April 30:

1838 Huntsville Unit (Walls) - John W. Vaughn stood once more in front of the electric chair early Saturday, and for the second time in eight days, made a speech to stave off death. The first time, the generator broke down. This time, it worked. Vaughn spoke for 16 minutes, twice turning to Warden W. W. Waid to tell him the speech was not yet finished. At the finish, the warden held a match to the cigar which the doomed man had let die out while he talked. "All right," said the Warden. "Sit down." Vaughn sat down. He was still talking, but in disjointed sentences, when the guards put the mask over his face. The last thing he said was, "You are choking me to death." He had been saved from death eight days earlier when the chair broke down while he talked. He had been saved one day earlier with a court order issued in Groesbeck by Judge Fountain Kirby. Even on Saturday morning, his march into the death cell was delayed 20 minutes past midnight while prison officials waited for another court order, issued in San Antonio by Judge W. W. McCrory. It set aside Judge Kirby's injunction and ordered them to proceed with the electrocution. Governor James V. Allred and the board of pardons had refused to intervene further. The governor had granted a 24-hour reprieve after the issuance of Judge Kirby's injunction at Groesbeck. Vaughn was listening to a radio program in death row Friday night when an announcer broke in to say that Governor Allred had announced there would be no further clemency. Vaughn called for Rev. C. E. Garrett, Protestant chaplian at the prison. He asked that prison officials request Governor Allred to come to Huntsville and talk with him face to face, in death row. Governor Allred said later that the message had not been delivered, indicating that he would have refused, in any case. Vaughn asked for the governor when he walked into the execution chamber at 12:20 a.m. a few minutes after officers from San Antonio had arrived with the order to proceed with the electrocution. He entered smoking his cigar. Under his right arm he held a Bible. Clasped in his hands were three red roses. He called them his funeral bouquet." There was no answer from the attendants or from the dozen or so witnesses. (according to the article, Vaughn went on to ask if any member of the board of pardons were present.) No answer. Vaughn then recited the Lord's prayer, correctly and complete. Then he spoke at length about Johnny Banks, who was executed the previous night. "I am not a murderer," Vaughn said. Warden Waid, standing  behind the chair next to O. J. S. Ellington (ms) [should be Ellingson],the prison system manager, leaned toward then and they whispered together. Waid took a step forward as if to touch Vaughn and the latter said, turning his head: Please, sir, I am not through yet. Give me a little more time, please." Smiling, he continued: "I want to make a nice little talk for these gentlemen. I am facing death, right here behind me. {The article continued, saying that Vaughn pleased with the Christians who tried to help him to now give financial support to his wife and daughter. He expressed his gratitude to Mack Gates, Huntsville attorney, who obtained the injunction delaying the execution.} Warden Waid leaned toward Father Hugh Finnegan, Catholic chaplain, and said softly but audibly: "We don't want him to talk all night this time." Vaughn apparently heard but made no answer. He held up three roses for the witnesses to see. (The article says that Vaughn went on to say that the roses were for his wife, one for his daughter and one for himself. That he was unafraid to meet his Maker. He warned them to guard against their children falling into evil ways.) He spoke for several minutes more. Finally, he turned to Waid and said: "Warden, I want two or three more pulls on this (showing the cigar, which had gone out) and then I will be ready to go with you." The warden stuck a match and held it for him. "All right," said  Waid. "Sit down,"  Vaughn took his seat in the chair. He held the three red roses in his hands while the attendants took the cigar away and began to adjust the straps. [He spoke again of his wife and child
and asked that something be placed over his face.] The guards had the mask ready.