The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-22
THE ASSASSIN OF SHERIFF
PAYS THE PENALTY OF
HIS CRIME.
Said to the People, "You Know not
What You Do"-Neck Broken
by the FaH-Newspaper
Comment About Reames
Other Oregon News.

Eugene April 17.-Edward Eli
OF Lyons this morning at 9:3l o.
clock died on the seAffold in the Jail
yard at Eugene in expiation of the
crime of killing Sheriff Withers
February of this year, near
Walton, Siuslaw valley.
The hanging went without the
slightest accident whatever. His
neck was broken by the fall aud
! but for the involuntary con ortions
of the body as it swung to and fro
there was not a sign of life after he
reached the end of the rope.
Drs. Payne aud Day pronounced
the man dead after he had hung
fourteen minutes.
In. the cell few minutes before
the time of death Lyons was on his
knees by the side of three ministers
Of The Gospel. Revs. Ell. A. Green,
of the Baptist church, F. E. Bill
lington and John Handsaker of the
Christian church. They were pray
ing fervently and the officers rs-
spsctiuIly waited with bowed heads.
r When the ministers had finished,
Lyons' voice was raised in prayer.
H4 offered a really splendid peti-
ton, remembering his wife, his
children, his parents and all his
friends il words which were utter.
ed on trembling lips. It was the
only time when he showed signs Of
breaking down. He wept bitter
lyiand bowed his head upon the bed
as he finished and uttered his
..amen" as the keys Of the deputy
raytfed iii the ioolk 19- iiIe guards
assisted him to don his coat and
vest. A pretty rose adorned his lap
ell. The tears were dried away and
The sat straight and resigned as the
straps were placed about his limbs.
His eyes were closed and his breath
came and went rapidly and his
knees trembled as he supported
himself by holding to the iron bars
of the door.
/ He bade good bye to the guards
and friends by shaking hands. He
spoke his farewell words without a
j tremor and looked his friends square.
ly in the eye. Then he was told
that all was ready. He said thai
be was too, and fell into the process
sion headed by Sheriff Fisk and
composed of Deputy Harry Brown
| Wallace Chamberlain, Shelton Jen
| kins, J. J. Elwood, John Jones and
| Revs. 81. A. Green and F. 3. Bill
| lington, all of whom were with him
on the scaffold.
| He walked bravely to the foot O.
the scaffold and mounted the
| steps without assistance. A pre-
pared board was ready to lash him
to if he gave away but there was NJ
| need for it. He took his place ano
clinched his fists determined te
! display no nervousness.
| Elliot Lyons have you anything
to say before the execution7" asked
| the sheriff.
"No, only this. I thank every
one who has been kind to me. May
God forgive you people, for you
know not what you do. That's ALL
"The victim heaved a sigh as he
cast last glance at the upturned
faces of the crowd and closed his
eyes as the black cap was adjusted
"Mr. Lyons wishes to thank all his
| friends who have been so kind az
to call upon him during his impris
Torment, all relatives, for their sym
pathy, and the officials who have
showed him kind consideration. He
has professed religion and is peni.
tent. He has confessed his crime
and may God receive his soul as il
leaves this EARTH" Rev. H. A.
Green thus spoke.
| The trap was sprung by Sheriff
Fisk and the body shot to the end
'of the rope and to instant death.
The neck was broken. The body
|deubled convulsively once and then
Strengthened out and hung in still.
ness until fourteen minutes had
passed. when Drs. F. M. Day and
| D. A. Payne pronounced him dead
The body was cut down and en-
balmed by Undertaken Robert Day.
| Mrs. Elliot Lyons and Benton
Lyons, wife and brother of the
hanged man, signed the receipt for
his body and removed it to the
Walton cemetery, where it was in.
!terred.