of the mrder and King's mother, also the mother of the murdered man,
made an emotional plea to the Governor of 4entucky to spare their — —
lives. After granting a one-week reprieve, the Governor declined to
intervene further and they were hanged at a point on the L. & N, Rail-
road line about one=half mile east of Franklin, Simpson Cos, Ky., on
June 28, 1867, The were escorted from the jail to the scaffold by.
the Sheriff and his assistants, Company F of the Second U, S,. Infantry
and 20 citizens who were armed with double barrel shotguns, rifles
and pistols, A band played a funeral march along the entire route
and between three and four thousandspepple followed the procession
and witnessed the execution, King spoke for thirty-five minutes and
Owens for fifty-five from the scaffold and both maintained that they
were innocent and KHKXK that their lives had been falsely sworn aways
RRR XKERKXKNEXEXREAKM Each met his death bref¥ely and their last words
were when Owens told King: "Goodbye, Billy, this is what they've been
after for a long time," and King replied: "Yes, and they have got it
at last." Owens neck was broken by the fall and he died instantly.
However, prior to the execution, King had’ requested the Sheriff to ad-
just his noose so that his neck would not be broken, The sheriff had
complied with his request and he strangled over a 25-minute period,
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, 2-9-1867, page l; 7-6-1867, page hi.
of the murder and King's mother, also the mother of the murdered man,
made-an emotional plea to the Governor-of Sentucky to spare their — —
lives. ‘fter granting a one-week reprieve, the Governor declined to
intervene further and they were hanged at a point on the L, & N, Rail-
road line about one-half mile east of Franklin, Simpson Cos, Ky., on
June 28, 1867, The were escorted from the jail to the scaffold by.
the Sheriff and his assistants, Company F of the Second U, S. Infantry
and 20 citizens who were armed with double barrel shotguns, rifles
and pistols, A band played a funeral march along the entire route
and between three and four thousandspepple followed the procession
and witnessed the execution, King spoke for thirty-five minutes and
Owens for fifty-five from the scaffold and both maintained that they
were innocent and KKEXK that their lives had been falsely sworn away.
RAKHXKERKEMBLEXUKAKM Each met his death brefely and their last words
were when Owens told King: "Goodbye, Billy, this is what they've been
after for a long time," and King replied: "Yes, and they have got it
at last." Owens neck was broken by the fall and he died instantly.
However, prior to the execution, King had’reouested the Sheriff to ad-
just his noose so that his neck would not be broken, The sheriff had
complied with his request and he strangled over a 25-minute period,
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETIE, 2-9-1867, page l; 7-6-1867, page h.
of the mrder and King's mother, also the mother of the mirdered man,
made-en-enotional-plea-to-the
lives. after granting a one-week reprieve, the Governor Seolined to
intervene further and they were hanged at a point on the L, & N, Rail-
road line about one-half mile east of Franklin, gimpson-Cosy Ky., on
June 28, 1867. The were escorted from the jail to the scaffold by
the Sheriff and his assistants, ompany F of the Second U, S. Infantry
and 20 citizens who were armed with double barrel shotguns, rifles
and pistols. A band played a funeral march along the entire route
fue Beaks ‘shree and four thousandxp eople followed the procession
and wi ed the execution, King spoke for thirty-five minutes and
mega fifty-five from the scaffold and both maintained that they
were innocent and SMHXE that their lives had been falsely sworn away,
Each met his death brefely and their last words
were hen Ouens told King: ‘Goodbye, Billy, this is what, they!ve been
after for a long time," and King replied: "Yes, and they have got it
at last.” Ovens neck was broken by the fall and he died ass
Fowever, prior to the execution, King had’reouested the Sheriff to ad~
just his noose so that his neck would not be broken, The sheriff had
complied with his request and he strangled over a 25-minute period,
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, 2-9-1867, page li; 7-6-1867, page he
AGEAL FOLIC CAEELE, 251867, page by TAIN, pa
KING, William P. and OWENS, Abram
King and Owens were both white metives of Southwestern Kentucky who
served with the Union Army during the Civil War, King attaining the
rank of Captain and Owens remaining an chlisted man throughout the
ware After the conflict had ended, they joined with other Union sym-
pathizers,in the area in forming a band of marauders which terrorized
the entire section of the State, seemingly immune to apprehension,
The group had sworn an oath that if any member should reveal their
activities, the others would kill him. Early in November, 1866, they
raided and robbed one of the trains of the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad and that company offered a $10,000 reward for. information
leading to the apprehension of the gang. King's younger brother, Har-
vey, tempted by the offer, admitted his part in the robbery and named
the other members of the group. Before they could be arrested, Har-
'vey King was shot through the head and killed on Nov, 19, 1866,
William King, Abram Owens and eight others were rounded up and charged
with the murders and with train robbery. The prosecution presented
witnesses who gave, damaging testimony against King and Owens and they
were both convicted of the murder in a special session of the court
and sentenced to die, The other eight were held to answer charges of
bank robbing. Both King and Owens maintained that they were innocent
KING, William P. and OWENS, Abram
King and Owens were both white metives of Southwestern Kentucky who
served with the Union Army during the Civil War, King attaining the
rank of Captain and Owens remaining an chlisted man throughout the
ware After the conflict had ended, they joined with other Union sym-
pathizers.in the area in forming a band of marauders which terrorized
the entire section of the State, seemingly immune to apprehension,
The group had sworn an oath that if any member should reveal their
activities, the others would kill him. Early in November, 1866, they
raided and robbed one of the trains of the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad and that company offered a $10,000 reward for information
leading to the apprehension of the gang. King's younger brother, Har-
vey, tempted by the offer, admitted his part in the robbery and named
the other members of the groupe Before they could be arrested, Har-
vey King was shot through the head and killed on Nov, 19, 1866.
William King, Abram Owens and eight others were rounded up and charged
with the murders and with train robbery, The prosecution presented
witnesses who gave, damaging testimony against King and Owens and they
were both convicted of the mrder in a special session of the court
and sentenced to die. The other eight were held to answer charges of
bank robbing. Both King and Owens maintained that they were innocent
KING, William P. and OWENS. Abram
King and Owens were both white matives of Southwestern Kentucky yo
served with the Union Arny during the Civil Var, King attaining the
rank of Captain and Owens remaining an elisted man throughout the
war. After the conflict had ended, they joined with other Union sym-
pathizers.in the area in forming a band of marauders which terrorized
the entire section of the State, seemingly immune to apprehension,
The group had sworn an oath that if any member should reveal their
activities, the others would kill him, Early in November, 1866, they
raided and robbed one of the trains of the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad and that company offered a $10,000 reward for information
leading to the apprehension of the gang. King's younger brother, Har-
vey, tempted by the offer, admitted his part in the robbery and named
the other members of the group. Before they could be arrested, Har=
vey King was shot through the head and killed on Nov, 19, 18
with the murders and with train robber,
witnesses who gave, damaging testimony against King and Owens and they
were both convicted of the mrder in a special session of the court
and sentenced to die. The other eight were held to answer charges of
bank robbing. Both King and Owens maintained that they were innocent
