The Van Buren press., 1904-06-18
MART VOWEL DIED GAME
Slayer Of William Lovejoy Exc.
cuted at Paragould.
SoVtnA0R DAVIS REFUSED TO INTERFERE
Condemned Man Declared He Was
Ready to Die and Had No Fear OF
the Future.-Spoke to Those Pres
ent From the ScafTold.

Mart Vowel was hanged at Para.
gould on the 9th inst for the murder
OF William Loyeioy August II, 1903.
Vowel 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 lie | am ready to die. | will
prove that am courageous. did
not sleep last night, but will soon
reach place where sleep is not nee,
essary. Friends, my death is physi.
cal, not spiritual. II 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. | hope my execution will
benefit all who are leading wild lives.
Farewell to this earth and good.by to
all"
1t is probable such strong pressure
was never before brought to bear upon
chief executive OF this state to save
the life Of a condemned man, as was
brought to bear upon Gov Davis in
Vowells behalf Vowel was an ex-
Confederate soldier under Gen. For
rest, a Mason and ODD Fellow.
Friends in Clay and Greene county,
after the supreme court had approved
the verdict Of the lower court, pre-.
sented petition to the governor with
1900 signatures praying that his SEN
tence be committed TO life imprison.
ment, Vowells 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
Vowel and Loyejoy lived in the
same neighborhood in Clay county,
near Rector. While Constable Vowel
and Loyejoy became enemies and on
August II Vowel armed himself and
went in search Of his victim. When
he came upon Lovejoy Vowel shot
him down apparently without giving
him a chance TO defend himself
Vowel was taken before a justice of
the peace and released on $4,000 bond.
A 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 y 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 Vowel for murder
in the first degree.
Vowel secured n change OF venue TO
Greene county, and at his trial last
fall he was convicted and sentenced
10 be hanged Vowel appealed to the
supreme court and that tribunal sus.
tanned the verdict of the lower court
After reviewing the case and hear.
ing arguments Of counsel for and
against Vowel, Gov, Davis decided
not to interfere, and last May issued
proclamation fixing June as the
day Of execution, The condemned
mans friends did not cease 20 exert
themselves In his behalf until within
few moments OF his execution
Mart Vowel, was born in Tennes'
see, April l6, 1874. He enlisted In the
Confederate army when he was 10
years old and served until the close
Of the war He was n member OF the
twentyhrst cavalry Wilson's regi.
mcnt Bells brigade, Forests com.
mand He participated in the Price
Crossroads battle, and during this
fight suffered severe sunstroke lie
was n member OF the Methodist church
for many years lie was member Of
Macedonia lodge No, 2Al, l. o, o, f.,
and Of Macedonia lodge No, b57 f. q
A, NJ,