The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-07-26
COOKE and LAUDERDALE HANGED
Went to Their Doom Hurting Curses Upon Every
body and Everything.
Shocking Spirit OF the Two lien Displayed on the Brink of Eternity.
Execution Witnessed by Thousands.

calling upon those present to avenge
his death; offering a reward Of 81, 900
each for the death Of the eleven men
whose testimony resulted In his convic-
ton for murder; trembling and al
most on the verge Of breaking down,
Ashley Cooke went into the presence
of his Maker this morning.
Scarcely noticing what was done,
but with firm set lips and much great
er nerve than his companion showed,
Tom Lauderdale dropped at the same
time to eternity.
Over In the courthouse, about one
hundred yards from the scene of the
execution, the aged mother and sister
of Cooke listened with blanched cheeks
and pallid lips for the fateful moment
when 1t should be announced that the
law had been INDICATED and the man
Upon whom they had expended so
final penalty for his crime.
All laone, the wife whom he had
sworn to love and protect and then
deserted, unwilling to be present and
administer the last comforts to the
man whose name she bore, with his
little children far away from the
scene. Lauderdale also passed into the
great beyond.
The venerable mother Of Ashley
Cooke had begged for permission to
accompany her youngest child to the
scaffold, where she might for the last
time comfort and aid him as she had
done many times in the long tempes-
tuous years Of his life. When, out OF
pity for her, this privilege was denied,
H. vor NJ. f~r n. eho oA,1I nnI c-s
with straining eyes, which many
years had mercifully dimmed, to see
the last final drama which should
SNUFF out the life of her son..
Waited for His Last Words.
She had exacted from those who re-
fused her permission to visit the scat
fold, a solemn pledge to repeat to her,
to treasure as a precious boon through
the remaining years of her broken life,
the last words Of her youngest born.
She had prayed hard and in faith
for the salvation of his soul, and she
believed firmly that he would leave as
q last word the message that he ex-
pected his soul to go to his Maker, and
had obtained forgiveness for his sins.
But alas, for the blind faith of a
mother. Ashley Cookies last words,
coupled with profanity so foul IS to be
unprintable, were:
81 will die brave to the last. Eleven
thousand dollars reward for those who
sem me to this death"
1t took eleven minutes for life to
become extinct in the body Of Cooke,
and thirteen minutes for 1t to leave
that Of Lauderdale.
The crowds gathered faster and fast
er al time Of execution approached,
and by the time 1t took place some six
OF seven thousand people were scatter
ed on all sides Of the Jail where a van
tage point could be obtained.
At 10 o'clock the Delta Guards and a
large force Of deputy sheriffs were
mustered at the courthouse, heavily
armed, and stationed about the Jail.
The night previous the wire between
Cleveland and Greenville was cut. 1t
was reported that the friends Of the
condemned men would attempt a res
cue Up to a late hour this morning
Cooke firmly believed he would be res
cued, and so proclaimed to those who
talked with him, but the large show OF
force by the authorities rendered 1t i'm,
possible even II it had been contem'
plated.
NJ IV'oO q itPpitol tdiiCd VII thN
condemned men in their cells.
Told of His E~seapades.
Cooke was engaged in telling shoot
ing affairs of his career to a crowd OF
deputies present. To the reporter he
said that he had not killed Wray, but
that Blackburn had done SO; that he
had never killed a man except in self
defense; that he was game and would
not show the white feather; that hi
was having a good time and expected
to enjoy himself in hell as well a!
anywhere else, especially as 1t was no
as the place he expected to go, II
G%reenville, in. the summer time.
At that time he was talking inces
sanity, telling with bravado of hi
proves with his pistol and how HI
had the whole town Of Senatobis
afraid Of him.
Frequently he would take a drink o
liquor and then execute a double shut
file, laughing at those who were look
ing solemn and telling them that h
would be glad to withdraw from hi
engagement, but that the governo
would not allow him to send his re
grets.
Lauderdaie Said Little.
Lauderdale said he a nothing t
say, except he would die game, an
would see lots of his prosecutors ii
hell. He also drank heavily, and pace
his cage like a wild animal.
Cooke never ceased talking for a mo
ment from the time the reporter enter
ed until his body shot downward
through space. He held to the bars O
the cage, drinking heavily, both o
water and of wine, and when he laugh
I'd he was like ONE one insane.
Condemned Mems Friends.
Those of the relatives Of Cooke VIII
were in the vicinity were Mrs. E.. d,
Darlington Of Memphis, a sister, an
Mrs. Cooke, his aged mother. Of Sens
tobia. His brother, Rennie Cooke, an
brother-in-law, Il. j. Darlington, r.
fused to be present.
Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Darlington, a.
companied by friends, asked permi.
sion to view the execution, but wei
refused.
]. p. Lauderdale, a brother; 7. I
OVERLY, a cousin, and W 7. Wooten,