Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-14
LEASE ON LIFE
CAME TOO
LATE
PRISONER HAD BEEN HANGED
THIRTY MINUTES WHEN GOV
ERNoR'S RESPITE REACHED
THE SHERIFF.

ST. LOUIS. April Ii.-Henry Flutcher,
negro. was hanged at sunrise today for
the murder OF Louis Roth, is years old,
August q. 1900.
fatal drop fell. the following telegram was
received by the sheriff from Governor
lDockery. granting respite OF Is days;
MCPHERSON CITY. No. April II. 1902
Joseph +. Dickmann. Sheriff, st. Louis
I have granted a respite Of Is days In case
OF Henry Flutcher. 20 be hanged. Stay
SsiEneD "A. II. DocKERY.
Governor"
The following reply vas sent;
ST. LOUIS. No. April IL. 1So2-A. NJ.
Dockery, Governor, Jefferson City, Mo-
Henry Flutcher executed at $40 a N.
Telegram OF stay at 6:45.
(signed) JOSEPH DICKMANN.
'-sherin."
Am o'clock last night Circuit Attorney
FoIke teiegraphed Governor Dockery rec
ommending . ten-days' reprieve In order
90 Investigate more fully some testimony
20 the eject that Flutcher acted In seif-
defense when he killed Roth.
A reply 70 this message reached -Four
Courts at Z q m, Friday. Mr.. Folke not
belng there. Sheriff Dickmann received
the dispatch. II was from the telegraph
once al Jefferson City. and stated thar
the FoIks message had been delivered 70
the governors mansion. II read:
JEFFERSON CITY, 1:ss q. m.-Joseph
II. FoIke, St Louis: Yours to A. II. Dock
cry, signed Folke, received. Messenger
reports governor would not come 20 door,
stuck his head out OF second story WIN
dow, asked: What's wantedT Aessen-
ger told him nature OF message. He told
him 70 put Il under door; made no reply"
sherfff Dickman concluded that this
meant no interference and went on with
his preparafions for the execution.
Flutcher was told OF the circumstances
hut svinced no surprise at the outcome.
he lost all hone at midnight.
The boy walked to the gallows with
steady step, and when asked by the shertn
II he wished TO say anything, began p
. speech that occupied three minutes. BE
declared that he ffed the fatal shot, but
disavowed any Intention OF murder. His
object, he said. was merely 20 disarm his
assailant
FIutcher concluded as follows:
without the desire TO reflect on the men
who sent me 20 this fate, the worst that
can bsfan a mortal man. I want to say
that not only have been prosecuted, but
relentIessly prosecuted as well. This
shameful end TO my life, boys life.
marks the final triumph OF money over
justice.
The time IS past when anything can be
done. Death is very near 70 me. but be-
fore Il lays its hands on re let me say a
parting word:
.Shun evil companions, advice that Is
Just as good for the old as for the young.
Had I done so there would have been no
fight. no shooting. no hangman's moose"
With a wide sweep Of his right hand he
babe the crowd go0dby and turned 20 the
sheriff.
Final prayer was said, and % seconds
later Sheriff Dickmann sprung the trap.
butchers neck was broken in the drop.
After a formal inquest the body was
turned over 70 the family.
Il did my duty" said Sheriff Dickmann,
after the hanging. and I'm glad it's
over.
ANY way. I don't hold myself TO blame.
The governor IS the one who had the au-
thority and he is responsible for the whole
incident"
Deputy Sheriff Charles BiIhartz. who re-
ceived and opened the telegram containing
the reprieve from the governor. says that
the message was received twenty minutes
after it had been fled in Jefferson City. II
came 70 the Western Unions Office at
Eighth street and was delivered by a
messenger who had run the entire dis
lance TO the -Four Courts