The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-22
Must Die on Calows This
Morning.
JUDGE DENIES RESPITE
FOR INSANITY HEARING
Condemned Man Hears Summons
to GalIows Without Iremor.
Leaves Montsenery County jail with
Calm word Of Farewell and
Gratitude for His Fellow
Prisoners-Advises
Young Boys.

VIII Stevenson left the Montgomery
County jail yesterday and went to his
death.
dawn.
The last appeal was made yesterday
by his relatives and friends. pleading
insanity for the condemned man. and
the court of last resort In his case
refused him clemency.
Immediately upon the receipt of the
verdict OF Judge J. C. Richardson at
Evergreen yesterday afternoon, Sheriff
w. L. Tatum. of Crenshaw County, went
to Steyenson's cell In the Montgomery
County jail, where he had been brought
for safe-keeping. and escorted him to
the union station. where they boarded
the train for Luverne at sos o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
To the time of his departure, Stew
enson maintained stoical demeanor,
and the very summons to the galiows
failed even TO make him finch; not q
CULVER of emotion did he exhibit. In
a calm voice he bade his fellow-pris-
oners and Jailer J. s. Pettus farewell
and walked steadily to the cab that
conveyed him from the jail to the
railway station.
The Crime.
VIII Stevenson shot to death his. wife
and step-daughter at his home near
Grady. He was quickly apprehended,
brought TO trial. and sentenced to be
hanged at Luverne on October ~. Soon
after the trial. he was brought to the
Montgomery County jail for safe-keep-
ing. Overtures to the Governor for
pardon failed utterly. AS a last resort.
relatives of the condemned man Sc
rured a hearing yesterday before Judge
y. G. Richardson at Evergreen. before
whom he was tried and sentenced. The
plea to commute his sentence to life
imprisonment was based on alleged
insanity. n
Sheriff Tatuu arrived at Mont goraery
yss<Afday morning. having made AR
engagements with Judge Richardson
that IL stevenson was adjudged insane,
notification would be wired to Sheriff
Tatum at the county jail here. The
hearing began AT 1880 O'Clock yester-
day morning and at $50 o'clock in the
afternoon. Sheriff Tatum was apprised
OF the result Of the hearing.
Randall Howard. q negro trusty, who
acts as turnkey In the jail, was sent
to Stevenson's cell with the message.
.sMr. Stevenson" he said. "Mr. Pet
tus says get ready TO leave the jail in
ten minutes"
"An right Stevenson answered
calmly, k0oWlnB WHAt ehV
means: 'T am ready"
He walked into his cage. put on his
hat and sat on the little cot. After
the turnkey left, he entered the adJoin-
ing cage, where several young boys
were confined.
"Good-bye, boys" he said as he pro-
ferred hts hand TRY to lead good lives,
stick to your Bible and remember me.
Not a word did he utter that pof-
... As16 Not
uuiyer of q muscle did he show, no ex-
preston of anguish was seen on his
face. But one change from his usual
demeanor was noticeable, a slight pal
lor that spread over his face
Wears white Ribbon.
Before he left the cell one of the boys
piuned little white ribbon on his coat
lapel. 1t had bound a bunch OF flowers
sent him yesterday by a woman sympa-
thizer. On 1t was scriptural quota
ton. Stevenson asked the boy to read
him what was inscribed on the ribbon.
II promised forgiveness by God to the
sinner that repents. He made no COM
ment. 49,
When sheriff Tatum, Jailer Pettus
and Frank Pettus, his SON, came up the
stairway to the third fioor and around
TO steyenson.s cell. the boy was pinning
the ribbon on him. After the quotation
had been read to him he said simply
Thank YOU"
He cordially grasped the hands of his
Young cell-mates, bade each one good
bye and walked out into the corridor
where he was handcuffed by the Sherin.
one OF the prisoners said: GOOD bye,
Will. may GOD bless you" His only
answer was the word, Goodbye"
He followed the jailer down the two
aights of iron steps steadily. Sherin
Tatum and the jailers son followed
him. No word was 81 oxen until the Of
Ace of the Jail on the ground fioor was
yeached. when Stevenson paused and
half turned toward the jailer. He ex-
tended his manacled hands and said:
"Good-bye, Mr.. Pettus; thank you for
your kindness to me-.
According to the prisoners who were
confined in the same cell with him, he
said that he would testify on the gal
lows. At the trial he acknowledged MS
rniit. and the meaning OF his intention
10 "testify" on the gallows is obscure
Order of Court.
Evergreen. Oct. by a
decision of Judge J. C. Richardson,
rendered here this afternoon. the death
sentence imposed upon VIII stevenson
bv the Crenshaw County Court will
he carried out at Luverne tomorrow.
Judge Richardson, after hearing the
testimony offered In the behalf OF the
Condemned man, declined to grant a
stay of execution on plea of insanity
COUNTY HEADS ARRESTED.
Fraud in S2,0OO.00O Court House Con-
tract Exposed.