The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-26
AGAIN His Innocence.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer
WhitevilIe, n. c. Feb. 25.-The morn
ing Of the last day of Jabel Register WAS
one of sunshine and invIgoratlng atmos-
phere. which brought about 1900 people
to the hanging. 1t was exactly three
minutes of noon, when Sheriff Butler
read the death warrant. Those who were
present were Reverends r. j. Browning,
ana j. r. Draper. Rev. Mr. Draper re-
ceived label iute the Methodist church
and baptized hira yesterday afternoon,
and Deputy sheriffs j. /. Bulney, c. l..
Renton, Buck Tyler, E, ". Fuirn and e.
Hinson. The latter has been guarding
him since his return fran the State
penitentiary, January %. Also newspaper
men and other witnesses We're there.
label ate a good supper last night and
some breakfast this morning. When the
News and Observer reporter shook hands
with him in his cell before the warrant
had been read he greeted him cordially
and said he felt better than he had any
day in mis- whole life before and said he
had never known a God until few days
ago. He had an animated, smiling coun-
tcnance and said he had made peace with
his Cod He also said he had received a
letter from his father, H 3. Register, from
the penitcntiary, in which he said he
kept him under his influence ana he was
sorry for having created such an infu-
encc over him and that he was the direct
cause of his death H. B. Register re-
quested label to ask forgiveness from an
all-kind Master, and regretted that A c.
Smith, who was guilty Of the murder OF
Jesse Soles, would not die with him.
At 1907 the procession took up the
march to the galiows, led by Revs. Brown
ing and Draper, label being between
Sheriff Butler and Deputy Sheriff W. J.
Benton, followed by the others. He
walked with steady steps and did not
falter during the journey TO the galows
He was calm. cool and collected through
out the terrible ordeal. He was neatly
clothed in a new black sack suit and his
teard was closely clipped.
Rev. ]. T. Draper conducted the SER
vices on the sca1fold Hc first read the
fiftyfrst Pslam and then read fifteen
verses from the fifth chapter of Pauls
letter 10 the Romans. This was fol-
lowed by the singing OF Nearer, My
God to Thee At the request Of label, all
though he did not himself join in the
singing, nearly all Of the gathering of
people present united their voices in the
hymn. Rov. Mr.. Draper then offered a
most impressive prayer, and E. W. Fuhn
tied the feet of the condemned man and
pulled the black cap over his head at
1920. DR.. n. A. Thompson, the county
physician and coroner, was the last man
to bid him goodbye and label answered
him in an unfaltering voice. which could
be distinctly heard throughout the vast
multitude, Goodbye, Doctor"
Immediately after the cap was ad- 4,
justed, Fuhn stepped back, and Sheriff
Butler sprang the trap which sent label
Register into eternity.
The fall was four feet, and his neck
was broken so much so that it fell over
On his shoulder after the rope was re-
moved
Owing to his strong constitution, he
did not die until twenty minutes after
he iell. The coroner then pronounced him
dead. Seven minutes afterwards his body
was cut down. placed in coffin and ia.
ken in charge by his family.
All that is left of label Register will
be buried at Crusoe Island on the cs-
tate of the Registers
1t was not a public hanging, but nearly
seen, as it was impossible 10 shut out the
gaze Of the public entirely.
The sheriff showed great emotion while
reading the death warrant and seemed to
be more visibly affected than label The
whole assemblage appeared to feel the
soleInnity of the occasion more than label
Register.
label told the News and, Observer re-
porter that the confession he made and
signed last week was all he would have
to say himself, but that he had made a
statement in writing and placed it in
the bands of Rev ]. II. Draper to be
opened after his death and that he could
rlake il public if he chose to do so. Tho
scaled letter was opened after tie hang.
ing and was a reiteration of his confes-
sion, duplicating Smith in the murder. 1t
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