Newport weekly independent., 1902-10-03

of the killing of Essex Powers sub stantially as he did again few mo- ments later on the scaffold.
 About the first of October, while living on Vine street, Essex Powers applied to the woman whom Grant was supporting, named Mollie, for board, but was referred to Grant, who allowed him to come and live with them. For three weeks Powers paid no board and Grant kept up the house. But there was strike of the employees of the Southern Cotton Oil Mill at that time and Grant was thrown out of work. Thinking he would find work at Brinkley, he asked the woman re- ferred to for his money, S6.40, which she was saving. But she claimed she had spent the same for rugs, and Grant, becoming angry, started to slap her, when Powers stepped be- tween them. Powers then went into the yard, secured an axe and ran Grant from his own home, throwing the axe at him. The latter brooded over the affair next day, which was the 23d of October, and that night he shot Powers while he was at supper from the outside. Such is the story of the act for which Grant was called upon to offer up his life, and the evi dence introduced during the trial practically confirmed his story.
 At SIP o'clock, the prisoner was brought forth from his cell, holding the arm of Rev. s. E. Johnson, the full number of twenty-five witnesses being present. The prisoner ascended the scaffold with steady step attended by Sheriff Randy, Deputy Neal, Lockard Randy, Dr. A. J. Brewer and R. F. Drummond.
 With trembling voice, that choked and gave way beneath the strain oc- casioually, Sheriff Randy read aloud the sentence of death, which he pre- ceded with few words, expressing his regret that such was now his painful duty. To all requests the prisoner answered with clear voice, but through the reading of the sem tence, hung his head despairingly. When asked if he had anything to say, he told the story of his crime as stated, closing with the advice to young men that they leave bad wo- men alone. He felt he was going home to heaven and though he had not much longer to live, he hoped and prayed for others as we'll as himself. Rev. $. E., Johnson at this point read Scriptural passage and offered touching prayer for the young man whose spirit was about to depart, for the maintenance of law, those in au- thority and the government of our state and nation.
 Again the prisoner plead that his body be sent to Alexander for burial and as the straps were fastened about his ankles and the wrists bound to- gether behind his back, he called MT. J. R. Mayhan and J. w. Stayton, who was one of his attorneys, by name and told them good bye and then bade all good bye.
 l The cap was placed over his head, and the moose about his neck, when at his request the former was removed and the latter loosened for a final prayer, in which he offered the fol- lowing supplication: 60 Lord, my heavenly Father, while Pm here bound to-day, ask thee to remember me for Jesus' sake. Amen"
 The cap was then readjusted, and Sheriff Randy as he said "Your time has now come and may the Lord have mercy on your soul," pulled the lever which let fall the trap door, upor which the doomed man stood The hour of day was 9:29 a. m.. A fall of nearly seven feet was allowed though the dangling form lacked not an inch of touching support which ran beneath the scaffold The dying man struggled but slightly, and ir three minutes the throb of the pulse could not be felt. The hearts beat gradually became slow, and irregular ceasing at 9:42, thirteen minutes after the drop. Doctors in attendance pro nounced him dead and the body was lowered into coffin which had beer provided. The neck had been broker in the fall and consciousness no doub
 ceased then. The features and face ..1 -1