The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-25
LIFE PROLONGED BIZ 4 DREAM.
Why Gov. Taylor OF Tennessee Granted . Re-
spite to n Condemned Man.

bpts W u NouueIuueu
From the Memphis Commercial, Appeal.
People may laugh at the idea of visions and
dreams in the last days of this the nineteenth
century. but it was a dream that caused Gov.
Taylor to grant the thirty days respite to Har-
vcy De Berry.
Gov. Taylor did not dream the dream, but a
Memphis man did. He is a man of influence. q
man who has weight with the powers that be.
He does not believe in dreams. But he is a just
man, which may follow inasmuch as at one
time, before he followed his present calling. his
name was written at the head of the list Of the
Memphis bar. and had he continued therein he
might now occupy a seat in Congressional halls,
II not in the Executive chair.
This gentleman was cut of the city on bust
ness while the De Berry trial was going on, and
returned after the sentence had been passed.
but knew nothing OF the occurrence. He was
very tired. and after he had slept for some hours.
on the night Of his return. he awoke with a
start, for 1t seemed to him that some one said to
him in a 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
ont the light or and Lax down; lie could mhd
was under sentence of hanging or who
was in danger Of lynehing. After a long time
dream that was so horrible that its fortunes
were akin TO a nightmare, He thought he was
under IN sentence enc Of death, but Tor What he did
was to be the hangman. He suffered untold
agony IN his sleep; He was in the condemned
anything to rescue him. and he was to die. he
knew not for what. but for some crime OF which
minutes to . o'clock. he called TO his friend. the
hangman and said. as he took out his watch,
hanged. You know l am innocent. and won't
you please so out and see some one and see If
You can't save me T.
The hangman left. the Jail. but the prisoner
stood. watch in hand. counting the minutes as
they sped by. Each one seemed an interminable
and after n while the hangman returned with
heavy steps, and apparently a heavier heart.
oner called TO him. 1T is all right now. The
hour ,is past. and you cannot legally hang me
now"
At this point the dreamer awoke to find him
self in II cold perspiration, holding his watch in
his hand. He tried in vain to dispel the horrible
sleep again. lest he dream it a third time. He
said to himself: Yes. you would know how to
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 1t eagerly to see II any
one was TO be hanged, and then he saw
how 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 intro
duced. 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 almostd dreaded to go to bed
and to sleep.
He thought the matter over carefully and
calmly and came to the conclusion that II there
was a shadow of a doubt of the negro's guilt, in
all justice he ought to have the thirty days re.
spite, that the matter might be thoroughly In.
vestigated. Having made up his mind to this,
he stepped TO the telephone and dictated the
following message to Gov. Taylor. Grant
DeBerry thirty days respite for good reasons
and signed his name. A few hours afterward
the respite came; but no one. not even De Berry
or his attorney, knew why 1t came after all the
delay.