The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-21
MURDERER CLAY FORD HANGED
PROTESTED his INNOCENCE OF
THE DOUBLE CRIME.
He Paid the Extreme
Penalty.

La Grange. Texas, July 2o.--Clay Ford,
the negro murderer. was hanged here at
n:i5 o'clock this mort ing. At an early
hour throngs q people came in from all
parts OF the county to witness the first
hanging In Fayette county for twenty
years, and, thoush the scaflold on IKE
west side of the Jail was enclosed bv a
high board fence ard large sheets OF can-
vas, In which only those 10 whom the
shori1 had extended rasses were admitted,
several thousand people saw the execu-
ton from torsctops trees and otner avail
able positions.
Several hours before the hanging an Inn
mense crowd passed to and fro In eager
anxiety In the large Jail yard and exam
ined the structure upon which Ford was
to be deprived OF his llfe, On the In
side of the prison Ford was displaying
the same GOODNESS and indifference that has
trial. He had passed tolerahly good
night. ate n hearty breakfast this morning
and chatted very pleasantly TO those who
went to sec him. He was offered stimu
lants AT various times but these he re-
fused saying: "All | want is the rope, and
l guess I'll get that pretty soon" After
he had been shaved and dressed. Rev.
Townsend at 10 o'clock entered the prison
and held short service The ScriptuTal
reading being concluded, Ford knelt down
and prayed in low yet firm tone not
manitestlng the slightest agitation, and
earnestly he declared his innocence, max
ing frequent references TO the Deity, His
pulse at the conclusion of the services
was so. AT l0:i5 he addressed the crowd
from the prison steps and denied his guilt.
Bidding his fellow prisoners an affec-
tionato goodbye, he walked firmly Upon
the scaffold. Here Rev Townsend offered
an effective prayer. Ford sank down on
his knees, offered n short prayer then
arose and quietly shook hands with all
those on the scaffold In a moment he
was securely tied hands and feet the
black cap placed the rope adjusted, and
hardly had the response to- the inquiry,
Are you ready" been uttered. when
Sheriff Loessin grabbed the lever and in
fwInkling Fords body shot through the
trap The body swung quietly without
the slightest signs of struggle. Seven
minutes afterwards the heart beat so, ten
minutes later lS5, in twelve minutes there
was no pulse, and In thirteen minutes al
ter the drop the body was taken down.
The neck was dislocated. his nose bleed
ing a little, his eyes closed and his face
swollen but wearing the expression OF
composure and tranquility.
Everything ran smoothly and too much
credit can not be given to Sheriff Loessin
for the successful manner In which he
performed his duty. so distasteful to him
Fayette county Is proud of her big sheriff.
The crime for which Ford was this day
hanged may be briefly stated as follows;
on the night of November 2S 1885 about
7:so O'Clock the neighbors OF Mathllde Win.
sior. an old negro woman. aged rs years.
living IN the outskirts OF this city. were
aroused by loud and heavy sound occurring
In her small cabin near by. Seeing no light
there and approhondinG foul play an investi-
Cation was Immediately made aud uDon en-
tering the room the old woman aud her little
Grnnodai ghter were found yinR IN pool Of
their own Blood on the Hood IT. an uncon-
&c luue condition. Several large and ugly
paplcs had been cut into the heads of the
unfortunate victims which had apparently
been done with u railroad fsh plate that was
found Wing the floor with blood spot
md some grny hairs on It. The room had
not been disturbed In any manner exeep'
that the foot Of the bed was turned M. Here
Tho old woman kent money belonging to dit
feron, relatives including the wife Of Ford
She died 1--WE DAYS after the little girl sur
y!Ved her but was not able to recognize tho
murderer In the dark.
The evidence on tho trial H1a only tiicum-
5tautial. but OF Ruch n nature ms clearly TO
prove Ford's guilt. Ford Was seen coming
rom home fhst same evening about dusk
ricing on mule and along the road that
cuds by The old womans house. man suit
ng his description was also gcen sittlng on
he Katy track. near the house. about that
lcrse was lied at the stock mems Loar tn
southern Pacific track where lay pile OF
lth plates. from which II was discovered |
he neNt day that one hni been lately re-
moved. Ford whom arrested wore phir OF
hoes. one OF which had no heel and the other |
nto some fifty foot-tracks that were found |
eeding from the railway through n small
,otion field to the cabin and c0riesponded eH-
lctly. He was next seen by parties VINO had
iefrd OF the crime. but did not know the
inmes Of the victims, and TO them he pro-
essed 10 know nothing Of tho crime. but
merely mixed Us she dond2' Shortly after
Rnrds he made his appearance NJ n negro
dive: there he won several dollars
lut NJ soon as tho news Of the murder
eacLed there. he again inquired whether inc
lartv still unknown, was dead. ana cIt'
Defendant and his wife Ind been picking
.otton M Holman. twelve miles from here,
md on his way there that night met de-
easod's daughter. who had heard OF the as
asslnation Of her mother and was on her
snv there. and paid her ~ The moon shone
nightly and Il was noticed that his hand
ron hled Arriving ut Holman he paid some
money 10 negro there and retired. Deputy
herlf Loessin arrested him at daybreak.
While he waa Etll IN bed with the same
lothes on that hc had worn during the night;
nd on his person WA found sl5.oo 10 money