The Cairo bulletin., 1906-12-04
IS EAGER TO PAY
DEATH PENALTY
REV. J. J. RAWLINGS WILL HANG
TODAY BUT SONS MAY BE
SPARED.
NEGRO TO ALSO SWING.
From the Same Scaffod-Aged Minis
ter's Only Hope is That He May
Soon Die and That His
Boys May Live.


Rawlings convicted with his two sons
of the murder of Willie and Carrie
accorded ;he right which he has been
demanding for six months, to be
hanged by the neck until dead"
Governor Terrell refused today to in.
terfere in the case of Rawlings and
Alfred Moore, the latter negro, both
of whom are sentenced to hang here
for the murder of the Carter children.
Both men will be hanged tomorrow.
Jesse and Milton Rawlings, sons of
J. J. Rawlings, convicted of compile
ity in the crime are sentenced to
hang next Friday but their cases will
be heard by the pardoning board
Thursday.
Il am entitled, by sentence of the
court" Rawlings insisted over and
over again, ito be hanged by the neck
until dead, and in simple justice | de-
mand my right. | insist upon no in
reference with my execution"
My boys are innocent" he said to
reporter, but don't believe
there is any hope for them, 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 than the
galIows."
Wants No Pardon.
The doomed man protested violent
ly when told that his attorney, John
X. Cooper had asked the Pardon Board
to commute the old mans sentence
on the ground that he is insane
Cooper is a fool" cried Rawlings.
"He is crazier than am. / have writ,
ten the Board of Pardons to let this
thing severely alone; they should
wash their hands of the whole busl
ness. just as old PLATE did, and the
blood will not be upon them. The
supreme court saw the situation and
lodged it."
Rawlings then read from the New
Testament the act of Christ before
PLATE. Right here now" he said,
the people would sooner have that
negro. Alf Moore. freed than let the
truth in this matter prevail. | don't
want the Pardon Board or the Gov
ernor to do anything that will not
give us a new trial. If they will give
us a new trial can establish the in
nocence of the boys, and | can show
where | ought not to be hanged. If
we are not going 10 get a new trial
] don't want any more respites or
delays"
While Rawlings was making him
self emphatic on this point Milton |
and Jesse Rawlings were enjoying a |
hearty laugh at the expense of Sheriff |
Passmore. who happened to put the |
wrong end of cigar in his mouth !
and burned his tongue The sheriff /
amt sporty enough to smoke cigars"
was the old mans comment.
The ResuI of Feud.
Rawlings position as an eX minis |
ter and his eagernees to pay the pen
atty for his crime are onlv two of the
features of this cele-
brated case. w. l.. Carter, father of
the two children. VINO met death at
the hands of Rawlings. is also an ex-
Methodist preacher. and the two men
labored s'de by side at revival meet
ings in this state for many years.
Later they settled down on adjoin
ing farms and lived as close friends.
A son of one and n daughter of the
other we're sweethearts. and were
close to marriage. when a feud
sprang up between the two families.
which has led three of the Rawlings
10 the gallows and sent a fourth son,
Leonard. aged 16. with Alf Moore,
negro retainer. to the chain gang for
life.
The feud did not result in any
deaths until the night Of June Is, last
when the three Rawlings boys. ac
by Moore the negro. went
by moonlight to the Carter home
stead to exterminate the entire Car
Ter family.
Nervous horses gave warning OF
The approach Of the assassins. Carrie ! Z
carter. aged lG. and her brother. vii
lie. aged II, were killed on their Own
doorstep. while Carter baIricaded his {
house and fought of the beseigers.
who sought to set il on fire until day {
light drove them away.
Pleads For His Sons.
After the arrest of the Rawlingses !
Moore. the negro. turned states evi- {
ience. The case has been fought /
through all the courts.
All the time the former minister {
has been insisting upon being exc
,uted. In a letter to the governor he
wrote:
I respectfully urge upon Your Ex- !
- csf T---N