Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell
THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Thirteenth Year - Number 25
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, August 21, 1902
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GROESBECK HANGING
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John Warren Paid The Penalty
For Murder.
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Killed His Victim While Asleep.
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Groesbeeck, Texas, Aug. 15.--John Warren was hanged here today for one of the
most cold-blooded murders that was ever committed in any country. About
the 31st day of November at 3 o'clock a.m., he murdered Doc Stephens at his
little store three miles from Mexia. He brained him with an axe, robbed
the store, looted the house, threw the axe in a tank near by and came to
Groesbeeck and stayed all day, taking the train that night for his near Marquez,
Leon county. According to his statement he only got fifteen dollars.
He was suspected, caught and brought back, acknowledging his guilt, pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to hang. His lawyer appealed his case, but the
higher court affirmed the sentence of the lower court, and he paid the penalty
on the scaffold here at four minutes after 2 o'clock. He was hanged in the
jail yard in the presence of several thousand people that came from all over the
county. Several of the ministers tried to get the governor to respite him
for a few days, but he declined to interfere.
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas
