Pike County Democrat, Volume 26, Number 52, Petersburg, Pike County, 8 May 1896 — Page 7

BILL TAYLOR HANGED. The Murder of the Meeks Family Partially Avenged. Sa Died ProtHttaiK Hla Inaoccata, and Expressing Confidence that He eraa Go* . tug Straight to Heaven—Tailor** Last Statement. Carkoi.ltos, Mo., May L—William P. Taylor, convicted with his brother George for the murder of the Meeks family near - Browning, Mo., on the Eight of May 10, 1694, suffered the ex* treme penalty of the law at 10:56 a. ra. In ten minutes after the drop fell the life that sacrificed four human beings in its lust for gain was extinct, and he died like a martyr. No man ever looked less the murderer than did he as he stood there on the scaffold pale in death itself, swaying backward and forward with the jnash of his emotions, and yet calm an<rcold and brave. Even his enemies, bitter as they are against himJ marveled at the courage of a man who so foully murdered a woman and her little children. From the sheriff's standpoint the execution went off without a hitch. There were no delays. It was perfect^ and so dramatic in its circumstantial features that men who have seen a dozen others die on the scaffold quivered and shook at the tragedy.

William P. Taylor. A I.AST FRUITLESS ^FFF.AU At. 9:30 a. m. Virgil Conkling. Taylor’s principal counsel, made a last boneless appeal to the governor, lie wired as follows: Heist. W. J. Stoke. Gomsoa JErrcasos CrrT. Mo : ran you not ewe Taylor a pittance of ten days' life? is Missouri too weak to guard him safely that long? [Signed! Virgil Conkling. No reply was received to the appeal . to the governor. * THE ASSEMBLIN'* CROWD. Long before- sunrise, from every quarter, down every country road, there came crowds of men,to witness the execution. They came in buggies. In farm wagons, driving mules and jacks, afoot and on horseback, in twos and Threes and scores.'eager and anxious* over the sensation of the day. A man was to die, and even though they could not see him as he swung from the scaffold with the rope around his neck, the fascination was irresistible. Before six o’clock at least „r>00 men had gathered around the jail, where 60 deputies stood on guard with loaded Winchesters. Every man of them was clamoring for a ticket-and but lor forte of arms the frail stockade would surely have been leveled to the ground. By sun-up a wire rope had been stretched across the streets at the in-’ tersection of which stands the jail. It was guarded by the Hale Rifles, under command of Capt. Black. The men were in full uniform and with their bayonets glistening in the morning sunlight, added a touch of grim splendor to the scene. The militia assembled at the armory at 6:30. Tlje company consists of 40 young men. the best blood of the town. They were told that in the event of trouble they would be expected to do theig duty and fight, w ithout imputation to their courage it may be said that this duty was highly distasteful to the soldiers. Many of them had tickets admitting them to the stockade and their dutv as guards prevented them from witnessing the spectacle. RITES or THf- CHURCH. Shortly after ?:30 Fr. Kennedy, accompanied by Dr. Tull and a number of Catholic ladies, repaired to Taylor's cell to celebrate mass. He joined in the services. The last sacrament was administered to the man and after a half-hour the party retired. In the meantime preparations for the hanging cent inued. Deputy sheriffs flitted in and out of the jail, dodging their friends, who were continuously Importuning them for passes. ‘Sheriff Stanley of Carroll county had discarded the gray suit with which he is usually adorned and appeared in a full suit* of Mack© Sheriff Ed Allen of Linn seemed, to exercise more authority than Stanley, and with good right, as he had his wits about him and a more thorough knowledge of .the grewstone proceedings. The only regret over the affair that Carrollton seemed to feel was the absence of George Taylor, the brother of Bill, condemned to die with him for the same terrible crime. A last effort was made Wednesday night to capture him, hut it was unavailing. A report, thought to be well founded, reached town that George had been seen hiding in the brush IS miles to the north of Carrollton. Little was said, but ^ posse, composed of a number of Linn deputies and a number of local men, started out to run him down. Bloodhounds were taken along, and the search continued fate into the night, but no trace of him was found, and the posse returflhd without him, and so Bill Taylor dies alone. TAYLOR'S LAST SIGHT. j The prisoner passed as calm a night as could have been expected under the circumstances, never once appearing to lose in any degree the show of fortitude. The early part of the night was spent in making final sarangements lor the disposition of his £ody. in con

versation with newspaper men an4 with a number of Sisters of Charity who called. About 1:30 he retired for the night and went to sleep. Apparently his rest was dreamless, for not a sound disturbed the quiet of the place. Shortly before fire o’clock he awoke and came out of his cell once more. Ha said he bad slept well. Noticing the two guards in the jail with him. he sat down at his table and wrote these words on a piece of paper: “One of the men guarding me is Harry Wilson, of Linn county, and a feiobber.” He passed the message through to the reporters-and smiled feebly as they read it. Some one asked him if he had anything to say. [ “No,” was his answer. “If the peo- [ pie can stand it, I can.” Breakfast was brought the doomed man about six o'clock. It was not a credit to Sheriff Stanley or Carroll county. When men are about to die it is the custom to let them hare what j they want to eat. They are even humored with all the delicacies of the season, but' no questions were asked Taylor. Ilis morning meal, served in a tin pan, consisted of two fried eggs and three biscuits and a tin cup full of coffee. There was no knife or fork, not even a spoon. _' Taylor foupd a spoon finally cn his table, and wiping it on a newspaper began to eat in a stoeial, indifferent way. A gentle murmur of indignation went the rounds of the reporters. “Is that all you wish, Mr. Taylor?” one of them asked sympathetically. -if “Yes. thi^wiil do," he answered resignedly. ;V But his eyesfilled with tears and he struggled to suppress his emotions. This touch of sympathy frpm the men .who had been sent heye to describe hi& last hours and his ignominous death moved him more than hate or bitterness. Taylor's dying statement to the public. Just two hours before he was to be led xto the gallows the doomed man made a statement to the public. ©ol[ Hale and Mr. Conkling had been talking with him, and as they went t<j> leave he handed Cot. Us e a letter addressed to the public. It contained this statement, his formal farewell to the men who believed him guilty Aud his friends who still stand by him: j- • To the Public: I have only this additional statement to make. 1 ought not to suffer as I am compelled to do. Prejudice and perjury have convicted me. By this conviction my wife is left * widow, my bab.es are mad* orphans in a cold world, my brothers to mourn and my friends to weep. You ha>ief» my {.-ray-haired mother and father to tiheijr graves. The mobs ar.d that element hound me to the crave. I have hoped to liv|e at least until the good people realised the injustice done me. but it can not be so. II feel prepared to meet my God. and I ;r.ow wing, my way to the great unknown, where |I believe everyone is properly judged. I hope nay friends will all meet me to Heaven. 1 believe I am goin(} therg. Good-by all. • \V. P. Tatlor."

JL uuvv; i.umaiucu luis j'uuw^u certificate, given him by the priest aud signed his name. “I. the undersigned,destring shat in the event of my death the truth concerning the condition of my seal should be told at my funeral, dp hereby testify that 1 have been born again by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ If I die to-night I will go to Heaven.’* Both messages were under date of April 29. Before giving out this lettejr Taylor wrote one on a scrap of newspaper and, signing it, handed i|t through the bars to the reporters. It ran as follows: “To the Prune;—The clamor for my blood Is soon to be satisflw! by murdering me coolly and deliberately under the guise of law. It may be you are not murderers. It is between you and your God.” Taylor chose R. M. Kneisiey, Virgil Conkfing’s Jaw partner, to attend to the disposition of his body. Kneislejy had a talk with him in his ceil, in which ‘he calmly discussed the details and asked him to accompany the remains to the Yount cemetery, near Laclede, Mo., where the interment will occur. “Don't leave me,” he said, “untilI this i last clod of earth has been placed upon my grave.” \i During all tins sorrowing tala ije never faltered, and was apparently not _is much affected as the^lawj-er. AN INSULT AVENGED. Shot and Kilted the Man who Strucli !fii Wife—Threatened with Lynching. Chicago, May 1.—At 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon while William Wagrer was walking south on Market street. M. J. Wyckoff came up behind hiifr and, drawing a revolver, shot Wyckoff | in the back. As Wagner whirled around, Wyckoff sent a second bu'iiet into Wagner’s head instantly killing ! him. Wyckoff was arrested and Wtth | difficulty conveyed to the.Central station, a large number of people Who had witnessed the shooting endeavorto take hip from the officers and lynoo | him. The shooting is said to be the result | of a quarrel Wednesday night between Wagner and Mrs. Wyckoff. while the i latter’s husband was absent from ; home, during which Wagner struck ; Mrs. Wyckoff a heavy blow in the face. CLEVELAND INUNDATED j By the Heaviest Downpour of Kata Ever Experienced There. Cleveland. 0., May 1.—The ralni fall here yesterday afternoon was the : heaviest ever known in this city dur- | ing the length of time, and much \ damage was done by water. The | sewers were nnable to carry off the . surplus water and many basements ’ were flooded. ’ ;; I • ■ Girls at work in the basement jof the store of Levy & Stem, toy miuuj facturers, were caught unawares and j narrowly escaped with their lives* i Almost every store in the basinet* portion of the city suffered loss. Ofne house was struck by lightning and destroyed. Shade and fruit trees were uprooted all over the city. Hamilton DtMtoa Foaad Dead. Philadelphia. May L—Hamilton Disston, the head of the extensive saw ' works of Henry Disston A Sons of this city, was found dead in bed at hie residence, Broad and Jefferson streets. Heart disease waa the supposed cause of death.

THE FARMING WORLD. CONVENIENT HAY RACK. tJMd for Years with Entire Success by Its Designer. 1 have often wanted to haul hay, and being a lone-handed farmer and not desiring to take the bed off my wagon and put on the regular frames, I invented the hay-rack here illustrated., and have used it jfor years with success and satisfaction to myself and others; and fcr hauling shingles I never saw anything equal it. It is made by using 6 pieces, 2x* inches, 5 feet long, with ya-inch bolt

A CONVENIENT HAT-RACK. :-0 inches from lower end (Fig. 1). Fig. 2 shows the frame in position on \he end of the bed; raised marks show ends of parallel strips 1x4 or lxti inches. Fig. 3 shows one side of the frame when taken apart. For the ends 1 use a strip of plank or stud 5 feet long, laid on end-gate and door of bed, projecting in Tear and frdnt end of wagon. Place each end back and in front of inside cleats on the bed before putting the long parallel stiips on. and kedp endgate rods tight. On the center cross J put a 1-foot cleat tight against the outside of bed and on the under side of cross. This keeps the center of the l»ed from spreading; but al! good wag-cn-beds have two outside braces, and ought not to spread, anyhow. However, this simple preventive makes it doubly secure. Last, but not least, by . any means, j this frame folds up just like a pair cf scissors, and can be hung up in a shed or against a building, and takes no j space to -house it. If farmers would ! only learn td take care of their utensils, there would be less mortgaging done than there is at present. I never lift my wagon-bed off and j throw it oni the ground to lay for weeks in the rain ^nd snow, and I never saw men work harder than I have seen them do while lifting the bed off and cr. the wagon, aiid split the tongue and <groove in the bed floor.—E. J.Jiewkirk. jjn Farm and Fireside.

WHISKY FROM POTATOES, ; Overproduction Likely to Give Corn an i Energetic Rival. The enormous overproduction of po- | tatoesjast summer will probably result i in the establishment of potato distil- ! leries in Wisconsin. Minnesota and | Michigan, where the tuber can be ' bought for five cents a bushel or less. 1 Potato whisky is made and consumed ; on a large scale in Germany and Aus ; tria, and every traveler in Ireland is i offered a sample of "poteen.” Few, ex- ; cept the natives, ever have the courage ‘ to do more than look at it. However, j small quantities of “poteen*’ are im- ! ported into the Cnited States, and stuff bearing that name, and probably cqual- | ly as effective as the genuine, can be 1 i had in every city. The American distillers have not ex* perimented much with potatoes. They say the potato flavor is nor relished by men used to the Kentucky, Alfcryland, 1 Pennsylvania or Tennessee article. A $50,000 plant is being erected at Manawa, Wis„. according to press dis1 patches, to use up part of the surplus 1 crop of 1S95. The venture is being watched by other distillers, and if it proves successful corn will have a formidable rival. It is estimated 297,000.000 bushels of potatoes were sold or ; housed lastj year, compared with 170,000^000 bushels in 1894. Many states not specially adapted to potato raising went into the market, and as a result ; notatoes are now selling here to ped filer* at 12 or 14 cents a bushel, and ! choice stock: is going.in small lots at ; 25 cents. It is believed the planting | in 1896 will be less than in 1895. but not ! in the great potato states—Xew York. Pennsylvania. Wisconsin, * Minnesota, I Michigan, Illinois ancl Colorado. If I distillers can use potatoes they can al- ! ways find refuse stock at low prices | as the starch manufacturers do. GROWTH OF CHICKS. rifora That Hava Been Verified by Careful Experiment*. The following is arrived at by careful | experiments, and should be preserved | for future reference: The cost of feeding a chick is 1 cent p ; week for ten weeks, or 10 cents for ten | weeks. The amount is very, small at j ( first, but the fifth week the amount is ! I exactly 1 cent. After the tenth week j the cost increases. The chick should j then weigh two pounds, live weight,' | thus costing 5 cents a pound. The brood should double in weight | every ten days until the chicks are 40 days old, when they will gain greater weight, but not so rapidly in proportion to weight. If penned up and fattened with carbonaceous food the chicks will gain one-fourth their weight in ten days after they are of the size of three j pounds. It, is estimated that ten pounds of , food (mixed grain) will keep a chick iu , good condition for ten weeks, but if the i weight of two pounds is expected, meat and green food must be allowed. The experiments performed gave the above j result* as an average. Some breeds of j chicks grow faster than others, espe- ; ciaily those that feather slowly, and the j weights and cost will vary according to , the climate, warmth, shelter and management given.—Prairie Farmer. With colts, excessive growth is not conductive to early maturity, and the largest colt may be leapt able to endure fatigues

PERSONAL MENTION. Dr. Jameson’s poods bars been sold «t auction at Johannesburg*, very high prices being paid by the Boer fanners for the horses and mules. Ex-Consul Waller is now in New York undergoing - treatment for his eyes, which he says were injured by the dark French prisons. He will return to Kansas to live. Manuel Cooooo, an Indian, said to have been born at San Luis Rey in 1781, was a witness in a trial at Santa Cruz, Cal., recently. He has lived in Santa Cruz more than 60 years, and there ia said to be every proof of his great age. William C. Whitney, who was secretary of the navy under the first Cleveland administration, is one of the wealthiest men of the-country. His fortune is estimated at $30,000,000, and his home on Fifth avenue, facing the Vanderbilt mansions, is one of the sights of New York city. Capt. Willnun P. Warren, of Saginaw, Mich., assures us that the oldest pensioner in the United States is David Smith, of Bridgeport, Mich. He is 105 years old, and a survivor of the Mexican war and the late war. On the 4th of last March he signed his voucher for pension money in three different places, in a legible hand, without the vtse of gl&ases. FOR SONS OF MARS. Gen. Barker, the new governor of the Bermudas, is a Lucknow hero% The ware of the last 70 years have cost Russia $1,775,000,000 and the lives of 664,000 men. England’s new battle ship Renown made an average of 18% knots at her speed trials, the flattest hour’s run being 19% knots. This has only been beaten in heir class by the Italian Sardegna’s 19.6 knots. Canadians having requested that the name of the Royal Leinster regiment in the British regular army be changed to the Royal Canadian, it is suggested in England that a regiment be recruited in every colony and made a part o' the regular army. Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria has been appointed honorary colonel of the First (King's) dragoon guards by Queen Victoria. The only othej European sovereigns who are titulai heads of British regiments are the Ger man emperor and the czar. How** Thle t We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any case of Catarrh that can not be cured by Hall’s Catarrh Cure. F. J. Chexet & Co., Props., Toledo,O. We, Hie undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorable in all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obligations made by their firm. West & TacYx, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, O. Waldixq, Kixxas ft Manvi n, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, Ohio. Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Price 75c. per bottle. Sold by all ’ Druggists. Testimonials Hall's Family Pills are the best. “No,” said Mir. Wick wire. “I haven’t tried to get funny around the house since 1 told the hired girl to boil the ice—and she did.’’—-Indianapolis Journal.

THE MARKETS. New York. May 4.199* C VTTLE-Native Steers .....$ 4 00 ©I 4 65 COTTON—Middling —*. 8H© 9 (X) FLOCK—Winter Wheat. 3 10 WHEAT—No. 1 Hard..... COKN-No. 2... Oats—No. 2 .. PORK—Old and New Mess..,. ST. LOUIS. COTTON—Middling... BEEVES—Steers. 2 5> Cows and Heifers. 2 75 CALVES. 4 U0 hugs Fair to Select. 3 Ji SHEEP—Fair to Choice... 2 75 FLOCK—Patents... 3 60 ' Fancy to Extra da.. 2 75 WHEAT-No. 2Ked Winter.. 66 CORN-No. 2 Mixed.. OATS—No. 2 ... .. KYE—Na2. 36 TOBACOO—Lags.. 3 00 Leaf Burley. 4 50 HAY—ClearTunOtny . 9 (W BCTTEK—Choice Hairy. 9 LUGS—Fresh. PORK—Standard Mess (New). 8 25 BACON—Clear Kib...... LAKD—Prime Steam... CHICAGO CATTLE—Shipping.... 3 50 HOGS—Fair to Choice. 3 30 SHEEP—Fair to Choice....... 2 75 FLOCK—Winter Patents. 3 M) Spring Patents—.. 3 10 WHEAT—No. 2 ."priuK... No. 2 Ked...... © © «0Vs* CORN—No. 2.. OATS—No. 2.... 19 © POKK—Mess (newj.>. ? 95 © KANSAS CITY”. CATTLE—Shipping Steers.... 2 75 © HOGS—Ali Grades?. 3 10 © WHEAT—No 2 Ked. 68 © OATS—No. 2... © COKN—No. 2.... * NEW ORLEANS FLOCK—High Grade. 3 «0 © COKN-No. 2. © OATS—Western. © HAY-Cboice... 19 0J © PORK—Old Mess.-. © Bacon—sides.-. .... © COTTON—Middli ng. it* LOUISVILLE WHEAT-Na 2 Red.. 79 © GOKN-No.2 Mixed. SI © OATS—No.2 Mixed.... 50 © POKK-New Mess.. 8 5b © BACON-Clear Kib. 5)4© COTTON—Middling.. ©

To Cleanse the System Effectually ret gently, when costive or bilious, or when the blood is impure or sluggish, to permanently overcome habitual ■ constipation, to awaken the kidneys and liver to a healthy activity, without irritating or weakening them, to dispel headaches, colds, or levers, use Syrup of Figs. A pilgrimage is an admirable remedy for overfastidiousness ai^d sickly refinement.— Tuckerman. Fits stopped free oy Dr. Kline’s Great Nerve Restorer. No fits after first day’s use. Marvelous cures. Treatise and 13 trial hot* tie free. Dr. Kline, fi8l Arch St., Phila., Pa Nature hath appointed the twilight as a bridge to pass us out of night into day.— ! Fuller. , ]

The Bock of Gibraltar Is not steadier than a system liberated from the shackles of chills and fever, bilious re» mittent or dumb ague by Hostetter’s btcim ach Bitters, a perfect antidote to malarial poison in air or water. It is also an u£e» ampled remedy for-bilious, rheumatic'or kidney complaints, dyspepsia and nervousness. It improves appetite and sleep and hastens convalescence. * >* Treason is like diamond^ there is nothing to be made by the small trader.—Bourn las Jerrold. > Ccrb your cough with Bale's Honey of Horehound and Tar. - \ Pike's Toothache Drops Cure in one minuta.

“I am too glad.to tes- ' tify to the great value Ayer's Sarsaparilla ' which has been a house'hold companion In our [family for years. I take r from 3 to 5 bottles of it every 8pringv generally beginning' about the first of April. After that I feel like a two year old, for it tones up my system, gives i mean excellent appetite and I1 sleep like a top. As a blood medicine it has no superior,,at least that is qty opinion of it.—JljR. Wildsy, Philadelphia, Pa., March 20,1896. WEIGHTY. WORDS A

FOR Ayer’s Sarsaparilla. % RECEIVERS’ SALEUNI0H mm BY> C0, lkm 800,000 A0RE8 FARM LANDS; 4,000.000 ACRE8 QRAZINQ LANDS IN KANSAS* NEBRASKA, COLORADO, WYOMING, UTAH. EXCrBSlOX KATES fl*r Hoa«M<keni FARE REFUNDED to ParckMcn, . REDUCED PRICES-IO YEARS TIWIE^ONE-TENTH DOWN. 33. A. Tu.A.T,T.AtTlgT», LAND COMMISSIONER, OMAHA, XVSZB.

Judgment II PLUG The umpire now decides that “BATTLE AX” is not only decidedly bigger in size than any other 5 cent piece of tobacco, but the quality is the finest he ever saw, and die flavor delicious. You will never know just how good it is until you try, it.

1 I V «

One of the health-giving elements of HIRES Rootbeer is sarsaparilla. It contains more sarsaparilla than many of the preparations called by that name* HIRES—the best by any test. Made hIt to Tto Cfcarl** E. Hina O*., nfiaddpk ME PAYmH UKTno. Htt Risk, ruu ^j&szss&ssi pium Rurwu ATTU.CTA. «U.