The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-10-04

thC idNOl W SCC tldl tuCJ WCiS oSHe
to the Federal lines. This he prom
ised to do. No message had been
received from President Davis in
answer to his petitions. The irons
were again placed on his hands and
he was conducted to the yard where
the scaffold stood grim and silent.
The sun was just beginning to
CLINT over the eastern hills and to
flash over the tops of the tall build
ings of the city as with firm and man.
ly step Harper assembled the scaffold.
He was then informed that he would
have ten minutes in which to pray
or say anything he desired to say,
and asked if he desired a chaplain.
Harper said it was not necessary as
he was accustomed to pray for him
self. He then spoke of his mistaken
identity, of the truth of his state
ment to the court, of his services
since first he enlisted and of the hope
shat time would have been given him
in which to prove all things.
His face at this awful moment
was pale but calm and noble and
there was no faltering or weakness
in his voice. He raised his eyes to
meet the sun and then let them rest
for moment on the hard, set faces
of the guard and said, "It has beer
intimated that l should make con.
fession. | will. So help me God,
am innocent of the charge for which
| am about to suffer" Then lower
ing his manacled hands which ht
had raised, he continued: "Gentle
men, the cause you represent canno
succeed. This is the nineteenth
century, and human slavery, with al
its denominations, must cease. The
cause of right, justice and liberty
must prevail. 1t may yet require
the life blood of thousands of 10y
al hearts to cement this broken I'm
ion, but it will be freely given ano
when thus cemented by the sheC
blood, and cleansed and purified
by the war, the American Unior
will rise up before the nations o
the earth, majestic, great and free
Gentlemen, l have nothing to regre
in thus giving up my life except tina
| must now cease serving my coun
try and leave my poor wife. Gen
tlemen, I'm done" A swift sigma
from the officer, the keen flash of &
sword in air; the twang of severed
cord; the dull fall of the fatal trap,
and one of the noblest and braves
hearts that ever beat went to joir
the host of heroes that gave up theil
lives that the country they loved sc
well might live.
The body was sent under flag o.
truce to the Union lines and from
there, accompanied by the broker
hearted wife and guard of honor
from his old company and regiment
was conveyed North and placed by
the side of the mother in the old
church yard. The white haired old
minister who had christened then
and married them, conducted the flu
neral services of mother, son anC
daughter, inside of two years.
SETH WELLS FOR AUDITOR
The Republican Record of Erie
last week contained the announce
ment of Seth G.. Wells as candidate
for the office of Auditor of State
Whereas, the announcement was {
surprise to many, 1t was not made
without reference to the sentiment
of the Republicans of the county
The Republicans of Neosho coun
ty and the Third congressional dis
trict feel that they are entitled to g
representative on the State ticket a
the next general election. They
feel, without accord that all we have
to do is to organize and ask for the
place and it will be accorded.
There is not a brighter or better
qualified man for the place in the
district than Seth Wells. He
is Republican at all times and un.
der all circumstances, of the earnest
active kind. A life long citizen Of
Neosho county, we know of his abil.
ity and worth as Republican work