The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-10-23
Pays for Death Of Wife and
Stepdaughter.
CONDEMNED MAN REPENTS
OF TERRIBLE MURDERS
Sends Word to Mother Not to
Crieve for Him.
Unsecenpanied by Any OF Family and
with Firm Tread, Stevenson Takes
Place ON Representatives, Of
Victims Are Near--Issues
statement.

Luverne. Oct. 22.--(special)--with
unfaltering step and courageous mien.
Will Stevenson. young member of a
respectable Calhoun County family.
mounted the galiows here this morn
ing. A few minutes later he had been
hurled TO that eternity whittier a few
weeks before he had sent his wife and
step-daughter BY means OF a well d.
rected shot gun.
W. L Tatum would execute the death
sentence at an early hour. As the sun
rosa upon Stevenson's last day upon
earth, its rays shone upon a large
crowd Of curious citizens of Crenshaw
County gathered about the jail. How
ever, none of them was admitted to the
jail yard except those prescribed by
law.
Inside the prison, and within the
death cell. an impressive scene was be-
ing enacted. Kneeling at the side Of
the condemned man, and beseeching his
Maker for the repose of the soul so
soon to be released from earth. was Rev.
A. L. Sellers of the Luverne Method
list Church. As the short prayer was
concluded, Stevenson remarked: Il
have renented. Ny sins have been for
given and am ready"
Mr.. Sellers later declared his belief
that repentance was sincere. and that
stevenson was sane enough to know
right from wrong.
Message to Mother
Tell mother not TO Erieye for me. 4
am all right was the message en-
trusted to DR. W. =. Knight few mo-
ments before the trap was sprung.
Grasping in both hands the little BIZ
BILE which had been given him BY his
spiritual adviser. Stevenson arose to
meet Sheriff Tatum, and to begin the
march to the gallows. With nothing in
his features or in his manner to tndi-
cate the awful fate impending. Steven
son mounted the platform as one walk
ing in dream.
The black cap was quickly placed
over his head and the moose adjusted
about the neck. Then Sheriff Tarum
stepped back from the trap to the point
from which he was about to carry out
unCnanReaDlc
"God have mercy on my SOUL, stew
enson was heard to murmur-
There was a sharp click, and the
body shot forth. while the soul began
its tourney to an unknown destination.
n was 1855 o'clock. Two minutes later
death came. but 1t was fifteen minutes
before life was pronounced extinct.
turning quickly from the scene OF
the unpleasant duty he had just per-
formed, Sheriff Tatum walked silently
10 his Office His assistants cut down
the body, and 1t was prepared for our-
ial. 1t was placed on the train ior
Montgomery.
No words of cheer or sympathy came
To stevenson during his last moments
from members of his family. he went
to death alone. Near at mana put
mingling in the crowd outside were
j. r.. McLendon. the father OF the
brother of the victim. and the t"o
young step-sons of stevenson.
Although it had been anticipated IN
some quarters. there was no demon
stration The recent enorts OF Stc-
yenson's friends to secure reprieve
a. the effort TO prove the condemned
man insane gave color to these reports,
but nothing materialized.
will Stevenson was convicted al
f,uyerne on September 10 OF the muroer
his wife ana SLepuduBHtSrs II 10 oat0
that the crime was committed Whiie
stevenson was under the influence OF
i,nuor. He fired upon Gertrude Vann.
hia stepdaughter, killing her instantly.
He also fired upon his wife, rataily
injuring her. He was quickly appte.
hended. and brought to Montgomery
FOR safe keeping. Later the trial was
held at Luverne with no semplance OF
Refore he went to the gallows to-
day stevenson entrusted to NJ buc-
hanan. a prominent banker OF Luyerne,
q statement in which the Impression is
riven that he believed himself mental
?, deranged as the result of an acct
dent which occurred during his youth.
statement by Stevenson.
The statement follows:
II was born near Jacksonvilie. Ala
on the 9Th day OF May, 1852, nay
father was j. A. Stevenson, q Con-
federate veteran. My mother was a
Miss Smith. 1 was raised on farm
went to a country school about one
month. My opportunity for getting an
education was good, but I failed to
improve 1t.
school and a member of the Baptist
Church. Joined the church when
was about IS years of age. My mother
ioined the church at the same time.
1T have been kind and helpful to
the poor and needy when in distress.
was run over by wagon when
was about 10 years old, nave always
felt that INV head was injured by the
accident. have also had two or three
blows which have caused unconscious
ness. My head was split open when
/ was a child.
IT lived with my father and mother
until I was 81 years old, 1 would go
away and stay a month or two at
time at work. always got along with
my father and mother and my sisters
and brothers. have three sisters and
four brothers living. 1 have one sis
ter married.
II formed the habit of using Wills
key and 1t has caused me lot of
trouble. I would like to say to the
young men of this country not to use
whiskey as 1t will cause them much
trouble. have been free from gaming
and crap playing.
"Mr. w. L TRtum, the sheriff, is a