Murder of Haggerty and Hanging of Davidson
An unprovoked murder occurred at a picnic on September 21, 1878, a few miles northwest of Warrensburg, Missouri at Columbus, Missouri. A young, single man named Frank Davidson had been drinking throughout the day, and he became very intoxicated and quarrelsome. About five or six p.m., he got into an argument with William Haggerty, a married man who, at 23 or 24 years of age, was about the same age as Davidson. The drunken man ended up drawing his navy revolver and shooting Haggerty. Before the victim fell, Davidson fired a couple of more bullets into his body, and Haggery was dead almost by the time he hit the ground. In the immediate wake of the murder, a report in the St. Louis Globe Democrat conjectured, "It is supposed that jealousy was the cause of the deed, as no other reason can be assigned."
What information the Globe Democrat had to go on in order to draw such a conclusion is not known, but the newspaper's speculation turned out to be right.
After shooting Haggerty, Davidson became frantic as several other men tried to apprehend him. He exchanged errant fire with one man and took a shot at a second man that also missed its mark before the men were able to close in, overpower him, and disarm him. He was taken into Warrensburg and placed in the Johnson County Jail. In the aftermath of his arrest, a dubious report circulated that he was a desperado who had recently moved to Johnson County from Kansas, where he was implicated in or suspected of other crimes. Sometime after his capture, Davidson was moved to the Pettis County Jail at Sedalia for safekeeping. He was indicted for murder at the December term of Johnson County Criminal Court.
At Davidson's trial in May of 1879, the murdered man's widow, nineteen-year-old Lydia Haggerty, testified that she had known Davidson four or five years, because he used live and work on her father's farm. Lydia had married Haggerty a year or so before he was killed, and they already had a baby at the time of the shooting.
At the fateful picnic, Lydia was helping her husband run a candy stand when Davidson approached near the end of the day and wanted to buy some candy for her. Lydia declined the offer, but he insisted. When she told him not to be spending his money on her, he leaned close to her and whispered that he was going to sleep with her that night.
"I guess not!" she exclaimed.
"By God, I will," he said.
Not unless he was a better man than her man, Lydia told him.
Davidson then wandered off, and Lydia went to her husband, who was standing some distance away, and told him what Davidson had said. Haggerty demanded to know where Davidson was, but Lydia said she didn't know. Haggerty went looking for Davidson and couldn't find him at first but then happened to meet him not far from the candy stand as he (Haggerty) was going to see about his horse, which had gotten loose. Lydia saw the two men arguing and saw Davidson pull out his pistol and start shooting at her husband, who was unarmed.
Davidson, who had known and been friends with Haggerty as well as Lydia before the couple was married, testified in his own defense. His testimony largely coincided with Lydia's, even admitting that he'd told her he was planning to sleep with her. Despite this admission, when Haggerty confronted him and demanded an apology, he told the other man that he did not realize he had insulted his wife. Haggerty starting pulling up his sleeves as if to fight and demanded that Davidson take back what he'd said or else he'd "beat his damned head off." Davidson pulled out his revolver, waved it over his head, and told Haggerty to go away or he'd shoot him. A man named Queener grabbed hold of Davidson's arm, but when Haggerty made some other angry remark, Davidson jerked away and shot him.
Davidson was convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to hang on July 9, 1879. His father gathered the signatures of a large number of citizens petitioning the governor for clemency, but to no avail. The state supreme court also refused to grant a new trial. "Well, I'm not the first man ever hung," young Davidson said when given the news.
On June 14, the condemned man was baptized by the Rev. Isham Tanner, the man on whose farm he had been living and working at the time of the crime. Then, on July 9, the execution was carried out as scheduled before an estimated 10,000 people. Drawn by a morbid curiosity, they thronged to a site just outside Warrensburg, where a scaffold had been erected. and they took up positions on the surrounding hills as though for a picnic until the grounds were blanketed by a sea of humanity. Shortly before noon, Davidson was led up the steps of the scaffold. After a brief Bible reading and sermon by the condemned man's spiritual adviser, Davidson was led to the trap. The lever was sprung at exactly 12:00 o'clock, and Davidson fell through the trap into eternity.
ST. LOUIS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1879.
Last Edition
THE DEATH DROP.
Frank Davidson Hanged at Warrensburg, Mo.
Ten Thousand People Witness the Execution.
The Doomed Man Meets His Fate Calmly.
His Parting Words a Warning to Young Men to Let Whisky Alone.
History of the Crime for Which Davidson Died.
Special to the Post-Dispatch. Warrensburg, Mo., July 9.
This place is thronged with a seething, sweating mass of humanity this morning and thousands of people are pouring into the town from every direction, called here by a morbid curiosity to see a fellow-being launched from time into eternity. Frank Davidson watched the rising of the sun today for the last time, and as it gains the zenith of the heavens his soul will go into the presence of Him who judges both the just and the unjust. God in his holy book says "no murderer can enter the kingdom of heaven, "and yet Davidson goes into the presence of Almighty God feeling that even as the thief on the cross was saved, so even at this last moment the blood of Christ Jesus is all-powerful to wash white the guilty soul.
DAVIDSON'S LAST BREAKFAST.
Your reporter was the only one who succeeded in giving any notice from the prisoner. Your representative ate with him his last breakfast, and sad indeed it was. Davidson ate nothing and drank five swallows of coffee. However, he exhibited no degree of fear, and although the lines of his face were drawn in such a manner as to denote the fearfulness of his mental agonies, yet his hand as it raised the cup to his mouth was undisturbed by even a tremor.
HE RECEIVES HOLY COMMUNION.
Promptly at 9 o'clock Rev. Foy, of this city, and Rev. Shockley, of Sedalia, administered to the prisoner the holy communion, and Davidson seemed to feel most keenly the solemnity of the occasion.
A PARTING WARNING. In conversation with your reporter, Davidson Davidson wished to have it said that he forgives all his enemies and goes to his death in the full hope of a blessed immortality. And, as a voice from the grave, he says to all young men: "'Shun whiskey as you would the devil, for this is what has brought me hereto-day." The prisoner has spent most of his time this morning in nervously walking the floor, and seems to be struggling hard to gain full control of himself ere the hour of his demise shall draw near.
THE SCAFFOLD upon which Davidson was executed is the same one used at Daniels' execution, including including the rope and cap. It was erected within thirty feet of the spot on which it stood at that time and was on grounds belonging to the county, just outside of the corporate limits north of the town. Long before the hour for the execution arrived the hills surrounding the gallows were covered with people. At 11:03 Deputy Sheriff Emmerson left the hotel with the prisoner, who was accompanied by Rev. R. M. Shockley, of Sedalia, his spiritual adviser, adviser, and Rev. J. E. Sharp, of Warrensburg. The carriage arrived at the scaffold at 11:30, and
THE CLOSING EXERCISE took place immediately. Rev. J. M. Shockley, of the Presbyterian Church, of Sedalia, read from the second chapter of Hebrews, 14th to 18th verses, and from Revelations, 22d chapter, 1st to 7th and 17th verses, after which an eloquent and affecting prayer was offered by Rev. J. E. Sharp, of Warrensburg. After prayer Rev. Mr. Sharp made a few appropriate remarks, warning the young to profit by the terrible scene which they witnessed to-day. to-day. to-day. Rev. Mr. Shockley then delivered a brief exhortation in an eloquent and affecting manner. At a minute before 12 o'clock, Davidson
STEPPED ON THE FATAL TRAP. His arms and legs were tied, the rope was adjusted with the knot under his left ear, the black cap was placed over his face, he shook hands with the attendants, and with the exclamation exclamation "Goodbye to everybody" he shook hands with Sheriff Emmerson.
STEPPED ON THE FATAL TRAP. His arms and legs were tied, the rope was adjusted with the knot under his left ear, the black cap was placed over his face, he shook hands with the attendants, and with the exclamation exclamation "Goodbye to everybody" he shook hands with Sheriff Emmerson.
DAVIDSON'S DEATH. At exactly 12 o'clock the blow was given that sprung the trap and Frank Davidson was launched into eternity. As Davidson fell through the trap a suppressed groan went up from portions of the vast throng and the exclamation "POOR FRANK," accompanied by sobs from several women, was heard. For a moment the crowd surged towards the line of guards around the scaffold, scaffold, but at a word from the guards, the crowd became quiet and began to disperse in a most orderly manner. The doomed man
DIED ALMOST WITHOUT A STRUGGLE.
For the first few minutes, a slight tremor of his frame could be noticed. During the first minute, the number of pulsations was 40; the second minute, 96; the fourth minute, 88; the eighth minute, 108. After the ninth minute, his pulse was very feeble, and at the end of the twelfth
HE WAS PRONOUNCED BEAD by the physician, and at the end of twenty minutes, the body was cut down and placed in a coffin prepared for it.
VIEWING THE BODY. The lid was placed on the coffin, and those who desired to take a last look at the unfortunate man were permitted to pass by the coffin and do so. A great number of people availed themselves of this opportunity, and the crowd was fifteen or twenty minutes passing the coffin. A HANDSOME BOUQUET, the gift of Mrs. C. A. Middleton and Mrs. Joseph Laupheimer. was sent to Davidson this morning. He carried it to the scaffold, only letting it go out of his hands when about to have his arms pinioned. It was UloVes his corr.n alter he was placed 1 ms Di ctate ru c NT. dying ment was prepared by Rev. I. L. Tanner, of Knob Noster. whose many kind offices had endeared him to the unfortunate man. It was his intention to have it read at the scaffold, but owing to its great length the reading was omitted.
HIS LETTER TO HIS FATHER. At Davidson's request, his attorney, Mr. Logan. indited a letter to Davidson's father, as follows: Warrensburg, Mo., Julv 9, 1879. Dear Father It in now nearly the hour for my death. I have asked Mr. Logan to pen my last words to you and the family. Dear father, accept my hearty thanks to you for the assistance you have rendered me in the terrible ordeal I have passed through. Dear father, I have caused you many a heartache by this bad act of mine, but while I can not atone to you for this great wrong of my life, yet I have asked, and, I trust, have obtained forgiveness from the great Kingdom of the world. I have honestly and earnestly besought his favor, I felt that I am forgiven. To father, mother, brothers, and sisters and to all my kind friends, I bid farewell, hoping to meet you all in heaven. May God bless each of you is my dying prayer. - Your wayward son. Frank Davidson.
During Davidson's last hours he was the recipient of many kindnesses and attentions from many who were entire strangers to him. He expressed the most affectionate regard for Sheriff Emmerson and his deputies, and he had a kind word for all who called to see him. Before the final hour approached he became PERFECTLY RESIGNED. to his fate, and never did any man face death with a grander courage" than was shown by this poor boy. There was nothing of bravado about it, but simply a wonderful exercise of will and a resolution to die like a man. There is no doubt but that he was nerved to meet his fate so bravely by bis faith in the doctrines cf Christianity.and his belief that he had been converted and would be finally saved.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT. Your reporter has taken the pains to learn the sentiment of the people here, and especially of the r neighborhood in which Davidson and, Haggerty lived, and, strange to say, there was a wonderful unanimity of sentiment in favor of a commutation of sentence. His best friends were those who knew him best, and there is an almost universal expression of regret at his terrible fate. Davidson's Crime The crime for which Frank Davidson paid the penalty with his life was committed at a picnic and platform dance held six miles north of Warrensburg, on the 21st of last September. It is not known that there was any grudge existing between Davidson and Haggerty before the fatal occurrence which resulted in the killing of the latter by the former. On the contrary, they had apparently been the best of friends. Haggerty and his wife were both at the picnic, and Davidson was on friendly terms with both. A short time after the dancing began a number of the young men present made up a pony purse and sent Davidson to Warrensburg for a half-gallon of alcohol, which he bought and took back to the picnic grounds. The alcohol was diluted with water, and Davidson and the others drank very freely of it getting quite drunk. Everything passed off quietly, notwithstanding this, until about half an hour before sunset, when Davidson approached Mrs. Haggerty and made an improper proposal, which " she resented. A few minutes after Davidson left she told her husband what Davidson said to her. At this Haggerty became enraged and started towards Davidson saying: "By God, I'm going to have this thing settled." A few angry words passed between them when Davidson drew his revolver and fired three shots, the first taking effect in Haggerty's right side, and the other two striking him in the back, either of which alone would have proved fatal. He lived but a few minutes. HIS ARREST. After the shooting Davidson attempted to reach his horse and make his escape but was arrested and detained by Haggerty's friends, brought to Warrensburg and placed in the hands of Sheriff Emmerson. He was still very drunk when brought to town and did not seem to realize that he had done anything wrong.
HIS LETTER TO HIS FATHER. At Davidson's request, his attorney, Mr. Logan. indited a letter to Davidson's father, as follows: Warrensburg, Mo., Julv 9, 1879. Dear Father It in now nearly the hour for my death. I have asked Mr. Logan to pen my last words to you and the family. Dear father, accept my hearty thanks to you for the assistance you have rendered me in the terrible ordeal I have passed through. Dear father, I have caused you many a heartache by this bad act of mine, but while I can not atone to you for this great wrong of my life, yet I have asked, and, I trust, have obtained forgiveness from the great Kingdom of the world. I have honestly and earnestly besought his favor, I felt that I am forgiven. To father, mother, brothers, and sisters and to all my kind friends, I bid farewell, hoping to meet you all in heaven. May God bless each of you is my dying prayer. - Your wayward son. Frank Davidson.
During Davidson's last hours he was the recipient of many kindnesses and attentions from many who were entire strangers to him. He expressed the most affectionate regard for Sheriff Emmerson and his deputies, and he had a kind word for all who called to see him. Before the final hour approached he became PERFECTLY RESIGNED. to his fate, and never did any man face death with a grander courage" than was shown by this poor boy. There was nothing of bravado about it, but simply a wonderful exercise of will and a resolution to die like a man. There is no doubt but that he was nerved to meet his fate so bravely by bis faith in the doctrines cf Christianity.and his belief that he had been converted and would be finally saved.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT. Your reporter has taken the pains to learn the sentiment of the people here, and especially of the r neighborhood in which Davidson and, Haggerty lived, and, strange to say, there was a wonderful unanimity of sentiment in favor of a commutation of sentence. His best friends were those who knew him best, and there is an almost universal expression of regret at his terrible fate. Davidson's Crime The crime for which Frank Davidson paid the penalty with his life was committed at a picnic and platform dance held six miles north of Warrensburg, on the 21st of last September. It is not known that there was any grudge existing between Davidson and Haggerty before the fatal occurrence which resulted in the killing of the latter by the former. On the contrary, they had apparently been the best of friends. Haggerty and his wife were both at the picnic, and Davidson was on friendly terms with both. A short time after the dancing began a number of the young men present made up a pony purse and sent Davidson to Warrensburg for a half-gallon of alcohol, which he bought and took back to the picnic grounds. The alcohol was diluted with water, and Davidson and the others drank very freely of it getting quite drunk. Everything passed off quietly, notwithstanding this, until about half an hour before sunset, when Davidson approached Mrs. Haggerty and made an improper proposal, which " she resented. A few minutes after Davidson left she told her husband what Davidson said to her. At this Haggerty became enraged and started towards Davidson saying: "By God, I'm going to have this thing settled." A few angry words passed between them when Davidson drew his revolver and fired three shots, the first taking effect in Haggerty's right side, and the other two striking him in the back, either of which alone would have proved fatal. He lived but a few minutes. HIS ARREST. After the shooting Davidson attempted to reach his horse and make his escape but was arrested and detained by Haggerty's friends, brought to Warrensburg and placed in the hands of Sheriff Emmerson. He was still very drunk when brought to town and did not seem to realize that he had done anything wrong.
INDICTED FOR MURDER. The preliminary examination was held before O. D. Hawkins, Justice of the Peace, and Davidson were held to await the action of the grand jury, and an indictment for murder in the first degree was found in the December term of the Johnson County Criminal Court. Davidson employed A. B. Logan, a leading lawyer of this place, to defend him. and an application on the part of the defendant for a continuance until the May term was granted TRIAL AND SENTENCE. At the May term of the Criminal, Court Davidson was put upon his trial, Col. A. W. Rogers, of this place, sitting as a special judge. Davidson had for counsel A. B. Logan and John M. Crutchfield. The State was represented by W. H. Brinker, the Prosecuting Attorney of this county, and Maj. Henry Neill, the latter having been employed by Haggerty's friends to assist Mr. Brinker in the prosecution. The trial lasted five days, and the case was submitted to the jury at 10 o clock p. m. of the huh, who after havins' been out an hour and a half returned a verdict of guilty of murder m the first degree. A motion for a new trial was made and argued and overruled by the court, and he was sentenced to be hanged on Wednesday, July 9. Since his sentence, Davidson has been confined in the Pettis County jail. From the first, he had little hope that his doom would be averted, and for the last few weeks has been preparing for death. About lour weeks ago he professed religion. and the ordinance of baptism was administered by Rev. 1. L. Tanner, a Baptist minister at Knob Noster. who has -labored -labored assiduously to have the sentence of death committed to imprisonment for life. EFFORTS TO SAVE HIS NECK. Rev. Mr. Tanner, circulated and procured hundreds of signers to petitions asking the Governor to commute the sentence. His attorneys, Messrs. Logan and Crutchfield, have labored night and day to save their unfortunate client, getting petitions and letters signed and written by the most prominent and influential citizens, urging the (governor (governor to commute the sentence or grant a respite, respite, all of which were presented to Gov. Phelps yesterday by Mr. Logan, but without avail, ss was shown by the following telegram sent to Sheriff Emmerson by the Governor's Private Secretary yesterday afternoon: Jefferson City, Mo., July 8. 1879. Z. H. Emmerson. Sheriff of Johnson County Application of Frank Davidson for commutation refused. The sentence of the Court will be enforced. R. M. Yost, Private Secretary. When Davidson received the news that there was no hope for him, he broke down for a few minutes, but soon regained his usual composure. He was brought up from Sedalia Sedalia last night, and on his way up appeared to be as cool and unconcerned as anyone in the car. On arriving at Warrensburg he was taken quietly to the Simmons House, where he was guaraea aunng the night.
DAVIDSON'S PREVIOUS HISTORY. Frank Davidson was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1855, and was only twenty-four years old. He grew up, as many others have. without the fostering tender care and teaching of a mother, she having died when he was quite young, he had not the advantages of early education and could neither read nor write. He left Ohio a little more than two years ago. coming to Missouri and the greater part of that time his home had been made in the family of the man he murdered. Up to the time he killed Haggerty, he had not been considered as a bad or desperate character, and it is not probable that he would have shot Haggerty if he had not been under the influence of liquor.
DAVIDSON'S PREVIOUS HISTORY. Frank Davidson was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1855, and was only twenty-four years old. He grew up, as many others have. without the fostering tender care and teaching of a mother, she having died when he was quite young, he had not the advantages of early education and could neither read nor write. He left Ohio a little more than two years ago. coming to Missouri and the greater part of that time his home had been made in the family of the man he murdered. Up to the time he killed Haggerty, he had not been considered as a bad or desperate character, and it is not probable that he would have shot Haggerty if he had not been under the influence of liquor.
WEEKLY BAZOO
TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1879.
VINDICATED!
HANGING OF DAVIDSON, THE MURDERER,
I have at least no fears of death. R Will you make a speech on the scaffold? D No, sir; my lawyers know pretty much all I want to say. R Have you decided yet as to what minister you will have to attend you on the scaffold? D No, sir. R Were you ever in any serious scrape before the killing of Haggerty? I) No, sir; that was my first offense. R It is not now your intention to say anything whatever on the scaffold? D No, sir; I have nothing to say. R I hope you have lost all your harsh feeling toward the newspaper men. D I never had any, only some of them have not treated me right. I do not think I had a fair trial. Had I Been rich I could easily have gotten over this trouble, but as it is I am in the fix I am now. Here the clean clothes of the prisoner were brought in, and he had to dress himself preparatory to receiving the last visit of those kind ladies who have been unselfish in their attendance upon him throughout the time he has been in jail at Sedalia, and the reporter withdrew. The prisoner will be dressed in a black cloth coat, white vest, white shirt, black pants, white socks, cloth slippers, and a Mack hat. He will he closely shaved and have his hair cut, will wear a white paier collar, but no necktie of any kind. Altogether his appearance will be very nice. He conversed freely with the reporter on all topics except law, justice, and newspapers. On these, he bad nothing to say and he answered questions in mono syallables. It is hoped he will change his mind between this and the hour of execution and unburden his soul and acknowledge his guilt on the scaffold.
A. B. Logan Interviews Governor Governor Phelps. . Special Telegram to the Evening Bazoo. Jefferson City, July 8, 3 p. m. A. B. Logan attorney of Davidson has just returned from the Mansion, where he had a long conference with Governor Phelps. After presenting bbbbbv 3 -aaaaaW all the papers in the cue early in j The Governor will not give any indication as to what he intends to do, and so Logan left. The general impression prevails here that the Governor will not interfere interfere with the execution of the sentence tomorrow. LATKK. The' Governor declines to interfere. Davidson is doomed. As indicated in yesterday's Bazoo, Sheriff Emerson, of Johnson county, having in charge the condemned man, w-i , -v i ,-.. - -1 . r- , r 1 1? rank iMvidson, leiiinejju :a .:i. for the cars, accomdanied by Sherill Murray and a sufficient numlier of deputies to safely guard the prisoner. AT Tin: TKA1X, a large crowd of people was in attendance attendance to take a look at the man who was about to give up his life on the scaffold to satisfy the mandates of the law. ins pints'. Davidson appeared at the Union Depot dressed in black pants, white vest white shirt, white necktie, black felt hat and iu bis shirt sleeves, carrying carrying his coat on his arm smoking a cigar. He spoke courteously to many people that he met. Finally the train pulled out for the west, Warrensburg and death.
FROM THE COVKKXOK. The train which carried Davidson away, brought in A. H. Logan. Davidson's Davidson's attorney, and llev. K. Tanner. Davidson spiritual adviser, lwdh of whom had been In Jefferson City laying siege to the (Jovernor to commute the sentence or nvpile hiui for a brief R'riod. When those gentlemen left Jeffer son the Clovernor had not indicated to them what course he would pursue and not until their arrival heie, did they learn what his decision was, and then they first, learned through the coin ms of the Bazoo, which hud been informed b sjecial telegram from Jefferson ('it v. KKV. TAX.NKi: is a preacher of the gospel. His efforts in lehalf of Davidson, so far as humanity is concerned, are com mendable. Mr. Tanner says there is a conflict of the laws of (Jod and man and he is opposed to capital punish ment thinks Davidson was not alto gether to blame for killing Haggerty was under excitement, in liquor and should not le bung. This is Elder Tanner's idea. The Bazoo "ives it for what it for what it is worth. THE Tiiir. Davidson conversed freely with the people around him on the trip to Warrenslmrg. He smoked his cigar k'ontiuuallv and razed out of the car window very complacently on lieaufi ful nature, the growing crops and the last sunset on earth for him. Large crowds of people were at the stations. As the train stopped they peered through the open window aud asked: "Where is be?" "Is that him?" And so on. When he was pointed out they would say : "He is not a bad looking man.'" How young he is!" while another said, who mistook A. B. Logan for the prisoner : "Oh ! ain't he got a bad eye ?" and another said, "yes, that countenance of his would hang him in any community." AT WARRENSKURtt a large and appreciative audience greeted the train and its load. Sheriff Emmersoii was handed the following telegram from Governor Phelps' Private Secretary, R. M. Yost Esq., Jefferson Cit July 8. Z. H. Emmerson, Sheriff : The application of Frank Davidson ; for commutation of sentence was refused. The sentence of the court will be enforced. R. M. Yost, Private Secretary. The prisoner was escorted to the Simmons House, where rooms had been engaged for him and the Sheriffs guard. HIS LAST SUITER. Davidson soon went to the supper table and ate very hearty of beaf-steak, beaf-steak, potatoes, toast, griddle cakes, berries and coffee, after which he returned to his room. RKMUIOUS. Rev. J. E. Sharp, a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, called and was admitted to the room, having lieeu sent for by Davidson, who told the Reverend gentleman that be was ready to die, and felt fully satisfied that he would go to glory and to the bosom of Jesus. ARRIVALS. The outskirts of Warrenslmrg was i:ni ..:i. , : .. ing until to-day, hundreds of people ' who desired to witness the execution to-day. A wagon load of young men arrived just at night, having left Clinton at 2 o'clock yesterday evening. They registered at the Eads House as followsfrom Clinton : E. T. Middlecoff, Doug Brannmn, C.-V. Williams, John A. Quarles, and Dr. M. Symon. HIS LAST XKJHT. The prisoner slept none until five o'clock this morning. At that time . he laid down ami slept until near 7 o'clock. ThruiiL'hmii the night he hroughout the night juiced the floor incessantly. At times he was gloomy and appeared heart-hrokeo heart-hrokeo ; again be would be iu a jolly good humor and crack jokes with the guards and reporters. When the subject subject was broached be would talk for a moment, and then skillfully turn Uie conversation into a different channel, Once or twice be laid down during the night, but .slept but little, if any. He was guarded by Deputien! lolni Emerson and Wm. Nelson, but was not. tied or shackled from tin time be left Sedalia until convey. to the gallows. He ate a very light break fast. When first c:nveyed to the hotel, from the train, lie reipiested the Shrriil to stnd his c.irM't Kick and cloljii r ,,, his latwr. .Sberilf j yAxXii mcrson remained with the prisoner all night. tiik moknixi; was clear and warm. By sunrise people people !egaii to arrive in buirgies, wagons and on horseback, from all directions, Davidson walked bis room with long, nervous strides, aud manifested the greatest anxiety. About 7 o'clock he was taken to the barliershop of Wiu. Scrling where he was shaved ami his hair cut. He was then taken back to the Simmons House. A numlier of young Indites from the Blevins tieigh-liorhood tieigh-liorhood visited him about II a. iu. They were old acquaintances and Davidson Davidson appeared deeply moved. I HUTU WAItlCAXT. Just before leavinir the hotel the Sheriff read the warrant : following death l!:.Tll WARRANT. STATIC M .MISSnl'ltl. l tuiMi ir .I..nxi. j " TiitSU t, ..f M,x.4ft. ..-'.S'Ari.Jf t.JJi.ha Wilt ci. t. 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I li:ll. :m.t :il-. .ih . r-.tul .-l.-ii.l:ilil, l.y :iliini-y. :t ur-ll .- in Ins n .it.-V r-Hiu. l-tii!; in iIm'-ii-Ih1 a. llii'Mivnti. tli.'ll-ll.II II 1- l. I hf '.III ( It lllUlt.lml l linn, llie s:iil Kith 1 1; I.n.t-..n. m ii-j-n t..iut. il Uf kiiitui-lli r lt.-itlt aiittltiiilur-tli-T ! :iy in llie .iriiii--, why U- lirl -llllt. Hot IIMU' .la--l ! i .. -- I.-im-' iim.ii :in. :i..-iiu- liim, id.' --ii.l Km nl; luii.-u. :m-.-..i.Iiii i Hi.- -r.li.-l l tli. ury r'n.-r-l Ik-i.-iii. ii.t t i.t.l-r tin il.iu.l-.'iii'-iii li.-r.-in. :ui.l tlf aul Krnk tiiil-oii ii. .tiling (in I li.-r -ciyellt, liiil.- il l- ax In- In?. Ii-r--lrt. ?ii.l, nml tli.'i-liH.i :i :iih1 Mii.;iil:trlli--lii.-tlU-i :tn.l llnii'i li.-r.-in, la-iii'; ly I h.-.11 rt lullyom-M.li-re.1 :u l lully iiiHl-rix-.l, it i by I It.-kiiii It.-kiiii ..l-ni, -.ljii.l-.l -tn.l a-;n--r lliat li ill.-r.itil Kmi.l; Ifctii.l.-iin, is jiiiliv ! iiiinl-r 111 III.' tir-t !ie'. a.i-oiiliii-i lit i!i' vT.Ih'i !" i!-jury, ami i Iwn iy x-u- t-tl.--.l In ! IlMll.il liV the lnt'k lllilil in l'l.-:i.,:ili. llmt ti- l- hum- taken ti III j-tll I rom ultfiHflx -iln.', :iu.l llii-r-'il-ly k.-j .1 until Wflii-'-Ml.-ty, ih. lay of July, A. I). Ifu'J, mIihi fi -liall l- t:tkcii front ihvii-f tn Jin .l ic ( x--iiliii hy tliSlt'litt ! lli.'founly 1 Ji.liii-oi) 111 lti-S!:t:i lti-S!:t:i of .Ml. iuri, :inl oil muI '.'tit f Jul), lKT'.t. liim, tin- .-:ii.l Km 11k IUviilsiii. lmll, l.y -:inl Slifritt, U li:in.-l tiy tin n-k iin- tll ll U almtl. Saw tlii- a iv, tli-r'lin-t tit ciiiiutil you. tin- Kii.l Sli-'rilt. llial )u tak tin kihI Kruitk 1ivi.-oii from tit- jail uliorv lio l.-liou 'iiitin-l :ti:.l on V-lii.-l.-y, tit '.11I1 il.tr July, 1K7:', in tlu i-oiufty of Jilinx".i nn. I :t:ilr. oi Mi-4.iirj, liun.llie :ii.i Knuil; l.ii-l.u, you Iianl.y tlia-invk until In UmIiuI. An! lui-you iltii! writ :it I Ik ttext m;-Ju.-ir tvniMil ilii! i'oiiri niilvrtify tlitTou li :i nil 111 nh.-it iiirtniK-r nu-t lunii you h:i' .t- lllil Slit tlli-. lii testimony wli-r-of I, H. S. W"ithT-.-hm.ii, i-Ii-rl; oi ilit Ciii-iiil Court nit.I x-ottii-io l'ik of tin Criiiun:tl Court within nii.l i..r-aiil coiini v, liu litr inilo -t my haml :.iii attixiil l"ln'M:il of kiiiI court, at olli.-t' iu U'urrt-ii-liirj, ttiit tli--Mixta ot Jul A. I. l-7:i. Ifiut J U.S. WITHElKItM.N. Cl.lk. TO THE GALLOWS. At 11:10 the procesiou started to the gallows escorted iu a hollow square formed by the Hulden Guards led by Captain C W. Smith. It was a long. tedious tramp over a dusty roail iu the burning rays of a July sun. The prisoner and guard rode in a closed carrjage. On the arrival of the carriage at the gallows the con demned man stepped briskly up the steps and took a seat on the scaffold urrounded by guards and spiritual ad visers. He had in bis hand a beautiful bouquet bearing the cards of Mrs. J. Laupheimer aud Mrs. C. A. Middle- ton. RKLICIOKS SERVICES. Rev. Siiockley, of Sedalia, read from the second chapter nf Hebrew, 14th verse , first chapter of Grst John and the twenty-second chapter of Iteveht-i lions. Elder Foy offered up a prayer, everybody on the scaffold kneeling except except one" guard.
PRAYER.
He implored the Great Father to remeiuber the man now bowed before the throne who was about to be usher ed into His presence. May he be smiled upon by tli2 Great God who reigns in heaven above. He prayed for all the young and old to profit by the example made by the law to-day. May every household in the land lie snared Ibis affliction. Elder Foy then said about as follows Fellow Citizen : This is the saddest .t i. i. .ii . iie uwirau ever ue ueneiu uv me hye. This is a day freighted with important lessons. Let us with becoming concern turn our attention to seeing that hereafter the laws are obeyed and enforced. Let us seek and determine to confirm ta the laws 6f the land, and laws of God.. Many tender hearts are beating today today for this poor young man who is condemned to die, who God in his infinite infinite wisdom says shall not live, shall die for bis crimes. Let this be a lasting warning to all young men who are tempted to eri (Juard them watt crime and to vice. atcb them in every J couimunity and tee that they do tint' co the way ibis voung man U about " to start i:kv. siiockley Kiitl that be bad liveil for half a century, and for the find time in bis life was heat such a place a he . found bimif to-dav on the scaffold with a ielliiwuiaii who wax to die for bis cirmes, and lie .lmtild not have Uen here today bad it md !hiii that he was rcquf-'tcd to be there by the mail who i.i abnul lo die. Voting men, you are ex-p-osed to vice; ymi are ixmic1 to the same tempi. it inns uf anient spirit as was tliis man. It is liquor that prcKirtn you for crime which you would avoid by a braining from drinking and druukeiiucss. Go home, fellow-citizens, to day and work for Sunday m:!ioo1 ; gather iu aud sanctify the young, who will grow up in vice if not attended to. FINAL LEAVE. The clergy then bid the prisoner good bye, be shaking them fervently by the baud, lie then shook hamls with one of the guanls, and said : "I will meet you iu heaven lliope I'll get there." His voice trembled visibly and the tears streamed down his cheeks. LAST WIIIRU Sheriff Etumersoii then aked Davidson if he had anything to say. He replied nothing but "good-bye to evcryliody." His legs and arms were then pinioned, the black cap drawn down, aud at 1 l:fi-l Sheriff EuiuierM-n cut the rope aud Davidson -.hot through the trap. HIS iaST I.KTTKK. VHrr. iil.iir-;. M.t , July 1S71. Iikai: Katiiki: : It U mw neaily il liiuir lur my :ul lnlli. I have n-kett Mr. Ian In hii my lal niil In you ami tin-taluilv. tin-taluilv. lK--ir .iliier I linve e:iii--a! vuu ii any a licattaelie liy I I.i" Icitl art nf mine Hut While I .iiniiil niulif In 'n:i lor llil-real llil-real ttnuii nl my lif. yt-l I lisvi- .-i-kt-tl aitil I liu-t litVi-niil-iiueil foiivm Iftiiil the retl l!asli-riii-r il lh wnlhl. I li.ive li..in-i!y :iiil t-jrin-sily l-tvni!lil In' tivnr -iikI ftfl llil 1 tm foi.v-i. T K:illtei, Mnllirr, Kr-ilhrr ami JSi-lri- ami In -ill my kiml trim. I 1 hitl tarewll ; h.iiill In llirrl Villi ull ill IteaVeil. M u tioil lile-i eaeh ol vmi id my living ravt-i Yniir wav.iil "on, Kkank nvin on. A (TRIORS WOMAN. As the body went through the trap a woman in the vast throng of 5.IHH) people proeut keeled over III a soi t ol spasm. She kicked around some bin was soon resu-ejlaled and she looked again at the dangling ImhIv as il twinted round aud round iu space. There were considerable twitching? and shrugs trembling more so than ever the rej-orler saw before of a man hung by the neck. rCLSATIOXS. 1st minute 2d -10 t;o 70 80 9 10S no pulse 108 120 no pulse slight pul.e 3d 4th " 5th " (ib " 7th - 8th Uib 10th 11th 12th 4 ti . cirr ixiwN'. When the body bail been hanging fifteru minutes it was officially announced announced by Dr. Smith, Coroner of Johnson -county, that Davidson was dead, and the rope was cut aud the body placed in a pine coffin, stained, with a glass over the face. XKCIC BROKE. On examination it was announced that Davidson's neck was brokeu. GOING WEST. The body of Davidson will be shipped by Sheriff Emraerson to night to Leavenworth, Kansas, to his father for interment. SUN STROKE. A boy named Halfrey, aged about thirteen years, was overcome with the heat on the execution grounds and for a short time was insensible. He soon recovered and was taken from the grounds. BAZOO SPECIAL NEWS TRAIN left Sedalia at &50 a. m., in charge of that wild conductor. Tornado Jim, ami Kan Brewster on the locomotive. The run was made all right to Warrens burg, arriving at 10:45. Jletiiruiug, left. Warrenslmrg at 1 o'clock promptly, promptly, arriving iu Sedalia at 2:05. No accident occurred to the train or auy of its passengers. SHERIFF EMMERSON managed the sad aud fearful work which be had to perform today with a great deal of judgment and discre tion. His work was well and fearless ly executed. HIS LAST STATEMENT THIS SIDE OK THE GRAVE STATEMENT MADE To ELDER I. E. TANNER. " f have Iteeu for the last nine month immured iu a loathsome jail. the victim of jiassion, aud its twin .sis ter, intemperance anil Uxlay, the 9th day of July, 1879, I have to pas through the rearm I ami tern hie ordeal of dying upon the scalFoId as a public felon, to expiate the crime of murder, aud now, while I stand upon the verge of the Krave, with my coffin in siirbt. which in soon to contain the remains of my weakened.enfeebled and emaciated UhIv, and realizing the fact that my spirit is moo 1 1 to be hurled iuto the presence presence of the great God who gave me birtb aud being, I desire to say before leaving the world, as 1113 last wonls, I forgive all who participated in bringing bringing me to niy nresent condition. ft is true 1 committtd a fearful ami terrible crime, and for which I have underwent the nnwt severe mental an- lruMi such anguish no pen can de scribe or tongue express. Suffice it to my that it ought to prove a terrible warning; to all young men. Yet I think there were circumstances surrounding Uie act which I Deruetrated whie.li should have mitigated the offeuce to i I vour law. pr. ns I Miami to-i lav in 1 1"?!"" S'1.m" . inke tux- Vif Ira tl a liim. ..l..raiil v- ll.-.f I alttl not iit.rt..iii .m iuik.ui.7tcl.n"tim:iril " Hirpriy pri.r to lii. mining at lue in tin thii-alfioii.-iiieiiaein alti tude in wliieli I t:iiiil miller oath 1- fore the jury; that I did md liiM-Rilr-ly, pnuitili'ati'ly, f inaliVi :nl :if tv-tlioiight, tv-tlioiight, in tiild iilmxi takt the Hfi! Will. Haum-rty. I did nut sle:il ii-hii liim in tin uigiit likf a wolf, and Kill liim for bis money a- l;iiii-l- did Miller. Miller. Hilt it wa-i in a liiat.il talef tin IiIhh1, and under riruiiil'ii.-i-?, a 1 I tlioti-'iit thru, and think m yet, was uotliiiur inure tlian tiMleietnl mv own i i.. . ... .i.- i. . . . .... iiai.t , nm:-m-miy , iiniiiv mv inii- illllleilt too .M'Vele; that the nlt'eii-e was not eniiiiiiilti il with licit ilelilx-ni-tioii or preiiuililatiiiii, nr with inaliee :ts will ju.-lily lbs s-ere penally. 1'llt fate, it Mfiii't lias ever ltili my fortune. I have Imi'II re:ireil a Hi-r, Ullillh-:ilel. umlliiTles IhiV ; lieui: priveil of a mother'.- ehnVliaii iu-lliieinv, iu-lliieinv, tmiuiii"; and iii-triietioii .-.ml bavin-' been thrown into a eireie of societv Wlllell li:iMlluUlileilaiil laslilou- I ...I ... . - . iM'Ulllless. UlifortUliate ImV. I feel that ............. i.. i ti i.. . - ii I have Hot hail that mlvalitauc ! Ihe law which 1 boulil ami coulil liave bad btul I been more lavored ill life. Still, I Would not he iiinlersHa.il as cnr-tiii"; relleirtions or eeii-un iiimui anv one. I attribute i' to my uiilortuiie only, ami to the iucouiieleiuvor the law, to mete out the e.a-l ileiuainl-- of jiistnt; toaU men. In relation to the wiuu I would sjiv. I U'lleve I bat ( iiiiKL' Macey is a j;o.- h .y, ami in Uie tear of (oil, statc-l Ihe truth to the l-l 01 bis knowledge and h-lief. Itut I am sorry to. -ay that I here were -oiiie who testilied a-iaiu.-.! me who haveexpreMtl IheiiiM'lvi s to me; they iliil not lelievc there is :i (iini. and all'tbe ialliativcor mitigatm;; eviileuee wereM-t a.-iile ly K'lons who have expresel tliemel-ves tliemel-ves that they did not helieve iu a hereafter. I lid very wrong in e 111-mitting 111-mitting 'he thill ; hut there are some who :issiusl in wearing my life away, stand iu as fe:ir.ul a M.-iiioii or -il-ualioii U'fore their CimI as my .-If. The day Will iiiiiIi- li.-li they Wall li:.Ve lo iue't their (ImI who will il-al out. ju-tiee ju-tiee to all lin-li, however iliU'erelit their nr-sit ions iu life, mentally, morally, or llliaiieiallv. AlaV Im- (ihI, Hie oiiim p-iteiit ruh-rof the univer.-e. thesecueh- er ami kiiowerofall heart, w ill de:il out jut:ee to the kiiion hi-, thr.-ne, :i" Well a to the In-gar 111 his rag-. S.ine who te-ililif-l a-zaiu-t uie ha.i a uiolive in so doing; that motive w ill Ih known in the great day o':ii'-ouiit. As lo .secret., revealed to me by any of Ihe witiiet-s in day. lie hy, I have Iimi much honor toex-io-c 1 1 1111 1 to the woihl. I am willing to let them jia-. llinll;h the World the Im they e:i I deire to h-ave the Unrlil with unkind f-eliu-s toward- imih. Kin I am ready aud williie.' from Ihe tiepth of my ln-arl, to I'.ir-'ivt all who eoii--piril ataiiel uie, ami lv lln-ir ul.-Ilely, ul.-Ilely, iulriiiry aud eoii-piniey have machinated my uiunler and lhe.,:,. ml ion of my l..ly and spiiil. and thai Iimi. in the name of law, which is uolh-11 uolh-11 it; more or le- than a judicial murder. murder. 1 al.-o a-1. C.mI o forgive 1 hem, aud save I hem. In relation . the jurymen who sat iu judt-.uiciit auaiul me, they were leslili-' under the solemn sailcliiv of all oath with as il were, the life of a fellow hilliiail lHiug lllnler the h-illov of their hand, and il is, and must In. preuuiel thai iu an act so i-.rave, mi .-olemii, and fearful, they acted from a .sincere eoti-victiou eoti-victiou of their be:irts. In Ibis, Cod is their jmlm. I do not see liovv they could liuil llie ililiiN-cut, neither do I si-e how they could have found me uuilly of murder iu the first degree. I know j that it is an admitted fact in all courts. thai no man is admitted to he a proper judge iu bis own case, lint iu this act I cannot tlunk.I forfeited my right to live. I freely and frankly confess that I committed the act, ami for which, iu thecyo of human legislation, 1 deserve seven punishment. Hut 1 feel that my punishment is too seven, ltut I will have to Imw to the stern, severe demands of the human couecptinii, whether pro'ver or ini-pnM-r, right or wnii"r. in the interpn-tatiou interpn-tatiou of the law, justice and state exiHilieiiey, and allow the executioner to exact my life to expiate or .-atisfy the demands of human legislation, the tendency of which is to Icirharism i tm the human mind conceive of a more inhuman, unchristian, barbanms act than to take a fellow-human being, tie him like a U-astor brute, aud calmly, calmly, coolly aud deliberately exact bis life liy swinging him lietween the heaven aiid earth. Ill relation to the newspapers, I would say, to my mind they have done uie great injustice, lo this hniad dec laratiou, there were some exceptions. All the uewsiKiiierscommeutiu-'oii my case, excepting the Sedalia Democrat, served as an imixirtant lacior 111 on Hir ing me to my deplorahle condition, first in iiniudicinir the muni or llie ihooi against me, and second, in using their inllueiice in causing the governor to become more fixed 111 his iHiritoses. The Ti nn-Jon rnnl iu iiarticiilur, was more tenacious ami vitiieRitivu in its n-pnsciitatious than any other itajier iu the State. It did not seem to he satisfied with publishing the facts in the case, and iiublisbiu-r me as a red. high-handed munlerer ; hut got outside of truth and published an unmitigated falsehood, iu that I was " fading novels." novels." A ucwsiiapcr that litis no more n-anl for its own integrity and credibility, credibility, is unworthy the rcsject and liatroiiage of resjiectahle bouonible cit-zens. cit-zens. I will say iu relation to those having charge of me during my confinement, confinement, I was treated as well as could lie extiected under the surrounding conditions of jail life. To Mrs. Murray, of Sedalia, I owe a debt of graditude for her kindness to me during imprisonment, and especially especially after my trial and condemnation, fir her christian advice, advising me to preKin for eternity. She told my spiritual adviser that I bad acted as gentlemanly in ever resieet as any prisoner ever confined in the jail; that she U'leivcd I was honest and truthful. Such language, if I do say so myself, is true. I have been Mor all my life, having to labor with my band's fora living; but I have ever tried to make an honest, industrious life. It is trucI have like all olheriocli, my defects and imtcrfcctioiis. I have done a great lualiv things I ought not have done; hut where is a man who bus not done wrong? -How many men all over the suite or Missouri ami the United .States who have committed greater deeds of violence aud bloodshed than myself, who are looked uixni as Hrsl--cla,ss members of society iu couseUeiice of their (rosition tinaueialiy. Let those without sin cast the first stone, Oh ! for a spirit aud heart of Siiakcsjtcare that can look at man as be is. and not have all good in one. man and all bad in another; but that all men are human. aud are liable iu the. heart of tassioii, ami 111 an uiiguanieti moment, 10 com mit an act that will haunt them to the grave; that will stink like an adder and bite like a serpent. 1 can only say I leel graleliil lo .Mrs Allirrav tor giv-IComlmlnlim giv-IComlmlnlim CUirJ IKij- Centaur Sur ant -there e. relief, nie elforta ..f the Son-., and laani-hmt Khriimafi-m. te little la-t than rem-- 'le. eer prtaliM-r.1. N. Y. TriMu-r Tlterr ill m.teure-no eaeof l.-ni; -LmhIiiij- KlM iimali-m. Tl Willie:-, for Eftttitljr ile atvl Uk Tielloa lor aiiiiu-il Centaur Kreeipl lt.a.k ; it n.niatu- tlie l--timot-tal- any resnrdy, it ill nt yon rtti. Tin Crutaur Our In.llar l-rr l-oftle. THE CKNTAUK Castoria is
pt2_hanging_of_frank_davidson
VINDICATED ! lOmdnded from. Second Pagt ing me the credit and praise which she thought due me. sue is wormy oi a different Htatioii in life. However, niay her journey through life lead to heawir, her home and happiness gar land her natli to the tiMiih. In n-latiuii to limit- y.-u-h. KiiMTxn, I uill'st.-ite that I kiii vrrv thankful to Iiiiii ir lux kiiicIiiwh Ui Uf. In n'btiou loan-mark mauV to me ty imii. I took it ax a ioke oulv. I will sav to liim inot u ciiMire iiMtn liti.iih-H for tli!. remark. I l-lle-lltm to tieaii exinrllt'lii. g04Ni 111:111, .-iiki lfrr- ii1 might to till ait1-rent mrhelii the tf mplf f liiuiiaiiit y. 1 too H1 u man l till :i (HiMtioii i iave; ftartiil. reKiiaiM aiul wol mil :i Itml ol an fSviitioii-r to ::l Iiti-; lur itiilo.-oliy h fll ivligioii t-'lM" it- thai to eoii'juer :tn ii-iny ih not t work ot sil, ot lam.-", ol" bullets, or Ut of Meet. It i not tli r.vi.-lion of life tor l!f. IiIimmI for IJixni it f ilw biinlinof intir- irii toa tri-uiiiilial tri-uiiiilial tr, to iin-:it-4-rat- tin-in lutoMionu liol.N, r n..I;- tli-iu -iirr-inl-r to -ii-r.r Imiu-iy, liw-r aiul ftrfiitli. To coii.jn-r rut -ii-my i to -ouv.-it liiiu into a fru-il'l. Hou'-r, 1 uoiild t-ay l'ii. l- fetch n no ueiny to nu lut tin- law, ll-Jitnti-ami the i-af.nap-ri are, ami mulct- it hi duty to t-xm-1 my lil. I woiiM say to my altlc coiiiim-I, Mr. I.oan. I tenJ-r to Imn the gratitiulf of tiv li-art for hi 11 1. If .-r-iM-e in tnyca--uith the 1mi of no reward, reward, fui- wliNrJi l"i leervf ytvat credit and. iraiM-. My tongue fail to e:tin-M the fi-olms of my heart. 1 think ho did all lie could under the iirroiiiidiii circumtnnc-!' to a- mv life, hut could not. He eau, uith I'llate, truthfully ay that hi hand are free from my Mood. I ran oulv juiv, may his life be one of pleasantness, aud hi- aUe erlorts ill the future lie crowni-d uith U-t- e- IICCeS!. 1 uould say to the fathers and mothers of tin "Vast multitude, educate your children. Hi w- them au education not. only ititelft-ctitally hut morally uhx-li Mill enlighten their understanding, correct correct tlieir teni-r." fonn the niaiiners and liahit- of youth, and tit them for uoefuluo in their future -tatiou", aud they w ill not be so likely to hnng jour gray hair in sorrow to your graes. as I do inv Nor "old srrav headed lather. I orote-t .-iaiu-t - .- : , ... - .,f ..l..t: 1111131 llllisillllt-lll. mi ill .. iiiiiiiii i (iii-sallle. (iii-sallle. not for my sake, hut for humanity k sake. i-t this jK-ople cou-ider what imtiieu-e stakes -snety has ui the lues of senile :neii. What great interests are nlteu uniiK-d up in the lite i a -ingle ludmduul ! It i- not the interest- of one eitv, one state, r one empire; It is nut ot one age tirVeneration of men, hut the interests of a world and of ages to a-onie that souu liliies providentially providentially hang ujkmi the life of a siile iudi idiial. Ietati oueeoiuersaiit with the history of the world- 'la-t threy .or four centuries, eou-iiler what interest the world had in a lew individuals, tu siu h men as Chri-topher Qoluinhils, .Mai tin l.iulier, Sir Frawis llaron.Sir Imtae Newton. l5-n-l iiiiin Kmiikliti, Koiiert Fulton. and Washiuu- toll. llpM,se any ur all f these men had III Ihe heat or pa-ion .r in an im ynanl-l moment taken the hli-d" their fellow man, -as 1 lia- ih'ltf and their lives lutd hate paid the forfeit of it a- mine thi-day ha to, what would have l-eii the piv.-nt -tall- iiruoiiilllioii ot the uoiJd, ean il forma pn.jrf-r e-timate; ran any on siih-tract fiom x-n-is-e. I'loin ait, or from sueicty, the exacl amount wl'oiir mde htetlne. to any one of th-m, iiiih-h lessIO them all. This is 'why I protest at;aiut capital piiui-hmeiit. I would sav to the Voiiti men of tho State of Missouri, and e-Hvially of Jdiu-oii roiiuty. take wamiu from me and laya-ide your reoli-r-, .-top jour dram drinking, never frequent places iiiiUiroiiiini; iIh: Utility and honor of a eiill-niau; eiill-niau; strive to make useful, intelligent and honorable honorable meinU-rs of society. I say once mon-. I die with ill-will toward none. I forgive all, and hoiie to meet vou all in heaven. Kaieuell to my old nv-heailed Cither, si-lels. hiothers aud li lends. "I am sorrv to hrini; so tuiieh tnmhle upou vou, hut it i- unavoidable now. My praver I- that 30II all live right. precil' to o to a better uoild, where .lili.-- do not icigti supreme and im.uti is no disgrace. l i:NK hAVM-St'N. i'l'ep-ireti at the l.'.l. I ot the lllifortllliate vollllg in-ill to tte lead upon the s-:itlold, as hi- dying Wolds to the x-opl-. I. F. Tasm. Ni I!K.I. Hy se-i:d n-iple-t of the piKoni-r, the almVe -talViiK-iit u:K not lead, ouiiij; to ils extreme lelivlh THE HIsTOKY. lite iteonie of the vieiuitv had :ts- seiuhled iii Saturday. Septemlier 21, 1878, at a grove near the Mason school house, about six miles uorlheasl ot Warreuaburg, Johnson county. Mo., for the purpose of having a picnic. Duriug the forenoon Frank David-sou David-sou aud Hudie Carl tun were in town, when the former purchased teu car fridges for his pistol ami the latter bought a small seven shooter. Thus equipped, the two returned to the picnic picnic grounds. Sometime during the afternoon Davidson was sent on a scout to Warrreusburg for alcohol, "a pouy purse" having been made . up for that purpose. Having procured the alcohol Davidson returned to the picnic grounds. As he neared the ground he beard several parties riding along the road behind him going in the same direction and be stepped into the brush at the road-side and droped the jug. He'then mingled with the crowd,- found his boon companions autl returned to where he had dropped the jug and ALL PARTIES TOOK A DRINK, Davidson with the others. The jug vas left concealed in a hole near the scene of the picnic, where the owners had recourse to it at their pleasure. . Wm. Haggerty, the uufortunate murdered man, in conjunction with others, was runuiug a lemonade and candy stand at the picnic grounds. Davidson went to this stand, made some purchases and made indecent proposals to Mrs. Wm. Haggerty. After he had left the stand Mrs. Haggerty reported the insultiug language language of Davidson to her husband. Haggerty merely asked "where is Da-vidsoa?" Da-vidsoa?" and walked to the dancing stand, but soon returned and ordered a can of oysters for himself aud wife. Shortly af ter this some one reported that Mrs. Haggerty horse was loose, and Haggerty started to catch the horse. Before he got to the horse he met Davidson FACE TO FACE. and steppiag to one side engaged in an animated conversation, Haggerty accused Davidson of insulting his wife aud demanded a retraction. Davidson, Davidson, according to his own statement, demanded, "Do you .mean it, Bill?" drew his revolver, flourished it over his bead and fired it in the air. Wm. Queener took hold of Davidson aud told Haggerty to go waay. This the unfortunate man evidently inleuded to do after telling Davidson to put down his pistol and he would fight him a fair fight, but the WHISKY CRAZED MURDERER pushed Queener to one side, and to use his own language, "he turned. his right side to ne and I shot." Haggerty Haggerty reeled and the murderer fired the second and third shots. After the shooting, and while the life of his victim was ebbing out a crimson tide at the three cruel wouuds, Davidson with his trusty revolver in his hand, made a bold dash for his horse. Bob Blevens and John Shewafler seeing that a bloody murder had been, committed committed attempted to stop the flying , murderer whea he turned upon them with the ferocity of a tiger and fired at his pursuers. Blevens returned the fire once. By this time Davidson had reached his horse and had one haBd on the bridle, when Bob Blevens reached him nd knocked down and captured him. He was brought to WarreBsburg and from here conveyed conveyed to the Sedalia jail for safe keeping. At the December term of 1878, of the Johnson criminal court, be was indicted for murder in the first degree and at the May term, after a Kttion for costiaaaace on the grounds of the prisoaer's feeble health .had bees overruled, be was put on trial. TWK TRIAL. The trial began Wednesday, May 14, and closed Monday sight. May 19. At abeut tea o'clock the case was given to the jury. After being out an hour the jury returned the following verdict : . We. the iury. find the defendant guilty of murder iu the first degree in the manner auu lorm cnargeu in me indictment.'' The jury was a gtod one, consisting! iel Scott aud IL A. Ureedeu. tiif vrrniiVFVs 01 .jos. iu. oeu, itireitiaii; uas. -omi- j v,c. im piMot ijiM. me iiao uougui tleVeloeil III the evidence. Ill your uiiigham, il. W. Thornton, Moses that mornini;. Said that oiue one own evidence vou sav that your Wiueland, W. J. Mayes, Jas. ii ilia- ha.l stolen it or taken it way fnmi MOriiKi: ihku while vou wehe Yin-land. Yin-land. Alex. Better, Geo. Kppnht , him. 1 aked Kiley and Zeke Blevius Jno. N. Wash. J. P. Stewart, Dau-it thev had Hudy'a insttd. Thevsaid amnfant. t w iv. II r .... , ti. ...'...l i.., il... .lf...l.w.i M.,CJ,0,""C mure uiiois iu me way mev were as gHHl as couhl le hatl. A. R lgan and J. M. Crutchfleld, appearing lor'"; U,IU ri-. 1 . I .1 1 r - iuot down 1 nv coutlucteil the deH-n.ce iu , him an able manner, but tin; avalanche nl ( nny was against I hem aud the defense was overwhelmed. Both made a stout fight and eliHiuenl sjeeches for their penniless client. The attorneys for the state were W. li. Brinker and Henry Neill. Their manner of conducting the case met with general approval and ImuIi :tc quitted themselves nobly. They both made able arguments at the close, and tad so managed the case that when it was given the jury it was clear iioth ing short of a verdict of murder iu the first degree could le returned. It is not iiece.ssarv to reproduce all the evi dence lief ore the jury. J he state ments of Mrs. Haggertv, the widow of the murdered man, ami ot David son will 1k sufficient as they cover all the main points in the case. MRS. IIACCKirrY being sworn, testified that she was at the picnic all day. Did not see Davidson Davidson until after dinner: did not sneak to him until the party was about breaking up. Was then stand ing near the candy stand which her husband was tending. Davidson came up to her ami they exchanged salutations. Davidson wantt-d to buy some candy for her. She declined, lie insisted, aud she told him not to le spending his money for her. He then leaned over aud whisjwred that he was GOING TO SLEEP WITH HER that uighl. SHKTOLI HIM SHE GUESSED NOT. He said "Bv CSod. I will." Told him "not unless he was a belter num." He then left the candy stand, going south. Went to her husband ami told him what Davidson had said. Her husband asked "Where is Davidson?" Told him she did not know. He then .started down towards the dancing platform, and soon ret timet 1 ami got some oysters for her aud himself. Just then somebody said her horse was loose, aud her husband started to tie the horse -Before he got to the horse he met Davidson, and they Inilh walked to one side. Could mil hear what they said. Next saw Da-vid.-oo waving his pistol in the air. He fired it once ami then fired at her hiisbnnd. Her husband and David sou were then standing face to face. not more than five or -ix feet apart. Turned her face ami heaid the other shots. SAW IIKK HUSBAND FALL. Went to him. There were others there: thev turned him over. She could not tell whether they took oil bis coat ami vest; knows that he hail his coat on. Saw no weaoiis of any kind that day except Davidson's pistol. pistol. Had known Davidson four or five years. He had lived at her father's liefore she was married. She had lieen married two years coming Christmas. Her husband was 2d years old. FKANK DAVIDSON, the defendant sworn. Was 24 years old the 10th day of October last; was born in Highland county, Ohio. Left there the year after the war; have uo education and could not say when that was. I went to southern Kansas to drive stock. Came to this county six years ago. My father lives in Leavenworth county, Kansas. My mother died wheu I was six or seven years old. My father lived in this county two years. 1 came here in March and worked for West Cox; in May I went to Steve Blevins. I worked four mouths for Green Ma- son. At the time of this difficulty I was working for Isani Tanners. 1 have known Mrs. Haggerty altout five vears. I had been with William Haggerty some time before he was married. I left Tanner's house Friday Friday night before the picnic. Came to Andrew Blevins'; got there after night. Andrew Blevins' wife was there, and Wm. Queener and Andrew Blevins. Andrew Blevins gave me his pistol to take down to be fixed. WE "COMPARED HIS PISTOL WITH VINE to see which was the longest. Did not know of the pic nic at the time. Wouldu't swear whether I said anything anything about breaking up the picnic don't think I did. Staid there about an hour, Staid all night at Uncle Steve Blevins'. Next morning I came down with Hudy Carlton. Went to Barney Blevins' to get some money; did not find any one and came on to town, (iol here about 8 or H o'clock; went to Suow's and got mv boot fixed; did uot remain long in Warrensburg. Handy Carlton bought a revolver. I got a bottle of alcohol and then we went out to the pic-nic; got there near 11 o'clock. Staid there awhile with the boys. The boys wanted somebody somebody to go to town and get a half gal-Ion gal-Ion of alcohol. .Bill Pear man, Andy Blevins, Bill Queener and a mau by the name of Recks furnished the money. I took the money and came to town to get the alcohol. Question Before starting did you have any conversation with William Haggerty. If so, where, and state what was said. Objected lo by the state. Objection Objection withdrawn. Had a conversation with Haggerty. Haggerty told me to come to Miller & Heath's aud get him a pint of alcohol. alcohol. He didn't give me any money. I came to town. He told mc to tell Miller that he would settle with him the next time became in. Miller said he couldn't let him have the alcohol without the money. I- went back to the pic-nic with the HALF GALLON OF ALCOHOL. Got there between 2 aud 3 o'clock. At the time of my difficulty ray horse was hitched southeast of the" candy stand. I had dropped the alcohol in the bush so as to hide it. I told the boys that as soon as I could find it I would let them know. I found it apd put it in another place. Passed ' away the afternoon running around ' with the crowd ami having a cootll time. I saw Kiley Bievins and Zeke while on their way home. Green Ma- u auu doe neruuon were along, I T here was shooting going n iu lite bruah. Hudj Cbaritou waiitetl me I I. a . A A I 1 I no. I askel them who was sin wt ing. I "iev saw u was in inehrul:. J heard I . . ..... . ;.. , lJ& '", J I .-,aii iii:iii iiiriii. il. ill , iiiiii-. at Masons ,M:h 'once. That was about all 1 went back to the iiicnic ami met Kilev aud Zeke. I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE PISTOL. If I said to him 1 was going to kill him or shoot him, 1 don't recollect it. I then hitched my horse south of the stand. I saw Mary Williams and Louisa Williams. asked them to have some candy. Haggerty waited upou us. 1 think 1 had just been talking to Mrs. Haggerty. After the Misses Williams left I said to Mrs. Haggerty that I was going to sleep with her. She said she guessed uot, and laughed. I said I would, or something something iu a joke. She did not say anything. anything. I went around as usual. Haggerty Haggerty came to me and said "J want to see vou alioiit what vou have Iteeit talking to my wile." He was rather angry. I told him that I did not kuow that I had insulted her. He said "isy u tl you have; you have to take it Itack," or he would beat mv d d head oil or kill me. Some such words. He then Itegau to pull up his sleeves. J said "Bill do you mean it?" He said "Yes, hvti d 1 do." I HAD MY PISTOL OVER MY HEAD. Bill Queener grabbed hold of me ami 1 pulled it off. Then he said something something else aud turned his right side to me. Then 1 shot. I didn't know if I hit him or not. He turned and bent forward as if to make a grab for something, aud I shot him again. Queener pulled moltack aud we stepped back together. All the retreating that was dcue 1 did myself. He put his right fool towards me'afterl was jerk til back. I fired the third shot when he went to fall. 1 told him if he didn't go away I would shoot him. Another Another one had hold of me, 1 think I warned him to go away thne or four times. Alter the shooting was over 1 went around southeast ; think 1 went to my horse. I saw Bob Blevins' revolver iu my face; be shot at me; I can't say whether I shot at any one then. 1 ntn because I bad no one there to stand iu with me, ami my object was to get out of the crowd. 1 was on giNNl terms with Haggerty so far as I was concerned. 1 supposed he was going to shoot or cut me, from the way lie did. I was ulioiit the candy stand in the morning, and saw (lie handle of a revolver iu a box. 1 have seen Haggerty have a navy revolver. Part of the handle was broken oil. There was a good deal of shooting there that day. I got ten cart ridges iu town thi't dav that was all 1 had. THE SENTENCE. It was 12 o'clock noon, May 21, 1879, just eight months to a day after Frank Davidson killed Willim Haggerty, Haggerty, that the court room of Joluion county, at Warrensburg was crowded with the people id au outraged community community to hear the death sentence passed upon Davidson, who had Ieen found guilty of minder m the first degree. Jnihje. Roger mi-h "Frank Davidson, Davidson, stand up." The prisoner came to his feet. Judge. Have you anything to say why sentence ami judgment of the Court should not le passed iion you. I)avidtm. 1 have not, as I believe my attorneys have said all that I can say for myself. Judge. Mr. Davidson, the present is a solemn occasion ; to this audience, to the court, and certainly awfully so to vou. To say the awful words that muat doom a fellow mortal to apcar - - , . t o i - , n so soon in juiigraeni ueiore nis flatter is a duty only to be endured and done because it is a duty. In this whole audience there is not a lieart that fails to sorrow for you in this terrible calamity calamity which you have brought upon yourself. Mr. Davidson, vou stand to-day before the Court convicted of having committed one of the GREATEST CRIMES KNOWN TO THE LAW that of taking the life of a fellow lie-ing lie-ing without any just cause or provocation provocation and although you came into this trial charged with this crime, yet in the law all things were presumed in your favor, aud so careful is the law be the rights of the citizen that there could lie no hot haste in trial and conviction ; hut certain forms ami procedings liefore different tribunals had to lie gone through with iu the forms of investigation, iu all of which the rights of the defemient are carefully carefully guarded so that it is almost im-lossihle im-lossihle for the innocent to suffer. In this case their was the Coroner's jury; your preliminary examination before the inferior tribunal, the justice of the peace, ami then again the insestiga-tion insestiga-tion by the grand jury, ami lastly, the final trial here before this court where you had forty competent, unprejudiced unprejudiced good citizens from the different different parts of the country, out of which to select a jury of twelve men, to try the case. Here you were confronted confronted face to face with all the wit-neses wit-neses that have testified against you ; you have been furnished by the law with all the possible means of obtain-, ing witnesses to testify in your behalf ; the jury have been kept to themselves so that no improper impressions could be made upon their minds from outside outside rumors. The court has sat now for over five days bearing evidence and arguments of counsel. You have hail the advice and assistance of wise, ABLE AND LEARNED COUNSEL. Thus you have been furnished with all the ample means of defense which the law recognizes, yet twelve good, honest, upright and intelligent citizens citizens of Johnson county composing the jury have said in their verdict, after mature deliberation, that you are guilty of murder in the first degree, as charged in the iudictaMnt. The evidence in the case was clear, It pointed but one way. I woi the jurv could have uaitl difl uld that diflereutlr. And now what can the causes he j which brought one bo young to your j terrible condition that of a convicted murderer. I know hut little of vour previous historv; but little of it was I k (This may. account for much, very mucn 01 wiuii vou may isck in moral I. :.i ,.pi .1 I :uunif. hsniih xw. iimuicr iiihko lU Iman- . Ulm- ,f ever th lhv 1 uiiitlier make such a man as you are i to the audience, that.in the iuvoliga- . tiou of this ease I have often wonder ed as lo how much ol the crime or our own community is to lie laid at the door of the certainly too prevalent habit and criminal practice of CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS. Iii this case wc find the young people ot the neighborhood, where this terrible terrible crime was committed, had appoint- ed a day and a place for an open air picnic, where they might assemble together and pass the day in sociai intercourse intercourse anil innocent amusement: but no sooner had it been planned, agreed ujmjii aud made known, thau certain parlies liegau to buy new revolvers, revolvers, to burnish up their old ones, get them repaired ami secure an ample ample supply of amuiiitioii, evidently for the puriKise of "irrving them through the picnic" A beautiful commentary, indeed, iiiniii Johnson county civilization ! . What earthly excuse there can be-in a civilized community, community, noted for schools, churches ami all the appliances of intelligence. where the machinery of the law is in full force for the protection of the righLs oi the ooresl citizen for any mau togoultoiiliu crowds ol iieaceahlc, ijuiet citizens, with deadly weaMiu- concealed about his person. I cannot conceive. There may be, and are no doubt, exceptional cases. The practice practice is certainly no evidence of good breeding, IT H THE HAIUT OF THE COWARD, the thief and the murderer, ami ought to lie condemned by all good itcople. and were I the regular Judge of the Court, I should feel il my duty to comh-inii, in no measured terms, the dereliction of the officers of the law iu not bringing men. guilty of the crime, to putii.-iitueut. Mr. Davidson, if you bad done on this occasion, the part of a law-abidiiig citizen and left your arms at home, this terrible calamity would not now be iion you. The way of the transgressor i hard. Mr. Davidson it now only remains for me ! pass sentence aud judgment of the Court uhii you. It is therefore adjudged bv this Court that you be ami are hereby adjudged guilty of murder in the first degree, in accordance with the verdict of the jury in the case ; audit is lur- ther adjudged that you Ik' hanged by the neck until you are dead; and it is further entered by the Court, that the Sheriff of Johnson county take and safely keep you until . WEDNESDAY, THE 9ril DAY OF JULY, 1879. when he shall take you to some convenient convenient place in .Johnson county, at 12 of the clock on said day, and carry this sentence into execution by hanging hanging you by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul. THE APPEAL. Davidson was taken to the Sedalia jail on the morning of May 22d, 1879, The record of the case went to the Supreme Court and that body affirmed the decision of the lower court, which decision was rendered on the 24th day of June, 1871). BAPTISED. Davidson gave up before the decision of the Supreme Court was made. On Saturday, June 14, Elder Isham Tanner, of Johnson county, the man Davidson was working for when he killed his victim, went to Sedalia and baptised him in the Baptist church before a small but appreciative audience. Since that time Davidson has been repeatedly visited by the clergy and reporters of Sedalia. He has at all times received the clergy with courtesy courtesy and has spent much of his time in hearing the Bible read. The reporters reporters do not meet with much favor with him. He blames the newspapers newspapers to a great extent for his untimely untimely end. " UNDER THE WHEELS. German Book-binder Instantly Killed at Iiamonte Yesterday. Sixteen Cars Faas Over Hia Body. On? of tlinee railroad accidrnln htuened yeflvrday. at Liuionle, which are lo in attributed attributed tu the ircklr-stie-w of ieoile in traveling under cars, on platform and. on brakes, in order to avoid, if Ketilile, paying paying the!, fare. List Monday a German book-hinder cstue into the Bazoo otfire and aiaile a f millers application for work. He wait about thirty-five thirty-five yearn of age, ami bore evidence of having having been knocked around conniiierable in the world, but wa evidently not given to intoxication a a general thing. After leaving the Bazoo bindery nothing else wm' heard of hits until a abort letter from our Laaionte rorrmpoadent informed u that be bad been killed at that place yesterday by the cars, id x teen heavily loaded cars panning over hi body, completely completely cutting of! the lower I inn and breaking the arms in several placet, aa well ac taking off the top of the Lead. At fin it wasauppoaed that he had fallen oil the can-, but further investigation re vealed the fact that lie waa stealing a ride under the train, on the brake. An inquest was held, after the remain had been gathered together, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts. The only facts besides the above obtained were that h'u riane waa Henry ; ee was on his way to Kansas City to secure work; weighed about 160 pound and was a tier-bib.
pt2_hanging_of_frank_davidson
VINDICATED ! lOmdnded from. Second Pagt ing me the credit and praise which she thought due me. sue is wormy oi a different Htatioii in life. However, niay her journey through life lead to heawir, her home and happiness gar land her natli to the tiMiih. In n-latiuii to limit- y.-u-h. KiiMTxn, I uill'st.-ite that I kiii vrrv thankful to Iiiiii ir lux kiiicIiiwh Ui Uf. In n'btiou loan-mark mauV to me ty imii. I took it ax a ioke oulv. I will sav to liim inot u ciiMire iiMtn liti.iih-H for tli!. remark. I l-lle-lltm to tieaii exinrllt'lii. g04Ni 111:111, .-iiki lfrr- ii1 might to till ait1-rent mrhelii the tf mplf f liiuiiaiiit y. 1 too H1 u man l till :i (HiMtioii i iave; ftartiil. reKiiaiM aiul wol mil :i Itml ol an fSviitioii-r to ::l Iiti-; lur itiilo.-oliy h fll ivligioii t-'lM" it- thai to eoii'juer :tn ii-iny ih not t work ot sil, ot lam.-", ol" bullets, or Ut of Meet. It i not tli r.vi.-lion of life tor l!f. IiIimmI for IJixni it f ilw biinlinof intir- irii toa tri-uiiiilial tri-uiiiilial tr, to iin-:it-4-rat- tin-in lutoMionu liol.N, r n..I;- tli-iu -iirr-inl-r to -ii-r.r Imiu-iy, liw-r aiul ftrfiitli. To coii.jn-r rut -ii-my i to -ouv.-it liiiu into a fru-il'l. Hou'-r, 1 uoiild t-ay l'ii. l- fetch n no ueiny to nu lut tin- law, ll-Jitnti-ami the i-af.nap-ri are, ami mulct- it hi duty to t-xm-1 my lil. I woiiM say to my altlc coiiiim-I, Mr. I.oan. I tenJ-r to Imn the gratitiulf of tiv li-art for hi 11 1. If .-r-iM-e in tnyca--uith the 1mi of no reward, reward, fui- wliNrJi l"i leervf ytvat credit and. iraiM-. My tongue fail to e:tin-M the fi-olms of my heart. 1 think ho did all lie could under the iirroiiiidiii circumtnnc-!' to a- mv life, hut could not. He eau, uith I'llate, truthfully ay that hi hand are free from my Mood. I ran oulv juiv, may his life be one of pleasantness, aud hi- aUe erlorts ill the future lie crowni-d uith U-t- e- IICCeS!. 1 uould say to the fathers and mothers of tin "Vast multitude, educate your children. Hi w- them au education not. only ititelft-ctitally hut morally uhx-li Mill enlighten their understanding, correct correct tlieir teni-r." fonn the niaiiners and liahit- of youth, and tit them for uoefuluo in their future -tatiou", aud they w ill not be so likely to hnng jour gray hair in sorrow to your graes. as I do inv Nor "old srrav headed lather. I orote-t .-iaiu-t - .- : , ... - .,f ..l..t: 1111131 llllisillllt-lll. mi ill .. iiiiiiiii i (iii-sallle. (iii-sallle. not for my sake, hut for humanity k sake. i-t this jK-ople cou-ider what imtiieu-e stakes -snety has ui the lues of senile :neii. What great interests are nlteu uniiK-d up in the lite i a -ingle ludmduul ! It i- not the interest- of one eitv, one state, r one empire; It is nut ot one age tirVeneration of men, hut the interests of a world and of ages to a-onie that souu liliies providentially providentially hang ujkmi the life of a siile iudi idiial. Ietati oueeoiuersaiit with the history of the world- 'la-t threy .or four centuries, eou-iiler what interest the world had in a lew individuals, tu siu h men as Chri-topher Qoluinhils, .Mai tin l.iulier, Sir Frawis llaron.Sir Imtae Newton. l5-n-l iiiiin Kmiikliti, Koiiert Fulton. and Washiuu- toll. llpM,se any ur all f these men had III Ihe heat or pa-ion .r in an im ynanl-l moment taken the hli-d" their fellow man, -as 1 lia- ih'ltf and their lives lutd hate paid the forfeit of it a- mine thi-day ha to, what would have l-eii the piv.-nt -tall- iiruoiiilllioii ot the uoiJd, ean il forma pn.jrf-r e-timate; ran any on siih-tract fiom x-n-is-e. I'loin ait, or from sueicty, the exacl amount wl'oiir mde htetlne. to any one of th-m, iiiih-h lessIO them all. This is 'why I protest at;aiut capital piiui-hmeiit. I would sav to the Voiiti men of tho State of Missouri, and e-Hvially of Jdiu-oii roiiuty. take wamiu from me and laya-ide your reoli-r-, .-top jour dram drinking, never frequent places iiiiUiroiiiini; iIh: Utility and honor of a eiill-niau; eiill-niau; strive to make useful, intelligent and honorable honorable meinU-rs of society. I say once mon-. I die with ill-will toward none. I forgive all, and hoiie to meet vou all in heaven. Kaieuell to my old nv-heailed Cither, si-lels. hiothers aud li lends. "I am sorrv to hrini; so tuiieh tnmhle upou vou, hut it i- unavoidable now. My praver I- that 30II all live right. precil' to o to a better uoild, where .lili.-- do not icigti supreme and im.uti is no disgrace. l i:NK hAVM-St'N. i'l'ep-ireti at the l.'.l. I ot the lllifortllliate vollllg in-ill to tte lead upon the s-:itlold, as hi- dying Wolds to the x-opl-. I. F. Tasm. Ni I!K.I. Hy se-i:d n-iple-t of the piKoni-r, the almVe -talViiK-iit u:K not lead, ouiiij; to ils extreme lelivlh THE HIsTOKY. lite iteonie of the vieiuitv had :ts- seiuhled iii Saturday. Septemlier 21, 1878, at a grove near the Mason school house, about six miles uorlheasl ot Warreuaburg, Johnson county. Mo., for the purpose of having a picnic. Duriug the forenoon Frank David-sou David-sou aud Hudie Carl tun were in town, when the former purchased teu car fridges for his pistol ami the latter bought a small seven shooter. Thus equipped, the two returned to the picnic picnic grounds. Sometime during the afternoon Davidson was sent on a scout to Warrreusburg for alcohol, "a pouy purse" having been made . up for that purpose. Having procured the alcohol Davidson returned to the picnic grounds. As he neared the ground he beard several parties riding along the road behind him going in the same direction and be stepped into the brush at the road-side and droped the jug. He'then mingled with the crowd,- found his boon companions autl returned to where he had dropped the jug and ALL PARTIES TOOK A DRINK, Davidson with the others. The jug vas left concealed in a hole near the scene of the picnic, where the owners had recourse to it at their pleasure. . Wm. Haggerty, the uufortunate murdered man, in conjunction with others, was runuiug a lemonade and candy stand at the picnic grounds. Davidson went to this stand, made some purchases and made indecent proposals to Mrs. Wm. Haggerty. After he had left the stand Mrs. Haggerty reported the insultiug language language of Davidson to her husband. Haggerty merely asked "where is Da-vidsoa?" Da-vidsoa?" and walked to the dancing stand, but soon returned and ordered a can of oysters for himself aud wife. Shortly af ter this some one reported that Mrs. Haggerty horse was loose, and Haggerty started to catch the horse. Before he got to the horse he met Davidson FACE TO FACE. and steppiag to one side engaged in an animated conversation, Haggerty accused Davidson of insulting his wife aud demanded a retraction. Davidson, Davidson, according to his own statement, demanded, "Do you .mean it, Bill?" drew his revolver, flourished it over his bead and fired it in the air. Wm. Queener took hold of Davidson aud told Haggerty to go waay. This the unfortunate man evidently inleuded to do after telling Davidson to put down his pistol and he would fight him a fair fight, but the WHISKY CRAZED MURDERER pushed Queener to one side, and to use his own language, "he turned. his right side to ne and I shot." Haggerty Haggerty reeled and the murderer fired the second and third shots. After the shooting, and while the life of his victim was ebbing out a crimson tide at the three cruel wouuds, Davidson with his trusty revolver in his hand, made a bold dash for his horse. Bob Blevens and John Shewafler seeing that a bloody murder had been, committed committed attempted to stop the flying , murderer whea he turned upon them with the ferocity of a tiger and fired at his pursuers. Blevens returned the fire once. By this time Davidson had reached his horse and had one haBd on the bridle, when Bob Blevens reached him nd knocked down and captured him. He was brought to WarreBsburg and from here conveyed conveyed to the Sedalia jail for safe keeping. At the December term of 1878, of the Johnson criminal court, be was indicted for murder in the first degree and at the May term, after a Kttion for costiaaaace on the grounds of the prisoaer's feeble health .had bees overruled, be was put on trial. TWK TRIAL. The trial began Wednesday, May 14, and closed Monday sight. May 19. At abeut tea o'clock the case was given to the jury. After being out an hour the jury returned the following verdict : . We. the iury. find the defendant guilty of murder iu the first degree in the manner auu lorm cnargeu in me indictment.'' The jury was a gtod one, consisting! iel Scott aud IL A. Ureedeu. tiif vrrniiVFVs 01 .jos. iu. oeu, itireitiaii; uas. -omi- j v,c. im piMot ijiM. me iiao uougui tleVeloeil III the evidence. Ill your uiiigham, il. W. Thornton, Moses that mornini;. Said that oiue one own evidence vou sav that your Wiueland, W. J. Mayes, Jas. ii ilia- ha.l stolen it or taken it way fnmi MOriiKi: ihku while vou wehe Yin-land. Yin-land. Alex. Better, Geo. Kppnht , him. 1 aked Kiley and Zeke Blevius Jno. N. Wash. J. P. Stewart, Dau-it thev had Hudy'a insttd. Thevsaid amnfant. t w iv. II r .... , ti. ...'...l i.., il... .lf...l.w.i M.,CJ,0,""C mure uiiois iu me way mev were as gHHl as couhl le hatl. A. R lgan and J. M. Crutchfleld, appearing lor'"; U,IU ri-. 1 . I .1 1 r - iuot down 1 nv coutlucteil the deH-n.ce iu , him an able manner, but tin; avalanche nl ( nny was against I hem aud the defense was overwhelmed. Both made a stout fight and eliHiuenl sjeeches for their penniless client. The attorneys for the state were W. li. Brinker and Henry Neill. Their manner of conducting the case met with general approval and ImuIi :tc quitted themselves nobly. They both made able arguments at the close, and tad so managed the case that when it was given the jury it was clear iioth ing short of a verdict of murder iu the first degree could le returned. It is not iiece.ssarv to reproduce all the evi dence lief ore the jury. J he state ments of Mrs. Haggertv, the widow of the murdered man, ami ot David son will 1k sufficient as they cover all the main points in the case. MRS. IIACCKirrY being sworn, testified that she was at the picnic all day. Did not see Davidson Davidson until after dinner: did not sneak to him until the party was about breaking up. Was then stand ing near the candy stand which her husband was tending. Davidson came up to her ami they exchanged salutations. Davidson wantt-d to buy some candy for her. She declined, lie insisted, aud she told him not to le spending his money for her. He then leaned over aud whisjwred that he was GOING TO SLEEP WITH HER that uighl. SHKTOLI HIM SHE GUESSED NOT. He said "Bv CSod. I will." Told him "not unless he was a belter num." He then left the candy stand, going south. Went to her husband ami told him what Davidson had said. Her husband asked "Where is Davidson?" Told him she did not know. He then .started down towards the dancing platform, and soon ret timet 1 ami got some oysters for her aud himself. Just then somebody said her horse was loose, aud her husband started to tie the horse -Before he got to the horse he met Davidson, and they Inilh walked to one side. Could mil hear what they said. Next saw Da-vid.-oo waving his pistol in the air. He fired it once ami then fired at her hiisbnnd. Her husband and David sou were then standing face to face. not more than five or -ix feet apart. Turned her face ami heaid the other shots. SAW IIKK HUSBAND FALL. Went to him. There were others there: thev turned him over. She could not tell whether they took oil bis coat ami vest; knows that he hail his coat on. Saw no weaoiis of any kind that day except Davidson's pistol. pistol. Had known Davidson four or five years. He had lived at her father's liefore she was married. She had lieen married two years coming Christmas. Her husband was 2d years old. FKANK DAVIDSON, the defendant sworn. Was 24 years old the 10th day of October last; was born in Highland county, Ohio. Left there the year after the war; have uo education and could not say when that was. I went to southern Kansas to drive stock. Came to this county six years ago. My father lives in Leavenworth county, Kansas. My mother died wheu I was six or seven years old. My father lived in this county two years. 1 came here in March and worked for West Cox; in May I went to Steve Blevins. I worked four mouths for Green Ma- son. At the time of this difficulty I was working for Isani Tanners. 1 have known Mrs. Haggerty altout five vears. I had been with William Haggerty some time before he was married. I left Tanner's house Friday Friday night before the picnic. Came to Andrew Blevins'; got there after night. Andrew Blevins' wife was there, and Wm. Queener and Andrew Blevins. Andrew Blevins gave me his pistol to take down to be fixed. WE "COMPARED HIS PISTOL WITH VINE to see which was the longest. Did not know of the pic nic at the time. Wouldu't swear whether I said anything anything about breaking up the picnic don't think I did. Staid there about an hour, Staid all night at Uncle Steve Blevins'. Next morning I came down with Hudy Carlton. Went to Barney Blevins' to get some money; did not find any one and came on to town, (iol here about 8 or H o'clock; went to Suow's and got mv boot fixed; did uot remain long in Warrensburg. Handy Carlton bought a revolver. I got a bottle of alcohol and then we went out to the pic-nic; got there near 11 o'clock. Staid there awhile with the boys. The boys wanted somebody somebody to go to town and get a half gal-Ion gal-Ion of alcohol. .Bill Pear man, Andy Blevins, Bill Queener and a mau by the name of Recks furnished the money. I took the money and came to town to get the alcohol. Question Before starting did you have any conversation with William Haggerty. If so, where, and state what was said. Objected lo by the state. Objection Objection withdrawn. Had a conversation with Haggerty. Haggerty told me to come to Miller & Heath's aud get him a pint of alcohol. alcohol. He didn't give me any money. I came to town. He told mc to tell Miller that he would settle with him the next time became in. Miller said he couldn't let him have the alcohol without the money. I- went back to the pic-nic with the HALF GALLON OF ALCOHOL. Got there between 2 aud 3 o'clock. At the time of my difficulty ray horse was hitched southeast of the" candy stand. I had dropped the alcohol in the bush so as to hide it. I told the boys that as soon as I could find it I would let them know. I found it apd put it in another place. Passed ' away the afternoon running around ' with the crowd ami having a cootll time. I saw Kiley Bievins and Zeke while on their way home. Green Ma- u auu doe neruuon were along, I T here was shooting going n iu lite bruah. Hudj Cbaritou waiitetl me I I. a . A A I 1 I no. I askel them who was sin wt ing. I "iev saw u was in inehrul:. J heard I . . ..... . ;.. , lJ& '", J I .-,aii iii:iii iiiriii. il. ill , iiiiii-. at Masons ,M:h 'once. That was about all 1 went back to the iiicnic ami met Kilev aud Zeke. I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE PISTOL. If I said to him 1 was going to kill him or shoot him, 1 don't recollect it. I then hitched my horse south of the stand. I saw Mary Williams and Louisa Williams. asked them to have some candy. Haggerty waited upou us. 1 think 1 had just been talking to Mrs. Haggerty. After the Misses Williams left I said to Mrs. Haggerty that I was going to sleep with her. She said she guessed uot, and laughed. I said I would, or something something iu a joke. She did not say anything. anything. I went around as usual. Haggerty Haggerty came to me and said "J want to see vou alioiit what vou have Iteeit talking to my wile." He was rather angry. I told him that I did not kuow that I had insulted her. He said "isy u tl you have; you have to take it Itack," or he would beat mv d d head oil or kill me. Some such words. He then Itegau to pull up his sleeves. J said "Bill do you mean it?" He said "Yes, hvti d 1 do." I HAD MY PISTOL OVER MY HEAD. Bill Queener grabbed hold of me ami 1 pulled it off. Then he said something something else aud turned his right side to me. Then 1 shot. I didn't know if I hit him or not. He turned and bent forward as if to make a grab for something, aud I shot him again. Queener pulled moltack aud we stepped back together. All the retreating that was dcue 1 did myself. He put his right fool towards me'afterl was jerk til back. I fired the third shot when he went to fall. 1 told him if he didn't go away I would shoot him. Another Another one had hold of me, 1 think I warned him to go away thne or four times. Alter the shooting was over 1 went around southeast ; think 1 went to my horse. I saw Bob Blevins' revolver iu my face; be shot at me; I can't say whether I shot at any one then. 1 ntn because I bad no one there to stand iu with me, ami my object was to get out of the crowd. 1 was on giNNl terms with Haggerty so far as I was concerned. 1 supposed he was going to shoot or cut me, from the way lie did. I was ulioiit the candy stand in the morning, and saw (lie handle of a revolver iu a box. 1 have seen Haggerty have a navy revolver. Part of the handle was broken oil. There was a good deal of shooting there that day. I got ten cart ridges iu town thi't dav that was all 1 had. THE SENTENCE. It was 12 o'clock noon, May 21, 1879, just eight months to a day after Frank Davidson killed Willim Haggerty, Haggerty, that the court room of Joluion county, at Warrensburg was crowded with the people id au outraged community community to hear the death sentence passed upon Davidson, who had Ieen found guilty of minder m the first degree. Jnihje. Roger mi-h "Frank Davidson, Davidson, stand up." The prisoner came to his feet. Judge. Have you anything to say why sentence ami judgment of the Court should not le passed iion you. I)avidtm. 1 have not, as I believe my attorneys have said all that I can say for myself. Judge. Mr. Davidson, the present is a solemn occasion ; to this audience, to the court, and certainly awfully so to vou. To say the awful words that muat doom a fellow mortal to apcar - - , . t o i - , n so soon in juiigraeni ueiore nis flatter is a duty only to be endured and done because it is a duty. In this whole audience there is not a lieart that fails to sorrow for you in this terrible calamity calamity which you have brought upon yourself. Mr. Davidson, vou stand to-day before the Court convicted of having committed one of the GREATEST CRIMES KNOWN TO THE LAW that of taking the life of a fellow lie-ing lie-ing without any just cause or provocation provocation and although you came into this trial charged with this crime, yet in the law all things were presumed in your favor, aud so careful is the law be the rights of the citizen that there could lie no hot haste in trial and conviction ; hut certain forms ami procedings liefore different tribunals had to lie gone through with iu the forms of investigation, iu all of which the rights of the defemient are carefully carefully guarded so that it is almost im-lossihle im-lossihle for the innocent to suffer. In this case their was the Coroner's jury; your preliminary examination before the inferior tribunal, the justice of the peace, ami then again the insestiga-tion insestiga-tion by the grand jury, ami lastly, the final trial here before this court where you had forty competent, unprejudiced unprejudiced good citizens from the different different parts of the country, out of which to select a jury of twelve men, to try the case. Here you were confronted confronted face to face with all the wit-neses wit-neses that have testified against you ; you have been furnished by the law with all the possible means of obtain-, ing witnesses to testify in your behalf ; the jury have been kept to themselves so that no improper impressions could be made upon their minds from outside outside rumors. The court has sat now for over five days bearing evidence and arguments of counsel. You have hail the advice and assistance of wise, ABLE AND LEARNED COUNSEL. Thus you have been furnished with all the ample means of defense which the law recognizes, yet twelve good, honest, upright and intelligent citizens citizens of Johnson county composing the jury have said in their verdict, after mature deliberation, that you are guilty of murder in the first degree, as charged in the iudictaMnt. The evidence in the case was clear, It pointed but one way. I woi the jurv could have uaitl difl uld that diflereutlr. And now what can the causes he j which brought one bo young to your j terrible condition that of a convicted murderer. I know hut little of vour previous historv; but little of it was I k (This may. account for much, very mucn 01 wiuii vou may isck in moral I. :.i ,.pi .1 I :uunif. hsniih xw. iimuicr iiihko lU Iman- . Ulm- ,f ever th lhv 1 uiiitlier make such a man as you are i to the audience, that.in the iuvoliga- . tiou of this ease I have often wonder ed as lo how much ol the crime or our own community is to lie laid at the door of the certainly too prevalent habit and criminal practice of CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS. Iii this case wc find the young people ot the neighborhood, where this terrible terrible crime was committed, had appoint- ed a day and a place for an open air picnic, where they might assemble together and pass the day in sociai intercourse intercourse anil innocent amusement: but no sooner had it been planned, agreed ujmjii aud made known, thau certain parlies liegau to buy new revolvers, revolvers, to burnish up their old ones, get them repaired ami secure an ample ample supply of amuiiitioii, evidently for the puriKise of "irrving them through the picnic" A beautiful commentary, indeed, iiiniii Johnson county civilization ! . What earthly excuse there can be-in a civilized community, community, noted for schools, churches ami all the appliances of intelligence. where the machinery of the law is in full force for the protection of the righLs oi the ooresl citizen for any mau togoultoiiliu crowds ol iieaceahlc, ijuiet citizens, with deadly weaMiu- concealed about his person. I cannot conceive. There may be, and are no doubt, exceptional cases. The practice practice is certainly no evidence of good breeding, IT H THE HAIUT OF THE COWARD, the thief and the murderer, ami ought to lie condemned by all good itcople. and were I the regular Judge of the Court, I should feel il my duty to comh-inii, in no measured terms, the dereliction of the officers of the law iu not bringing men. guilty of the crime, to putii.-iitueut. Mr. Davidson, if you bad done on this occasion, the part of a law-abidiiig citizen and left your arms at home, this terrible calamity would not now be iion you. The way of the transgressor i hard. Mr. Davidson it now only remains for me ! pass sentence aud judgment of the Court uhii you. It is therefore adjudged bv this Court that you be ami are hereby adjudged guilty of murder in the first degree, in accordance with the verdict of the jury in the case ; audit is lur- ther adjudged that you Ik' hanged by the neck until you are dead; and it is further entered by the Court, that the Sheriff of Johnson county take and safely keep you until . WEDNESDAY, THE 9ril DAY OF JULY, 1879. when he shall take you to some convenient convenient place in .Johnson county, at 12 of the clock on said day, and carry this sentence into execution by hanging hanging you by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul. THE APPEAL. Davidson was taken to the Sedalia jail on the morning of May 22d, 1879, The record of the case went to the Supreme Court and that body affirmed the decision of the lower court, which decision was rendered on the 24th day of June, 1871). BAPTISED. Davidson gave up before the decision of the Supreme Court was made. On Saturday, June 14, Elder Isham Tanner, of Johnson county, the man Davidson was working for when he killed his victim, went to Sedalia and baptised him in the Baptist church before a small but appreciative audience. Since that time Davidson has been repeatedly visited by the clergy and reporters of Sedalia. He has at all times received the clergy with courtesy courtesy and has spent much of his time in hearing the Bible read. The reporters reporters do not meet with much favor with him. He blames the newspapers newspapers to a great extent for his untimely untimely end. " UNDER THE WHEELS. German Book-binder Instantly Killed at Iiamonte Yesterday. Sixteen Cars Faas Over Hia Body. On? of tlinee railroad accidrnln htuened yeflvrday. at Liuionle, which are lo in attributed attributed tu the ircklr-stie-w of ieoile in traveling under cars, on platform and. on brakes, in order to avoid, if Ketilile, paying paying the!, fare. List Monday a German book-hinder cstue into the Bazoo otfire and aiaile a f millers application for work. He wait about thirty-five thirty-five yearn of age, ami bore evidence of having having been knocked around conniiierable in the world, but wa evidently not given to intoxication a a general thing. After leaving the Bazoo bindery nothing else wm' heard of hits until a abort letter from our Laaionte rorrmpoadent informed u that be bad been killed at that place yesterday by the cars, id x teen heavily loaded cars panning over hi body, completely completely cutting of! the lower I inn and breaking the arms in several placet, aa well ac taking off the top of the Lead. At fin it wasauppoaed that he had fallen oil the can-, but further investigation re vealed the fact that lie waa stealing a ride under the train, on the brake. An inquest was held, after the remain had been gathered together, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts. The only facts besides the above obtained were that h'u riane waa Henry ; ee was on his way to Kansas City to secure work; weighed about 160 pound and was a tier-bib.
Hung on March 9, 1879 in Warrensburg, MO
Denison Tx Daily News July 20, 1879
Advice from the Scaffold.
Frank Davidson, the young man who was executed at Warrensburg, Mo., on the 9th, for the killing of Wm. Haggerty in a fit of drunken frenzy, made a dying statement in which he says: "I would say to young men of the State of Missouri and especially of Johnson County: Take warning from me and lay aside your revolvers; stop dram-drinking; never frequent places unbecoming the dignity and honor of gentlemen; strive to make useful, intelligent and honorable members of society. I say once more, I die with ill-will toward none. I forgive all, and hope to meet you all in heaven. Farewell. To my old gray-headed father, sisters, brothers and friends: I am sorry to bring so much trouble upon you, but it is unavoidable now. My prayer is that you may all live right and prepare to go to a better world where politics do not reign supreme and poverty is no disgrace."
GENERAL TELEGRAPH NEWS; SUFFERING THE DEATH PENALTY. HANGING OF FRANKLIN DAVIDSON IN MISSOURI A DRUNKEN FARM LABORER'S CRIME.
WARRENSBURG, Mo., July 9. Frank Davidson, who killed William Haggerty Sept. 21, 1878, and who was sentenced to be hanged today, spent a very restless night, and only slept from a little after 2 o'clock until 5 this morning. He was baptized this morning at 8:45 o'clock by Elder Foy, of the Christian Church.
GENERAL TELEGRAPH NEWS; SUFFERING THE DEATH PENALTY. HANGING OF FRANKLIN DAVIDSON IN MISSOURI A DRUNKEN FARM LABORER'S CRIME.
WARRENSBURG, Mo., July 9. Frank Davidson, who killed William Haggerty Sept. 21, 1878, and who was sentenced to be hanged today, spent a very restless night, and only slept from a little after 2 o'clock until 5 this morning. He was baptized this morning at 8:45 o'clock by Elder Foy, of the Christian Church.
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