The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-12-12

At 1905 o'clock yesterday morning.
in the yard of the Bourbon County
Jail Clarence Williams paid the
extreme penalty of the law for the
murder of Josie Tillmann, by being
hung by the neck uutil he was
dead.
HIS LAST HOURS.
Williams retired early, and at nine
o'clock he was in bed and slept soundly
through the night. He was, however,
up early. At five o'clock he arose and
began to dress himself. The wonder
full nerve he has displayed all along
has caused those who have been in daily
contact with him to wonder. His first
request this morning was for a needle
and thread, as he wished to sew a but
ton on his clothes A female prisoner
was taken to his cell to do the sewing.
and her extreme nervousness caused
him to smile. why, you are more
nervous tnan L am" be said. He thread
ed tiAe cambria needle by candle light
The efforts of the minister Sunday
had marked effect OH him. He was
perfectly resigned 70 his fate, and said
that he freely fOrgave all his enemies,
aud wished their forgiveness He wished
to meet Josie Tiilman in Heaven, and
knew that she has already forgiven Kim
for the great wrong he had done her
He was particularly proud of the fact
that he had kept his nerve mp, aud sai3
it was his intention TO die game
When asked what he desired for
breakfast he said be did not care Mrs.
Ashbrook furnished him with a broiled
quail AMI coffee, etc, and he ate it with
evident relish.
Earlyin the morning Mr.. Kiser received
the following cOmmuul alton from
Williams which was hi last on earth:
mir. Kiser remember NE as long as
You live This is from the one You have
been SO kind to. Here is a picture
that is drawn for you at your request
[ don't think there is prisoner in Jail
can speak harmful word against You
and tell the truth. YOu have been good
to me, and [ appreciate it very much.
Hoping that we will meet i'll Heaven on
the golden street. Good bye. Yours re-
spectfullY, CLARENCE WILLIAMS
At ten minutes to seven Williams be-
gan his march TO the scaffold. He was
in charge of Deputy Sheriff Mitchell
who had previously piniOned his arm.
Williams wore black suit of clothes
with red rose on the lapel of his coat
Sheriff Bowen brought up the rear.
He assembled the scaffOld with a firm
step and took his place on the trap.
Ed. j. e, Graves sang a hymn aud
delivered a prayer. The moose was then
adjusted, the black cap drawn, and at
7;05 the drop fell
His neck was hrOken aud his death was
painless. At 7:5 Drs F. M FAIRIES,
VIM. Keuney and Ben Frank pronounced
him dead.
AS the uooee was FL iced on his neck
he exclaimed, "Dcaw it tight" at the
same time recognizing a friend in the
crowd said : Good bye WEES"
Williams kept his wonderful nerve to
The last, and it was the universal opinion
that he died the earnest of any person
ever executed in tue State.
The execution was the most successful |
one ever had in the State.
The scaffOld was erected in the South |
western side of the Jail yard, near the
railroad bridge.
The spectators were admitted by gate |
keep Joe Williams, upon the presenta- |
ton of the back bordered card of ad- !
mission,
Williams began Sunday to make !
preparations for the execution. Tie was
shaved by Forrest Lang. The doomed
man wore a plain black suit furnished
by Parker & James. The coffin was
furnished by undertaken @. w. Davis.
At four o'clock Sunday afternoon
Williams was visited by Rev. Webster
and four deacons of the colOred Baptist
Church, who prayed and sang with him.
Williams said that he had maze his
peace with his Maker, and that he was
ready to die. To a NEWS reporter
Williams said that he knew the hour and
would not take any stimulent to nerve
himself for the terrible ordeal.
During the religious services noisy
crowd laughed and jOked below the
window of the death cell, and called to
the prisoner to get glimpse of him.
Toa NEWS reporter Williams said that
he did not want his mother, who lives in
Mississippi to know how he died. His
father ia alive but does not live in Paris.