The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-07-26
THE GOVERNOR WEPT,
But Refused to Interfere In tbs
Case OF Cooke and Lau-
derdale.

Jackson, Miss, July 21.-The last
struggle on the part Of the family and
friends of Ashley Cooke to avert the
allows from the condemned man and
imprisonment for life, was
made here today in one final and pow.
appeal to Gov. Longino.
AS was expected, this effort proved
unsuccessful, but before giving up the
fight the delegation that waited upon
the governor subjected him to one Of
the most narrowing ordeals that it can
be the lot of a governor to en-
dure. and during the greater part Of
the time Gov. Longino sat with tears
coursing down his cheeks and the
muscles Of his face working With
emotion.
There were twelve or fifteen gentle
men in the party, W. G. Cooke, a broth.
er to Ashley. being n Of them and a
leading spokesman. Mrs. Cooke and
her daughter, Mrs. Darlington, did not
arrive, but remained in Greenyille.
Two Grounds for Appeal.
There were two grounds relied upon
by the delegation to move the governor
to clemency. One was the assertion
of his insanity and the other was the
assertion of his innocence Of the death
of Wray. In support Of this last con
tention the delegation produced an
affidavit made by Thomas Lauderdale,
VINO is also condemned to die with
Cooke, in which instrument Lauder.
dale asserts that Cooke tried to prevent
the killing of Wray and did not shoot,
and that Wray was killed by Black.
burn. The affidavit in full is as fol
lows:
LauderdaIe's Amdsvit.
State Of Mississippi, County Of Wash
ington.
/. Thomas Lauderdale, who was
jointly tried and convicted with Ashley
Cooke for the murder of one Wray, in
Washington county, Mississippi, and
nov under sentence of death, being
first duly sworn, state as follows.
That the said Ashley Cooke, at th'
time of the killing of the said Wray
did not shoot at the said Wray OF
anyone else; that the said Ashley
Cooke tried to prevent the difficult,
in which Wray was killed, and at NJ
time did he try to provoke or renew
the difficulty with the said Wray, bu
tried to prevent any trouble; that thu
testimony of one Bussey, stating tina
the said Cooke ordered the man Wra.
to be shot, is untrue, and that the SAT-
Bussey was not in the car at the tim
OF the killing; that n Will Blackburn
and | each fired one shot, and that tn
said Wray was killed by Blackburn
This affidavit is made freely and vo,
UNFAIRLY on my part and without an
expectation, as far as | am concerned
of receiving any benefits therefrou
but in the interest of truth and justice
THOMAS LAUDERDALE.
Sworn to and subscribed before IN
this. the Goth day Of July, A. D.. 100.
(Seal) ]. H. ROBB,
Notary Public.
Governors Fierce Ordeal.
The governor heard arguments froI
w. G. Cooke, Senator T. L. Coope.
Hon. R. E. l.. Morgan. Col. Jane
Moore and others. and then he deli
cred his final decision. going over a
the features of the case. summing u
the evidence and closing with expire
sions of the deepest sympathy for tn
mother and sister and brother and tn
relatives of Cooke. The governor sal
that he had given two weeks Of stud
to the case and to hearing statement
and reading letters and petitions. an
that he had found absolutely nothin
to justify his interference with III
judgment of the courts. He said thf
he felt that to interfere would be
violation of his sworn duty as go
ernor of the State.
Renewed Pleading.
When the governor concluded II
petitioners would not take his decisio
as final, but for fully an hour longt
they cross-fired him with questions an
arguments and appeals. urging at lea.
a brief respite in order that they migf
adduce further testimony. The go
ernor sat patiently through It all, h
face showing the pain he endured
being compelled TO refuse over an
owe again to stop the execution OF II
death sentence, but it seemed that Il
petitioners would never desist. F
nally, at nearly 2 o'clock, W. G. Cocl
began to give way to the intense EN-
ton that he had been restraining, al
this seemed to suggest TO the othe
that it was time to end the harrowiI
scene. They accordingly withdre
from the Office and Gov, Longino
manned for some time alone befo
leaving for dinner.
Every possible effort will be made
get Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Carringtt
to leave Greenville tonight, but son
doubt is expressed il they will be i
duced to do so.
Women Pray for Their Souls.
The local circle OF the Womer
Christian Temperance Union held
meeting yesterday evening at viii,
fervent prayers were offered for I
salvation of the souls Of Cooke a.
Lauderdale, who are under senten
to die on the gallows tomorrow
Greenville, Miss. The prayers we
led by Mrs. Hebron. No petition W
sent up for the commuation OF the
sentences or TO saw them from deal