The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-21
God Knows | am Innocent,
He Says.
PRAYS GODS MERCY
This Upon the ScaffoId TO Which He
Walked Calm and Fearless. A
Laugh or Pleasant Word for
Early Callers. His Sister
Kisses Him Farewell.
BY FRED II. MINTZ.

ly denying his guilt and in low but
clear and distinct tones asking
Almighty God to have mercy upon his
soul. Dan Teachey this morning took
his place on a gallows at the rear
of the Duplin county Jail; and at ex-
actly 10:41 o'clock the death trap was
sprung, hurling his soul into eterni-
ty. Thus he paid the awful penalty
for the deliberate murder of Robert
R1Venbark on the night of March Attn,
1903 between eight and nine o'clock
at the house of BGilbert Johnson and
! Easter Williams. in Duplin county.
We ustion if history can produce
a case wherein a condemned man
within but a few moments of his inn
pending doom showed more nerve and
| GOODNESS than did Teachey. He ap-
| preached the terrible ordeal this NOR
ming without the slightest emotion and
With an almost unclouded counte-
nance. Every one of the 35 or more
men who were allowed to witness the
execution showed nervousness and
marked excitement, but Teachey went
TO his death without the quVer of a
| muscle so~far as could be seen.
The prisoner was brought here yes
terday from Goldsboro, where he has
been confined for safe keeping and
placed in the largest cell in the Jail.
| He spent very comfortable night
and arose quite early this morning
ana at $50 O'Clock ate q very hearty
| breakfast
| The officers and people kept up
I quite a stir around the Jail and on
the inside where Teachey was confin-
ed. The prisoner was apparently un-
| affected by this and walked leisurely
| up and down the cell, addressing ey-
cry one who approached him i'm a
pleasant manner and kgbqbkggg,, IA
pleasant affable manner; and
several times his face lightened
| With laughter as some newcomer
would extend his hand to him through
the bars. Several times during the
morning the condemned was asked 10
make statement, but he repeatedly
refused until this reporter called him
TO the rear corner of the cell and
asked for statement to the public
A Dramatic Statement.
| With slight tremor in his voice
| the prisoner raised his hand and i'm
| emphatic tones said: Il am an inno-
| cent man. God in heaven knows that
L am ignorant of who committed the
| deed. Some other hand is guilty of
the crime, and today l must pay the
| penalty for it, Some people have
| treated me wrong by sweSring to lies
which have brought me where l am
| today"
Teachey then called the names of
| five persons who he declared had
sworn falsely against him, and turn
| ing abruptly, paced up and down the
| cell. Deputy Sheriff ID. S. Kennedy
| then entered the room and read to
him several respites that had been
previously granted him by the Cover
nor of the State. Teachey was con-
yicted for the second time in the Su-
perior Court of Duplin county Octo-
/ Der term, 1904, of murder in the first
degree. and sentenced to be hanged
| January g, 1905. He has since been
reprieved three times by Governor
| Glenn from the. 9Th day of April to
| the 18th day OF May: then later 70
! the 18th day of June, and last to July
10th, today.
| Religious services were then held
by Rev. w. NJ Shaw, who baptized
| Teachey and received him as a mem
/ Der OF the Presbyterian church. Rev.
Mr.. Shaw then offered a fervent
prayer as also did That Jones, Esq,
and Rev " " Royal, of the Metho-
| dist church.
The condemned man said that he
| had made peace, with God, and one
| of his last requests before leaving the
cell was that his body be buried in tha
| Ola IdInlly DufylH6 BiOuiu near W al
/ lace.
| The Last Hour of Life.
| The fatal hour arrived, and with his
| hands pinioned behind him the con
demned man marched out of the cell
and ascended the gallows. When
asked if he would make any state
ment he said:
81 want you all to pray for ME.
Then addressing Mr.. George Boney
he cried: George, tell my people not
to grieve after me. Some people ha re
treated me wrong. but l have no
malice against them"
AS the black cap was being adj
justed and until the trap was sprung
Teachey said repeatedly:
Lord, have mercy on me-
The trap was sprung at 1911, and
seventeen minutes later death was
announced by the attending physi-
clans, DIR. o. t. Smith, of Magnolia:
DR.. G. G Murphy, of Kenansville, ana
DIR. G.. w. Kennedy, of Beaulersville:
the latter acting as an assistant by re-
quest. Teacheys neck was broken.