rds: "With all respect to the
Judge's remarks I think his premises are wrong. We have an unwritten
law in Kentucky that hoss thieves should be put out of the world as
soon as they are caught and proved guilty. It saves time, danger of
escape, and expense to the State. This is a clear case for Wiles was
caught in the very act, and we are quite sure this is not his first
offense. My opinion is the county should be rid of such trash, and the
sooner the better. We will now vote on the case. All in favor of
hanging Sam Wiles at this time for hoss stealing raise your hands."
Thirty hands were lifted up. "All opposed raise your hands." Five put
up their hands and a few refused to vote.

In spite of protests made by Judge LeMonde and others, preparations for
the tragic act were quickly made. A man had cut a clothesline in his
yard and had brought it to the bridge.

Hiram Sanders spoke quickly and with a tone of authority: "Damon Craig,
take this rope, tie a small stone to one end, and throw it over that
big limb of the tall walnut tree standing by the crick."

Damon Craig instantly obeyed, and with one attempt the rope was thrown
over and both ends were near the ground. It was the work of only a
minute or two to bring the miserable prisoner under the limb and to
adjust the rope in the form of a hangman's knot around his neck.

When this was done Sanders said: "Wiles, we don't want to send you out
of this world without giving you a chance for preparation; so if you
want to pray or to send any message to your dad or mam, we'll wait for
you."

Wiles was a man not without physical courage, and in this trying hour
his grit did not fail him. He cast one hurried glance around, as though
looking for some allies to aid him, but none were in sight. He gazed
into the faces of those standing near him to see if there were any
relenting; but the stern and determined looks of most of these men
showed him it was useless to expect mercy from them. All hope seemed
gone. Wiles, apparently wishing more to show a brave front to man than
a humble and contrite spirit to God, simply said: "I've nuthin' to say
to de likes uv you'uns; only I defy ye to do yer wu'st."

"Haul away!" cried Sanders, and a dozen men seizing the rope, began
pulling it, tightening the noose around Wiles' neck; but before they
had lifted the body free from the ground a loud beating of horses'
hoofs was heard in the direction of Bridgewater. Instinctively the men
ceased f