The Forrest City times., 1904-06-17
Slayer of William Lovejoy Exc,
 cuted at Paragould.
GOVERNOR DAVIS REFUSED TO INTERFERE
Condemned Man Declared He Was Ready to Die and Had No Fear of the Future. to Those Pres ent From the Scaffold.

T d gould on the 9th inst. for the murder of William Lovejoy August II. 1903.
 Vowell remained cool to the end and died game. The trap was sprung at $40 p. m.
 The condemned man spoke in a clear voice to those present as follows:
 This is the first and last speech of my life. l am ready to die. will prove that l am courageous. | did not sleep last night. but will soon reach place where sleep is not nec- essary. Friends, my death is physi- cal, not spiritual. If you want to meet me again. do right, live right and meet me in heaven do not blame the officers; they have treated me right. l hope my execution will benefit all who are leading wild lives. Farewell to this earth and good-by to all"
 It is probable such strong pressure was never before brought to bear upon chief executive of this state to save the life of condemned man. as was brought to bear upon Gov Davis in Nowell's behalf. Vowell was an ex Confederate soldier under Gen. For rest, Mason and Odd Fellow Friends in Clay and Greene county l after the supreme court had approved 1 the verdict of the lower court. pre- sented petition to the governor with 200 signatures praying that his sen tenca be commuted to life imprison- ment, Vowell's wife, daughter and brothers begged that his life be not taken under the law, and thousands of old veterans added their prayers and appeals for mercy. but the govern or, after hearing all these pleas and reviewing the case as presented by the court records and the friends of the murdered man, refused to interfere, and the mandate of the law was car. ried out
 Vowell and Lovejoy lived in the same neighborhood in Clay county. near Rector While Constable Vowell and Lovejoy became enemies and on August 1 Vowell armed himself and went in search of his victim. When he came upon Lovejoy Vowell shot him down, apparently without giving kim chance to defend himself
 Vowell was taken before justice of the peace and released on S2000 bond. few weeks later, when Clay coun- ty circuit court met, the grand jury returned an indictment against Vow ell for murder in the second degree.
 The presiding judge, Hon. Allen Hughes, refused to accept the action of the grand jury, and after their re- fusal to indict for a higher offense than the second degree, the body was discharged Judge Hughes then or. dered the sheriff to summon another grand jury, and this body returned an indictment against Vowell for murder in the first degree
 Vowell secured change of venue to Greene county, and at his trial last fall he was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. Vowel appealed to the supreme court and that tribunal s;s- tained the verdict of the lower court.
 After reviewing the case and hear
 
 against Vowell, Gov Davis decided not to interfere. and last May issued a proclamation fixing Juhe as the day of execution. The condemned mans friends did not cease to exert themselves in his behalf until within few moments of his execution.
 Mart VOwell was born in Tennes. see, April 16. l844 He enlisted in the Confederate army when he was 19 years old and served until the close of the war He was a member of tho twentyfrst cavalry, Wilson's regi. ment, Bells brigade, Forests com, mand. He participated in the Price Crossroads battle. and during this fight suffered a severe sunstroke. He was member of the Methodist church for many years. He was a member of Macedonia lodge No. 241. I. o. O. F, and Of Macedonia lodge No 557. F S A. NJ