The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1904-07-16

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and darkness set i.eger the town as
Fitting solemnity to the event that wa
to mark the day. This was soon followed
by rain in heavy torrents, and continued
incessantly until 4 O'Clock, when the
! weather cleared and it became eyiden
the day would be fair. During the bad
weather as the hour of midday had
passed, the thought was entertained by
many that this inclomency would pre-
vail throughout the day, interfering with
the carrying out of the mandate Of the
law, in which event the proceedings
would have been carried out lust the
same as IL no rain had fell. Sheriff
Saueier was determined that the law be
carried out, and nothing within PHYSICAL
power was going TO prevent him. He is
fearless, determined official, and knows
no obstacles in carrying out the dudes
incidental to the holding Of his office.
The report that
WIFE
had visited him that morning of the dav
OF execution was mis- statement. The
woman called to see him Thursday last.
by permission OF the sheriff. The visit
was short one, void Of affecting scenes
and few words we're exchanged. The
woman was nervous, and appeared an
Mous that the ordeal be at an end as
soon as possible. Taking her departure.
both then apparently keenly felt the
meaning OF the moment, and in solemn
silence the woman slowly stepped to the
door, into the vestibule of the prison
and out again into the open air where
the atmosphere Of sweet liberty was in
deed welcome relief.
The woman left the same day for New
Orleans, where she remained, not wish
ing to be presentin the community whore
the tragedy was to occur.
NO CHILDREN.
Sylvestre Pierre had no children, but
in addition to his wife left many rela-
tiRas. His mother, an aged and respect.
cd woman, died only short time pre-
vious to the murder, and was saved wit
Messing the day that in her old age
would have wrung her heart in shame
and sorrow. Pierre's brother, resident
OF tins place, Industrious and law-abid-
ing, left the same morning for Long
Beach, where he remained Throughout
the eventful day.
THE BLACK SHEEP
OF the family was Pierre, no doubt, for
his relations are numerous and of the
large number, it is well known by the
town people all are peaceful, law-abid-
ing and industrious. They are OF the
better element, and while they do not
disclaim or disown their unfortunate re-
lative, they condemn the life which
brought about his untimely and dis
graceful end, and present it as an
example OF honor to those younger who
would not do right.
AHb Lhol lEbAb hANUINO
in Hancock county occurred nearly sixty
years ago, when Edwin Russell was
sheriff Two negroes were publicly
executed for the crime OF murder, it ap
pearing both were prisoners in the
county jail, and in an attempt to escape
had in most cold-b -blooded manner killed
the iailor. The number is few, but there
are people living in Bay st. Louis to-
day who remember the crowd that con-
gregated around the scaffold to witness
the hanging, and how there was a wild
scramble" for pieces Of the rope.
Since that day TO last Monday there
has been no legal hanging, although
more times than one has fingers on both
hands the county has been on the verge
OF such an occasion, for it is well known
that many prisoners charged with de-
iberate murder haye occupied the "steel
cage" within the thick brick walls Of the
county guard house.
OF lynchings there has beon only one
to the knowledge Of those who live to-
day. The victim was colored man,
cruel in the extreme TO his wife, who had
numerically beaten ner, and then threw
her into large kettle OF boiling water,
where she was held until death came to
the rescue. This occurred about twenty
years and over and the tree under which
the husband paid penalty for his shock
ing crime stood with other pines in the
vicinity OF the hsad OF ST. John street
not so long ago, and possibly stands to
this day.
NOTES.
Two negro women confined in the
prison, charged with mischief at their
nome near Logtown, were hysterical
more or less throughout the morning,
and when the march for the scaffold was
started their lamentations were so as to
be heard out in the street.
Before Pierre was out Of his cell, the
coffin and hearse had been drawn to the
outside Of the gallows, but the unfor-
tunate fellow was spared this sight,
None of the rope was distributed.
Immediately after the body was down,
Sheriff aaRcier ordered the rope be
Caken down and carried TO his office,
with the intention Of burning ii later,