The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-23

ish in the fires OF hell, Ashley Cooke died
here today.
With him. but silently, Thomas Lauder
dale also met his end.
Both were hanged from the same gal
lows for the murder of Engineer Wray.
The trigger was snapped at 11:N. At
11:A Cooke was pronounced dead. At
11:43 the pulse of Lauderdale ceased to
beat Both bodies were cut down ten
minutes later and turned over to their
respective families.
Cooke died boasting that he would be
in hell within few minutes and cursing
everything and everybody. He said that
those who had planned his murder would
meet their end and that $1,000 had been
deposited in bank. $1,000 of which would
be paid for the death of each Of the elev-
en- men who prosecuted him.
Over 5000 persons witnessed the, execu-
ton, but 1t was not attended by any sort
of demonstration The necks of both
men were broken. All through the night
the two men slept soundly. They were
aroused at o'clock and ate little break
fast.
Relatives Not Admitted.
Admission was refused to the Jail even
to the relatives. Mrs. NJ. ]. Cooke and
Mrs. E. J. Darlington both petitioned
Sheriff Hunt for permission to accompany
the condemned son and brother to the
scaffold, but their prayer was denied, and
they remained in the Shertff's ofice until
after the two men were cut down.
Cooke declined to talk of religion, al
though he was earnestly importuned by
several clergymen to make some profess
sion of Christianity. During their last
hours both men were abusive to those
about them and used much profanity.
Lauderdale expressed a desire to have
his children grow up and avenge his
death and he asked that they be instruct
ed that 1t was his last wish to have them
kill the men who were responsible for
his death.
AS the hour for the execution grew
near, the crowd increased. The court
house yard was a solid mass of human
.ity and roofs OF nearby buildings. vacant
lots and any elevation attaiuable con-
tailed crowds of spectators. Az Jos
both men were pinioned and. the death
warrant was read to each. The reading
was received in silence. Cooke yelled
through the window to the crowd:
Damn you, don't be impatient; we are
coming"
Just before mounting the scaffold, Cooke
looked about him with a smile and said
81 am going to be murdered and I will
be in hell in few minutes"
Cooke Boasts Of Bravery.
The party then mounted the scaffold
and Cooke shouted: IT am killed for
nothing but am the bravest man in the
State of Mississippi. There is $1,000 wait
ing for some one who will kill the eleven
men who made this plot. They have
murdered me, but revenge, revenge, re-
venge!"
He stopped. the moose was placed about
his neck.
get It right" he said. Turning to the
crowd he again said:
IT'S all a plot to kill me; damn you
all; damn everybody; I'm going to die
like a man."
The black caps were placed over their
heads.
"Are you both ready?" asked the Sher-
If.
Yes" yelled Cooke through the folds
OF the black cap. damn you people OF
GreenviIle, go to hell all Of you"
The trap was then sprung and the Two
men dropped into space.
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which Ashley Cooke and
Tom Lauderdale today paid the death
penalty on the gallows was committed on
a Yazoo and Mississippi Valley train
about 3 o'clock on the morning of De-
cember go 1901. between the towns OF
Leland and Elizabeth in Washington
county. ,,,,
Ashley Cooke Tom Lauderdale. VIII
blackburn, and G. NJ. Phipps, residing IN
bolivar county boarded the northbound
oasseneer train at o'clock in the morn
ing for the purpose of returning to their
home at Shelby. G. NJ. Wray, an engtn-
Ger. was a passenger on the car entered
nv Cooke and his party. Cooke and his
4hree companions were all more or less
under the influence of liquor. Phipps fell
against Wray, who was asleep on 2 seat
in the coach Wray asked asked Phtpps
what he meant and the reply came from
Cooke that il meant that he (Wray) must
leave the coach Wray having fully
awoze realized that the men were drink
ing and told them that it was all right
and that he would leave the car AS
wray started to walk out Blackburn said
to Cooke:
What shall we do with that fellow?
He says that he has done nothing out Is
willing to apologize
Voted to Kill Him.
IT vote to kill him." replied Cooke.
Phip3s at this time sank into seat ana
was not with his companions.
Cooke. LauderdaIe and Blackburn then
began shooting at Wray as the latter was
trying to leave the coach. Wray was rid
died with bullets and fell dead in the
aisle of the car. While Conductor Nc
Laughlin. who had stopped the train, was
looking for officers to assist him in the
arrest of the three men, the trio got of
and went to the engine and forced the
engineer to uncouple the engine and pro-
coed at once to Shelby and the engineer
oheved the instructions at the point of a
gun.
blackburn were arrested and brought to
Cr4enville on a special train, every pre-
caution being taken to prevent a lynch
ING which was threatened by many citi-
zeIs The men were indicted for murder
IN the first degree. Cooke and Lauder
dale essaved to be tried together and az
ter one Of the most bitter legal battles
IN the history of the county. they were
ted and sentenced to be hanged on
Ngsrcb q. .902. Notice of an appeal was
NIsd which stayed the execution. Later
BIackburn was tried and found guilty.
Ne was sentenced 10 imprisonment for
life. his previous character having been
woven exceptionally good,
The supreme court reviewed the case Of