The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-09
Murderer Rawlings, of Georgia,
Asks the Governor Not to
SUSPEND SENTENCE.
He Begs the Governor Not to PAY Any
Atteatlon to Silly Appeals for
His Reprieve, But Let Him
Be Executed At
Once

U1CG
From his cell in q Georgia jill q
condemned murderer Is sanding forth
appeals to stop all efforts to save hif
life and demanding to DO hanged.
This unique example among Enr
derers has written . letter to Cover
nor Terrell, Of Georgia, insisting upon
his rights az . murderer legally
condemned to go to the gallows on the
Say named by tbe trial ocurt-Msy
Through the newspapers, when they
interview him, he makes the same de-.
uand.
| This anomaly among condemned
sentenced murdsrers is former clsr-
gynan, the Rsv. J. G.. Rawlings. In
jail With him at Valdosts, Ca, are his
l1rer sons. Leonard, Milton ard Jesse
convicted 10, conpl city in the mur-
der last June Of little Willie and Car
tie Carter, children OF W. L. Carter,
with whom Rawlings had beer at fsud
for years.
AS tie actual shooting Of the chill
dren waa done by ALI Moore, negro,
Rhc confessed, declaring that Raw
lings paid him to do it, many persons
Interested themselves in efforts to
have the sentences commuted to life
imprisonment, and the case was even
carried to the Supreme Court Ct the
United States.
Rawlings's emphatic and open re
sentiment Of these iforts to save his
life created a sensation IN Georgia,
which has not yet subsidized. In bis
lester to Governor Terrell he satc:
II respectfully urge your Excelien.
CT not to interfere with the speedy
execution OF the death sentence. !
an tired Of the business, and I want
TO te hanged as soon as possible.
URGED THE GOVERNOR TO LET HIN
EANG.
my boys are inrocsnt, but dc
not believe there is any hope for them
and they feel as ! do, thst the sooner
re are hanged the better. We are
suffering more than death now. The
delay and uncertainty are far worse
than the gallows, and hope you
viii do nothing to prevent speedy
execution of the death sentence.
Being interviewed for this newsps-
ger. Rawlings made this remarkable
Demand still stronger. He salt:
II am desperate. I don't care any
thing about the decision Of the Su'
oreme Court, and I had rssher be
dead than to stay shut up In this dark
and sitting cell another day. It Will
suit me exactly to be hanged to.mor'
row, and the sooner 1t is done the bet
ter shall like it.
Il have written to my attorney,
Mr.. Cooper, asking him not to take
any further steps In the matter, and
20 let it 20 as it stands. I have writ.
ten to the Governor demanding my
rights. dent care anything about
my own fate, so far as It sfscts me
personally, and I have only wanted TO
i've thus long in ho2s Of being able
to do something to save my Innocent
boys.
II expect to die like man, and
one Of the greatest regrets have Is
on account Of my mother. I have
just written her, Though, that ! shall
20 to my death bravely. She is old
now, aud can't bear up under such
affection even IS well as my wife
ian.
But that can't be helped. lam
entitled by sentence Of the Court, &c
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
nas decided not 70 interfere with ser
teuce OF the trial court. But Raw.
lings's attorneys have still the plea OF
insanity to oargu5-and the condemned
mans strange demand, in itself, is
considered q good ground for such 3
plea. But this fact does nos give rise
to any suspicion that the murderer Is
playing an insane dodge" ~ he Is
TOO earnest and emphatic and logical
In his demands for his right to be
hanged.
Milton and Jesse, who s1e to hang
with their father, are not 80 anxious
to go to the gallows, and they say
that the old man is crazy and has
been for years. Both Of she boys hsve
made pathetic appeal TO the Cover.
nor Tor clemencv, stoutly claiming
that they are innocent OF the crime
for which they we're convicted.
GLAD WHEN BE Is HANGED.
When Rawlings was told that the
United States Supreme COURT mad re-
fusedto interfere in his case he wss
shistliag How firm . foundation, ye
sa1n Is OF the Lord" He continued to
whistle as the news was broken to
him and finally ssid:
1T is no more than I expected and
am not sorry. I looked for no ravors
from the United States. ! will DO
glad when we are hanged. I reckon
we will be at peacs tisn."
The men have been confined in Jail
for little more than ten months, !
and the nonotony OF dingy 10 by II
foot cell has told sadly on their spirits
and demeanor. They occupy corner
cell in the jail, with windows over.
looking busy thoroughfsres on swo
sides, and as they sit day by day look.
Ing out through the bars at the peo.
pie passing by, or SIS they pace rest
lessly up and down the narrow con-
fines, rejecting On the time when
they, too, were free to 20 and come IS
they please, it is not hard 10 under
stand that they have found Jail life so
irksome.
TIE elder Rawlings maintains that
he has absolutely no hope Of his souls