Ake Bunk was charged with the crime of rape, but he said he was not guilty until the end.
The Austin American Statesman 1879.
I am reading directly from the newspaper article, so this is a quote from the reporter.
“He insists that he does not deserve death, and says that the case was made up against him by his enemies. He says he was wanted out of the community by a man named Bennett, and that his uncle Ike Ake, took the job of swearing falsely against him, and that the girl was mistaken”.
“He had but little to say about his spiritual condition on the future state, but denies that he has treated ministers badly who have called on him. His uncle Ike Ake called to talk to him about repentance, but he regarded him as his persecutor and cursed him, and would have killed him had he had a weapon. He hated him above all men. He believes in future rewards and punishments, but has not decided what his chances are for a better life. He says he will tell about this on the scaffold. He says he is not afraid to die, but that he would like to live, but is not much concerned about it. He thinks one should prepare for the hereafter, but he can say nothing about his being saved.
“He says he wants but little said about him after he is dead and, in refusing to tell much about his life, he said he thought it would be of little benefit to anybody. A crowd of visitors began to gather around him and he refused to tell more. He said there wasn’t any pay in it. Our reporter asked him what good pay would do him now. He replied that money would buy him some beer. He was promised all the beer he wished if he would tell the story of his life, but he insisted that he couldn’t do so, that he had lost faith in promises. He did not know whether the beer would be forthcoming on a trade. But he may tell it all today on the scaffold. And he may tell a different tale than he the one he would tell the reporter”.
Another story picks up the story later that day in the evening. Ake Bunk was an African American man hung in front of the old Austin courthouse.
Read from the Austin American Statesman.
On the evening of August 22, 1879, Ake Bunk ate a hearty meal in Austin’s jailhouse on the southeast corner of Congress and 11th Street.
“He was talkative, joking with other prisoners and jailers, telling them of his plans to stay awake all night. His light hearted behavior made them wonder. Does Ake understand what is going to happen tomorrow? Of course Ake did. Tomorrow morning, Ake was going to be hung on the waiting scaffold Built at the corner of 4th Street in Guadalupe that had been built just for him. (This is where the Old Courthouse block, located on the 4th block west of Congress Ave., between Guadalupe St. and San Antonio St., West 3rd and 4th streets.). Though he claimed innocence, the accusation of a similar offense years before set his fate”.
“4:00 AM, August 23rd. He was awoken. Though we had hoped to stay awake all evening, at some time he must have dozed off. His jovial mood persisted, and he ate a big breakfast, smoked a cigar and drank a lager beer. Those in his company described him as being in the best of humor. Upon completion of his cigar, he dressed in a black suit in a starched white shirt. Two preachers approached his cell at this time and encouraged him to begin praying. Politely, Ake asked them to meet him at the scaffold, he planned to say his prayers then”.
The newspaper estimated that 2000 people were waiting at the scaffolding and a thousand people were waiting at the jailhouse to follow the carriage down the street. On the wooden plank. Smoking a cigar, he knelt and said his last prayers with the two preachers who were waiting at the gallows for him, as Ake had requested. At this time, the sheriff realized that Ake’s death warrant has been left at the jailhouse and someone was sent to rush back and get it.
As was the custom of the time, the convicted person was questioned by the crowd. In this case, while Ake waited for the death warrant to be read, people from the crowd called out to him.
Q. How do you feel about your soul Ake? Do you feel that you are ready to die?
A. Ake nodded his head. Yes.
Q A woman questioned. Did you know Millie who used to live in the mountains?
A. Ake smiled and nodded. Yes.
Q, someone yelled from the back of the crowd. Are you ready to go Ake?
A. Yes.
Q Are you guilty of the charge they want to put you to death for?
A. No, Sir.
Q Do you know who is?
A. Yes, Sir.
Q, Can you call out his name?
A. Yes.
Q. Then call out his name.
A. If you were to hear his name, you would not know him, he is not from this town. It is Ed Williams, not the Ed Williams who lives in Austin.
“The sheriff gave the sign that it was time to begin the procedure and the death warrant was read. Ake shook his hands with the two preachers, who then moved off to the wood planking and into the crowd. Ache bid good day to the officers and jailers. As the black hood was pulled over his head, he asked for it to be removed so he could say one more thing. Stepping closer to the crowd in a loud and clear voice, he spoke his final words.
Friends and everybody else, I have but a few minutes. I hope that what is happening to me will be a warning to all, young and old, black and white. See what has come to me from keeping bad company. I do not propose to say the charge against me in this case is true, or not. But I’m willing to die. Goodbye to all. I hope I never meet you again on this side of judgment. Goodbye, friends, black and white.
The black hood was pulled over his head and tied in place. The trap was sprung and with his arms and legs tied, he fell through the wooden floor. He died without a struggle”.
The story of the Willis brothers hung at East 6th Street and Sabine
