MATHLEY, Robert S,
Mathtey, a 39-year-old white contractor, was considered a good
craftsman and had built a mumber of buildings in Owensboro, Ky.
When his wife, the mother of his three children, died in July,
903, he became despondent, began drinking heavily and attmpted
Suicide by taking morphine on several occasions, Ha beeame infat-
uated with a 17-year-old girl, Emma Watkins, who had been cour ting
two of her cousins, James and Michael Gregson. He persuaded the
girl to move into his home and take care of his children and his
invalid mother and begged her to marry him, She finally left and
went to the home of a relative because of his excessine drinking
and his abuse of her, On the afternoon of June 26, 190), he went
there and sat in a room talking’ with her and with 2heyear=-old James
Gregson. Without warning, hd drew a pistol and shot the Pam ee
ing her instantly. He also shot Gregson who died later that day.
Mathley pointed the weapon at his own head and said that he was
going to kill himself but he was dissuaded by the girl's relatives
and when officers arrived he was disarmed and taken into custody,
He claimed that he could not remember having killed Miss wetkins
MATHLEY, Robert S,
Mathbey, a 39-year-old white contractor, was considered a good
craftsman and had built a number of buildings in Owensboro, Ky.
When his wife, the mother of his three children, died in July,
903, he became despondent, began drinking heavily and attmpted
Suicide by taking morphine on several occasions, Hs beeame infat-
uated with a 17-year-old girl, Emma Watkins, who had been courting
two of her cousins, James and Michael Gregson, He persuaded the
girl to move into his home and take care of his children and his
invalid mother and begged her to marry him. She finally left and
went to the home of a relative because of his excessine drinking
and his abuse of her, On the afternoon of June 26, 190), he went
there and sat in a room talking’ with her and with 2h-year-old James
Gregson. Without warning, hd drew a pistol and shot the girl, kill-
ing her instantly. He also shot Gregson who died later that day,
Mathley pointed the weapon at his own head and said that he was
going to kill himself but he was dissuaded by the girl's relatives
and when officers arrived he was disarmed and taken into custody,
He claimed that he could not remember having killed Miss wetkins
MATHLEY, Robert S,
jathbey, a 39-year-old white contractor, wa
built a mmber of buildi n Owensboro
mother of his a rot alee died in ou
ent, began ae ee Ly
tak: ng morphine on saver:
year-old girl, anna Watkins, who had been courting
sins, dames and’ Michael, Gregsoi jaded the
i tnbetae ate i take care of h
Go ine afternoon of June 25, 19 4, he went
talking with her and with arid James
Without warning, hd drew a panel: and shot th
her instal cee H
Matidey
butt
and when officers arrived he
He claimed that he could not rememi
ito custody
er having killed Kise Wetlins
Gen, Henry J, Lawrence from Hapkinsville which was joined by the May-~
| field militia, It was with great difficulty that the guard was able
to .take him to the courthouse through the mob of 10,000 persons that
had gathered. The jury was sworn in and seated at 7:15, When the
judge asked Mathis if he had anything to say, he replied: "I want some~
body to pray for me." The judge then appointed a local attorney to
/act for him and after one minute's cohsultation, Mathis entered a plea |
of guilty. The jury S6XMKHKAXXAMXERKA retired for twenty minutes and
then brought back a verdict of death, The judge promptly sentenced
him to die and he was taken to the jail where the last preparations
were made, the scaffold having been constructed on the day preceding
the trail, At 8:00, he was led to the gallows and when asked if he
had anything to say, he merely shook his head, The crowed had already
torn down the fence enclosing the scaffold and the execution was wit-
ness ed by thousands from every conceivable vantage point. When he
was pronounced dead, hes body was placed in a casket and viewed by the
general public in the city square until taken to the underbaking parlor,
The next day he was buried in the county cemetery.
Date of execution XHX¥XZ July 31, 1906 |
LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, 7273 1-313 Auge 1, 1906
Gen. Henry J, Lawrence from Hapkinsville which was joined by the May-
field militias It was with great difficulty that the guard was able
to take him to the courthouse through the mob of 10,000 persons that
had gathered. The jury was sworn in and seated at 7:15, When the
judge asked Mathis if he had anything to say, he replied: "I want some-
body to pray for me." The judge then appointed a local attorney to
act for him and after one minute's coisultation, Mathis entered a plea
of guilty. The jury KEXMKHKAXRaXXEMEM retired for twenty minutes and
then brought back a verdict of death, The judge promptly sentenced
him to die and he was taken to the jail where the last preparations J
were made, the scaffold having been constructed on the day preceding
the trail, At 8:00, he was led to the gallows and when asked if he
had anything to say, he merely shook his head, The crowed had already
torn down the fence enclosing the scaffold and the execution was wit-
ness ed by thousands from every conceivable vantage point, When he
was pronounced dead, hts body was placed in a casket and viewed by the
general public in the city square until taken to the underhaking parlor
Tye next day he was buried in the county cemetery
ate of execution THKZXZ July fle 1906
LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, 7-2/3 7-313 Auge ly, 1906
Gen, Henry J, Lawrence from Hapkinsville which was joined by the May-
field militia, It was with great difficulty that the guard was able
to take him to the courthouse through the mob of 10,000 persons that
had gathered, The jury was sworn in and seated at 7:15, When the
Judge asked Mathis if he had anything to say, he replied: "I want some-
body to pray for me," The judge then appointed a local attorney to
act for him and after one minute's coisultation, Mathis entered a plea
of guilty. ‘The jury WEXWIMUXNGOGOKE retired for twenty minutes and
then brought back a verdict of death, The judge promptly sentenced
him to die and he was taken to the jail where the last preparations
were mane, the scaffold having been constructed on the day preceding
the trail, Ast 8:00, he was led to the gallows and when asked if he
had anything to say, he merely shook his head, The crowed had already
torn down the fence enclosing the scaffold and the execution wax wit=
nese ed by thousands from every conceivable vantage point. When he
was pronounced dead, hés body was placed in a casket and viewed by the
Peneral public in the city square untal taken to the undertaking parlor,
The next day he was buried in the county cemeterys
ate of execution MWI¥XA July 31, 19%
TOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, Doh 73 3 Aug. 1, 1906
TESS, SSR aa pat
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