The Lamar register., 1899-02-15
BY GODS JUDGMENT.
WILL PuRvIs SLIPPED THROUGH
THE MOOSE.
Add Accordingly the Man conrieted OF
Murder Most cowardly Is Let Free
by the Executive of the bayou State
Cannot BE RetFied.

A case OF modern Judgment has
just been brought to the attention OF
many who had forgotten the strange
case of VIII Puryis Of Mississippi.
through the pardon that was granted
to him a few days ago by Gov. Nc
Laurin. Purvis figured conspicuously
in the great whiteeap sensation OF sew
eral years ago. and his release from the
penitentiary terminates a case which
for sensational Developments and ORA
matte details stands remarkable In the
history OF criminal Jurisprudence. In
1895 Puryis was accused OF the mur-
der OF VIII Buckley. a fellow white
cnpper OF Marion county. Buckley had
fallen out with the band with which
Purvis was said to have been one OF
the most aggressive members, and he
had made open threats that he would
divulge their secrets and bring them
all to punishment. One of the oaths
of the hand prescribed TO each member
upon initiation was that the nrst man
who turned traitor was TO suffer deStn.
Accordingly, q meeting was held to Try
Buckley. and he was condemned to
die. Purvis participated at this meet
ing. Shortly afterwards a second
meeting was held to select the men
who should execute the sentence OF the
band This meeting PuTyts failed TO
attend, whether from excess OF caution.
from accident or from qualns Of con-
science is not clear Naturally his ao-
sence aroused the suspicious Of his
comrades Nobody but the men pres
ent viii ever know what took place al
this seeoad meeting. and there Is moth
ing positive but that shortly after
wards Buckley was assassinated one
evening after sundown on his way
home from work Il was Tumored
around the neishburhoot that Purvts
was the guilty man, The rumors
gained credsnce. and Purvis was ar
rested. At the trial Buckley's brother.
who was with him on the night be was
murdered. testified that he recognized
Purvis as the murderer. Whether in
noeeut or guilty. Purvis was sentenced
to be hanged, and the day OF e1ecu-
ton was fixed and the galiows erected.
The hanging was to be a public one,
and as there had not been one In
many a year in the neighborhood.
crowds from all over the country gath
cred to witness the gruasome event
There were the usual prsliminaries
which attend such occasion. The pris-
oner was led upon the scarold and
allowed to say last word. A minis
ter OF the gospel walked with him in
the shadow OF death and offered up
prayers for the salvation Of his. soul.
At last the fatal moment came The
black cap was pulled down over the
horrihed eyes Of the prisoner. and the
moose was made fast around his neck
There was a hush in the great multi
tude Of spectators, pause, and then
the trap was sprung and the body shot
downward through the trap. Many
sickened at the sight and turned away.
For a moment the body wrIthed and
quivered in midair. and then the knot
slipped and the prisoner fell heavily
to the ground. A wild shout greeted
this denouement. the first OF It's kind
the people Of Marion county and the
adjacent counties had ever witnessed.
Eagerly the crowd pressed forward and
assisted Puryis 20 his feet. As soon
as he began to revive he called God to
witness that he was innocent of the
crime Of which he was accused. and for
which he had almost paid with his
I - -