The Grenada sentinel., 1902-09-27
4 DOUBLE HANGING.
White Man and q Negro Swing
From the Same 4all0wR


In the Annale OF MloelSolpPL
Oxford, Miss, Sept. 24.-Mathis and
Lester were hanged at 1880 o'clock
this afternoon.
There were fully 5000 people as
sembled at the place Of execution. one
mile south Of town.
The procession left the jail at 11:45
and as the roads were rough the ride
was necessarily slow, and 1t was 1925
p. m. when they reached the place Of
execution.
The prisoners were conveyed In q
wagon, surrounded by ten armed
guards. - ~-.~
Upon reaching the gallows Sheriff
Harkins led the procession up the
steps, followed by Jailer Ragland, who
had Mathis. Deputy Raney followed
with Lester, and Rev. N. w. p. Bacon,
the Baptist minister, accompanied the
party, while Rev. A. Williams, pastor
of. the colored Baptist church, came
next.
Mathis smiled as he walked upon
the scaffold, and spoke to several per-
sons whom he recognized.
When asked by the crowd to make
a statement he said he had nothing
to say, as he had told all he knew on
the witness stand.
Lester said he had been forced to do
SO by Owens and Mathis, and that
Mathis set fire to the house and that
Jackson had nothing to do with the
killing, and Mathis Joined him in de-
claring jackson innocent.
Owens was there and assisted Mrs.
Mathis in packing UP her clothes.
The condemned man talked for
twenty minutes, and when the black
cap was being adjusted Mathis said he
was an innocent man, and thanked
the officers.
At 12:49 the cap was adjusted and
at IL: SO p. m. the two murderers shot
through the trap.
Lester died at 1:141a, and Mathis
was declared dead by Drs. Chandler
and Wilkins at 1:14.
The remains were turned over to
the relatives, and. the crowd quietly
dispersed.
Mathis stated he wanted to correct
the report that Prosecuting Attorney
Roane had made concessions to him
if he would tell on Owens, but that
Mr.. Roane had made no such state
ment.
The two men were told to put on
their funeral clothes, which they did.
Mathis said he was prepared to die,
and his only regret was leaving his
wife and child behind.
His wife wanted to see him this
morning, but Sheriff Harkins refused
her admittatnce.
Mathis told, while being shaved, Of
how Whit Brice and Charles Owens
had killed a negro about eight years
ago by standing him up against q
tree and cutting his throat.
Mathis and Lester wrote nice note
to Jailer Ragland last night, thanking
him.
The condemned men were awakened
early this morning, and both passed a
good night.
They were asked last night by
Jailer Ragland what they wanted for
breakfast. Mathis said he wanted
some ham, biscuit and good cup of
strong coffee. This was given him
at 1880 o'clock. Lester stated that he
wanted a fried chicken, with plenty of
gravy. and some coffee. He ate heart
lily and enjoyed his breakfast. About
o'clock a barber Was admitted to
Mathis cell and shaved the con-
demned man. He was very restless
and nervous, but talked freely to those
around him. They thanked Jailer
Ragland for the courtesies he had
shown them, and that they hoped he
would meet them In heaven.
Mathis wife and little boy were in
the Jail yard, early and talked to him
from the outside, while the surging
crowd roamed the street.
The large crowd was very orderly,
and no trouble occurred, although
Sheriff Harkins was prepared for any
emergency.
Preparing for Death.
Mathis awoke early and partook OF
a light breakfast, and had little to say
to the guards, stationed outside in
f. the corridor. He. spent restless
night, and at frequent intervals could
be heard In the cell. He was very
nervous ana excited at the least ap-
proach by the guard.
It was q touching scene yesterday
when he bade his wife and child good
bye. He was completely upset when
his plans to kill himself were disc0v-
cred by Ja1ler Ragland Monday, as
he fully Intended to kill himself last
night.
Lester, the negro. was In excellent
spirits and had very little to say when
3 reporter called shout s.: so. He made
his final preparations Sunday, and
since then has calmly awaited the
time to arrive when he would ray