The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-03-18
Have you heurd the news from Theta?
Have you heurd the news from Theta?
CONDEMNED MANS WORDS.
Dan Harris Writes a Warning Against
Gambling Hells and Saloons.

Dan Harris Writes Warning Against
Gambling HelIs and saloons.
Dan Darris, one of the two negroes
sentenced to death to take effect
March 20 in Nashville, has addressed
a letter to the public which is better
than sermon on temperance and
gambling The letter was written
from dictation by a fellow prisoner,
and reads as follows:
81, Daniel Harris, in the county Jail of
Nashville, Tenn, am condemned to die
on the scaffold that is prepared for me,
March %, 1898, for the killing of poor
Lizzie Edmunson, my dear beloved
paramour. My age is 26 years. My
father died when was years old.
followed my Christian mothers teach
ings at our country home ten years, and
then l moved to the city. In all of my
county life l had had only three weeks
in school, and in the city life 1 wan
dered from my dear mothers teaching
and fell in company with idle boys. /
followed on and on to the drinking and
gambling cup of Inflammation, to be over
thrown there. / supped and supped UNI
til at last 1T brought me to my doom to
die, for in the state was in when l did
the crime l did not realize what 1 was
warning of this for fear of doom that
may overtake you If you do not spurn
the cup that flows too enticing to take
sup,
Calvary that all who believed on him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
To him, dear readers, lift up my eyes,
Yes, ana bow my knees, and he has re-
lieved me of this awful crime Oh,
Calvary, sweet Calvary! Remember to
honor thy father and thy mother that
thy days may be long here on earth.
Jesus has given me a new heart and
new spirit. In him is my pardon; God
has granted 1t to me from him the tree
of eternal life. Oh, dear reader, it is
good to have just God, one to rely on.
He relieved the poor, the sick, the dis
tressed and dying sinner. He has
washed me in the blood of the Lamb
and washed me whittier than snow.
Jesus died for me and for you. 1 can
neither read nor write it, but my name
is written in him, the book of life.
Jesus is ready and willing at any time
come unto him and be saved, for he will
not turn you away for what crime you
| have committed. Come while it is day.
! When it is dark, no one can see. Look
at my fate. Yet young, strong, robust
and healthy, given away to vice. Be
warned, dear friends; there is danger
ahead. Stop and ponder awhile before
! it is too late. l am ready to meet my
Father, who art in heaven, at any time.
am to go. Farewell, dear friends /;
| take warning at this. Father, dear
Father, has removed that bitter cup, and
l will walk through the valley in peace
with King Jesus as my leader. oh,
come, let us lie down by the still waters
Of lifa and DRINK fraalv Tn him will
eternal life be for all who believe. |
left my mothers path, L followed idle
youths vices, and you see what fate
has befallen me, and to God only look
to be redeemed from the fathomless pit
of damnation. Remember now thy
Creator in the days of thy youth, so
when you grow up and you may not de-
part from 1t. Carry this in your bosom
for If had did this, this crime would
not have been committed.
"Poor Lizzie Edmundson, my
paramount. 1 had no grudge against
her. Yet blinded in sin, she met her
fate at my hands. She is gone to the
realms of an unknown world. Yes,
hope to meet her there on the eternal
shore when we meet to part no more.
Only Jesus will rely on; he can save
me, no matter what the world does.
Remember that what a man soweth
that shall he reap. Be on your guard
and think where shall spend eternity.
Nearly all of my past life was spent in
a gambling den and the saloon.
"My sins are all forgiven, my soul set
free, my feet placed on the rock of eter-
nal ages, where the gates of hell cannot
prevail against them. Simply to this
rock cling. May the God Of love and
mercy be with you and me. Amen.
| HnAN HARRIS