WRONG MAN HANGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 104, 1 May 1920, Page 19

WRONG MAN HANGED.

SCAFFOLD ORDDAL. Twenty years ago an innocent man was "banged," ana now he is to be voted £1000 by the Kentucky State legislation by way The man, who has been eventually freed from the suspicion of complicity in a' eerious crime, is a farmer named Purvis, belonging to Jackson. He was charged with the murder of one, William Buckjey. The trial was sensational in the extreme, and CPurvis was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. On the day Sxed for the execution a thousand neighbours flocked into the town to witness the hanging. The trap was sprung, and Purvis disappeared, but when the form to confirm his death they found that the noose had slipped, and that Purvis was only badly dazed. The sheriff prepared to hang the prisoner a second time, but the crowd refused to allow the execution to proceed, declaring that the hand of Providence had saved Purvis. He was therefore returned to gaol, while the case was referred to the courts for decision. The Supreme Court of the State ordered that the execution should take place. Public feeling was so strongly against the hanging of that the question became the chief issue in the next election for State Governor. One candidate, Mr. liaclaurin, declared if he was elected he would commute Purvis* sentence to penal servitude and eventually pardon him. 'Madaurin, elected by an Immense majority, kept his promise and released Purvis after The freed man returned to his home and J married a former sweetheart, and they 11t«u happily together for many years. One naturally supposes that the memory of his awful ordeal on the gallows would occasionally return to him as some horrible nightmare. After many years the truth came to light. A man named Joe Beard sent for the sheriff and a clergyman on his deathbed and swore that another man had killed Buckley and that tie had seen the deed done. Hγ. Teager, as a result. Is carrying a bill tlirough the Legislature to spproprin te £1000 for Purvis to compensate him for his terrible experience on the gallows,"and to reward him for two years' services on the convict farm. A first cousin of Buckley, the murdered j man, is supporting the measure, which, It lis generally believed, will pass.