Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-18
i,ink0ns Went,to Ills Death Pro.
claiming Inaocensc.
WAS TIE NAN A flYp0CRlrE +?
Made Fervent Speech From the Scat.
fold Calling Upon His Hearers to
Meet Him in Heaven and Blessing
Officers individually.
tsncrinI 10 IN. nnilv prnss /,

EAST RADFORD. VA.,James Link
| Gus, who was convicted Ian. IL of the
murder of his wife and child on Christ
mas day, met death on the gallows' at
7:3S O'Clock
His nerve was WONDERFUL and he
protested his innocence to the end.
never varying from his former state
ment ur showing The slightest sign of
fear
Ills pastor. tho Rev. Mr.. Fox, OF tho
Southern Lutheran church; the Rev.
). H. Jackson. of The Christian church.
and number OF friends spent the
night with him In prayer and the sing
Ing OF hymns. in both of which Linkous
earnestly joined. w.
Spoke in Fear Of God.
During the night he gave out The fol
! lowing statement TO the ministers: 81
| honestly did not kill my wife or child
speak in the fear of God. know
nothing of how the fire commenced
nor the canse of It,"
Linkoia took no breakfast, cycnpi
cup OF coffee. lie told the ministers
nat the flesh was weak, hut haI tho
spirit was strong enough 10 carry his
flesh lu the scanold.
LinknuS had been sick for several
weeks, and was physically weak. hut
nc showed no trace Of nervousness or
fear.
lie was accompanied to the scafrold
by Tho two ministers, Officers DueS
! and R0op. Sergeant McNcal and Shcr
III Carper. OF PULASKI. and by four nhy-
STEAMSHIPS Wilson. Farmer, r. Fl.
Johnson and Dir. ChaIiin. of Pulaski.
Made Fervent Sneecb
Tho twelve jurors whose attendance
IS allowed by law. and about fifty other
cltizens were grouped about the seat
| fold
l,inkons camc forward and in ferry
ent speech protested his innocencc
| lifting his hands tn Heaven and call.
| ing God to Witness that he spoke the
| truth. and nothing hui The truth
lie said he knew nothing about tho
origin oi the fire or the murder of his
wife and child: that they were about Ia
| tnkr ihc life OF I'M innocent man, hui
That he rorSave them. Inkois said he
| was gning to meet his God. tn he with
sweet Jesus" and that he was ready
and willing to go.
Strong in His Faith.
lie called on his hearers To meet
MIN in Heaven. and blessed the officers
individually. saying they had hccn
Kind to him. nn,i bndc tho ministers
S0od:byr. lie called tho crowd to wit
!; hrsA his nerve. as "a sustaining evil
lencc OF The power al his religion.
| Then he helped the offers Ia adjust
| IN handculfs ami mako the last grim
| prepare tiGnS
Tho drop fell at TBS and IL ~ min
n'es ih'er l-inkouS was pronounced
| !rad by the physicians in attendance.
ms neck was broken. y fairly large
crowd assembled in front nf the mil
| nut IT was quiet AMI solemn Every
detail ut the hanging was we'll man
aged.
Saw Mrs. sutterworth.
During last night Linkoms expressed
:: wish 10 see Texas Shelcr l.uttcr.
worth. the woman who had lived in
Tue same house with him ana who was
one Oi the chief witnesses against The
accused.
she was accordingly brought from
| New River, where she is now living
about midnight. She sat on his he'd in
The iron cage and I.inkOus pm, many
| questions Ia her. hui none that showed
her completely in the crime or tended
| ~ tl'ar me prisoner.
lie said he gave her whiskcy ana
presents tho evening before the ira-
Erhy She admitted he had been kind
TO her, ami he said lie was paying The
penalty of that Kindness with his life.
IL Is thought by many Tint the at.
'enflon OF l.inkous to Mrs. Butter
worth furnished tho motive of the
crime
Both Mr.. Fox and Mr.. Jackson say
That l.inkons is either perfectly limo.
cent or complete hyprocite and ficnd