Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-02
AANCMAN'S MOOSE
WINS IN The RACE
For Life of John Billiard, Who
Murdered His Daughter.
JUDGE GoBER REFUSED TO ACT

On the Prisoners Petitlon--Last Hope
for Billiards. life Was Shattered on
Friday-City Crowded with Curious
Country Throng.
Marietta, Ca, March Cover
nor Terrell's approval of the pardon
boards recommendation that no re-
spite be granted John Billiard, and
Judge Gober's refusal to in any way
pass upon constitutional point made
by the condemned mans attorneys,
swept away the last hope of Billiard
escaping the hangman's moose.
Tuberculosis which laid it's hands
upon the slayer of his daughter, has
fought with the law for the mans
life, but grim justice has won the
fight.
The gallows was ready and at 1880
o'clock Friday the trap was sprung,
and Billiards. spirit was sent to it's
doom.
AS he counted the minutes until he
was jerked into eternity, Billiard was
in the very shadow of death. In his
case death had no sting, for his life
had been a forfeit for weeks. Had
he escaped death at the hands of the
law, tuberculosis would have claimed
IL Iy PTT1-
lard and his family did not ever ask
for life. They only asked that he
might be allowed to die natural
death few days later, perhaps a
few hours only, than the time set by
law for him to pay the penalty of
his. crime. But the law turned a
deaf ear to his appeals and Billiard
had to go the transgressor's way.
The hour between II o'clock and
noon was fixed by law for his execu-
ton, and the local authorities set
1f.30 o'clock, as the time for spring
ing the trap. A few minutes before
that hour he Fad to be lifted to the
scaffold, and while his limp body was
supported by che sheriff and his as
sfstants, the rope was fastened about
his neck. Then the spring of the
laws machinery, few choking gasps
and the disgraceful end
Judge George F. Gober, of the
Cobb county superior court Thursday
refused to consider a petition attack
ing the constitutionalfty of the act
of 1903, which empowers the COVER
nor to APPOINT a commission to, inquire
into the sanity Of prisoners, and So
the last hope of John Billiard, con-
demned 10 death Friday for the MUIR
der of his daughter Ruby near Mari
eta was gone.
The petition was fled by E.. Her
bert Clay, Billiards. counsel. Mr..
Clay con'tended that the act was an
constitutional, in that it did not allow
prisoners the right to be tried by Jury
Judge Gober refused to consider the
appeal and wrote across the petition
Thls matter must come to an end -
Had Judge G0ber acted upon the
petition, even to deny it, ATTORNEY
Clay could have appealed from the
COBB county to- the supreme court.
and SO Billiard woula have gained a
respite pending the final decision.
This hope gone, the death warcn
was put over Billiard Thursday night ;,
Deputy Sherfnf E. II. Sheftan being
In charge of it. With the con-
demned man was DR.. c.. E. w.
Uobbs, pastor of the Baptist church
OF Marietta, who. offered PRAYER for,
Billiard.
Billiard never slept all night, and
spent hts time in a sort of mental
stupor.
Inc execution was private. Drs. G.
II. Fields and Gilbert Pennent Of
Marietta, who were appointed attend
ing physicians by Judge Gober.
Sheriff w. A. Frey and Deputy Sher-
III and Jailer w. T. Dewberry. with
some half dozen other deputies. and
Or. c. E. w. Dobbs, pastor Of the
Baptist church, who offered nraver
were the only ones who witnessed the
execution.
The condemned mans two brothers
Malachl and r. L. Billiard: his cons
IN, Matt Billiard, and his brother
law, o. B. Manning, were at the
1all FRIDAY, but did not witness the
execution.
Many country people were in Ma
netta and hrongs of curious people
stood around the jail all Friday morn
ing.
Says ThaW Was Insane.
New York, March DIR. Evans