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VOL. 1. NO. 192.
ATLANTA,. GA.; THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6,1906.
PTfTfTJ'. Atlanta TWO CRNT.s.
I JXJLVjII) : On Tralna VIVB CUNTS.
“YES, I KILLED HER,”
DECLARES GILLETTE
TO HIS ATTORNEY
Prosecuting Attorney
Knew of Prison
er’s Confession.
youth explains
WHY HE KILLED
Says That Girl Came Prom
Her End of Boat To
ward Him.
Herkimer, N. Y., Dec. 6.—Cheater
(lillette has confessed that he murdered
(trace Brown on Big Moose lake.
To his counsel he admitted:
"Yes; I did kill Grace Brown.
"She stood up and came from lie? end
of the boat toward me and was crying,
and said she was discouraged. To end
It all I took my tennis racquet out of
the straps of my dress suitcase and
struck her twice.
“Dumped Her Overboard.”
"She fell full length backward, her
head striking the seat. Then I dumped
her overboard."
When Gillette, on the witness stand,
told his story of how his sweetheart
had Jumped Into Big Moose lako and
committed suicide, at least sin persons
knew he was lying. These were: Gil
lette's two lawyers, the prosecuting at
torney and Sheriff Richard and Turn
key Evans.
Knew of ths Confession.
During the cross-examination of Gil
lette District Attorney Ward said to
film:
"Did you not confess the night before
last that you struck Grace Brown when
she came up beside the boat?"
(lillette made a denial. Later, In the
dramatic events of the trial, the pur
port of this question was forgotten.
The district attorney, however, knew
at the time that Gillette had confessed,
and he had witnesses to prove It.
To Fight for Family,
it is understood that had the verdict
been guilty of murder In fha. soepnd.
degree Glllette'irr lawyer would have
made no move to save him from life
Imprisonment. Because of the urging
i.f the doomed men'*"parent*, however,
Die lawyer* will fight to save the fam*
Hy from the stain of having one mem*
her put to death In the electric cbalr.
A dispatch from Denver tells of the
grief with which the parents of Gll-
lette learned of III* confession. Mrs. |
I rank Gillette, the mother, who was a:
in Salvation Army olllcer, still de- i
• lares her belief that htr son I* Inno-1
• "lit of tho crime of murder.
Parents Want An Appsal.
The parents wired to Chester's at-
i"i:ifys as follows:
wish yen to appeal the cuee at
• nee. end tdenro let us know when the
new trial Is likely to come, as wo are
both entiling to at ter.d It. How much
money will we need lo raise for an a|>-
1**1? Thank you for the hard tlglr.
made for our boy. We believe politics
Influenced the Jury In Its decision, and
that n higher court will reverse ft.”
Sheriff Overheard 8tory.
He feured, however, to put the con
fession In evidence, as It had been made
to the prisoner’s lawyers and might
cause the granting of n new trial.
(Illleite had told former Senator Al
bert M. Alllls, his Junior counsel, how
he had slain Grace Brown. His state
ments were overheard by Sheriff Rich
ards and Turnkey Evans, who at once
Informed the district attorney.
Lawyer .Mills had been wrestling with
i he problem whether he should permit
Gillette to go on the stand and tell Ills
Gory. He finally derided Gillette's
story could not. make his rase any
worse, and went to Olllette’s cell to
have him again go over the details of
hl« story of the girl's death.
Gillette Told All Details.
'lillette went over the events of ths
fateful day aa he had related them
before, until he came to the point where
Ji“ had said the girl leaped out of the
boat to drown herself.
Then, In deliberate manner, he told
'bat. aa the girl rose In the water be
side the boat, he struck her a terrible
“low over the.head and the girl sank to
her death.
"You little wretch." cried the horrl
bed lawyer, “why did not you ever tell
fo« this beforer'
Gillette was silent and the angry
lawyer left the cell. The next dey
"hen the trial was resumed It was ob-
-erved that there was a coolness be-
t ween Gillette and his lawyers. Mills
anil Chase D. Thomas, his other lawyer,
old not alt near him, and until the end
of the trial they seldom spoke to him.
Circus to Winter In Macon.
s l"" lal to Tbs'Georgian.
•daeon, Dec. 6. — Permission was
granted by council on Tuesday night
>" the O. W. Rawlins Circus Company
to Vinter at Central City park In Ma-
"in. and In a few days animals will be
transferred to the winter quarters,
which will be prepared to receive them.
I h» Circus has a well-stocked menag
erie.
RAWLINS BOVS TO ESCAPE GALLOWS
SENTENCES ARE COMMUTED TO LIFE;
PRISON COMMISSIONERS MERCIFUL
LATE AGAIN!
DELAYED RAILROAD SCHEDULES HAVE BECOME A GRIM JOKE IN GEORGIA.
Milton and Jesse Raw
lins Were to Die
Friday.
DEATH OP FATHER
EXPATIATED CRIME
WROTE OWN EPITAPH ■ .
IN SHADOW OF DEATH
Rawlins Sent Letter
to Old Mother at
the Last.
°«ooooooooooooo«H»ooaoooo
£ CHURCH PERSECUTED
£ IN FRANCE, 8AY8 POPE. O
“ 0
“ Rome, Rely, Dec. t.—At the O
“ consistory today eighty-four new O
r bishops were appointed. The pope O
2 "Poke feelingly of what he con- O
2 "Idered the persecution of Catho- O
? lies in France under the law sep- O
° “rating the church and .state. g
CCOOGOO0OOOOOOO0OOOOOOOOOO
(Two hours before, he died on the gal
lows In Valdosta last Tuesday, old man
J. G. Rawlins borrowed a bit of pencil
aud wrote a letter to his old, mother,
who had come a long way to see him,
asking that It be given her after his
death.
The letter was given by Sheriff Pass
more to the widow, to be delivered to
fhe mother of Jinwllnx. It was guard
ed carefully by Mrs. Rawlins and was
shown only to a friend of The Geor
gian. at Fitzgerald, to whom Mr*.
Rawlins expressed her gratitude for
the spirit of this paper toward her
family. _
When opened It was found that Raw
lins had written Ills own epitaph—a
brief, relentless epitome of his wrecked
life, such as only a man of ills stern
type could wish to carve In marble to
tell the world the hard facts without
the gloss of the usual obituary. Here
Is the letter from Mr. Parrish, at Fltz-
gerald, with a copy of Rawlins' letter
to his mother and the epitaph which
was written during his last hours:
Bsaring Body Homs.
Fitzgerald, Ga„ Dec. 5, 1906.
Hon. John Temple Graves,
Editor Atlanta Georgian,
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: Airs. J. G. Rawlins passed
through here today with the body of
J. G. Rawlins en route to Jacksonville,
Ga., for burial.
The attached Is a copy of a letter f
saw In their possession here today that
the old man asked them to deliver to
his mother.
As The Georgian has been so well
spoken of by him, 1 send you the letter
which he wrote on the morning of his
execution. This was written In his cell
at 9 o'clock, two hours before his
death. Your, truly,, PARRISH.
Letter to His Mother.
Valdosta, Ga., Dec. 4, 1906.
Dear Mother: I am sorry I brought,
all this trouble on you and the rest of
my people and friends, but 1 don t want
any of you to grieve after me, one bit.
I would have been glad to see some of
my people If I could. I am not guilty
of what I am accused of; my boys are
Innocent of that crime; they did not
do It. or have anything to do with It In
any way. 1 believe the negro will own
the crime when we go on the gallows.
I want Lee to get me a cheap tomb
stone and put It to my grave. Ange
lins frill give him the money to pay
for It On the other side of this sheet
you will see the words I want put on It.
*" our MyWard b0y> J R. RAWLINS.
Thin I* the epitaph written on the
reverse of the letter: *
J G. Rawline, horn June 19th* IMS.
Hung at Y'aldoata, Oa., Dec. 4th, 1M.
Thla bark wan well built, but, mlf-
fulrieri, ran hard on the rock* of de
struction.
RA WLJNS WRITES EPITAPH
FOR HTS OWN TOMBSTONE
Thla la the epitaph written by J. O. Rawlins for hit* own tombstone.
It Is typical of the item old man. once a preacher, well versed In religion,
who went to his death believing that he had no hope of salvation.
J. O. RAWLINS.
Born June 19, 1865.
Hung at Valdosta, Ga., December 4. 1906.
This bark was well built, but misguided, ran hard on the rocks of de
struction.
LETTER TO OLD MOTHER
TS TOUCHING MESS A GE
This Is the last letter written by J. G. Rawlins. It I* addressed to his
old mother, who visited her son Monday, hut who could not witness his
death:
-Valdosta, Ga., Dec. 4, 1906.
.Dear Mother: I am sorry I brought all this troublo on you and the
rest of my people and friends, but I don't want any of you to grieve after
me, one bit. I would have been glud to see some of my people If I could;
I am not guilty of what I am accused of; my boys arc Innocent of that
crime; they did not do It. or have anything to do with It In any way. 1
believe the negro will own the crime when wo go on the gallows.
I want Lee to get me a cheap tombstone and put it to my grave. An-
gellne will give hint the money tiT pay for It. On the other side of this
sheet you will see tl\e words I wunt put on It. Your wayward boy,
J. G. RAWLINS.
Revulsion of Sentiment Re
sulted in Saving Life
of Two Boys.
Life far Milton and Jesse Rawlins!
With the gallows on which their fa
ther perished Tuesday standing within
the Jail Inclosure at Valdosta, ready to
send them to eternity Friday, mercy
was shown them Thursday morning
by the prison commission and Govern
or Joseph M. Terrell.
Chairman J. S. Turner and General
Clement A. Evans signed the recom
mendation which meant life to the
boys. Colonel Tom Eason, the other
member of the commission, Was not
present.
Contrary to general expectation, the
commission made short shift of their
' hard task. The opinion had been ex
pressed that the decision would not be
) made before late Thursday afternooh.
Before 10 o'clock Attorney John R.
Cooper was on hand. His every move,
mem gave expression to his Intense
anxiety and nervousnegs. They waited
until near 11 o'clock to give Colonel
| Eason an opportunity to come In. but
as he did not. Chairman Turner finally
sent for Mr, Cooper.
Face Told Story.
He was not In the private office of
the commission more than ten minutes
when he came out. his face wreathed
in happy smiles. He fairly exuded his
good news.
"What Is the decision, Mr. Cooper?"
asked a newspaper man.
"Sorry I can't tell you," was the smil
ing reply. "But you know the matter
cannot be given out until It has gone
! to the governor."
Afaybe Mr. Cooper did not realise It,
but he might as well have shouted the
news of the commutation from the
house tops. No man could have smiled
as happily as he did with any but good
new*.
And he has been terribly In earnest
In this case. He believed with all his
being (hat Afllton and Jesse Rawlins
ought to be commuted to life Imprison
ment. Now that It Is all over, he con
fessed that he gave up hope absolutely
for old man Rawlins months ago, hut
he did not for the boys.
“I guess I'n, about as happy as those
two boys," he said. "And think of the
Joy In that old mother's heart! Sho
Is In Coffee county today burying, her
husband, but this news will lift the un
utterable weight of sorrow from hsr."
Mr. Cooper was profuse In his praise
of Governor Terrell.
"He's a man with a heart In him,*’ he
said.
8snds News to Mother.
"But let me get the news to the boys
and that old mother," and the fighting
lawyer fairly ran from the cepltol for
the telegraph office. He sent the fol
lowing message nt hope and life:
Jesse and Milton Rawlins, Valdosta.
WILL SPRING LIVES Tl
Defense Claims He
Was Cruel to His
Wife.
Men and Women Vic
tims of the
Blast.
Ga.:
both
WILL WORK FOR PARDON;
COOPER WILL NO7 GIVE UP
UNTIL BOYS ARE SET FREE
“We have won. 1 have accomplished
what I have'been striving for during
eighteen months and the lives of your
boys have been saved. I sympathize
with you In the loss of your husband
and I rejoice with you In the saving of
your two boys.”
This Is what Attorney John R. Coop
er, of Macon, wrote to Mr*. Angelina
Rawlins, wife of J. G. Rawlins, anil
mother of Milton and Jesse Rawlins,
who were snatched from the scaffold
Thursday morning.
His strenuous fight against big odds
for eighteen months to save these boys
from the gallows has been won unit
after sending telegrams to Airs. Raw
lins and the boys, Attorney Cooper dic
tated letters fa them at the Piedmont
hotel.
But even with this great victory to
his credit he Is not yet done fighting.
He Is for the present—for a few years
—but he declare* that he will go to hi*
grave believing Alllton, Jeese and Leon-
Continued on Pane Fifteen.
JOHN R. COOPER.
Th* Macon Attorney who hot
fought to hard to *a*e hit
Clients.
"Governor Terrell saves you
from the gallows.
"JOHN R. COOPER."
•Airs. Angelina Rawlins. Ambrose, Ga.:
"Your boys saved from the gallows
by Governor Terrell.
"JOHN R. COOPER."
Though news of the commutations
became known quickly about the capi
tal, the official order was not drawn by
Chairman Turner and sent to the gov
ernor until about 1 o’clock Thursday
afternoon. Governor Terrell had been
busied all the morning with the meet
ing of the agricultural school trustees,
but he Immediately signed the order
Hint gave the boys life.
Reasons for Commutation.
The order drawn by the commission
recommends Alllton and Jesse Rawlins
for commutation and that they he Im
prisoned for life. After stating that J.
G. Rawlins and Alf Atoore had been
hanged for the crime, the commission
says:
"These defendants (Jesse and Allltonl
nt the time the crime was committed,
were aged respectively is and IS, and
were doubtless completely dominated
by their father, who would brook no
opposition from anyone, much less his
minor sons. Their participation In this
atrocious crime must have been at his
Instance and command.
"Since the execution of the father
and Aloore, public Bentlinent seems al
most universal that the ends of Justice
will be completely met by the clemency
recommended, which Is urged by more
than 2.000 citizens of the state, from
every portion thereof and In every sta
tion of life. This Is represented by
more than 200 letters and telegrams
besides petitions. More than 600
Lowndes county people have asked us
to commute them and the list Includes
lawyers, bankers, newspaper men, min
isters, city and county officials and
members of both the house and senate.”
Long after the commission had
reached a decision telegrams from all
parts of the state kept pouring In
pleading for the liven of the boys.
Sheriff Passmore has’been wired that
the boys are not to hang.
Court Officials Return.
Judge Newman and other officials
t the United Statee court of the
Western district of Georgia, are expect
ed to return to Atlanta from Columbus,
Ga., Thursday night. Several Impor
tant cases were disposed of by the
court In Columbus during the past four
days. The court adjourned for ths
term. -
It Is stated Thursday that the prose
cution In the case of Albert L. Thomas,
the young railroad man who Tuesday
afternoon shot and wounded Dr. Wil
liam Cawhern, will spring a sensation
at the trial In contradiction of the
charge of Thomas that the physician
had wrecked his home.
Attorneys Eugene D. Thomas and
David R. Quarles, counsel for Dr. Caw
hern, assert they Vlll be able to shoi-
that Thomas by the commission of
certain acts, mistreated his wife, And
that It was this alleged cruelty that
prompted her to leave him last Mon
day. It will be further shown. It Is
stated, that advice given by Dr. Caw-
hem aa the family physician, In the
Interest of the health of Aire. Thomas,
was disregarded by the husband.
Airs. Thomas, It Is understood, has
expressed a willingness to go on the
wltneas stand, If permitted, and brand
the chargee of her husband as utterly
untrue. Mre. Thomas Is still atfthe
home of her sister, Mrs. Cook, 23 Or
chard street, where she went after
leaving hw home Alonday.
"Reason Wife Loft Homo.”
Another new feature In connection
with the affair has been developed In
the declaration of Airs. Thomas to
friends that her husband had not
spoken to her for a period of two
weeks before ehe left hlin and that this
prompted her to leave.
Mrs. Thomas, It Is said, stated that
this conduct on the part of.her hus
band greatly annoyed her and that she
remonstrated with him, but to no avail.
Finally, Sunday afternoon she Is said
to have threatened to leave' him Mon
day If he did not become more socia
ble.
According to Mrs. Thomas, the hus
band Is said to have replied:
"All right, Just leave the keys where
Continued on Pago Fiftaon.
Lynn, Ala**., Dee. 6.—Several factory
workers, among whom are said to be
some women, are reported killed in a
boiler explosion which wrecked the big
Harney Brothers' shoe factory at ■'West ,
Lynn shortly after 7 o'clock today. The
big boiler blew up Just after the power
had started and the help were assem
bled for work.
To add to the terror of hundreds of
<nen and women rushing from the fac
tory a Are sprang out In the vicinity of
the power house. At first two alarms
were sent In, but Inside of ten min
utes It was found necessary to bring
out the whole fire fighting apparatus
of the city.
Dozen Man Are Hurt.
It Is feared the fire will spread and
arrangements are being made to get.
fire fighting apparatus here from Boston
and other cities by train, should a call
be necessary.
The force of the explosion demolish
ed the entire front of the building ami
flaming debris was thrown.through the j
floors of the building. Injuring at least
twelve men In the tasters department.
The fire caught Immediately and the
long wooden structure was a mass of
flames instantly. The workmen had to
flee for their lives, and It was with
great - difficulty that the Injured were
taken from the building. Ten men
were taken at once to the Lynn hos
pital.
FIs* in Night Clothe*.
. In half an hour the factory was de-
troyed. The fire spread to the West
Lynn station of the Boston and Matnu
railroad, and from there was communi
cated to the shoo factory of Tuft A
Friedman, a three-story building. Sev
eral cottages surrounding the Harm-v
factory Were burned to the ground and
‘the Jewish occupants were forced to
th* street, some In their night clothes.
FLED FROM CONVENT
TOWED HER LOVER BUT
POLICE CAME TOO SOON
following a highly rdmanttc elope,
ment from Alarlon, Ind., Walter B.
Neal. 22 years of age, son of a well-
know retired Methodist minister of that
place, and Miss Irene Keck, 17 years
of age. pretty and vivacious, who fled
from the confines of a Catholic con
vent In an effort to marry the man she
loves, were arrested late Wednesday
afternoon by Policeman Rosser, after
a clever bit of detective work.
The two young lovers are now held
In the police station, the arrests hav'
Ing frustrated the proposed marriage,
temporarily at tenet.
The young people were taken Into
custody on a telegram from the chief
of police of Marlon, who wired for their
arrest at the Inntlgntlon of Airs. Mary
Keck, mother of the runaway girl.
Atrs. Keck, It Is understood, objects to
the marriage on account of the tender
age or her daughter.
"Police Wore Too Quick.”
The authorities of the Indiana city
have been notified and the lovers will
be held pending Instructions.
Both declare, however, their Inten
tion of yet taking a voyage on the sea
of matrimony.
"1 love Walter and I want to marry
him." said Miss Keck at the police
station. "That I* why I left school
and came all the way to Atlanta. I
don't see why they want to Interfere
with us In this way.”
I certainly Intend to have Alisa Keck
for my wife," asserted Neal. "If the
police had waited Just a little bit louv
er, It would have been all over and she
would be my bride.”
/ Young Nea| came to Atlanta about
two weeks ago and Aflss Keck arriv.-.l
here a day or two ago, engaging a room
In n boarding house In East Hunter
street until Neal could complete tho ar.
rungements for the marriage.
Rosser Shadowed Girl.
When the dianppearance of the girl
became known, the police ot Afarlon
were at once notified and a telegram
was sent to Chief Jennings, It being
thought she had come here to meet
Neal. Officer Rosser was detailed on
the case and Wednesday Rfternoon
found Neal at work In the plant of the
Foote & Davies Company, where 1m
was taken Into custody.
The olllcer could get no Information
from the young man concerning tho
whereabouts of the missing girl, hut i
dose search was soon rewurded. While
walking along one of the down town
streets Rosser’s attention was attracted
to a pretty maiden who was strolling
along through the crowd. On taking a
closer look the officer at once renltv I
that she fit the description of Miss
Keck. Satisfied lie waa on the right
track, he shudowed the girl for some
time, she finally entering the bouse m
Hunter street.
Going Into the house himself, the
officer began to queetlon the girl, and
she finally admitted she was Miss
Keck. She was then taken to the |m-
llce station and placed In the care if
the matron.
WASHERWOMEN IN UNION
SHIRTS AND SHIRTWAISTS
MUST DO DOUBLE DUTY
Tt the housewives of Atlanta refuse
to pay from 12 to 63 more a month to
have their washing done, .hey may be
seen In the very near future stooping
over their own washtubs, scrubbing the
clothes of their families front morning
until night and causing their dainty-
hands and arms to develop Into mus
cular members.
Negro unions have been formed on
Decutur street with a large member
ship, which pruhibU any of tho mem
bers from doing washing for less than
66 or 66 a month. As the charge for
merly made by these washerwomen
was only 66 a month, a formation of the
union haa caused a raise of from 62
to 66 a month In price. Several house
wives who formerly secured their
washing at 66 were startled Wednesday
when they were told they would huve
to come across with mors cash or do
their own washing. Some of these
women have already started for the
first time In their lives to do their own
washing, preferring to do this rather
than submit to the raise In price.
At Adamsvllle the conditions are till! I
worse. The negro tthlons there. It l<
said, prohibit any of the members from
taking In any washing whatever. Every \
woman who had taken In washlin In
the community previous to the forma
tion of the union, became member*
the body except' one, a negro named
Robinson. This woman wo* swamped
with customers and was the mainstay
of the community In the laundry
But, sod to relate, two county poltcs*
mcn went to her home recently to I
her husband. They did not even i
l>ect the negro ot any crime, but
had evidently been up to some mischief,
for when the police appeared on
scene, Robinson skipped the counit
and has not Iteen seen since. His ■
picked up and left later.
So now, all of the matrons of Ad
vtlle tin their own washing, as s t
ot the unions, and Just such a i
tlpn threatens Atlanta. Atlanta
this advantage, her negroes
do washing at 66 more & month,
the Adamsvllle union prohibited
members from doing any. *uch work
whatever.
\
■am
