The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-07-16
DOOMED MAN IN
REPENTANT MOOD
Writes a Heartfelt Letter
To Benefactress.
THANKS PEOPLE HELPING HIM
UtterS An Earnest Warning
Against Whiskey and
Evil Companions.
WRITTEN JUST BEFORE DEATH

Hopkinsville, KY, July 1.-THE
day before General May, the noted
Kentucky outlaw, expiated in the
death chair at Eddyville the muir
der of Mrs. Belle Meredith and her
husband. committed in Clay coun-
ty, March >, 1911, he wrote re-
markable letter to Mrs. Edward p.
Fears. of this city, representative
of the Central Howard Association,
the prison reform organization.
Mrs. Fears has consented to the
publication of the letter. May had
checkered career of crime, and
it was generally reported that on
"Old Hubby" as he affectionately
referred to his pistol, We're eight
"nicks" which represented the
number of persons he had slain in
the Kentucky mountains. The let
ter is as follows:
Kentucky Penitentiary, John B..
Chiffon, Warden.-Eddyville. KY,
June 2S, Dear Mrs. Fears You
know that am to pass out of hui
man existence on tomorrow morn
ing before sunrise by electrocution.
/ do not want this to occur without
saying something to YOU. want
to begin this, Mrs. Fears. by say
ing to you that | know have been
a very bad man. | have offended
the laws of God and man in many
ways, even to taking the life of my
fellow-man. | have committed al
most all kinds of sins. and never
until recently have | ever stopped
in my wild career to give my past
life much thought.
81 have always been credited
with being tender-hearted man
by those with whom have been
thrown intimately. In fact, | grew
up among bad people. where moth
ing was known but to crafty ones
desires. want you to tell your
people for me to let whiskey and
bad women and other bad company
alone. These associates go to make
up bad people generally. and they
make false witnesses, such as the
class who are responsible for taking
of my life. | have committed muir
der, but the one for which | am to
die | am not guilty of. Now. Mrs.
Fears, | want to thank you, Mrs.
Lehman and Brother Holton for
what you have done for me, and,
though my life may he taken to
satisfy the law. you three have
been the cause of my giving some
thought TO the hereafter. have
given my heart to God, aud, though
my body may be placed in the
grave, my soul will be taken up in
to heaven, there to rest forever
more. We are taught that we shall
know each other there. II is a
| want to know you beyond the
grave. | know that ii ] had never
been approached by you good peo-
pie as have. would never have
been prepared for death; that Is.
for that death which | believe to be
only a passing from this sinful
world to the one above the sky. |
bless you. and truly hope that your
life may be spared for many years.
and that you may be permitted to
continue your good work of leading
poor unfortunates to see the error
of their way and to give their
thoughts to the future of their
souls. The officials. here have been
very kind TO me and have done ev-
erything they could for my COM
fort. Capt. Black has been espec-
tally kind to me. He seems more
like a father. and | shall go to my
death with love for him. Trusting
we may meet In that upper and bet
ter kingdom. | am. with greatest
respect. yours truly,
GENERAL MAY"