The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-29
TWO MURDERERS HUNG.
Manuel Norris Was Choked to Death, Pete
Autre's Neck Broken.
BOTH DROPPED FROM the SAME GALLONS
One. Hts victim Bcias "A
Little Mind Gtrt.

| Richmond Texas. October sS.--Wish
smiles upon their lips and the expression
OF coniidssace In their future happincss
i'ctc Autrsy and Emanuel Norris convicted
| of separate crimes were dropped through
| the gallcws at the county iaii here tails
afternoon.
| Morris Was chokcd 10 death. bu, Autrey's
mock was broken with y snap that could
he heard all over the room
| Morris wac the fist victim OF the law.
| He stepped upon the gallows at l 40. and
while sitting on q chair over the gallowo
had the death warrant read TO him by
Sheriff Parsel. Father McSorlev. n Cath
Ollie priest. prayed with Morris. who re-
peated after him.
| The sheriff asked the condemned MAN n
he wanted toddN to which he replied
| In the negative. Morris then with a hNad
smile upon his face. which terror had
turned to an ashy color. admitted again
| his guilt and went Off into rambling ne
count of how kind the Officers had been
to him He seemed spiritually very happy
| aud showed moro courage than II was ex-
pected he would When he sto,A up to bc
tied. however. he received and leeded thu
aid of the deputy.
The lever wac Strung at iis. but the
| fall wns short aud HIS neck WAS not broken.
He struggled hut little. however. and after
hanging twenty-throe minutes the body
was cut down, and the rallows Was pre-
pared for the next victim
In the meantime the death warrant lad
been read to rete in tho little cell whore
he was placed during the execution OF his
companion In misery and from the window
Of witch he bad entertained the large
crowd OF regro,s on the OUTSIDE by calling
their names and expressing his pleasure
upon finding that they We're ENJOYING good
health as he was. and advising them 10
mend their WAYS and meet him in heaven
all of which thoy each and every ono as
surod him they would certainly do,
AT 2;l6 hh stepped out on the gallows and
went through the same spiritual process
as his predecessor and emlingly informed
those present that "herc he was." that he
was guilty MS charged and that he
hoped to continue the friendships of this
earth in the glorious world where he waa
sure of going. lie spoke to all in the audi
ence he knew, wllled his old hat TO a rela-
tive and took his stand on the trap.
The lever was jerked nj ego. and In
fourteen minutes the doctors pronounced
him dead. but IL was five minutes later be-
fore he was cut down.
Both men died gama though Morris
nerve was about to leave him. Aubrey WAS
as cool ms II he was about TO take rail
, road Journey. He dcLfed his guilt until
peina taken down stairs for hath when
he acknowledged to an inquirer In the
crowd outside that he was guilty. Morris
deried also that he WAS guilty OF numbering
the little blind negro girl until last sun
day morning, when be confessed TO the
iailcr and later 40 thA writer. Both mon
l ate and slept well to the last and smoked
cigarettes constantly. Morris had eig-
arctic in his mouth when he stepped on
the gallows, and while talking carefully
! leaned over and Dropped II on the lloor
MORRIS CRIME.
, The history of the crime committed by
I Manuel Morris In Fort Bend county, Teyay.
on the Muldrew place. near Fulshear. and for
which he given the dcnth penalty at
Richmond. Texas, at the March term OF the
: district court 1898. was as follows:
i Fannie Williams. the deceased. was about
{ 6 years OF age and was living with her mother,
8 ophoIia Williams. on tho Mudrew place, near
fulshear. Texas: a colorcd man by the name
i, OF Henry Ellis had bcen living with the
mother of tho dcceasod. On the night OF jan'
: uary /, 1898. the mother attended vail re-
questng Henry Ellis 10 remain at homo aud
8 tako care OF the blind girl until her return.
n To this he aBscnted Before the mother loft
o home for the ball Henry Ella went TO The
g residence 81 Ida Mn for the purpose OF taking
S supper. On reaching Ida ilills. no round nc
g sides Ida. Manuel Morris. the defendant and
: Jim Thornton After supper the Defendant,
Ida I'M. lin Thornton and ELLIS started to
| store near by and on the same plantation,
After going a short distance, defendant LETT
the crowd and did not rejoin them. The re.
mainder Of the party visited the store ana
remained there short time. when Henry
= | Ellis took his departure for the Joint real
: donce Of himself and opbelia williams, the
mother OF the deceased Fannie Williams. ~
he approached their residence he mel inc hf.
4 fendant coming away. The ce,cndnnt ipio flned
) him of the fact that he had just been TO his
fHopry EilisD house. aud failed 10 get ~.
thaS- willis there he saw somebody leaving
g said residence. AZ tho request Of Henry Ellls
J, the defendant returned with him to tue RES
idenco.
n Upon entering the same light was made,
" aud the blind glTi was discovered 70 nave peen
murdered and rayished. She was struck l%lr1
on. the head, her skull b,ihR cru ,s,',e
Il In two places. and WIS badly mutlsteh. rlIlt
: left the house to give information OF tNe
homicide and tho defendant followed hlni
Finally Ellis accused Morris Of the crime
e After talking awhile In regard 10 the matter,
a defendant admitted the killing, ana Wheu
: Ellis attempted to arrest hy1 ne ned ana
made his escape. He went TO farm some
distance away and stayed AZ residence some
l distance away and stycd at residence duiln'
y tho night. returning 10 his own home ,he io'
n loving morning and was there arrested
Tho day following the homicide nsiHnHsh
A said that he and ellis did the kililng, ani
= finally admitted that he had He'd aS 10 Eii's
:, =, aud further stated that bo himself hAd com
, mitted the crime and that Ellis had nothin'
20 do with II.
d Though the defendani was duly warned afte
N the arrest at the examining trial be con
n tiuuod TO mako the following confession, 20
wit:
Fannie wac sitting by the nrc, ana
e struck her one lick OH the side Of the hsan
n She fell over on her face and struck ne
n on the back OF the head With an IRON roc
n and killed her instantly. After had kiiieS
her tried to rape her. The reason ! kiiin'
her was because had heard Ophelia VII
u fans say the day before that she wished ran
- mic was out OF the way
"a AUTRE's CRIME.
J. Pete Autre was tried for the murder
Charlotte Bookman, AT srgarland. Texas, o
n the night Of November g. 1897. the eaae bein
u called at Richmond. March term OF The as
!, triet court, 1898. and the penalty OF death 81
" sessed against him. The facts and nircum
| s,.,a.-s - tha tttltpy xar.. rs foll0we.