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Page 18 - Tne Giddings, Texas, Times News - Thursday, June 24, 1971TRUE STORY OF BADMAN BILL LONGLEYGraveMayFound^ ■ I I ■Giddingsc lt;to be hanged by the neck until you are dead, dead, dead. And may the Lord have mercy on your|soulBut was Bill Longley hung by the neck until he was dead? That's a question that is still being asked by people who were living in nearby communities in Lee County, Texas, in 1878, when the sentence of District Judge E. B. Turner was carried out at Giddings, Oct. 11, 1878, in the presence of a crowd of about 4000 people.The day of the execution opsentenced to death was the murder of Wilson Anderson, near Evergreen, on April 1,1875.CAPTURED IN LOUISIANALongley escaped to commit other murders, but was finally captured in June, 1877, near Keatchi, Louisiana, and brought back to Lee county. His trial, B. Turner,lop-before Judened in Giddingshmorninof Sept. 3, 1877, the jury ected without much troubleened with a murky mornin and with rain threatening, bu this did not keep the crowdsfrom coming in from all parts of the county, and adjoiningcounties.Some came afoot,some came horseback, and inverdict asTowardswagons and buggies, midday the clouas disa and the little town of Giddings,guiltynan^,and sentencedLongley to hang. Judge seemed more affectedat thethe county seat of Lee county, was thronged with people,particularly nour for thenegroesAs thethe hanging approach-verdict than Longley himself, who he. *d it with the composure of a stoic.Shortly after his convictiontaken to Galvestonplaced in jail for safeLongley and Dlaed there was apprehension and fear that a last minute attempt keeping, pending action on an would be made to rescue the appeal. The supreme court af~ doomed man by his frieds, and firmed the decision of the lower court iandlthe mandate wasSheriff Brown had taken pre cautions to thwart such an attempt by swearing in deputiesand guards.As the hanging was to be a ublic affair, the scaffold had een erected outside of the jail, in order that everybody could witness the execution ofissued one ca30, 1873,but fromanother the haning1878was put off until Oct1,About 1:30 p.m. on that date Sheriff Jim Brown and hisscial guards took Longley outjail and the march to thethis noted Texas murderer and gallows began desperado, whose trail of bloodled across the state and Into adjoining states. The crime forW!TH CIGAR IN MOUTHTwo Catholic priests were atwhich he was convicted and Longley’s side,encouraginghimto face death calmly. The gallows had been erected of framing timer, and was thought to be sufficiently strong. Longleyascended the stairs with a ci-his mouth, and with ra-jaunty tread. The stair’steps vibrated slightly and heexclaimedLook out, the steps are fallingand laughingly added* 4Ii)don’t want to get crippled His escort from the jail to the gallows was an exceedini vd of 40 men unstrong guCapt. X?infantry men Me Leiand the trial proceeded with exceeding swiftness,the testimony 0f fours being presented and the case On thlt; argued and given to the jury Sept. 4. The jury retired; and after one and one-half hours deliberation, reported theirEggleston, and 50er Capt. W. (itirelguardjbe-ing directed by Chief Deputyrranged in columnsseafflt;)l(i Sheriff Bnwnspoke to the crowd that wasIB Statinthat this was the lirst judieiain Lee county, anthat' he hoped there would never be another. The sheriff then asked Bill if he had anything to say, and he stepped forward and spoke in a clear and steady voice:surrounding thethatlthihangingHAD LITTLE” TO SAY‘W ell, I haven’t much to say.I have to die. I see a good manyhope toenemies aroundmighty feuGome,friends. 1you will forgive me, Iwill you. I hate to die, of course; any man hates to die,but I have learned this, by taking the lives of men who loved life as I do. If I have any friendsforgive you. Whether you do or not, may God forgive me. i have nothing more to say.” Prayer was then offered by one of the priests, after whichdid a speetaeula r thingwithfolde dsher11! Jim Brownpriest and shook hands everybody on the seat-raised his hand, o a r, ringing voice exclaim-Goodbye, everybody.” Theblack cap was drawn over his face, the rope was adjusted, and the signal was given. The drop was almost 12 feet down, andthe rope slipped on the beamand stretched to such an extentreport says, that Longley’s feettouchedt h eground and hisknees bent so that they were nearly on the ground. Sheriff Frown and a deputy raised the body and adjusted it so itswun clear of the ground twice anhis feet were raised threetimes.MOURNED DEADAfter hanging slightly over11 minutes, ti*ephysley,icians present, Drs. Gasley, Fields and Johnson, pronounced him dead.Aftero neheadwas cut down octors took the hands and turnedit completely around. A deputysheriff from Washington countymade the same test, to prove that Longley’s neck was broken. The body was then placed in a coffin, put in a covered hack and taken to the cemetery in the western part of the town,here I hope they will do nothing and on a hill it was buried onto avenge my death. If theythe outside of the fence whichwant tothemthisprayfate. Itavenge I formy death let me. I deserve is a debt I owe formy wild, reckless life. When it is paid it will all be over. I hope you will forgivemeIenclosed the cemetery.But was Bill Longley hang ed by the neck until he wasThere are people living todaySee LONGLEY. page 19
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Giddings Times and News
Giddings, Texas, US
Thu, Jun 24, 1971
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TX, USA 15 Apr 2020
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