The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-26

for the murder of John A. Sullivan. on
the 28th of last February. His trial con-
tinued through eight days and resulted
in his conviction of murder in the first
degree He was sentenced by Judge Cook
to be hanged October eth. The defend
ant appealed to the Supreme Court and
the judgment Of the lower court was
affirmed and February 25th was fixed
by the Governor for the day of his exc
cution He denied the murder and on
trial attempted to establish an abb
1t was thought by some that when all
hope had vanished Boggan would confess
his guilt. This expectation was not Geal-
lied, however, and he continued to assert
his innocence until the trap was sprung
The execution was private and witness
cd only by physicians the guards and
few observers admitted by the sheriff
The gallows was erected on the south
side of the jail, and enclosed by wall
thirty feet high. The platform was reached
with the prisoner through window in
the second story of the Jail
At twenty-five minutes to one o'clock
Deputy Sheriff James w. Began, accom-
panied by q number of special guards
approached the prisoners cell and an
nounced that they were ready for him
He stated that he was ready to go and
came out of his cell The eallows was
reached by descending two flights Of stairs
and ascending a third The prisoner
walked easily and without assistance. When
he reached the platform Sheriff Boggan
inquired if he had anything to say. He
replied that he wished to make state
ment. He then asserted his innocence,
stating that he knew nothing OF the muir
der; that ne saw Mr. Sullivan ON the
streets the night Of the homicide, but
had no quarrel or alteration with him
Standing by him were three ministers
Of his race whom he called on to lead in
prayer. They sang hymn in which he
Joined. Up to this time he was perfectly
calm and self-posessed. During the
prayers that were offered up for him he
seemed to more fully realize his desperate
situation and appeared inclined to swoon,
but soon recovered himself
The prayer Of the colored divine was a
little peculiar. He thanked God for the
privilege Began had of being offered up
as sacrifice, intimating the innocence OF
the prisoner At the conclusion of this
prayer Boggan said that he wanted to
say again that he was innocent and was
wrongfuly accused. He made few other
remarks and then announced that he was
ready.
Sheriff Boggan then adjusted the black
cap.After this was done. the prisoner
stated that while the black cap was on
he wanted to say that he was innocent.
The trap was then sprung aud the body
descended like an arrow The consequences
feet and soon stcadied itself There was
not a movement Of the body or culver
Of the limbs to be observed. His body
hung absolutely Inotionlessl until he was
cut down; there was no struggle of limb
or motion of head
Death was instantaneous His neck
was broken
The execution was witnessed by Drs Joe
Bennett, j. NJ. Dunlap. j. NJ Covington
and j. e. Hart In Just ten minutes his
pulse could not be felt, respiration had
ceased and the physicians announced that
VIII Boggan was dead. IN seventeen
minutes after the fall tie body was cut
down and placed in coffin, and placed
in custody 9; the relatives Of the de-
ceased.
HISTORY OF THE MURDER.
The murder was cold-blooded and at
tended with every evidence Of premedita-
ton. If there is any credibility to be
placed in human testimony there can be
no question as TO Boggans guilt.
a short while previous to the shooting,
Boggan had had a quarrel with Mr.. Sulli-
van over coat This was on the main
business street of Wades5oro. Boggan
cursed Sullivan, and in a few minutes was
L., ~. . Al,
threat that he was going to kill the ID
scoundrel before morning. These threats
were made in the presence of several wit
nesses. several seeing him loading his pis-
toll
A short while after this Sullivan, ac-
companied by two young men, passed the
store They met Began at the end of
the store coming out of the lot A word
passed and Boggan fired the bullet pene-
trating the intestines of tho deceased.
The two young men identified the pris-,
oner, and the deceased in sworn dying
declaration testified that his assailant was
Will Boggan. The defendant made every
effort to establish an alihi, which was soon
so shattered as to afford additional ev-
dence of his guilt. On the night of the
murder he wore derby hat and short
dust-colored overcoat. Scores were ia
milar with this coat and hat, and yet
on the trial he denied that he ever owned
such a coat. While there is but one
sentiment as to his guilt only one belief.
still some satisfaction would have resulted
had he made confession of his crime.
The execution was in all respects so
easy and successful that it robbed the
event Of much of it's horrors.