The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, May 7, 1896, Page 2

th \h 4 rey 2 So ena ae ee ee er, EE EILL TAYLOR HANGED. One of the Convicted Murderers of the Meeks Family With a Courage Neyer Equaled. Meets Death in its Most ‘Yerrible Form. Had Nota Word to Say Before the | Noose Was Adjusted and Viewed ifference. the Crowd with ir Mrs. Meeks, Mother of the Murdered Man, Se Rejoices Many Women Present. Carrolton, Mo., April 30.—Bill Tay- lor died on the scaffold here thie morning, unflinchingly. His neck was broken by the drop at 10:57 o'clock. Thirteen minutes later his pulse had ceased to beat, and four minutes after that his body was lowered into his coffin. He ascend- ed the scaffold firmly. Directly be- neath the steps he saw the coffin that awaited him, partly covered by a white counterpane, but his face did not change as he passed over it. In his hands had been placed a cru- cifix, and on this he intently gazed. He died with sealed lips. With a firm tread, and proud, almost impe rious bearing, he walked from his cell to the trap, and stood as straight asan arrow. A gravelike pallor covered his features, it was the only indication of approaching death. He looked out on the crowd with- out a word. He may have seen the aged woman whose son and grand- children he was charged with slay- ing, half-way up the incline of the jail yard. He did not show it, if he did. His eyes took one last roving glance over the enclosure, but his expression never changed. There was not the slightest twitching of his lips, not the quiver of and eyelid. His pallid face and emaciated body seemed chiselled and immovable. Taylor's last gaze rested upon a stunted mapleto the west of the scaffold, which dropped its winged seeds upon the gallows steps at every little gust; a patch of blue above, unmarked by a single cloud- fleck. Directly before him stood the bare, dead north wall of the county jail; to his right, not far from this wall, was a stand on which a photog- rapher stood with his camera. Be- low him was the surging crowd. The tall board fence enclosing the gal- lows shut out all else of the world except the hum of the great crowd outside. “He's the same Bill Taylor that used to walk our streets,” said a Brownington man. Every one mar- veled at hia courage. On being sum- moned from his cell and during the march to the gallows through the lines of uncovered men, Taylor dis- played the same unflinching nerve. His usually sallow face grew no paler. He passed Mrs. Meeks and her son as he went to the scaffold, but although they bent forward and almest peered into his face, so that even the guards brushed against them, they did not catch his eye It moved carelessly their way, but there was uot the faintest evidence of recognition. Taylor seemed and acted like a man who had no longer any interest in the world or thought of what he was leaving behind on his march to the gallows. And after the body had been lowered into the casket, aud Mrs. Meeks had said, with a ring of gratified revenge, “He will murder no more babies,” she added, “but I did not think he could stand it so well.’ Even she and her son recognized Taylor's wonder ful nerve, and it half awed them. Impressive was the immobility of the man. The crowd seemed to be transfixed by his stolid, unfeeling entrance to the grave and no specta- tor seemed to move. Impressive was the awful silence, out of which the pleas for mercy, growing more and more subdued as the last mo- ment approached, issued as from an empty tomb. Then the black cap was swiftly adjusted, and scarcely had it settled upon his shoulders before the trap was sprung. Taylor had reached hisend. The crowd surged closer to the gallows, beneath which the body was swung absolutely motionless. Still uncoy- ered was the crowd and completely silent. The physicians composing the coroner's jury stepped beneath the Hanging and Openly | | double trap doors, and waited to be jbound. He did not appear to see ithe 600 people who were standing around the seaffold. Deputy Shel- |ton adjusted the straps and Sheriff Allen placed the noose around Tay- lor’s neck. Taylor died in about ten minutes. His body was imme | diately cut down and put in a coffin | Groceries and Farm Produce that stood beside the scaffold. | As soon as the doors of the stock | jade were opered the thousands of | people outside made a rush to look jat the scaffold, and chip pieces off it | for relics. | | Taylor's pulse beats during tbe} }last minute life remained were 50. | The first minute they were 96, the | next 100. Then the pulse ran down; to 94,and the next minute to 92.! Beyond this no record was kept. Sheriff Stanley began to read the death warrant at 10:45 o’clock. He read it slowly and distinctly. Every- word struck the hearts of his listen ers like a trip hammer, except Tay- lor. He was unmoved Hedid not raise his eyes from the floor. When Sheriff Stanley read: “And there and then between the hours of 6a. m.and 5 p. m. hang you by the neck until you are dead,” the tears of the women coursed down their faces. The death warrant finished, Sher- iff Stanley read the decision of the supreme court of Missouri affirming the decision of the trial court. He folded the papers and placed them in his pocket. Sheriff Allen entered Taylor's cell and bound his hands and wrists. Taylor did not Deacon Bros. & Co. | | | Heavy and Shelf Hardware, Cutlery and Guos | | Tinware and Stoves, Field and Garden | “Seeds, Buggies, Wagons, and Farm | | i | Paints, Machine (Oil. | { | | "WE CULTIVATE. A reliable grocery business. A game that works both ways. The sale of reliable groceries secures re- liable customers. We have made a change in our grocery business, sell our groceries for cash or in exchange for farm produce; this is better for the cash customer. Bill jumpers will put up with any kind of taste travel- ing under the name of groceries, and vice versa the grocer, who puts up with bill jumpers, must need sell un- reliable groceries in order to cover deficits and he must charge higher lnight from Wm. P. conviction my wife is to be left =| lonely widow, my babies are made | orphans in a cold world,my brothers | mourn and weep. You hasten my) gray-haired father and mother tothe BEWARE IN TIME. grave. The mobs and that element To hounded me to the grave. I had a hoped to at least live till the good people realize the inj she me but it cannet beso I fee to meet my God as I now w my way to the great unknown, where I believe every one is pr j | I hope wy triends w in heaven. I there. Good bye TAYLOR'S REMAR Carrollton, Mo., following letter was 4c his The saving or gaining of healt Taylor It is a verbatim copy of 2 let- wife. ter that every effort keep from the press: i “I have held a long conversation | with Rev. Father Kennedy of the! Catholic church here, and Dr. Tull. | I have resolved on careful reflection to join the Catholic church. He has | spoken to me about the conslation of | religion, and the hopes I may enter tain of eternity. I have been told of the burdens that may be lessened | by confession of mouth. I have! been told, too, and the argument in! this behalf has been forcibly made, that man can be sorry for his griev.| ous sins, and he pardoned therefor | by penance in purgatory. W. P. Taytor.” The outcome of the last confer- on the freshness of purity of was made to! gets old. liability., and accurate considered. H. L. TUCKER. | Prescription Druggist. SCLA‘TICA wit, ST. JACOBS OIL. 55:83 WN Those swincts may gz Safe Drugs. Certain, positive results must be had. We offer safe, reliable drugs. The amount of business we do keeps them moving—nothing The reputation we maintain for re- eures the best of everything. Prices are always just ones—always low,quality __ The first acute twinge of UT OF SHARE, h may depend the drugs you use. prescription work in- i t ence held yesterday afternoon be- — = tween Father Kennedy, Dr. Tull and|yengeance that caused the jury to Taylor was that Taylor accepted the \ T speak. He grew a shade paler, but stood up firm and erect. His hands bound, the march to the scaffold be- gan. Deputies Shelton and Cum prices. The same rule applied to hardware. Now as to groceries, the best of each kind and only the best can be Catholic faith. He had it first fully explained to him, asking the priest to answer in detail to whatever ques- convict; men had lied on the witness | mings walked side by side, then came Taylor, with Sheriff Allen on the right and Sheriff Stanley on the left. A thin black strap wound around Taylor's body was held by the sheriff to steady him in case he should fal- ter. Taylor’s hands pressed a black cross to his breast. He walked with his eyes steadfastly looking ahead. Deputy Marshal Ross and Sheriff Adriano followed Taylor Then eame the priest repeating the Catholic rite, and about twenty women, walk ing two abreast, who uttered in uni sun and repeatedly: ‘Lord have mercy.” Less than one minute was taken up in the march. Tayler climbed up the ecaffold steps with firm feet. The noose was already in place when Taylor walked upon the trap. Deputy Shelton fastened the leg straps) Sheriff Allen put on the noose. Sheriff Andriano removed the cross from Taylor's hands. Dep uty Cummings put on the black cap. Its sombre folds fell like a curtain across Taylor’s vision, and Sheriff Stanley sprung the trap. It wag ex- actly 10:57 o’clock. At 11:30 o'clock the order was given to take up the coffin. Six deputy sheriffs were the pallbearers, and outside of the fence a squad of militia fell in line to the call of “Shoulder arms.” An advance guard cleared the way from the wires, and a detachment foliowed. The casket of enameled steel was tightly sealed before being taken from the jail yard. The crowd, disappointed in not having seen the hanging, was waiting to catch a glimpse of the hody. As the casket was borne toward Mc- Queen Bros. & Taylor's undertaking establishment, men, women and children surged under the wires, no longer protected by the militiamen, and gazed at the grim looking box. Their morbid curiosity was once more unsatisfied. TAYLOR'S LAST HOURS. At 4:45 this morning Taylor awoke in his cell, yawned and arose. He asked the hour, and after walking up and down the corridor several times, he bathed his face and hands. “Hew did you pass the night?” he} was asked. “Very well, under the circum. stances.” “Were you disturbed by the noise?” “No.” “Did you have any dreams?” “There is nothing on your mind that is oppressive?” “No.” message ona piece of paper which be said was for all the newspaper Jisfied He said Mrs. Taylor and “I did not.” | body is to be taken by the Taylor Taylor sat down and wrote this! expected if you favor us with your orders. If you want to buy a BUGGY see our line before buying and "‘SAYE ‘ MONEY, Our line is completein Top Buggies Road Wagons, Jump seats, Surries, Carriages, Spring and Farm wagor WM. DEERING & CO., Binde Mowers and Twine. Deering Binders and Mowers have roller and ball bearing, no repairs on journals or boxes where these bear- ings are used. Roller and ball bearings save draft by changing the sliding contact be- tween axle and journal box to rolling contact; they prevent friction and wear, and add years to the life of the machine. We havea very complete stock of Screen doors, Screen frames, Door springs, spring hinges, screen wire. If you need an ice cream freezer see the Ohio, it is the quickest freez- erin the market. DEACON BROS. & CO. Low Price Hardware and G:ocery House speak to Taylor. Soon afterward Taylor's breakfast was brought in. It was in a tin platter and the menu was very plain Three fried eggs. a small piece of ham, three biscuits and a tin cup of coffee was all. It was a sorry last breakfaet. «Is that all the breakfast you want, Mr. Taylor? Would you not like to have something else?” he was asked. “No, this will do,” he replied iv a hopeless tone of voice. He ate his breakfast slowly and took long sups of coffee. After eat- ing his frugal meal Taylor resumed his ten foot pace up aad down the corridor. Once he paused before a shabby little hand mirror that was fastened by a wire to the cell side and carefully brushed back bis hair. He was very particular to have every hair carefully laid back, and after he had finished he scrutinized his fea- tures closely in the glass. W. G. Beckitt, president of the Puritan Mercantile company of Puri- tan Mercantile company of Purdin, Mo., arrived in the city last night and notified Sheriff Stanley that he had been authorized by the wife and mother of Taylor to take his body in charge after the law had been sat- Bul’s mother were at Bogard, and would arriye in Carrollton an hour orso after the execution. A fine metallic casket had been ordered from St. Louis In this Taylor's women to Laclede, Mo., and in a quiet country grave yard, five miles northeast of there, it will be laid to rest. In this burial ground lie the ashes |of the Taylors, who lived years ago, reporters the scaffold and began to time the! tinued to flutter in the senseless frame the crowd stood almost mo- tionless. The and hushed, hurnedly sli; save Mrs. Meeks, wh turned to her son and over, George. He will kill no more babies.” At 10:54 the march to the scaffold | began. Deputy sheriffs Shelton and Cummings led the way, followed by Taylor, who walked between Sheriif Stanley and Sheriff Allen. them came deputy marshal Ross of Kansas City and two cther deputies, who were followed closely by Father Kennedy and a number of women walking two abreast. In his neat fitting black suit Tay- jor presented a striking appearance. He walked up the fifteen steps to the scaffold, steadied himself on the | Son.” He walked around awhile and then {he wrote this for The World: “The public clamor for my blood }is soon to be satisfied by murdering ime coolly and deliberately under |the guise ofiaw. It may be they }are not murderers. It is between | them and their God.” Taylor seemed relieved after free ing his mind and he sat in medita | tion for several minutes. open. He returned to the chair in front of the bars, where he sat down and rested his head on his right hand. He sat as immovable as a statue. The early morning light streamed in at the windows and I have only this alditional statement | showed his fine, clean cut features! to make. in delicate outline. ‘came in at 5 ' ‘ , to tin “Tam now guarded by one of the! body will be buried Friday, as all ar- hanging man’s pulse. While it con-| Linn county mobbers, Henry Wil- ; rangements cannct be completed be- Finally he! Sheri Taylor 1 went into his cell and tried to sleep | Hale, Losier and Kneysley called to held a cross in his hands. Back of/again, but his eyes would remain| bid Taylor good-bye. : Sheriff Allen}am compelled to do. Predjudice o'clock, but did ace pend perjury convicted me. f but their lives are stainless. The | fore that time. : | | Attorney Virgil Conklin éilea to! | see Taylor shortly after 8 0’¢_ick and | | passed half an hour with hive Tay-| jlor thanked him for his effajts and ‘said he realized that all had been | for him that could be done. $Ia re- | ply to a question propoundefyby the! ; attorney, Taylor said he was resign- | jed to his fate. He was prepared to die Shortly before 9 o'clock Attorneys | They talked several minutes, and as jleft Taylor gave this statement to ‘Colonel Hale and asked that it be ! made public: | April 29, 1896.—To the Publie:— I ought not to suffer as I! By that ‘ jand was rejoiced when Taylor told) oy $4 in silver dollars ; would be baptized | other state in the country. Dr. Tull 'a crucifix, and with tears in his eyes | they |ed his head wearily against the fat | 22cks for tions he might put. Father Kenne- jfrom bis pocket and a small black dy was painstaking in his replies, common leather purse containing $3 These he him that he concurred with him, and | panded to Colonel Hale “Give them to my wife when I am Taylor’s conversion almost on the | gone,” he said. eve of his execution was one of the; If Taylor had any property to will most remarkable and interesting in| away he did not speak of it. Colonel the criminal history of this or any| Hale said Taylor was bankrupt. His money and his !and had been ab- | sorbed in the trial. If he had secur- ed his liberty he would have had to make a new etart in life. Colonel Hale soon tooe his departure, shak- ing bands with Taylor through the bars. visited Taylor on Tuesday and ad mouished him to prepare for death. Taylor said that he accepted his sympathy. but was not prepared to make a religious confession. “I do not believe,” said he, “that it will do me any good. My mind is made up. J do not think the clergy can help me in the least. Still I need sympathy to sustain me, and I thank you for it.” Taylor spoke in such a decided way at this interview, and at others held for the same purpose, that it was thought he would go to the gal- lows without spiritual preparation. Yesterday, however, he told John B. Hale that he was willing to see any|C. B. Gruver. ministers who might wish to call Father Kennedy teld last night of . his visit to Taylor and the condemn. | ? ed man’s convereation substantially | ‘ as follows: “To day we went to Taylor with| ‘ the hope that possibly we might do| « some good. We had been notified that he had ‘weakened.’ I tried to impress ou him the necessity of a preparation for eternity. Still I had no idea that he would become a Catholic. He said at the very be- ginning of my remarks to him that ; his family would be displeased if he | §, ’ * joined the Catholic church. I ———— BANK. Ri thought it my duty to call to his]! G = (PRP FOAL IP mind the benefit of religion which I did, aud then told him that if he did bot want to be baptized in the Cath- olic church we would go for ary other minister he might choose. He said he did not believe in baptism. I pointed out to him that all Christ ien people believed in baptism; that the Catholic church informed us aud instructed us that baptism was nec essary for salvation, and that the Scriptures say that ‘unless we believe and are baptized we cannot besaved.’ I explained to him that baptism was the act we must doin order to ex press our belief and faith. Tne mere water itself bad no virtue in it ex- cept in that way. Ministers, I ex- plained, were only the instruments used by God just as the rod with which Moses brought forth water from the rock. The rod in itself bad no inherent power to produce water. Itold him of the ancient origin of the church and how its laws bad been handed down intact and to the present time. “Dr Tull and I prayed with him, and finally he cried. 1 handed him A Minister on Profanity - Profanity is a relic of barbarism and an evidence of alow state of living. It is repulsive and a gross insult to decency. It places men in the lowest society and robs them of all self respect. It takes neither brains nor common sense to swear, and, generally speaking, the less the brain the profaner the man.—Rev. a BEESON! Real Estate and Insurance 2 T respectfully solicit the busi- » ness of all good pecple in Butler ? and Bates Co.,and will givecare- § ful and prompt attention to » any business placed in my hands. . My commissions will be low. 4 Come and see me, over the ~¢ « § DR. Fred R. Jones, Physician, Office in Deacon Block. Residence, M. E. church parsonage, corner Ohio & Havanneh streets. the Balm directly is- tothe nostrils. Draw z strong breath through the nose. times a da: meals preferred, and before retiring. ELY’S CREAM BALM ain: QP Os the eores, Protects ‘teCOLD D Membrane from Colds Restores the mel. a relief at JACKS FOR SALE. he kissed it. At the last meeting| to day I baptized him.” A godfather and godmother stood | J for Taylor at the baptism Shey | were Dr. W.A. Tull and Mrs. Jobn Von Arb. The ceremony occurred | in the presence of two guards and{ several deputies. The usual sacra | ments of baptism of the Catholie | ehurch were administered. \ Col. Hale, his lawyer, called, and/ Taylor talked earnestly to him} through the bars of his cell. He! rested one foot on a chair and lean-! The ur steel cage. He spoke low and carn. | Sve'y bred, b estly. | large head an Taylor said that he realized that | Strict! e004 all had been done for him that could! Pe igrees for ae sd Sia be dove. He had abandoned hope.| Gee ree eon eieaiog Sobrciced- As he talked, a tinge of bitterness unconsciously crept into his voice. Dd. A. COLYER, He said it was public clamor for | Batler, Bates Co., Mo. Tan HE stand. He spoke of his wife and his | babies, and teardrops filled his eyes. | d eS oun al He took a hunting case gold watch | "i DIRECTIONS Apyly a particle «~CATARRH The | "| Office over Bates County Natn'l Banke BUTLER, MO. i} Successor to Bates Co. National Bank. Established in 187C. Paid up capital $125,000 | A general {banking business trang. | acted. F.J. TYGARD, - - - - Preddem HON. J. B. NEWBERRY} Vice-Pres. J. C. CLARK - - Cashier W. R. WOODS, Real Estate and Life In. | surance Agent. ADRIAN MISSOURI I have a large number of farms for sale, ranging from 40 acres up, This land is located in Bates county and is choice real estate. Call and see me before buying. RAVES & CLARK, ATTORN#YS AT LAW. Office over the Missouri State Bank North side square. T C. BOULWARE, Physician sat e Surgeon. Office nortan side square Butler, Mo. Diseasesof women and chit en aspecialtv. DR. J. M, CHRISTY, | HOMOBOPATHIU PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, McKibbem All callanswered at office dayot | Office, front room over | store. | night. | Specialattention given to temale & | eases. DR, J. T. HULL sDENTIST. Newly Fitted up Rooms, Over Jeter’s Jewelry Store. Entrance, same that leads” to Hagedor’s | | i | } i | | | | “Studio, ‘north side square , Butler, Mo. | | T. J. Soatn, A. W. Tnvest SMITH THURMAN. LAWYERS, Butler, Mi (. HAGEDO t iThe Old Reliable 4 PHOTOGRAPHER WN 1 Side Square. 2 gallery is) Has the’ best equipped Southwest Missouri. All Styles of Photogrphing executed in the highest style of art, and at reasonable price® Crayon Work A Specialty. All work in my line is guaranteed ™ S give satisfaction. Call and seés Samples of work. ©. HACEDOR