The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-15
DEAN HANGED At Orange
WIFE MURDERER STRUNG UP IN
THE PRESENCE OF OVER
5000 PEOPLE.
INQr W0nnQ I'M InhTC fTLICnQ
LAST WORDS |MPuCATE Others
Though He Protested Religion,
Ministers Present Doubted His
Words on the GallOws-His
Conduct Puzzled All.

Orange, lex, July S.-(SpeclaE)-
Prean Dean was hanged for wife muir
der here in the courthouse yard today in
the presence of fully 5000 people. The
drop fell at 1903, and thirteen minutes
later life was declared extinct.
At 1:27 the body was let down and
delivered to his friends. The man has
proved himself an enigma to lawyers, Of
ficers and ministers. He professed reli-
gion on June %, and just before being
baptized he confided to Rev. G. II. Hayes
in the Harris county Jail that he COM
mitted the murder, first having dragged
his wife from the buggy. When she
pleaded with him for time to pray, he
struck her with the short-handled axe
which he carried along for that purpose
She screamed so loud he jerked out his
last, though for a time yesterday he ad-
not completed his work, he beat her over
the head with his pistol.
That tallies with the first statement
made when arrested. But since he was
returned to Jail here he has persisted in
charging the killing of his wife to others,
| that extent of his connection with the
crime consisted in having enticed her out
| there after the plot had been laid by
them. He stuck to this statement to the
| last, though for a ime yesterday he ad-
| mitted that his first statement was cor
rect
Not minister or other person in his
| nearing believed that a third party was
| connected with the crime, and last night
and all of the forenoon today was spent
| by the celrgy, praying and singing with
Dean and pleading with him to tell the
| whole truth. When asked if he was
ready to die, he replied that he was
willing to face his Maker that
minute. He never returned to
his. first confession, but died
trying to implicate others. and praying
that rs he was made to suffer for his sins.
that the Lord would punish the others ac-
cording to their crimes.
1t was clear to him, as it was TO every
one who heard each of the clergymen
pleading with him to tell the whole truth,
that they did not believe that he was pre-
| pared to die
| After religious services the sheriff ask
ed Dean if he had anything to say. He
rose promptly upon his feet and delivered
short harangue. He began by saying
he had made his peace with God, and he
knew that he had received forgiveness,
and If any man said he had not that man
lied. AT the last moment he asked the
forgiveness of all his enemies and called
for Eli Boykin, his father-in-aw. Boykin
| stepped upon the platform, when Dean i'm
plored his forgiveness, telling the old man
that the murdered wife had forgiven him;
that she come to him in dream night be-
fore last. and told him so; that she slept
on his arm all that night, and that he was
ready and willing to go to meet her. He
shook hands with those about him, and
waving his hand to the crowd further
away. cried out: Good bye to every
body" The black cap was put over his
head, but he asked to say one word more.
1t WAS lifted. when he spoke in clear,
plain voice.
81 want all you boys and young men to
never allow yourselves to be talked into
doing anything that you know 70 be
wrong"
Preparations were then completed and
the trap fell. Two slight commissions, and
all was over
Though only q years old, Dean leaves
son ~ years old, by former wife. The
absolute Indifference manifested by the
prisoner for two days past and on the
| scaffold was simply appalling. He came
| from his cell laughing, and seemed will
| ing to close the span between life and
| eternity When the coffin, a plain one,
| was brought in and placed under the scat
| fold Dean kneeled down, peered through a
crack, and asked the sheriff: is that the
best you can do for casket? His father
| left here with the body ON tOnight's train
| for Lake Charles, La.