THE RAILROAD MARAUDERS

 

EXECUTION OF KING,

THE CHIEF OF THE BAND AND ABE OWENS 

AT FRANKLIN YESTERDAY

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They Assert Their Innocence to the Last and Die Game

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THE PRISON, THE GALLOWS AND THE GRAVE

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Six Thousand People Witness the Execution

 

SPEECHES OF THE PRISONERS UPON THE SCAFFOLD

 

Terrible Death of the Robber Chief

 

Scenes, Incidents, Particulars

 

Yesterday expired the respite from the sentence of death passed upon the railroad robbers, William Phillips King and Abraham Owens, by the Circuit Court of Simpson county, Kentucky, for the murder of Harvey King, a member of the band and brother to the chief, one of the prisoners. The morning broke clear and cloudless above the beautiful little town of Franklin, where the death sentence was to be executed. The birds were sweetly warbling in the trees and a cool breeze swept over the broad green landscape, giving promise of a lovely day, scarce in keeping with the terrible events which were to transpire before the setting of the sun, and which were to seal forever the fate of two erring human beings who had dared to tread the path of death in defiance of inevitable consequences.

 

The prisoners were, on Thursday, removed from the dungeon in which they had been confined, on the lower floor of the jail building, their new quarters being much neater and cooler and better adapted to the reception of visitors and friends. The wife of King, to whom he had been married only three months before his arrest, and his mother and two sisters, who reside now four miles from Franklin, visited the prisoners on that day, in company with the mother, sister and brother of Owens. They remained with the prisoners nearly all day, bidding a last farewell as they parted from them toward its close.

 

The approach of the terrible day seemed to affect them very little and they doubtless expected at least a commutation of their sentences to imprisonment for life. Every effort had been made to save them. The wife of King and his mother, soon after the passage of sentence, went to Gov. Bramlette, in company with Rev. L. M. Horn, and by representing that the spiritual condition of the prisoners was such as to demand a respite, that they might prepare for the fate which awaited them, secured a fifty-six day postponement of the execution, which was then to have taken place on the 17th of May.

 

On the approach of that day, another expedient to gain time was resorted to. It was represented to Gov. Bramlette that the wife of King would be able to produce, at the June session of the Circuit Court, such evidence as would clear the prisoners. The Governor, wishing to give them ample opportunity to prove themselves guiltless, again respited them to June 28th. When the court convened, no attempt whatever was made to prove anything by Mrs. King and as the time wore on, still another experiment was tried. This was the arrest of an old man named Riley Tow, who had moved from Simpson to Allen County, on a charge of having murdered Harvey King. The scheme, however, like the others, failed in its ultimate object.

 

Meanwhile, the robbers had been planning an escape. They at one time succeeded in cutting a hole through the floor of the cell but coming to a large bed of rocks beneath, were compelled to give up this method of egress.

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At another time they out witted the jailor, ran the guard, and very nearly effected their escape, a bullet thru the arm of King only stopping his flight and Owens being found beneath the floor of a kitchen.

 

Even up to yesterday morning they had not given up hope of relief from some quarter and constantly asserted their innocence.

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GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE

 

Though Simpson County has perhaps been the scene of as many bloody murders and outrages as any other in Kentucky, no public execution had ever before taken place within its borders. The death penalty had never before been paid by any violator of law, and the novelty of such a revolting exhibition could not but lead thousands to throw aside business for the day to witness it.

 

At seven o'clock all the saloons and other establishments for the sale of intoxicating liquors were closed, and when, at nine o'clock, the bell at the court-house rang out the ominous signal for the gathering of the guard, the crowd had gathered at various points on the Square, eagerly watching for the first movement toward the jail. In a few moments, they moved toward the head of the street leading from the Square to the prison, but here the dense mass which quickly came together were stopped and kept back by the soldiery.

 

 

AT THE JAIL

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 It was not long when Sheriff Bogan and Capt. R P. Finn, at the head of a company of twenty-two armed citizens, broke through the crowd and marched to jail where upon their arrival, the detachment of twelve guards from the second United States Infantry filed off leaving the prisoners in the hands of the civil authorities and the citizen guards.

 

While these movements were going on outside, Rev. Samuel Borthwick, Rev. W. F. Harwell, Rev. J. F. Redford, Rev. J. H. Morrow and Rev. L. M. Horn were closeted with the prisoners singing and praying with them, they joining in the services but still stubbornly asserting, their innocence and the unjustness of their prospective punishment.

 

At twenty minutes to 11 the prisoners were brought down into the hall leading to the cell they had at first occupied and were there dressed in a suit of black alpaca, the coats reaching below the knees. Black cloth shoes were placed upon their feet, white gloves upon their hands, and narrow brimmed straw hats upon their heads. When dressed the ropes were placed around their necks and their hands bound together with stout leather strips, secured by buckles.

 

While, they were using just prepared for the dreadful fate that awaited them, they appeared perfectly cool and self composed, King complaining that he was so bound that he could not even reach his mouth with his hands.

 

The Sheriff asked Owens if he wished the collar of his coat turned so as to conceal the rope  but the latter answered that he was proud to wear the rope and desired that it should remain exposed to view.

 

They shook hands with a number of officials, bidding them good-bye and expressing the hope to meet in a in a better world.

 

By the time the prisoners were ready, Company F, 2nd U. S. Infantry, in command of Lieut. Maize, and headed by the Franklin Cornet band, which King and Owens had both requested to be in attendance, marched up to the jail. Soon after, two wagons were also stationed there, one of them containing seats for the prisoners, sheriff, clergy and physicians, while in the other were placed two plain walnut coffins, over which a quilt was thrown.

 

King and Owens were brought out, the latter with his hat set jauntily upon his head and with a lighted cigar in his mouth. Some more shaking of hands and hearty farewells exchanged, the prisoners invariably asserting their innocence, and everything was ready for a march.

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TO THE GALLOWS

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These were about half a mile south of the town and built within three feet of the railroad track with broad, unfenced fields extending to the right and left. As none of the citizens were willing that the execution should take place on their premises, the instrument of death had been raised upon the property of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.

 

It was a little after eleven o'clock when the solemn procession started from the jail. The band took the lead, followed by the infantry under Lieut. Maize. Then came the wagon with the prisoners, followed by the one containing the coffins and the rear was brought up by the citizen guards. As it moved on, the masses who had collected in various places, fell in and marched with it toward its terrible destination.

 

Many, in their haste to reach the place where the gallows stood, made short cuts and saved ground arriving some time in advance of the prisoners. When the guards and prisoners arrived the military were compelled to drive back the crowd and clear the way to

 

THE SCAFFOLD

 

which the prisoners ascended, followed by the Sheriff, clergy, and reporters. About 6000 people, from all parts of country, many of them, strange to say, ladies, composed the assemblage surrounding the gallows.

 

At the request of the prisoners, 'We're 'going home to die no more" was sung, both joining in the singing and alter a prayer from Rev. Mr. Morrow, they were notified that they would be allowed twenty minutes each to address the people. Capt. King was the first to speak. His utterance, though sometimes a little husky and choked, was generally clear. He said

 

CAPT. KING'S SPEECH

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My Dying Friends: I see here today many of my old acquaintances and friends We never before met on such an occasion as this. Eight months ago, my dying friends, I was as free as any man now standing before me. I have only a few minutes to live and then I will be called upon to die the most honorable death that a man can die. But I can die with as good grace as any man. God witnesses my innocence, and though I am, on the gallows, I could take my bitterest enemy, who Swore against me and love him. Thank God I have a hope beyond the gallows, a home in heaven. I would like to talk a good deal but my health wilt not permit. I have been buffeted from one place to another, but I hope now to be for once a free man. I am here with you now and I hope that in a few hours I shall be with my father in paradise.

 

Peace within a man's heart is the greatest consolation that can be afforded. He can lay down and sleep at night and nothing crosses his breast. I mean by that, the man who sets the example of a Christian. Do that and you can lay down in the most humble place, if you have the Savior's love and peace.

 

Since I have been in jail, I have been like a wild animal in the forest. My mind has been directed to my dear mother, my loved sisters, and my darling wife. Since I was taken from them, l have never been able to be a free man. I have done all I could to be a free man.

 

Oh, if I could only be at home once more it would be the happiest moment of my life. But if it is the will of the great Jehovah that I should die, I'm the happiest man in the world. I'm bound to go to heaven.

 

You may swear this on me and take away my life, but you can't take away my soul, thank God, l have a friend and redeemer in heaven. I have not studied to make this speech, and don't want to weary your patience. If I had the strength and voice I once had, I could talk to this crowd. I want you to forsake your sins, and meet me in heaven. Tell Grif Wright I want to meet him in heaven. Yes, Grif, you promised to stand to me and to be true and faithful but you forsook me, and plunged me as deep as you could. You hunted all the testimony in the courts of Simpson County.

 

I'm as innocent of my brother's death as any man here. I said Abe Owens done it and you hang me with what testimony you get against me and all I can say is, meet me in heaven, where no trials, no troubles, no sorrows ever reach.

 

I am today a poor worm of the dust. I am here only a few minutes and you will see me no more. I want to leave the world and leave it happy and in glory and honor and I want you to tell your children that I died like a man. It may he the Lord's will for me to hang today. It may put an end to murder in your county. Why should I say so? The little boys are growing up and they can say a man was hung because he was a murderer. It has been said and sung that I've been one of the bloodiest men that ever lived. I have killed men in self defense, but never in cold blood. If I've said anything to hurt the feelings of anyone here, I wish to be pardoned, but cannot take it back.

 

I'm to go up before my God and I would not stand on this scaffold and tell you a lie. If I was guilty I'd tell it but I'm as innocent of the death of my brother as any man can be. Great love existed between me and my brother. There is not a person within the sound of my voice who loves their brothers better than I did mine and had I known who killed him I should have avenged his death. I would rather have left the continent of America than to do it. If I'd been guilty of the death of my I brother, I wouldn't have been hung here today, I'd have been too sharp for that. I knew not till I saw my brother's body that he was dead. I'm proud to say that I would have killed the man who did it. I loved my brother and would have fought for him to the death. I never knew him to have a fuss with any one without looking to me for protection. I'm as innocent as Tobe Procter or Art Wilson over there. I'll tell you why I said Abe Owens had done it. I had seen the blood on his pistol and I am proud that I said it.

 

It is better for a man to die guilty than innocent. A guilty man can say he deserved to die but it is a hard thing to take an innocent man from his family forever.

 

I would to God that in the hour I found my brother, he could have told me who killed him. I wouldn't have asked civil law to prove it. I said I believed Abe Owens was guilty of my brothers death and let him defend himself if he can. But Mr. Owens says he is not guilty and I don't know today who did it.

 

I have to die and will never meet you on earth again. I don't want to say anything against you but if I am going to the place I hope to, I'd rather do it than stay here with you. I would to God I had died when I was an infant or at some other time before this thing commenced. Eight months ago I had as little idea of being hung as you. It's only a momentary pang to be hung. It's soon over with. But thank God I have a hope beyond the gallows and the grave.

 

I've been like the balance of you and done wrong as well. I know I have and confess it but let him who is without sin throw the first stone. The best happiness is the life of a Christian. If you call him a thief or a murderer it does not make it so. I have confessed my sins and now look to God for glory and a crown in the happy home I will soon reach. I'm sure to go to heaven. I feel that I am on my way to glory. I love you and would to God you could feel as I do.

 

I want to meet you all in heaven. Tell my neighbors and friends that the last words of Bill King were that they should meet him in heaven. Go home and reflect upon your sins for you don't know how soon you may share Bill King's fate. Go home and read your Bibles. Be good Christians. I love you all and would not hurt a hair of your heads. I give you this advice as you must one day appear before the Great Judge. I hope to meet you in heaven. Goodbye.

 

SPEECH OF ABE OWENS

 

Captain King having concluded, Abe Owens was allowed to speak. He said:

 

My Friends I'm here today to make you a speech. It is a thing I never before undertook. I have no education and can barely read and write a little. I am and always was a little bashful. I would like to know why I am here? Is there a man on the ground who can say I am to be executed for murder today.

 

I have fought for my country and now have to die with the name of a traitor. I am accused of robbing railroads and murdering my neighbor boy!  Have you brought any proof that I am a murderer? Can you prove that I am the particle of a part? Thank God I was not. here when the war was going on and never pestered any one in this country. I was in the service three years and six months, and done as good duty as any man. And I can say before God, that if ever I shot or murdered a man, I don't know it.

 

So far as the statement is that Billy King had come and told me to kill his brother and that I went and told him where to find his brother, it is not so, gentlemen. If I had intended to kill him, I would never had such a conversation. I never knew Harvey King was dead till Monday evening. How did I hear it? My little brother and sister came from school and told me he was dead. They tried to prove that I never went near the corpse. When I went over there, my mother said to go back home and come tomorrow. I did come next morning and stayed there till he was buried.

 

I borrowed a pistol from Billy King to go and visit some friends in Tennessee. When Sunday came, I was late in getting up and Billy King came over to see my father about cattle getting into his corn. He. wanted me to go to church with him and I went, though I turned to go to Tennessee. My horse was not shod behind and I gave up going. Did I have a pistol on this day ? No, you can't prove it.

 

It is a money speculation in human blood that now takes away my life. What is $1000? Why S1000 will buy women's lives now a days. The pistol went home on Monday morning; had it ever been shot? My brother started to school and got to the evaporator. He met Billy King, who took down the pistol and when he started away the little boy took the pistol. How many hands did that pistol pass through? l can suffer with the greatest of grace. It is belter for me to die innocent than guilty. You may say today, Abe Owens told a lie upon the scaffold. I believe it not. I say before God and man, I did not know Harvey King was dead. I admit I've been a sinner and a gambler and very bad man but I think I have forgiveness for my sins and I think I'm better off today than some who swore to a lie. I say before God and man that Griff Wright swore to a lie. When two good witnesses besides a man's friends will not be taken, I'd rather die. Capt. Finn say to Griff Wright that he swore to a lie, but forgive him. He was the first man who tried to get me to robbing.

 

There's Cornwell, who turned States' evidence. He swore my foot was crushed while another man says I was the second in the train. I've written a little history, and don't think it necessary to explain the railroad robbery any further.

 

Talking for his life

 

The balance of Owens' speech was made up of repetitions of the foregoing and it was nearly two o'clock when he closed. It was evident that he was striving to gain time as he went far beyond his twenty minutes, the Sheriff giving him the privilege of talking as much as he pleased. Lieut. Maize, seeing the game Owens was playing, declared to the Sheriff that if the speaking were not stopped in five minutes, he would withdraw the troops. This put an end to the speaking and the clergy and prisoners joined in prayer and singing.

 

THE FATAL MOMENT

 

having arrived, King and Owens shook hands with those around them and with each other, still declaring their innocence. The white caps were drawn over their heads, but they still maintained their firmness and encouraged each other. "Hold up your head Billy," said Owens but this injunction was unnecessary for King was standing straight as an arrow. They only requested the Sheriff to see that they should not fall too far.

 

Deep sobbing was heard among the ladies as the Sheriff bade goodbye to the prisoners and notified them that the time had come for him to perform his last sad duty and one lady prayed loudly and fervently. The band at the request of the doomed men, struck up the Dead March. Sheriff Bogan appeared cool and collected, terrible as was his duty. After adjusting the ropes, "I will count five," said he, "now be ready. One two three four five" the trap door fell with a loud slam, and Wm. P. King and Abraham Owens were rapidly passing to eternity. The neck of Owens was broken and only a few convulsive twitches followed his fall. The struggle with King was terrible and he appeared to be slowly strangling. His whole body was convulsed and he seemed trying to spring from his bonds. In five minutes, however, all was over, and the bodies were motionless. The traps was sprung at precisely two o'clock, and as soon as the bodies were pronounced dead, they were removed for burial.

 

BIOORAPHICAL SKETCHES

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Wm. P. King was the eldest son of Peter King, who intermarried with Elizabeth Newman and was born in Macon County, Tennessee on the 27th day of February, 1830. His father was a brother-in-law of Z. Casey, who was Governor of Illinois and filled many public offices of trust and honor not only in that State but was also elected to Congress on several occasions. Peter King emigrated from Macon county, Tennessee and settled in Simpson County, Kentucky in the year 1857. He has the reputation of having been a peaceable and quiet citizen, and was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of a gentleman in Franklin, some three years ago. His son, Wm. King, who is the subject of this notice, joined the Federal Army May 1st, 1863, and was Captain of Company E, 62nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, which was commanded by Col. John Grider and Lieut.Col. Sam Johnson and was mustered on Jan. 17, 1865. He was five feet seven inches high, sandy colored beard, auburn hair, with cold, sinister grey eyes and weighed 145 pounds.

 

Abraham Owens was born in October 1842, in the county of Macon, State of Tennessee. His father, Wm. Owens, moved to this county and State in the year 1853. He has the reputation of being an industrious and honest farmer. Abraham is his third son and he joined the Federal army as private in company H, 5th Kentucky Cavalry, December 1861, where he served until the war closed in 1865. His military career was not marked by anything deserving of particular notice but he was generally regarded as a brave man and reliable soldier. He was decidedly good looking, has very fair, smooth and soft skin, gentle blue eyes, auburn colored hair and moustache and was five feet nine inches high and weighs 160 pounds.

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Nashville Union and American

June 29, 1867