The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-08
LOUIS oUScr HANGED
Dies Protesting His Innocence-Thel
Rope Breaks-second Attempt Suc4
cessful
Fayetteville observer.)

Lewis Council was hanged inside the
jail Of Cumberland county this morn
ing at 1915 o'clock. in the presence of
about twenty-five witnesses who had
been formally summoned by Sheriff
Burns, and which included DR.. ]. d.
MacRae. county physician. and DR.. A.
s. Rose, county coroner
The prisoner was attended in his last
moments by Rev. Father Marion. OF
the Roman Catholic church.
A few mute before the last mo-
ments OF life, Sheriff Burns permitted
the condemned man TO come pat Of his
cell; and he walked slowly, but with
firm step, by the side OF Father Marion,
who now and then repeated parts OF
Holy Scripture. or a brief prayer. Then
the prisoner kneeled at the feet OF his
spiritual adviser, and prayed fervently.
Rising to his feet, he turned to the
sheriff, who, at exactly 10 o'clock. read
the warrant OF death. his only reply be-
ing: Il am innocent" Between Sheriff
Burns and Father Marion. Council then
walked to the foot of the ladder and
assembled il without aid, TO the top Of
the line of steel cells. which form a
platform, where were grouped about the
creature on the verge OF death, the
sheriff, the priest, and officers Raynor
n Monaghan, the las Immediately
binding Councils feet and arms, his
hands being for the moment free, in
which he held a cricifix.
Council recitei the Lords Prayer, fol-
lowing Father Marion. his confession of
faith in the Roman Catholic church.
n again n again repeated: LAS
Christ died for the Low of me, l die for
the love of Christ"
Then said Father Marion: Lewis
Council, you know now that there is no
hope for you, that you have but n min
ute to live. | wan you to tell the re-
porters of the press and other citizens
here assembled whether you are guilty
or innocent"
Council replied, holding up his hands
with the cross, Before you all in the
presence of Christ cruciied. l proclaim
my innocence" The priest asked: DO.
you swear it?" Il swear that l am an
innocent man."
Taking the cross from the hands of
the condemned man, Father Marion.
after bearing testimony to the prison.
| er's nerve and grit, and after declaring
that he had over and over urged him
to confess if he wer" guilty. raised the
cross toward heaven. and solemnly de-
clared in ringing ones: &" hereby pro-
i'm. in spite of Governor Aycock ana
that warrant, that this man dies inno-
~ NOOo- "a, liz
Have you anything to say to the sher-
iff?"
Council thanked the sheriff and his
officers for their ndnesS TO him, de-
clared that he had no hard feelings to-
ward anyone, and forgave all for perse-
cutting him: that when all came to die
they would know he was innocent.
Deputy Sheriff Monaghan adjusted
the black cap and the signal was given.
and the sheriff sprung the trap. Hor-
rors of horrors, the rope broke, and the
body fell to the floor beneath. 1t vas
Il fearful scene, and the terrible silence
was broken by Father Marion who
cried for all to keep cool.
Council was assisted up the stairs, all
the while uttering dreadful groans. He
had strength enough, however, to
stand alone on the trap while another
rope was adjusted around his neck.
The trap was again sprung by Sheriff
Burns. and this time the rope held, and
the negro was swung into eternity. In
fourteen minute he was pronounced
dead by the county physician and the
coroner.
Councils courage through all this
dreadful scene was wonderful to be-
old
At 8 o'clock this morning, Father
Marion visited the prisoner, whom he
found cool and collected, and thor
oughly resigned to his death. He bap-
tised him., and administered the Holy
Communion to the unfortunate man.
Almost everybody in North Carolina
who reads is familiar with this re-
markable case.
Council was convicted of criminal as
sault at the December term, 1900, Of
the criminal court of Cumberland
ty, and sentenced to be hung March 5th
by Judge Moore. The jury, in render
ing the verdict. recommended that the
judge request the governor to commute
the sentence to fifteen years imprison-
ment. The prisoners counsel took an
appeal, and this acted as a stay of exc
cution. The superior and supreme
courts found 10 error.
The governor then set June oath as
the time of execution. Several days be-
fore that date, he granted a respite to
July 18th. Just before hat day was
reached, he again granted a respite to
July 22d.
On July 18th came another respite TO
August 18th. A few days before the
day set for the execution came the
fourth respite, to November 1st. On
Monday it was discovered that the
death warrant read Saturday, Novem-
Der 1st, when Friday was November
list. So the governor issued another
death warrant, making the date Satur-
day, November End, thus granting the
fifth respite.