The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-25

advising them to think this over and re-
peating the warning several times lie
believed that some % the people sympa-
thized With him. lie explained hat he
had said a number Of things that had
been published but as ne had not seen
the papers be did not know wha, was
printed. or whether ii was true or not;
but nov they had a chance 20 SEQ him
and asked that II be long remembrance
with them. He continued In this rambling
way for some little time. He said he was
going to die boldly.
AS he was led away from the window
some one shouted A. him asking II he
was guilty. lie turned around and said
''No. I am not guilty. Diin't ] tell you
! was nct7 Goodbye 70 Oh and every
BODY
While Burton was addressing the crowd
he recognized several faces and asked the
sheriff 10 lei them witness the execution.
He also stopped q FEW lines and asked
Sheriff Andersen II be must cult taking.
AZ 1880 Ianer Harry Anderson testei
the dropAnd a fey minutes later Snerih
Anderson made 3 personal inspection Of
the soaHoii ~ that time everything was
In readiness for the execution but pro
ceedings we're DELAYED hy The condemned
maR who sent M word that be wished
TO have another talk with the reporters,
This talk lasted for some time, and in
the meantime. shortly after II c'clock, all
persons holding tickets were admitted 10
The Jail The result was that the limited
space around the scaGoid vas soon
crowded 10 sunpcafips, and the officers
in charge experienced considerable diff
Guilty in keeping The pushing struggling
mass % humanity within bounds.
Sheriff Anderson car1p up toe narrow.
winding stairway which leads from the
lower floor OF the Jail 10 The space oceu-
picd by the scafioid. with Burton Walking
T.. s. Hnaan D. r. y fffsn
crowd with bin. az 1920. Accompanying
them were several deputy shcriffs AMI
Rev. G. IL HAYS. colurcd. OF the Shiloh
Missionary baptist Church, who. by the
way. was Alex TeTrels spiritual adviser
Buuou's FIRST words after stepping on the
platform were; Well, gentlemen, how
are you7 I'm pretty we'll. There's no
harm in answering that question THIS
WIS In answer 20 the inquiring looks il-
rected 10 him from the men crowded
around and above him. He was still per-
fectly cool and collected. and he half
burned cigar was siin in his hands.
The coloTed minister then asked for the
attentlon o. the crowd and rebuked it by
saying that no matter Nhet crime nad
been committed hy Rur,0n. BIZ was about
TO be launched info eternity.
while the preacher was faiking 81 %lcu.
demus and his power Burton calmly
stopped down. studied the Trap reflective
ly. and then. drawing O peHcI from his
pocket. wrote thereon the following words.
p +. Burton iS not guilty but sill this
way The utter lack % sense contained
IN The last four words was really the only
sign exhibited during the day which
wouid lead 90 the belief that he waa not
as calm A. - aly time during his exist
ence. Urdernea'l the words he had writ
ten. IN iairl' good hand. someone else
az some pr" 1ous time bad scrawied,
Hang ne quick
Burton continued 20 talk from the SCAT
| fold, several times protesting his inuoccnc5
1 and reassertlug that he intended go meet
| death boldly. lie said. among other
| things: During my life have NOT known
| God. ! have prayed, but 10 seemed So
| me TO be Ia vain l am no iuRdel, but
/ there was prejudice in my heRrl aud
/ couldn't get nd u &c. have been treated
| as nice as possible while / have been
/ prisoner here. don't believe sou could
| have better man Tor your sheriu than
AF. Archie Anderson ! don't know this
| mind you. hut Is IS my belief The jatler.
have been mighty good so me, TOO, Mr
Harry Anderson and Mr. Trammel and
MIR Wilson have all been good TO me.
never killed those people. know w
got 10 die, but you're NOT Rilliu
coward.
Il told you / didn't murder them people
didn't II" he continued. addressing
young attorney who had been one OF hi
| counsel yes was jhe reply
4 don't want 20 so be went on, "bu
e must be done. according 10 law Inei
ne criticised the judge and She jury which
convicted him His talk was cut short by
the sheriff and his deputies, who bonn,
his ankles together aud tied his hands 4
his sides JUST before the black cap wa
drawn over his bead. and he had looked OF
the light OF day for he last time, b.
again cursed Jim Jackson his brother IN
law. and said thai he wonld have hllc'
the latter u he had ever bad the chanc
10 sci his foot on toe ground
His last request, made even after tn
death bonnet had been drawn over ht
face. was directed TO sheriff Anderson
The boon be asked was that ne he sllowe'
! to give the signal Tor the spyinging o
the trap by nndding his head. Answe
yes. just % show me that you under
| stand won't your" he said. as the no0s
was being adjusted around his neck,
Yes" said some would-be wit In tn
crowd,
That's a lie" said Burton.
The words were scarcely ont Of hi
mouth when Sheriff Anderson sprung IN
trap and the black clad figure dropped,
There was an inHtant scramble for III
aperture through which he had dlsappeare
! and the officers had a struggle to proven
themselves from being pushed over. III
ncErOs neck was broken bN tue iai
Pulsatlon ceased al the end OF seven an
: a half minutes and four and half min
utes later the body was cut down Count
. | Physician clarendon, who was assisted Z
! his work by Assistant County Physicia
! Shaw and several others, having pro
4 nounced Il liieiess The remains wer
: | Immediately removed To the rear hall
2 the TAIL. the officers having a hard fgh
d 70 force themselves through the CROW
e which thronEed the corridor. The bod
|, was placed "a a plain board coffin on
q taken Immediately TO the potters helt
y where Il was buried
~
Young GottIeb Meyer, the only SUI
vivor OF the murdered family. and the onI
. person who positively Identified Burto
A as the guilty man. occupied a prominel
!. position on the scafold and was an II
terested spectator all during tho PR
n ceedinRs, He exhibited his wounded har
> several times during the time tho crow
. was waltz & for the sheriff and Burton.
49,
The crime, for which Burton paid Il
= death penalty was the murder Of lien
4 Meyers. Emeila Meyers. bis wife, and the
5 child IN the cradle THIS triple crime vi
S committed at the Meyers home near c,
Il press. in this county. on July IS, 1895 "
Q ard Mrs Movers were killed BY hein