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Press: Mathis and Lester Hung |
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Oxford Eagle, September 24, 1902 MATHIS AND LESTER HUNG The Trap Was Sprung at 12:50 O’clock Yesterday Afternoon, and the Men Died Game. Fully 7,000 People Witnessed the Public Execution of the Murderers of the Montgomerys on Nov. 26th — Both Men Were in Good Spirits and Said They Were Ready to Launch in to the Great Beyond — Mathis Tells of Owens’ Rascality. Mathis and Lester were hung yesterday afternoon at 12:50. Yesterday morning dawned cloudy and threatening. At an early hour the crowd began to gather to witness the tragic end of Will Mathis and Orlando Lester. The condemned men passed a quiet night, both sleeping well. When, according to custom, they were asked what they preferred for breakfast, Mathis requested that he be given ham, biscuit and coffee. Lester asked for fried chicken, with plenty of fat gravy, eggs and coffee. Both were given what they requested, and ate heartily. Neither asked for whisky or stimulants and none were given. After breakfast a barber was brought into the jail and Mathis was shaved and dressed for his burial. While being shaved he gave the details of a murder committed by Whit, Brice and Chas Owens, 10 years ago. Mathis said the negro was killed by the Owens boys for insulting Whit Owens’ family, and that while Brice and Chas Owens held the negro against a tree, Whit cut his throat. Mathis expressed himself as being willing to die, and glad that his suspense would be soon over. His wife and little son visited him in his cell, and remained with him until he was carried out to the wagon to be taken to the gallows. Rev. N.W. P. Bacon visited Mathis Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning praying with him, and striving to direct his attention and thoughts for the death. Mathis listened respectfully, but to the last protested his innocence and seemed utterly blind to the fact that he was as guilty of the Montgomerys as Lester, although he did not fire the fatal shots. Both Mathis and Lester talked freely to their guards on the way to the gallows. The wagon in which the criminals were carried left the jail at 11:45. They arrived at the gallows at 12:25. The progress to the gallows was slow, owing to the rough road and the immense crowd. Sheriff Harkins, Jailor Ragland, Deputy Ramey, Marshal Temple, Rev. Mr. Bacon, and Rev. A. Williams, colored, accompanied Mathis and Lester on the gallows. Prayer was offered by Mr. Bacon and Rev. Williams. Both Mathis and Lester talked freely. Mathis stated that he had told the truth in the courtroom and that a repetition would be useless. He asserted that Bill Jackson had nothing to do with the killing. He said that many things had been told about him that were not so and that he was innocent of the crime for which he was to be hung. Before the black cap was adjusted, Mathis thanked the officials for their many kindnesses and favors and shook hands with Dave Rogers, with whom he had been at enmity for several years. He also praised District Attorney W. A. Roane for his fairness throughout the trial. Lester stated that he fired the shots that killed the Montgomerys, but was forced to do it by Owens and Mathis, and that Bill Jackson had nothing to do with it, and Mrs. Mathis begged them not to kill the men. Mathis was nervous, but kept himself well under control. Lester was stolidly indifferent throughout. Mathis’ last words were to a friend, advising him not to drink or keep bad company. The black cap was adjusted over the head and face of Lester at 12:47, Mathis talked two minutes longer, and had the cap placed on at 12:49. Sheriff Harkins sprung the trap at 12:50. Both died hard, and showed convulsive movements for ten or fifteen minutes after the trap was sprung. Drs. Wilkins and Chandler pronounced life extinct in the body of Mathis at 1:14 and in Lester at 1:14 12. The bodies were cut down at 1:27, and turned over to the relatives of the deceased. The remains of both Mathis and Lester will be interred today near their former homes — Mathis in Chickasaw County, and Lester at Cornish, this county. This ends the tragedy which for almost a year has been partially avenged. Yesterday morning Jailor Ragland was handed the following notes by the guards on watch.
ORLANDO LESTER. In the cavity of the iron posts of Mathis’ bed was found two letters from Whit Owens, which we give below, and which cast still a deeper stain upon the besmirched character of that voter an transgressor — the author. These notes were written several months ago.
TOLD MATHIS TO SUICIDE.
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