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Story
September 5, 1896
Event 2 of 2
Birmingham State Herald
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
What is this article about?
Arthur Hanye, 26, executed by hanging in Atlanta on Sept. 4 for murdering friend Will Spinks following a quarrel. Despite petitions, Gov. Atkinson denied commutation. Hanye warned against whisky and bad company in final speech amid prayers; small crowd witnessed.
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Full Text
This is Event 2 of 2. The full text below covers all events in this component.
HANYE DIED LIKE A MAN
Face to the East, a Prayer Upon His Lips.
YELLOW ROSE ON HIS BREAST
The Breeze Stirred Its Leaves as the Body Swayed in the Air.
THERE WERE VERY FEW SPECTATORS
He Was Dead in Fifteen Minutes-His Last Words Were a Warning Against Whisky and Bad Company.
Funeral Today
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 4.-Arthur Hanye, a white man 26 years old, was hanged here today for the murder of Will Spinks. The two had been bosom friends, and eight years ago they were implicated in the murder of an Italian. Spinks' testimony saved Hanye. Last winter the two friends quarreled and Hanye killed Spinks.
Twice processions were formed and marched through the city to petition Governor Atkinson to commute Hanye's sentence. The governor replied each time that as there was no new evidence favorable to Hanye he would not interfere with the verdict of the jury.
The crowd present was very small, which gave the enclosure a deserted appearance. Hanye wore on the lapel of his coat a Mareschal Neil rose, while in his hand he carried a bunch of roses. He marched after Sheriff Barnes and Pat McCullough to the gallows with the two ministers. He looked down on the little crowd in front calmly, as if he were about to perform some ordinary act.
Advancing to the front of the scaffold, Rev. J. H. Ellis lifted his hands in prayer and prayed while Hanye, with his roses in one hand and his hat in the other, bowed his head and leaned against the railing of the gallows.
Ere the last words had died away from the lips of Mr. Ellis, Mr. Ward lifted up his voice in prayer for the doomed man. When the prayer was finished Hanye turned to the officers and said something in a low tone. Then, handing his hat and roses to Mr. Ward, he stepped to the front of the scaffold. Looking for a moment upon those beneath him, he drew in a long breath and began to speak. Lifting up his head after a brief interval, Hanye said:
"I wish to say a few words, as I only have a few minutes on earth. I am going to meet that God who has, I know, forgiven my sins. I know I am prepared to meet Him. I wish to say to all my friends to tear away from whisky and bad company, or it will bring you to the gallows, as it has brought me. I hope every friend in the hearing of my voice will take this advice. He needs it. May God bless you all and all my friends, relatives and lovers, and save us all in heaven at last is my prayer."
After he had been tied Hanye prayed for strength to endure the ordeal. He said: "Oh, most merciful God, I beg Thee to bear with me in my last moments. My Heavenly Father, I beg of Thee when the last breath leaves my body that one of Your angels may bear my soul to heaven, where I may meet my friends that have gone before and those that will follow. Oh, most merciful God, hear my prayers and receive my soul, I beg of Thee, for Christ's sake."
Pat McCullough placed the rope around Hanye's neck and then Hanye said something to him in a low tone. "I'll be as quick as I can," was the officer's reply, and in a brief space the task was complete, and with his covered face turned toward the east Hanye stood for a moment while the sheriff called "One, two, three!"
As the last quick word was uttered there was a rattling of triggers, a falling of the trap and the body shot downward 6½ feet, where it swayed idly in the air, the rose leaves on Hanye's coat fluttering in the breeze that came sweeping through the jail yard.
In fifteen minutes the physicians pronounced him dead and he was cut down. His body was placed in the wagon of Undertaker Patterson and carried to the residence of his uncle, from which the funeral will be conducted tomorrow.
Face to the East, a Prayer Upon His Lips.
YELLOW ROSE ON HIS BREAST
The Breeze Stirred Its Leaves as the Body Swayed in the Air.
THERE WERE VERY FEW SPECTATORS
He Was Dead in Fifteen Minutes-His Last Words Were a Warning Against Whisky and Bad Company.
Funeral Today
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 4.-Arthur Hanye, a white man 26 years old, was hanged here today for the murder of Will Spinks. The two had been bosom friends, and eight years ago they were implicated in the murder of an Italian. Spinks' testimony saved Hanye. Last winter the two friends quarreled and Hanye killed Spinks.
Twice processions were formed and marched through the city to petition Governor Atkinson to commute Hanye's sentence. The governor replied each time that as there was no new evidence favorable to Hanye he would not interfere with the verdict of the jury.
The crowd present was very small, which gave the enclosure a deserted appearance. Hanye wore on the lapel of his coat a Mareschal Neil rose, while in his hand he carried a bunch of roses. He marched after Sheriff Barnes and Pat McCullough to the gallows with the two ministers. He looked down on the little crowd in front calmly, as if he were about to perform some ordinary act.
Advancing to the front of the scaffold, Rev. J. H. Ellis lifted his hands in prayer and prayed while Hanye, with his roses in one hand and his hat in the other, bowed his head and leaned against the railing of the gallows.
Ere the last words had died away from the lips of Mr. Ellis, Mr. Ward lifted up his voice in prayer for the doomed man. When the prayer was finished Hanye turned to the officers and said something in a low tone. Then, handing his hat and roses to Mr. Ward, he stepped to the front of the scaffold. Looking for a moment upon those beneath him, he drew in a long breath and began to speak. Lifting up his head after a brief interval, Hanye said:
"I wish to say a few words, as I only have a few minutes on earth. I am going to meet that God who has, I know, forgiven my sins. I know I am prepared to meet Him. I wish to say to all my friends to tear away from whisky and bad company, or it will bring you to the gallows, as it has brought me. I hope every friend in the hearing of my voice will take this advice. He needs it. May God bless you all and all my friends, relatives and lovers, and save us all in heaven at last is my prayer."
After he had been tied Hanye prayed for strength to endure the ordeal. He said: "Oh, most merciful God, I beg Thee to bear with me in my last moments. My Heavenly Father, I beg of Thee when the last breath leaves my body that one of Your angels may bear my soul to heaven, where I may meet my friends that have gone before and those that will follow. Oh, most merciful God, hear my prayers and receive my soul, I beg of Thee, for Christ's sake."
Pat McCullough placed the rope around Hanye's neck and then Hanye said something to him in a low tone. "I'll be as quick as I can," was the officer's reply, and in a brief space the task was complete, and with his covered face turned toward the east Hanye stood for a moment while the sheriff called "One, two, three!"
As the last quick word was uttered there was a rattling of triggers, a falling of the trap and the body shot downward 6½ feet, where it swayed idly in the air, the rose leaves on Hanye's coat fluttering in the breeze that came sweeping through the jail yard.
In fifteen minutes the physicians pronounced him dead and he was cut down. His body was placed in the wagon of Undertaker Patterson and carried to the residence of his uncle, from which the funeral will be conducted tomorrow.