited the prison this morridg Perry
requested permission to lead the morn
ing services and the sheriff consent
ing the chaplain also gave his consent.
The condemned man was unclaimed
and taaen into the chapel, where all
the convicts we're assembled. After
Dr.. Stevenson had introduced hin to
his strange audience BE took position
back OF the little pulpit as calmly anc
witn as much self assurance SIS though
the matter was an every day occur
rerce with him. He read two chap
ters from the Bible aud chess as his
text: Believe On the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
Perry began by saying that be was
to ue hanged within three days, and
that he felt it 10 be his duty to take
advantage of the little time spared
him to DO some good among his fellow
men. He earnestly and elcquently
urged those abcu. him TO reform and
live honest lives hereafter. He told
them how thankful they ought to be
that so much time was spared them.
He SPOKE OF leaving his wife and five
children with no one to care for them.
Here some of the conyicts began to
SOB and wall. Negroes wrung their
hands and fell down or their knees,
Shouting and praying.
Perry said that while his children
must grow up to learn that their faith.
er had died on the gallows he had no
fear but that they would some day
learn TO revere his memory and to love
him fer sacrificing his own life to save
their mothers honor.
The thought OF leaving these dear
ones behind" he said, lis al l have 10
regret, but am consoled to a great
exte0t for l know when l am gone
they can come to me. Then when we
meet all will be j,y. There will be no
more parting. We can all join the
heavenly band, where there will be no
more sorrow, but everything will be
love and Joy.
''Oi course it will always be hurl- u
IN on my dear ch ldrens' faces how
their father met his death. Thank
God. their good mother can tell them
why was put to death by the hands
of the law, and this pure woman IS
the only living one that knows the
whole truth which wicked men have
reused to believe.
This dear mother will not only de
liver the sad message, but she can re
peat these. glorious words, While your
father died on the gailows, thank God
he died trusting the Lord Aud this
dear mother can read the grand prom
ises of Jesus to them and teach them
tee way they can 90 to that land OF
rest and be with their father forever,
where death and sorrw are not known.
i feel thankful I have no envy IN
my heart asains! any one, but my love
runneth cut to every body. With
these beautiful promises and many
others that make my heart rejoice,
EEL it is only a short step to the PRES
euca OF Gcd, where I can meet those
loved ones who have gone before.
This, OF course, will be q sad part
ing here with ny dear wife, loving
children, ;ffectionate brothers and SIS
ters, but Oh, what joyful meeting
will have. a father and mother, also
brother and one sweet little calld
OF mine, are awaiting my coming on
the other shore, and when | am gone
hope not one soul will wish for ne
back on this vile and sinful world,
but that every one will now prepare
to meet me 10 the sweet by and by
May God bless and keep His dear ones
from sin.
His audience finally became so dem
orstratiye that he could proceed only
with difficulty, and he called on tie
prison choir to sing Taylor Delk, the
OUTLAW, whose son Tom was hanged
few weeks ago, and who himself Is
20 be hanged next month, arose IN his
place and led the singing, waving hl:
long arms wildly in front o. his ex'
cited chorus
In conclusion Perry asked every man
present who honestly meantto reform
and would try to meet him IN heaven
to come forward and shake his hand,
and every man among them accepted
the Invitation.
Six or More people * Med.