The Cairo bulletin., 1905-02-18
a 4 atf *
Eli BUGG HANGED
At MOUND CITY
For Completely in the Murder
OF Chris Mathis
PROTESTED INNOCENCE
Ah TlIE nAII nAyc ANTI aAyhC ODE
ON THE GALLoWS AND WAS PRE-.
PARED TO DlE-DlSPLAYED
GREAT coURA6E-HIs.
TORY OF CRIME.


1915 yesterday morning when Ell
Bugg paid the penalty for completely
in the murder of Chris Mathis a. We
taug on July Goth last.
| Arrangements had been long ago
made for the event. stopped by two
reprieves granted the condemned MUIR
derer
| An eighteen foot high board stock
ade, 25x50 feet in dimensions was
erected upon the east side Of the brick
jail In this enclosure had been placed
the gallows, massive and heavy and
the rope with moose at the end placed
in position from the center Of The
timber spanning the top of the scat
fold, supported by TWO uprights. Both
gallows and rope had seen service be-
fore on two occasions in Alexander
county the death-dealing instrument
IF the law having been loaned to the
/ authorities Of Pulaski county for this
particular occasion,
II was 1880 when number Of per.
sons from Cairo reached Mound
City Fastening to the jail lying adj
| iaeent TO the levee at the northeast
ern part of the city. Deputy Sheriff
| DishlDger promptly admitted the
/ party and escorted it upstairs to the
Jail Bugg was found lying upon
mattress placed upon the floor of
large cage occupying the center of
the room. His head was bound
with dirty kerchief Deputy Dish
niger youchsafed the information that
Bugg was not feeling we'll having
nauseau Of the stomach at nine the
previous evening He had been of.
fered food but declined it.. request
ing that he be given pitcher of lem
onade which request was granted
The aged father of Bugg entered
and held quite a lengthy conversation
with his son. the purport Of which
was the wish and fervent hope that
he was spiritually prepared for the
| ordeal he was TO pass through. Bugg,
still recumhent upon his mattress az
sured his parent that he was ready.
The old man thrusting his
maud through the bars GRASP.
I'd his sons, shaking It end
babe him good bye. He left
sobbing TO be followed by other
members of the family mostly of the
feminine persuasion. All living in =
| hut $50 yards 10 the north of the Jail I
/ and In plain view of the stockade in 4
which the execution was to take place I
| Bngg finally arose az the command /
of Sheriff Weaver and DOMINIC his 1
trousers performed his morning alb 1
lutions. When dressed and standing
erect he exhibited that he was mag
nifieent specimen of manhood. stand.
ing IL feet in height His com
plexion was copper colored and pos
gessed excellent features. A fairly
wellbalanced head with closely crop
ped EinlSy hair set well upon a frame
In which there was nothing bur mus.
Gle and bone Small ears, set close
to his head. No sensuous thick lips,
no retreating forehead, no bulldog
chin-ahsomtely nothing 10 denote to
the physiognomist or phranologst the
criminal or ferocious instinct of
murderer. which past history proves
lhe man 70 nave been.
The only other occupant OF the cell,
Wiley Daniels, awaiting trial upon
three charges, Joined Bugg in singing,
do Not Pass Me by" and God be
With You Till We Meet Again"
new black suit of clothes was
brought in by Sheriff Weaver, in
which Bugg arrayed himsal ~ A
shave was given him. Rev. Osley
coming in, the two knelt in prayer
in the corridor outside the steel
grated cell.
Straps were adjusted behind Buggs !
back to his elbows while his wrists /,
were firmly strapped together in front
and then commenced the march down
the steps, out the front hall leading a
to the gallows
The steps. ten in number. leading 6
to the scaffold, had been placed SO c
that they commenced right at the I
of the from; door OF The p
Jail
The enclosure was filled with fully h
two hundred spectators, drawn thith a
sr either by morbid curiosity or in a
he performance of official duties The Y
spectators occupied the waiting time
a conjectures as TO whether or not 8,
he condemned man would exhibit h
my weakness or lack Of nerve 10
Il was 1904 when through the open n
ioor of the Jail was seen in the hall &
.hree figures walking briskly. il
The center figure clad in black. with a
clean white shirt, rundown collar b
md tie was Bugg. towering over the il
NO thanking him on either side hold u
ne tightly to his strapped arms and u
wrists
ON his right was the Rev. J. w. Os- I
ey Of the Mound City A. NJ. E. church. n
while Sheriff James r. Weaver. walk a
ID on the left. n
Never hesitating or faltering the 90
rio. Bugg slightly in front. reached Il
he steps TO the gallows and with
irm steps mounted them. the sun n
Inning down fun from she eastern N
Ky. kissed the bare head aud copper. o.
olCred brow Of the condemned "a
p. - the trio mounted until aey Il
iood upon the scaffold ia full view h:
{ the assembled hDndrels. who hi
urned their eyes upward aa5 a grin II