The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-05-11
Murderer Rawlings, of Georgia
Asks the Governor Not to
SUSPEND SENTENCE.
He Begs the Governor Not to PAY Any
Attention to Silly Appeals for
His Reprleve, But Let Him
Be Executed At

Once
From his cell in q Georgia Jail o
condemned murderer is sending forth
appeals to stop all efforts to save his
'ife and demanding to be hanged.
This unique example among mur-
derers has written a letter to Cover
nor Terrell, of Georgia, insisting upon
his rights as q murderer legally
condemned to 20 to the gallows on the
day named by the trial oourt-May A
Through the newspapers, when they
interview him, he makes the same de.
mand.
This anomaly among condemned
sentenced murderers is former cler-
gyman, the Rev. j. G.. Rawlings. In
jail with him at Valdosta, Ca, are his
tbren sous, Leonard, Milton and esse
convicted FOR compl ty In the MUIR
der last June of little Willie and Oar
RE Carter, children Of w. l.. Garter,
wi h whom Rawlings had been at feud
for years.
AS the actual shooting OF the chill
dren waa done by ALI Moore, negro,
who confessed, declaring that Raw.
ltngs paid him to do it, many persons
interested themselves in efforts tC
have the sentences committed to life
imprisonment, and the case was even
carried to the Supreme COURT Of the
United States.
Rawlings's emphatic and open re
,entment Of these II orts to save bis
| life created sensation In Georgia,
which has not yet subsidized. In bis
letter to Governor Terrell he sale:
respectfully urge your Excellen
cy not to interfere with the speedy
| execution Of the death sentence. !
am tired Of the business, ana 1 wan,
TO be hanged as soon az possible.
| URGED THE GOVERNOR TO LET HIM
HANG.
MY boys are innocent, but dc
not believe there is any hope for tnem
and they feel as do, that the sooner
we are hanged the better. We are
suffering more than death now. The
delay and uncertainty are far worse
vhan the RallOws, and hope you
will do nothing to prevent speedy
execution Of the death sentence"
Being interviewed for this newspa.
per. Rawlings made this remarkable
Demand still stronger. He SAID!
Il am desperate. i don't care any.
thing about the decision Of the Su
preme Court, and I had rather be
dead than to stay shut up In this dark
and Sitting cell another day. 1t will
suit mo exactly to be hanged to-mor
10 ~
tor shall like 1t.
have written to my attorney,
Mr.. Cooper, asking him not TO take
any further steps In the matter, and
TO let it go as 1T stands. l have writ.
ten to the Governor demanding my
lights. l don't care anything about
my own fate, go far az 1T affsots me
personally, and have only wanted to
i've thus long In hope OF being able
to do something to save my ionooent
ooys.
II expect to die like man, and
one of the greatest regrets / have is
on account OF my mother. / have
just written her, though, that shall
20 to my death bravely. She is old
now, aud can't hear up under such
; III ,ction even as we'll as my wife
can.
But that can't be helped. am
entitled by sentence OF the Court, to
be hanged by the neck until dead,
and In simple Justice demand my
legal right insist upon NO interfer-
ence with my execution"
The United States Supreme Court
has decided not to Interfere with sem
tence OF the trial court. But Raw.
linRs's attorneys have still the plea OF
insanity to argue--and tho condemned
mans strange demand, In itself, IA
considered 3 good ground for suoh q
plea. But this faot docs not give rise
to any suspicion that the murderer ia
playing an 'insane dodge" az he ia
| TOO earnest and emphatic and logical
In his demands for his right to be
| hanged.
Milton and Jesse, who are to hang
with their father, are not 30 anxious
to go to the gallows, and they say
that the old man is crazy and has
| been for years. Both Of the boys have
made a pathetic appeal to 6he Cover.
nor for clemencv, stoutly claiming
chat they are innocent Of the orlme
for which they were convicted.
GLAD WHEN HE Is HANGED,
When Rawlings was tod that the
United States Supreme COURT had re-
fused to interfere In his case ne was
| "histling How firm a foundation, We
saints OF the Lord" He continued to
Whistle as the news was broken to
him and finally said:
1t is no moro than expected and
! am not sorry looked for no favors
from the United States. l viii be
glad when we are hanged. reckon
we will be at peace then.n
The mon have been confined In iai]
for q little more than ten months.
and the monotony OF a dingy 10 by IL
foot cell has told sadly on their spirits
md demeanor, They occupy corner
cell In the jail, with windows over.
looking busy thoroughfaros on two
sides, and 40 they sit day by day look.
Ing oub through tho bars at the peo.
Pile passing by, Oh as they pace rest.
lessly up and down the narrow con.
fines, rejecting on the time when
they, too, were ;ree to 90 and come rs
they please, 10 ia not hard to under
stand that they have found Jail life &C
irksome.
The elder Rawlings maintains that
ne has absolutely no hope Of his souls