Show accident on gallas looked on as an omen although I 1 never saw but one hanging I 1 wi a sight that even professional hangmen have not seen said A A albrechtson Alb of col imbus miss it was at my home A young mississippian named purely purdy had been convicted of murder in the first de gree and sentenced to ban hang the evi dence was wholly circumstantial and before he was alcased of that crime the young man had borne an excellent reputation he was also connected by marriage with some of the best people in the state nevertheless he be was sentenced to hang and the governor would not re him there were two factions in the community one believing him guilty and the other considering him innocent the latter talked of rescue but it was all talk the scaffold was not inc ased and when young purdy ascended the gal lows he walked erect and fearless he denied his guilt and all who saw him were compelled to admit his bearing waa was that of an innocent man the black cap was pulled over his face the sheriff pulled a lever and the next we saw mas iv as a man getting up from the ground snatching the black cap from his head and declaring drama pally god has proved my innocence the rope had broken that was enough former enemies turned into adherents and before the sheriff could again take his prisoner to the gallows and get another rope he was in the center of a crowd of thousands of people all of whom were swearing there were not sheriffs enough in mississippi to hang an innocent man purdy was taken home and an ea es cort of armed and determined men went ith him and remained ui til there was as no danger of any further proceed ggs being taken without any legal formalities the matter was al at lowed to drop and purdy Is living eighteen miles from columbia res pecked and happy joy almost killed his wife when she saw him alive at the time she ex pecked his corpse to be brought home borne to say purdy is guilty Is now almost as much as a man s life Is worth down there |