the last legal execution
(continued kiuTM page fi)
had better get your saddle bags
■out; I want to shut up. ” I told
him to hand them to me. We
walked np to the dance 1 was ahead
and when 1 walked in I turned to
the left and went behind the conn
ter and sat my saddle bags down.
I then went and sat down near the
back end of the room; was taking
no part in the dance—merely look
ing on. A firecracker was tired.
\\ hen it exploded 1 was leaning
on the counter talking. The re
port made me suppose that a, pist.
ol had been shot 1 turned around
and said “Who’s that shot ? This
won't do; we want order here!” 1
then walked around and asked who
shot, but received no reply. Then
Johnson walked up to me and in a
very rough way said, “See here,
you needn’t bother yourself; 1 a i
running this thing.” This flash'd
all over me, and 1 said, with m
oath, “Do you mean that for an
insult?’’ He said, “It's owing to
how you take it.” I said, “If you
want to light, my caboose is free,
but you must understand I cover
all the ground 1 stand on!" This
creaked an excitement, and the
boys began to gather 'round, and
some of them said. “This won't
do." Johnson then said lie did
not want a fuss. I said, “Neither
do I. so we will drop the thing
where it is." I went over to the
south side and got upon the conn
ter. Bill Pritchard then got up
alongside of me and said. “I want
you to remember that I on your
friend if tho\ go to bipose on
you.” I said, “Never mind, h t
it go. it don’t amount to much.”
Then A If. Pritchard came up and
asked ns to go down and tire off
the anvil. I went with him t<> the
blacksmith shop and hlowed the
bellows while Alf kindled a tire.
After the fire got to burning, he
took from his pocket a small ink
bottle, but found that he had not
•enough powder to make a charge
for the anvil, He said, “Let’s go
down to the store and get some
more.” I told him it was no use,
as 1 had heard Hendron refuse to
sell any powder after dark, as it
was against the rules to do so.
We started out and walked into
the danee room As I went in,
jii't at the front door of the house,
there stood my sister and eousin
talk ng to Johnson. His back was
turned to the door, and just as I
stepped in the door 1 heard him
say.“It don't amount to anything,
a 1 over with. Bob is just drunk,
that's all the matter with him.'’
As he said it I put my hand on his
shoulder and said, “Look here, I
want you to understand that I am
not drunk." I said, “You had
better call me a liar! Didn't I
hear you say it just now*" He
denied it in a very angry manner.
As tie uni. i stepped uack ana
commenced taking off my coat.
My brother stepped in and pushed
me back behind the counter. John
son followed after him and came
around passed him up to me. I
had pulled oil my coat and threw
my left arm up and told him if he
wanted to tight to say so, if lie
didn't, the matter had better be
dropped entirely, lie never spoke,
but turned, walked back around
the counter, raised his hand and
said, 'Tin running this thing,
and will run it as I (i d d n
please!" and struck the counter
with his list. I was still behind
the counter, lie walked back in
to his room. I put my coat on
and walked around the counter
but just as I got to the end of the
counter Frank Long stepped up
in front of me as if to stop me. I
asked him if he was going to take
the thing up. My brother said
“No, the man is a stranger and
means no harm.” My brother,
Long and myself went out in front
of the house and talked. After
awhile wo went into the house am
dancing was going on 1 then walk
ed up to the middle of the housi
and got upon the counter. W hit
sitting on the counter Oeo. Tram
Ides pointed to Johnson, who wa
| then dancing in a set, and showe<
I me a knife in his hands. Afte
the set was over I got down fron
the counter, and we went down t<
i Whitfield & McMurtry’s. On tin
way down Henry Prior ran up he
I hind me and grabbed me and trie*
to pull me backward. 1 tume<
i and slapped him in the face. H;
j that time we were nearly at tin
1 store. Here we found hum an*
Levisa.v. We stopped and talked
l told Lum that Johnson had i
knife in his hand. I said that the;
1 were trying to bluff me, and
would go back and cut tin* tiddh
strings. There is wherein I di<
• wrong. On my way back Hun
overtook me, and ju^t as we wen
going in said he wanted to tell nn
a dream he had about me. I turn
ed to listen at him. He said,
dreamed that you and Allen go
into a difficulty, and 1 though
Allen was following you with i
pistol, and you turned and sho
him in the head: 1 have been trou
■ ■led about it since that time,
am afraid those follows in tie
house fur goifi}' to uw .> wu
harm.” I >aid there was no dan
gt>r; if th«-*.\ jump on me I wil
give them the best I have got. H<
told me not to go into the hous<
as I would get into trouble,
went, in and went to where tin* tid
diet- was, in the rear end of tin
room, took out m.v knife and cu
the strings. 1 passed Johnson an<
Alf Pnehard as 1 came in: the;
j were sitting on the counter nea
the front door. After cutting tin
strings I said, “Now, who’s run
ning this thing?” The daueinj
stopped. I then walked down oi
the opposite side of the housi
where Johnson was sitting, intend
ing to take m.v saddle bags, whicl
were over behind the counte
where Johnson and the rest were
This wax on the opjiosite side o
the house. 1 stopped and studie<
$ minute, and turned and walke<
1 back to where 1 was before. Jus
i as 1 stopped, -Johnson sprang ot
the counter and just as lie strucl
the floor, Alf. Prichard caugh
him h.v the arm and pulled hin
around and gave him a weight an<
| said, “Knock the son of a hitch ii
the head, and I'll stay with you.'
\\ hen he gave it to him, Johnsoi
put the weight in his pocket, ant
a^ he did so I saw his knife whicl
he also dropped in with the weight
After seeing this which all hap
pened in an instant, 1 said with ai
oath. It you want anything ou
of me you can have it. Then John
son rushed for me, with his tw<
arms raised and said “I)-n yoi
Lancaster, it you want anything
out of me you can have it.”
«>eiu up my left arm to hold hin
oil and told him l didn't particu
larl.v want to fight, but if he did
to give up his weapons and figlu
fail, lie took no heed to what I
said, hut pushed against me. I
shoved him hack about three 01
four feet and told him to stand,
He came towards me again and I
shoved hiin hack with my hand
and said, “.Johnson, stand hack
Don’t crowd me. I WOn’t give t<
then dropped botli
mds and put them in his pocket*.
When he did this [ ,mt mv |mm]
ui my pocket. He came at m<
, again and walked up against n
witi. both hands in his pockets. I
still held my right hand in <m
Pocket, and pushed him back
agam with my left. He stagger
ed, and as lie recovered drew his
'iiife. 1 sav\ it and drew my pis
tol, and jumped back, pointed m.v
Pistol at him and said, in a loud
VQ°*ce;.. Don’t crowd me!” As 1
^ d T «wenn‘a(ler a forward
and I shot him. He reeled and fell
on his face, in the middle of the
1' floor.
. I never intended to kill
,,m until he came towards me the
a>t time. My actions before had
l,een intended for a “bluff”
than anything else.
more
•* Alter the shot was fired 1 turn
1 _ an<j talked by Mr. Alf. Prich
a"l' ’i||s* ils 1 stepped out at the
1 ( °°t. l,i|| Prichard came running
> up and I levelled my pistol on him
and asked, “Who comes jthere?”
and he said “Friend.” I walked
t,a"t him towards the horse rack,
where my horse stood, looking
b.n k towards the door. On get
ting to where 1 thought my horse
uas i*‘tched, I missed him a little,
owmg to the darkness of the
1 n'i-^'t- After 1 found him I reach
,,(1 up rny left hand and untied the
1 n'lns- 1 mounted and started to
• | ride in the direction of Whitfield’s
I! store. I met brother. He asked
i what was the matter. 1 told him
1 had shot that man .Johnson. 1
ne\cr checked my horse, but told
him to bring my saddle bags.
I Someone called him back and told
" ium n°t to go in there or he would
get into trouble, 1 stopped in front
i of Prichard’s house and called
t again for my saddle pockets. No
■ answer was made, 1 waited a mo
I mont and called again very loud
that It thov dido I <00(1 1 lion.
1 mt* I was coming back after them.
- My brother then came running to
I me with them. I asked if I hurt
1 him much. He said, “Bario Paine
■ says you’ve killed him. Take
l your saddle pockets and get a\va.\,
- or they will kill you "
' | I kept out of the way of the of
t ficers but never attempted to leave
I the country. 1 passed through
’ Sylamore tin* night after the kill
i' ing. Six days after I accidentall.\
‘ shot myself, from which I lost m.v
- leg.
I am ready to die and have no
fears of death—it will I** a relief
to me. Of course I hate to die ns
a criminal, but I know I will bp
relieved of the can*' and vexations
of this world.
HIS CONVERSION.
A few words (<> friends upon
whom I now look a- brethren,since
I we are all united i- one belief in
Jesus Christ. J a n gl d to have
, this opportunity 1 s «•, to ,\ <>u
through the press
you forever. Ma\ 1 h >p
not scorn my in<
God does not situ i
My parents with <1
always been anx
j ian, hut put it <
has come when 1
I meet them or el
them forever,
si on 1 sought (i
V times feeling
soon overcome \
ipp\
I leave
vou will
n since
i walls.
I have
■ Chri>t
e hour
■ pare to
•d from
•onver
noment,
very
but
•t\' v hear
is lasted sevt r..ys, when 1
> began <> doubt uitun* \v< rid
i an* i.i'n ni.v minion became
f nil -' i bie. I h> . x m.v appetite
and no troubli nmva-biig On
i Krui i.\, August •••, 1 was visited
In Bro. Brown ami some Christ
ian ladies, who asked if I had
made peace with God, to which 1
could only sa.v no, though my hope
,vjis -■ II good. Miss Jensen asked
if I thought murder too groat n
; gin to be pardoned, and i replied
no, as tin* Bible speaks of one un
pardonable sin. While they were
with me t became almost a raving
maniac, and after a prayer bv
Ike. Brown my agony was in
creased. They left me in my cell
and in my agony, with those words
“Christ died for you” ringing in
,dv ears, m a whisper i could say,
r'Lord, i believe, deny me not.”
That good woman told me “just
believe.” in my misery i heard
snme one praying for me, and
very soon my burden of woe and
<uiiit were removed and the awful
:rrasp let go m.v throat, i sat up
and praised God, and in a moment
nlVr cell was a palace and the glo
rii>s of heaven were around me.
\]y heart overflowed, i asked for
Bro. Brown, and they told me he
had gone to the country, and that
it was Bro. Boswell who had pray
ed for me. A prayer in my cell
A
tonight would sound sweet to m;
ears. Do not think i am unhapp;
because i am alone tonight in thi
place. The One who gave m<
grace is with me and my heart i:
full of joy and my mind easy. An<
it is now easy for me to forgivi
; those who made such wide mis
takes against me in my trial,
have no malice in my heari
| against any one—that is all gom
land 1 am ready to die. i feel sac
that i have lived a sinner so long
j but that regret is vain now. M.\
time is measured and the day i<
| coming on, and i grieve that
j must quit you ami the world in tin
I w?etched manner that I shall
Please pray for me that i may lx
even happier than i am, as tin
j hour of my death approaches. ]
i cannot speak all that is in m.\
heart, and let it do to say that i
hold .that now which to me n
worth more than gold and all else
on earth. Pray for me, Christian
friend*. God bless you for thf
kindness you have shown me.
Korert N. Lancaster.
Reas estate Bargains
For Sale By
CRAIG & HENDERSON
Nu. 1. 80 acres good land 1 m from
Newark, on railroad; 40 acres cleared:
23 in cultivation; good bottomland
and a bargain.
No. 2. M) acres good bottom land 4
miles N.-K. Newark; half subject t<
overflow, oalance above hfghwater:
4() act's in cultivation. Fine land and
a bargain.
N . ■> 140 acres good land t mi. N,
of Par quel; 50 acres in cultivation:
(3 good muses on farm with good
pun.| 'i!i Hi res in pasture; excellent
| col on land and good timber on land
not i el. li ivation. Can be bought foi
ten i' !ars an acre.
N<-. * Half interest in 250 acres
cane pasture land + mile from Jack
son port; under fence; finest cane land
nn W idle river; very cheap.
Nn, 7 4k xcres 4 mile trom Paro
quet; 35 acres rich river bottom land:
15 acres above overflow; good timber.
A bargain.
No 10. 40 acres good timber land
2 miles from Newark; would make fine
cotlon land.
No. 11. 2 acres of land and good
4 room house in Paroquet, all under
fence and well improved. Big bargain.
No. 12. Nice 5 room residence and
4 lots near Methodist church; one ol
the most beautiful places in Newark.
Very cheap.
o. 15. 100 acres tine land in the
famous Hig Bottom country; makes a
bale of cotton and 75 to 100 bushels of
corn to the acre. Finfe farm and in
a few years will be worth 1H thousand
dollars, but if taken at once can be
i bought for about half that amount.
o. 17. Two nice residence lots one
block north of public school building;
nicest residence property in town and
| a bargain.
o. is. 400 acres tine Hig Bottom
farming land; 200 acres in cultivation;
i bouses on place; makes a bale of cot
ton to the acre. Well improved farm
and a genuine bargain if taken atonce.
o. 21. 270 acre farm adjoining
Paroquet, 40 acres in cultivation, 20
acres in pasture; jne 6-room frame
i/wa uuuac uu jiiauc,
Good well, two pumps, three barns,
two good orchards of 5o bearing trees;
land not in cultivation has good tiru
I her.
No. 22. 75 acre creek bottom farm,
[with 55 acres in cultivation; one 4
! room and one 2-room house; two good
[ barns and other out buildings. Makes
half bale of cotton and 80 bushels corn
io the acre; two miles from Newark.
No. 28. S7 acre creek bottom farm,
two miles from Newark with 07 acres
in cultivation; two 2-room houses
with good chimneys; everlasting wat
ter; makes half bale cotton to the
acre.
No. 24. 20 acres half mile north of
Newark, 15 acres in cultivation; excel
lent location for t ruck or poult ry farm.
o. 25. 11 acres half mile north of
town; good 5-room house, barn, orch
ard, good out buildings and two vvt Us.
56. 160 acre farm with 40 improved
good orchard of .800 trees, good 7 n> >m
frame house and good barn; everlast
ing spring.
57. 117 acres creek bottom land 2
miles north of town; 35 acres in oulii
vation; good hill land, grows 40 bush
els com and half hale cotton pej- a -re.
59. 2 acres ground and good 5 m-un
house in north edge of town; go.id un
provements and tine water
60. 10 acres in northeast part of
town, all under good fence; good ,8
room box house with brick flues; good
well of water, barn, garden; orchard
of 75 bearing trees of apples; also
pears, peaches and grapes.
r
--—--__-i.
no. 26. 140 acre farm, 60 acres f»
r cultivation; good timber on land now
in cultivation; three 2-room houses,
] good well and spring, 21 acre orchard.
Located 8 miles north of Newark, l
I mile from Black iivcr Academy, rniler
from church and in good neighborhood^
Small creek runs through the farm.
[ no. 27. One block beautiful resi
; dence lots just north of scliOol build*
• ing. \'ery desirable property and ;i
bargain.
No. 30. 40 acres timber land 6 rniloR
southwest of Oil Trough store, good,
i white oak timber; Price #60,
no. 40. 80 acres timber lalid out
Departeecreek, half river bottom ani
halt upland; fine tract of land and
has good timber on it,
no. 41. 55 acres bottom land ont
Black river adjoining railroad; verj»
high and seldom overflows; all in tim
her, fine piece of lam an i a bargain.
no. 53. 80 iicics Big Bottom lunifc
24 miles from Newark; tit) acres in cul
tivation, 3acres in titalfu; grows Oate
of cotton to the acre.
no. 37. 2 acres nicest residence
property in norm part ot town; good
well and garden on place.
55. 160 acre farm 3 miles north of
town, 140 acres in cultivation, 20acres
good timber, no rocks, 5 room log
house and 4 room frame house, good
well, and nice young orchard.
No. 28. 12 acres tine Big Bottom
land,mile and a half from Newark,all
in cultivation: tnaaes bale of cotton
per acre.
No. 20. 16 acres half mile north of
MagnesS; 3 room house, good barn and
orchard.
*v*d.7 (ii,i i;i mu; u'M iMiii iaiMfy
mile river front on Black river; 300
acres under fence; 200 acres tine cane
land; valuable while oak timber or*
land. 4
No. 31. Block of nicest residence
property in Newark, near sen o
building.
No. 32. Block nice residence proo
erty in west side Newark, | block from
school building.
no 42. 8 acres timbered land 3 rnL
north of Newark; good hill land an*
nice location for small fruit farm
no. 33. Block residence property fa
north part of town; 80 bearing anpte
trees on place; choice residence prop
erty
no. 34. 40 acres timbered land lb
Big Bottom, half mile east of Akroiu
Very cheap.
no. 35. 99 acres 2 miles north of
Newark, 70 acres in cultivation, 2-stt>
ry 5-room house, good outbuildings,
barns, 20 acre pasture and tine youn
orchard.
o. 38. Nice 5-room residence 2
blocks from depot, very desirable lo
cation.
o.38. 40 acres.timbered land or*
Village creek, 2 miles from Newport,
tine land; valuable white oak timber
on place.
43. 300 acres good bottom land, 280
acres in timber; 80 acres in timothy;
good 4 room house; good barn and out
buildings; good orchard; 100 acres in
pasture; improvements good; located
3 miles from Newark; a tine stock
farm. Price tive thousand dollars.
45. 2 room house and 1 acre land in
north edge of city, at a bargain.
‘ft! acres nice residence property
in north edge of city; beautiful loca
tion, and genuine bargain.
47. Good 5 room house and I aero
land in west edge of town: convenient
to school; desirable location; cheap.
4*. 80 acres in the manganese belt,
2 miles northwestof Cush man ;heal thy
location; springs in abbndanee.
40. 40 acres timbered land 8 miles
north of Batesville in the manganese
belt; soil rich from mineral.
50. 2 acres tine residence property
in north part of town; 4 blocks frorn
school building; tine orchard of about
| 75 bearing trees; nice location.
>2. 140) acres fine river bottom land
| on Black river, lying on both sides of
railroad; over 200 acres in cultivation;
| 400 acres in pasture; good timber, ;i
| miles river front, railroad station and
switch on place, all good farming land
and has natural drainage, fine for cot
ton, and would make as tine stock
lann as any of its size in the South.
52. 240 acres tine land in the famous
Big Bottom country, half mile from
Newark; makes a bale of cotton and
00 t o loo bushels corn per acre; 25 acres
in alfalfa yielding 7 to 8 tons per acra
every year.
54. 120 acre farm, 55 in cultivation,
! and under good fence, good six room
' hous# and a 2 room house, good barn
I and plenty of water, located 4i miles
j north of town.
CRAIG & HENDERSON jf
Newark, - Arkansas^