Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-07-13
SENTENCE OF DEATH
Pronounced on Laban T. Walker bu
JUDGE Ev6rtOn Ward in Waun6
COuntu In 1879.

Laban 4. Walker, this is a sad,
solemn, and trying hour to you,
and most unpleasant one to me
l am now called upon TO perform
the most painful duty of my pub
lie life; but it is my duty, my high
and solemn duty, duty ! owe to
society and government, and
which | must perform. Had you
performed the obligations resting
upon you as n man and citizen,
and lived uprightly and hurt no.
body, | would have been spared
the painful feeling of this occa-
sion, and you would not now be
compelled to drink this cup of
bitterness to it's dregs.
But you have dlsregarded the
obligations you owed TO society,
and showed to the world that you
possessed IA heart desperately de-
praved and fatally bent on mis-
chief. The kinder and nobler feel
ings of our nature seem not to
have found lodgment in it. You
have wantonly and wickedly i'm
bued your hands IN the blood of
your fellow-man, and that blood
now cries from the earth against
you. You have taken the charm
ed life of human being, and sent
a creature bearing Gods image
unbidden into his presence; You
have taken that which you cannot,
restore-that which all the de-
mons of purgatory, the men on
earth, or the angels cannot give
No creature in heaven above or
earth beneath can give life TO a
blade of grass, save God alone.
BY taking life, you have robbed a
creature of his all-"all that a
man bath will he give for his life"
It's the precious gift of the
immortal God. Had Pat holland
been possessed of all the treasures
of earth, in order to save his life
and live out his allotted days he
would have surrendered them. But
you gave him no chance for capt.
ulatlop, not q moment of time In
which To say, 'Lord be mercitul
to me a sinner" but robbed him
In an Instance of the most pre-
cious jewel, earth's pearl of price,
and sent him unanuounced and
unannointed into the undiscovered
land; cut him off from every
earthly enjoyment; closed his eyes
forever to all the loved and en-
dearlng scenes of earth, to the hill
and the vale, the brook and the
river, to the floating clouds, sun,
moon and stars-to these and all
things else he must bid long and
final adieu. Farewell to the world
farewell to the holy heaven
light-farewell to earth's great
trinity of blessings-wife, children
and friends-farewell to all fare
well forever. Oh, that word FOR
EVER! tits an endless circle. Could
the poor weary soul journey
around it Cor a million of years,
the end would not be reached, and
should 1T cry out in the language
of despair, How long! Oh, how
long the echoing answer would
be forever-ever-eve
There is law that 10 said to
have been penned more than three
thousand years ago--it has come
down TO us over the lorg track of
time, hoary with age-"Thou
shalt not kill" The penalty at
tached to it's violation was penned
about the same time, "He who
sheddeth mans blood, by man
shall his blood be she'd" This
law you have violated, this dread
ful penalty has attached to your
offence. You have been indicted,
tried, and found guilty, and it now
becomes my painful duty to pro.
Dounce the terrible sentence Of
the law upon you but before do.
ing go l will give you my parting
advice. Remember there is a
great and unerring Judge before
whom all the judges Of earth must
appear; that he is infinite in pow
er, wisdom and mercy. Give up
all worldly expectations, fall at
his feet, send your prayers to the
throne cf heavenly grace, and may
you yet hear a still, small voice
"Son, thy sins, which are many,
are forgiven thee though they
be as scarlet, ! will make them
white as WOOL"
The sentence Of the law is that
you be taken from the Jail Of this
county by the sheriff on Friday,
the 2Sth day of Novem Der, 1879,
to a place of execution selected by