The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-25
BURTON ON THE GALLONS
Ne Protests His Innocence Of the Crime
for Which He Was Hanged to the Last.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS At THE scAFFolD
Burson Talks 20 the PeopIc-Pro-
fsue 10 the End-Retrins
His Nerve We'll.

and seven and one-hsif minutes later the
physicians In attendance reported that
pnlsation had ceased. At i2:4s the life
less body was cut down. The negro was
game 10 the last and met his death as
calmly and unconcernediy as be would
have gone to a meal He protested his
innocence even when upon the scaffoid.
People OF all classes and conditions be-
gan to crowd around the Jail carly yes
terdsy morning. BY 10 o'clock the Jail
yard was filled to overlooking and the
various entrances were literally packed by
a surging. impatient. morbidly curious
throng which fought and struggled for
the space close TO the doors. It was sher-
III Andcrsons intention TO admit the
holders Of tickets only few minutes be-
fore the execution took place but In
opening the doors to representatives Of
the press. county and city officers ara
others privileged to enter before the main
crowd. great many others secured adj
mittance. it being impossible for the jail
ers to keep the crowd thoroughly in check.
The result was that the Jail Office aud
a-NSA ~ h-4N 0tAaNN hANAAA 4AE eAAAAl4A
was filled long before II o'clock.
The condemned negro passed the morn
ing very quietly. He was taken out Of
the death cell in which he has been con-
fined shortly before 10 O'Clock. and after
bath In the Tub situated in the adjoining
room. he was furnished with new suit
of black, clean linen, black tie and a
pair Of new shoes. In this outfit he ar
rayed hmaelf. after which he sat on the
edge Of the bath tub and talked coHpBsec-
ly and intelligenuy 10 the persons VINO
were admitted TO that portion OF the Jail
Among those present was a man from
san Jacinto countg, this place Of BUR-
Ton birth. and, conversation having
been opened by the latter. the negro told
Of people he knew there and OF the various
parts OF the county IN which he had been.
County Commissioner Gus Becker Gu
te'ed the room, spoke pleasantly 10 me
negro and. at the la;ters request, gave.
nam q cigar. which was smoked with the
greatest compusuve On some one re-
marking on his changed appearance since
uonning the new clothes Burton glanced
over his person With 4 look OF satisfac-
lion and said that ne was very sorry
tha' nc had rot mad a chance to get a
shave or have his hair combed. He joked
aeoui bis hair, s8Elng that ne had intend
ed 10 put u up in papers so they nigh,
know him when he gOt there" More o,
less profanity accompanied these remarks
and burton requested the reporters pres.
en-, not 70 put down bis by words" II
answer 10 question as to his age h,
said that be vas 20 years months and :,
days old yesterday morning.
To one OF the spectators present thu
negro addressed a request 10 be reIueti,
NrTpd hts at
she be told that he would meet her n
Heaven Something having been salt
sbou, some letters ne had written on IN
preceding day. he answered that he ba,
written great deal. but ina, he had dc
cided not to give any OF Il out. He wrot
u for one Of the deputy sherinS he said
oui the officer had declined 70 give hin
si.50 for f. so he had torn Il 10.
At this iunciure Burton asked the time
lie was told that 1t was II o'clock. Ia re-
ply 10 which he said Il wonder whom thi
tsing Is going 10 happen" After this n,
asked II he would be allowed TO addres
the people on the outside u the iaiI. an.
seemed to be we'll satisfied when told tina
he would be-
To Sheriff Anderson, who came In a
this moment, the negro said: MIR Archie
YOU haven; Gwen me that toddy yct
The today was produced and pur,o;
drank II with evident relish
County Attorney SchNander asked III
negro i be wished TO see o preacher.
No" said Burton, Are you one7"
100. no." was the reply
II thought you might be" said Burton
II noticed some dirt on me knees OF you
trousers"
This sally raised laugh In which IN
negro Joined.
In view OF his frequent requests 10 ~,
reporters TO withhold certain OF his re
marks during the forenoon, he seemed I
deem It necessary at this time to civ
mem permission 10 publish his Joke a
the expense of Judge Schwander TO whom
however, he apologized and said that n
harm had been intended. He then wer
on TO give his views Of preachers Tn
views were interesting. but would nc
look well In print.
Burton's next question was as 70 >Sheth,
today was Good Friday. On being told tn,
II was not he fell into a reflective moo
which was broken into by the arrival
Sheriff Anderson and the announcemel
that the time for the reading OF the deaf
warrant had arrived. Burton listened a
tfS.iyeiy while the lengthy document
the hands OF the sheriff was read lie a
not interrupt the reading once nor did
at any time show any signs OF nervousness
looked refectively at the paper held
Sheriff Anderson AZ the close OF Il
reading his only remark was That's d.
good ~ have TO stand It."
49,. ~
Sheriff Anderson then told him that
was at liberty to address the erov
gathered on the outside. and followed
The people who had been in the bath roo
with him. he was led through the IAN Z
fice and conducted to one OF the wIndo,
on the south side of the building. The
he surveyed the vast crowd for a rntnu
or two before be said anything. He look
arclnd until his eyes met the gaze Of u
Jackson. who was one OF the witness
against him, when he objected TO h
presence. saying to Sheriff Anderson. "T,
jam ! don't want him TO look at me-
then remarked This is a big crowd. /
asked every one TO keep quiet, as he wan
cd to speak few words 10 leach a,
every nationality that Is on the ground
saying that he was little hoarse on 4
count of bad cold In his peculiar sty
be professed his Innocence, saying.
say this. that am not guilty, yes, but Al
have 70 die Just the same" He said IN
he had failed 70 pray through .angernesl
but he trusted that God would save hi
He pTofessed he WAS not scared but n
he did not know how soon he would .
-. heesuse Il was something he had ne,
experienced. and no matter how nervy
nan w. sometimes he VIII weaken.
Or The subject OF religion he said
u. Hat fnx .r,.,,sI