The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-22
GOD HELP THE LITTLE ONES
4 Very sad Goene-A Fathers Last Inter.
view With Els Children.

Fl 8. Perry, of Decatur, Ga., was
executed in that city Wednesday for
The murder OF a young man, Billy
Lanier. whom he said with his dying
breath be killed to protect his wife's
honor. The day before the execution
Perry's little children were taken to
see him for the last time and the
scene was one that would melt heart
of stone. A telegram thus describes
this pathetic occurrence:
Perry was this morning, as he has
been every morning, calm and deli be
rate, until his children arrived at the
iail and were admitted to his cell
His oldest son was not in the party,
but his four younger children, &C
comrauied by their aunt, Miss Corley,
we're taken to him. The condemned
man talked to them quietly for some
time, although he was making q
strong effort to conceal his emotion.
The little children did not realize
the seriousness of the situation. They
knew their aunt was deeply troubled
and that some great sorrow was upon
the mind of their father, but their 10.
nocent minds could not grasp the
horrible truth, and they were spared
the suffering of the older persons.
Perry retained his nerve until the
children started to leave his cell. As
his little boy, a child of 6, walked to
the door, he said: BE good boy,
son :" and then a wall that made all in
hearing shudder, came from the cage
as Perry saw his children leaving.
With heads bowed in sorrow, caus.
ed by they knew net what, the chill
drcn following their aunt, walked into
the jailor's office. Standing with his
face against the heavy door of iron
bars Perry cried aloud in his anguish,
and his strong frame trembled as he
gave way to his feelings that had to
that time been so we'll concealed.
"Oh, God, have mercy upon my
children" he cried again and again,
as he pressed against the cage door in
last effort to see them.
God help them, Oh, God help
them" cried the miserable man, as
he dashed himself upon the iron cot
| in his cell and buried his face in his
trembling hands. For fifteen min
utes Perry lay upon his cot sobbing
like child, with a group of prison
ers peeping through the bars at him.
One of them ls.ughed, not at Perry,
but for some unknown reason, and
Tom Cyrus, who is in Jail for killing
his mistress, demanded silence, which
quickly followed.
Perry was not long recovering his
composure, but, when be attempted to
talk to Journal man he again lost
control of himself, and between sobs
said: "Oh, to think that I am to be
taken away from them so soon. To
think that am to be made to leave
my wife and my children, and all to
satisfy the wicked assh. May the
God have mercy Or the man who is
doing this"
AS if apprehensive that some one
would think him in fear of death,
Perry suddenly stood erect and said :
II have no fear of death for myself,
but am thinking Of my poor wife
and my little children, who will be
left without me.
81 have hope, glorious hope, in
the great world beyond, and l know
that am to 60 there when leave
this place of sin. The Lord has said
He will be father to my children,
and a husband to my wife and this
piyes me- comfort"