my
7 ERUY
d-a-half lines: “Yester-
cessory in the murder
1 1806 should be men-
ill was hanged “at or
‘or horse-stealing. He
5 were preached from
ind “exhortations were
> asked his hearers to
said, “O, what would
4. or that I was dead,
a negro.’!® The other
of horse-stealing com-
ivas hanged in Sparta
mentioning eighteen
‘ing, from whom, and
ised to counterfeiting
| counterfeiters. with
hangings during the
still there was
_gings to lead to
‘den Age of hangings
n into the twentieth -
and with their lack
‘themselves and their
provided a majority
g. Yet, by no means,
llows; the most sen-
_Jife of this institution —
ong this period, that .
‘ings, some of them
political meetings,
cially, were attracted
4Yy, in some instances i
‘on. And for them, -
SSK a
ees
PS Sanaa 9 eae aoe ey ee
PIR Sa sa agra Si: OS AS an itine h
Pi aey
Wy ‘
PRES tg REE” Saat i ee
Hanatneas in Grorar 25
thete remained the possibility of enjoying another gathering when
thé corpse was carried away to be. buried.
There was variety in the crimes that Jed
well as in the circumstances attending the hangings. In 1871,
Diego, 4 Negro, was hanged in Darien for murder. On his first
drop, the rope broke, and he was brought back up the gallows, .
half dead, and dropped again.*? "These bungled hangings resulted.
from weak, untested Topes, and, sometimes, from inexperienced
hanginen (sheriffs generally) not properly tying the knot around
the victim’s neck: Iq 1872, a vast crowd, anostly Negroes, -
pathered in Elberton to see West Tate, another Negro, hanged.
He had murdered a Negro, and was now about to pay the
penalty. According to .the Tepoiter: “We saw more one-ox
buggies on that day than ever before met our gaze. Men riding
and men walking, men drunk and men sober, grave and gay,
aged and young—all seemed to think the occasion one for a
geineral holiday and jubilee. To the Negro, indeed, it seemed
that hanging’ day: was one that must- be enjoyed, and he fails
in his most positive duty who neglects to look upon one of his
species swinging from the gibbet into eternity.” Many of the
whites felt that it was their first duty to take a drink and. to
continue until they were reeling drunk. A guard of sixty armed’
citizens were on hand to protect the prisoner and keep back
the crowd. Before leaving the jail the sheriff tied’ Tate’s arms
behind him and hobbled his feer, They then mounted the wagon
with Tate seated on his coffin, and drove to the gallows. Tate
took this occasion as a great triumphal procession’ showing him-
self off to his race as a great man on. his Way to some great
party, quite different from the one he was approaching. On
the way he greeted those he recognized. On the gallows he was
given twenty-five minutes to make a speech. It was rather
rambling; but he was now on his way to heaven and he wanted |
all to meet him there, However, he understood that some of his
race had refused to sign a petition to the governor for pardon
aid had, instead, been organizing a ftolic—“He would tell them
that they would see the day when they would frolic in hell.”
to the gallows, as
22 . Groraty Hrsvortoar, QUARTERLY
. Georgia Trustees had been induced to send over, but before he
reached Savannah his career on the ship bringing him over was
so immoral that the Trustees ordered him to be returned, but
without success. He settled on Hutchinson Island, in the river
opposite Savannah, and soon becoming incapacitated, he was
allowed two Irish servants, Alice Riley and Richard White. Wise
had long hair and enjoyed having White comb it, often re-
clining in bed and leaning his head over the rail for the operation.
Oné imorning in combing Wise’s hair, White gave the handker-
chief around his victim’s neck a twist to choke him, when at
the same time the Riley girl brought in a bucket of water for
bathing his face and suddenly plunged his head down into the
water and drowned. him, -already half-choked. Both were tried
for murder and sentenced to hang, but as Riley was pregnant
by White, her execution was put off until her child was born.
On January 19, 1735, Alice Riley was hanged, and on_ the
following day Richard White followed her on the saine scaffold.
Both declared their innocence.” |
To search out, record, and describe all the hangings. that took
place in Georgia would be an endless task, and could result only
in a compilation of a dicttonary or encyclopedia of Georgia
hangings. Only «samplings from now on. to the end of this
method of capital punishment will be given here. As will appear,
the heyday of hangings in Georgia came after the Civil War.
But two other colonial hangings will be noted, which took place
at Savannah in 1739. Bixby (Bryxy, Bixie) was master of a sloop
anchored in Savannah harbor, and with him on board were
Cozens, Levett, and the victim, whose body was found washed
ashore. Indications were that be had been murdered on_ the
sloop and thrown overboard. The three living men were con-
victed of murder and sentenced to be hanged .on a. gallows to
be cotistructed on the bluff above the river where the crime
had been committed; Bixby “went up the Ladder more nimbly
than the Hangman, and fastened the Rope to the beain himself.”
Both Bixby and Cozens denied their guilt. When Levett, who
had strenuously denied that he had had any part in the murder,
reached the f:
reprieved for :
he ceased to |)
thorpe, as the
He wavered ti
the execution ‘
when he finall
So few wa:
elapsed betwe:
time a woman
woman had b:
years, im men
sometimes int:
ber husband li
County. He »
a trip to Aur
called out aft:
person Hesit
reaching the
accessory, Ch
“mmurder. Jealo
of her action
Mitchum. A
governor, inc
later a Unit:
for Alabama
the next daj
roth to be ha’
have mercy
be found fo
in the town
dressed in he
a figment o:
(Petersburg
county, on
concerned in
Hy
over, but: before he
‘aging him over was
+o be returned, but
, Island, in the river
--neapacitated, he was
Richard White. Wise
cotnb it, often re-
rail for the operation.
vite gave the handker~
choke him, when at
bucket of water for
head down into the
‘led. Both were tried
5. Riley was pregnant
<1) her child was born.
hanged, and on the
on the same scaffold.
rhe hangings that took
~—* * could result only
_, spedia of Georgia
4) to the end of this
1 here. As will appear,
ve after the Civil: War.
voted, which took place
-) was master of a sloop.
‘+; him on board were
ody was found washed
been murdered on the
> living men were con-
‘anged on a gallows to
river where the crime
‘he Ladder more nimbly
spe to the beam himself.”
cailt, When Levett, who
| any part in the murder,
bats Reig 228 ARE RARE AEE mare ag
=,
2 pat ange et ae Spo See
es ah Be
ce ee err
ean
AA gee 2 ERE SI CTO
Sen Boe S
ee RS ee EE Tet
‘ge
cn ge Tag SN app cE LS EOI IRIE PI IE
precn Setigert
TaNcING? IN GEORATA . 23
reached the foot of the ladder, he was told that he had been
teprieved for several months. He was so overcome in spirit that
ke ceased to be himself for a little while. James Edward Ogle-
thorpe, as the resident Trustee, was the authority of last resort.
He wavered in his decisions from Friday, Auguste2, 1739, when
the execution of the others took place, until the last of October,
wheh he finally pardoned Levett.’!
So few women were hanged in Georgia and so much time
elapsed between their hangings that it became customary every
time a woman was hanged, to report that was the first tiie a
«oman had been hanged in the state. So it was, espectally in later
years, in mentioning the hanging of Polly Barclay — (corrupted -
sometines into. Mrs. Bartlett long after the event). Polly and
het husband lived on the Augusta road out of Washington, Wilkes
County. He was a cotton planter, and in the fall of 1805 he made
a trip to Augusta to sell his cotton. Returning home, he was
called out after dark to go down to his cotton house to see a
person. Hesitating, he was urged by his wife to go, and on.
reaching the place he was shot dead. Polly was arrested as an
atcessory, charged with having paid the assassin to commit the
iiurder. Jealousy in some direction was believed to be the -cause
of her action. Also arrested were William Nowland and Mark.
Mitchum. A grand jury, headed by John Clark, later to become
governor, indicted all three. The trial judge was Charles Tait,
later a United States Senator and then a Federal District judge
for Alabama. On May 8, 1806, Nowland was tried and acquitted,
the next day Polly was tried, found guilty, and sentenced on the
toth to be hanged on the 30th “until you, are dead and may God
have mercy on your soul.” Mitchum disappeared and could not
be found for trial. According to tradition, Polly. was hanged |
in the town of Washington on a white oak tree; and she was
dressed in her finest silks—another tradition, which is more likely
a.figment of the imagination.'® The Georgia & Carolina Gazette
(Petersburg, Ga.) noted the hanging thus: “Was hung in Wilkes
county, on Friday last,
concerned in the murder of her late husband, Polly Barclay.
16
pursuant to her sentence, for being |
a
24 TroRCIA Hisrortcan QUARTERLY
And the Augusta Chronicle gave it two-and-a-half lines: “Yester-
day, POLLY BARCLAY was ‘executed, accessory in the murder
of her husband.’’’?
Two other hangings which took place in 1806 should be men-.
tioned. About the last of May, Wilks Hill was hanged “at ot
near” Lincoln Courthouse (Lincolnton) for horse-stealing. He
appeared calm on the gallows; two sermons were preached from
the scaffold by divines, prayers were said, and “exhortations were
given.” Hill appeared calm throughout. He asked his hearers to
prepare for death, and in his confession, he said, “O, what would
[ now have given if I had never been born, or that I was dead,
or that I had been brought up to work like a negro.”"® The other
was Nathan Tait guilty of the same crime of horse-stealing com-
pounded by a career of counterfeiting. He was hanged in Sparta
on August 25. He made a long confession, mentioning eighteen
separate occasions of stealing horses, revealing from whom, and
what he did with the horses. He also confessed to counterfeiting
and gave the names of more than a dozen counterfeiters with
whom he had been associated.” ae
Although there were fewer sensational hangings during the
half century of the Middle Period than Jater, still there was
enough sentiment developed against public hangings to lead to
the legislation against them in-1859. The Golden Age of hangings
came after the Civil War and lasted on down into the twentieth
century. The slaves had now become free, and with their lack
of restraint in their social dealings among themselves and_ their
occasional clashes with white people, they provided a majority
of the crimes that were punished by hanging. Yet, by no means,
were Negroes the chosen people for the gallows; the most’ sen-
sational hangings throughout the remaining life of this institution
were those ot white people. It was during this period that
hangings provided the greatest social gatherings, some of them
surpassing any crowds that attended circuses, political meetings,
or Fourth-of July celebrations. Negroes, especially, were attracted
by hangings; they came from many miles away, in some instances
camping overnight at the place of execution. And’ for them,
there remained
the corpse was
There was
well as in th:
Diego, a Negi
drop, the rope
half dead, and
from weak, ui
hangmen (she:
the victim's
gathered in 1!
He had murcd:
penalty. Acco:
buggies on th»
and men wai!
aged and yor
general holida:
‘that hanging
in his most p:
species swingi
whites felt. th
continue unti
citizens were
the crowd. B:
behind him ar’
with Tate sea!
took this oces
celf off to |:
party. quite
the way he gi
given twenty
rambling; but
all-to meet hn
race had ref
and had, inst:
thar they wo
itliaon LE. Con 295
Fall, 1973
"0% Mellon, Jr. 319
‘iniey Spalding 332
‘erton Coulter 347
ind L. Drago 361
” G. Delaney 376
Carol Wells 390
A, Adotbhson 406
Steve Gury 42]
Woo
“rtin Abboit 430
ter, 1973
‘
- Wilson 459
tov Coulter t7n
Franzoni 493
Boxernan 511
A Pisterhola 526
/K. Wood a4
Temperley 562
vis Lanier 579
‘ott Lega 585
seterenttnne. B88
Ase comics
Sars
Sa
age eee
A Nn a =
meta
eee ae
i
'
}
{
:
4
}
I
Votumy LVII
—_—== CSS a fetter > ===
Se ete — = =
Grorota INFLUENCE ty THE
DEvELopuEeN? OF Liperry__ wie acd
Hanorng AS A Socro-Pen Ar, INSTITUTION IN Gronera
wade So Seen wnescen.. TE, Mertoy Coulter 17
IMBER PRopucrg OF Coroniay GEorc ne
Tue Ky Krux Kran, ANTLCATHOLICISy, AND ATLANTA'g
Bodrp or Epucartonx. 1916-19270 --Philin n, Racine 63
WALTER B, Amt, A Nrw CHANCELLOR FOR THe
Universrpy OF GrorcIA...._, cs ne a ee a Ray Mathis 76
Cortrcriong OF Tir Grorara Histexrear SOcIety,
OrurR Doctmrns, AND Notig:
The Mackenzie Papers, Part If . en : .
Edited by Albert sg. Britt, Ir. ana Lilla. M. Hawes 85
The Tomb of Sir James Wright . _
Contridr tea Cy Robert og. Mitchel 145
A Plea for Nathanne} Greene Papers. weSeieeecenede ae a ee 146
Georgia Archive. thet eee ee a -. 147
Boox Revirws AND Novzs:
Boles, The Great Revival, 1787-1805. wegen neice alee a -. 148
Mullin, Flight ang Rebellion: Slave Resistence in
Bighteenth-Century Virginia. | Hin Fiat Bee . 149
Coulter. Daniel Lee, Agricutay St. Tis Life North OnE Soutn ~. 149
Potter, The South ana the Concurrent Majorita. ec een
Brooke, King George ITT. meesienihe. Pv rn 155]
Grubex, The Howe Brothers Grid: the American Revolutiny alee iu. PRD
Harlan, Booker tT: Washington, The Moking of a
Black Leader, TS56-1901_- Sen thesis weauuh: . - 153
Clayton, The Savage Ideal... tthe eneecete ite a eT
ames, Anne Royail’s TSA. ieee ee Prteemegenns Sea TBR
King, Te Great South deSiatecg . 156
Boney, ed., Slave Life in Georgia. Saieeraeee ee imeem ET,
Scarhorough, ed., The Diary of Hadmund Ruffin, oe oe, 158
Edgar, ed., The Letterbook Of Robert Pringle. LTFQN GAS eee. T59
Rogers, A Cruising Voyege around the Worid. meet tte tes.” LBB
Atlanta Resurgeng._ <0 warereges or oe anaes mee 160
Williams, By the Bulls that Redained Mew. | apie ee 161]
Bernstein, The Truth avout “The Protocols cf Bion ss veel iG]
Gillon, Jr; Victorian Cemetery 4 4 ern ee epob ene YS
Hemperley, comp., Finglisn Crown Grants for St. Philip Pay ish. 162
Sonneck, Report on “The Star-Spangiea Banner, ote, 162
Forman, The Making Of Black Revolutionaries 162
Woods, ed., .The Renben King Journal, 7800-1893 162
Reprint Books on Georgin hy The Reprint Company,
Spartanburg, B: C.... bemedhdcy 4. 7 . 162
‘Sloan, The “ittte Red SoM one 164
And Olherg ; ; a OA5
esceeen. Walt m Allen Poe .4
AL ---- Melvin JTerndaan 56
og move-
women,
‘ied Con-
‘amission,
vended. to
sentence
of having
leveloped
en hang-
sta cotton
» Watson
ois political
‘nor Hoke
it. Having
est would
‘o declare
{. Brown
effort to
edi-
lly, now,
State Will
Ve believe
gallows in
would be
| ever see,
't hanging
day, with
ter, to pass
long spas-
| of action
-d electro-
oitiary, But
onging and
pe og
eee
nti
o
Seema 8 a.
Sine
State
~ Pea SE *:
Se
3 esp
Fe
Scie pei Pa gdnseF
HANotncs In Grorat, oe BB
that did not come until 1631, the explanation’ being that the
person hanged had been sentenced before the law went into effect,
but having made his escape, he was not captured until the later
date.” The electric chair continued to be used until 1964, during
which time ts people were executed, including one woman.
Georgia did not abandon capital punishment but hesitated to carry
out death. sentences after that time.” In 1972, In a five to four
confused decision the United States Supreme Court declared
capital punishment unconstitutional.
Notes
1For the Biblical references, see Numbers 25:4; Esther 7:9-10. The
evangelist T. De Witt Talmage took the hanging of Haman as his. text
in some of his sermous. For instance, see the Atlanta Constitution,
May 26 (2. 1-3), 1890.
(@buclus Q. C. Lamar, A Compendium of the
Georgia... 1810 to the Year 1819 Inclusive
3Tbid,
4Allen D. Candler, ed., The Colonial Records of-the State of Georgia.
Statutes Enacted by the Royal Legislature of Georgia from its First,
Session in 1754 to 1768 (Atlanta, 1910), XVIII. 109, See also Robert. and
George Watkins, A Digest of the Lawe of the State of Georgia... to.
1798, Inclusive . (Philadelphia, 1800), 167, :
‘Lamar, Compilation, 551.
‘Augustin Smith Clayton, A Compendium of the Laws of the State of
feorgia...to... 1810, Inclusive... (Augusta, 1812), 636.
Tbid., 181, 343, 468; Lamar, Compendium, 555, 559-59,
woo Compendium, 547. %lberton (Ga) Cerzette, March 26 (2, 1),
£78;
WAthens Weekiy Banner-Watchman, April 22 (2, 3), 1884, for an example,
Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia... November and
December, 1859 (Milledgeville, 1860), 68. See also R. H. Clark, T. R: R.
Cobb, and D. Irwin, The Code of the State of Georgia (Atlanta, 1861), 839-
$0; R. H. Clark, T. R. R. Cobb, and D. Irwin (Revised and Corrected by D.
irwin), The Code of the State of Georgia (Macon, 1273), 842.
Athens Weekiy Banner-Waichman, April 29 (8, 7), 1884: Atlonta Con-
ifitution, January 26 (4, 4), 1889.
Sarah B. Gober Temple and Kenneth Coleman, Georgia Journeys (Athens,
1361), 77-79. For a somewhat fictionalized account, see Atlante Journal,
(43, 1-2), 1965. ,
Candler, ed., Colonial Records of Georgia, 1V, 366-67, 368, 372, 378, 379,
81-82. 426, 429, 436; Vv, 2380-81. ;
UEliza A. Bowen, The Story of Wilkes County (Marietta, Ga., 1950).
«3-80. Miss Bowen’s first account appeared in the Atlanta Constitution,
quoted in Lexington (Ga.) Oglethorpe Echo, November 2 (1, 2), 1888.
{6Petersburg, (Ga.) Georgia ¢ Carolina Gazette, June 5 (2,°3), 1806:
WAugusta Chronicle, June 7 (3, 3), 1806. The next issue, which is not
tnown to be in existence, probably carried a longer sccount.
‘Ibid. June 7 (1, 1), 1806. 197bid., September § (2, 3), 1806.
“Darien Timber Gazette, June 30 (8, 4), 1883.
Laws of. the: State of
... (Augusta, 1821), 607.
oon
5]
‘ctober 29th.
oence to the
im hanged.
vhere, it will
“ings seemed
“ie conditions
“nented that
upon the
‘ging crimes
\. Ay Shack-
, after noting
e@ country,”
-! murders.’
ckly occur-
commission
~ could say,
to increase
the State.”’7!
there was a
1 Q@eovwded
ok place that
Zebulon for
2 private, it
-asy to look
surrounded
oarge “spent
vy a grocer
-’ nature of
“splay in the
‘ut another,
‘on Finney,
“. be carried
,ent a mass
Hanaines in. Grorata mos BY
of Negroes from collecting around the building ina merryimaking
inood. As reported, “Around the jail was gathered a large num-
ber: . . who laughed and jeered with each other with as much
levity as had they been attending some frivolous entertainment. ....,
They showed a morbid desire to get a glimpse of the doomed.
man as he writhed in his agony on the gallows, and seemed to
look tipon him as a hero more to be exeniplified than a culprit
whose fate was to be shunned,” Linton’s “cheerfulness and the
nerve with which he met his fate was Fsic] remarkable... . The
serenity with which the culprit stepped on-the death trap at once
becatne the wonder of all who looked ‘upon him, and sympathy
supplanted duty and nerve.” He died immediately and was cut
down after fifteen minutes.78 pt |
This hanging was in Editor Shackelford’s hometown and
seemed to have brought vividly to his mind the awfulness of
hangings, at least momentarily in contradiction to what he recently
had been saying, and ultimately 4 revulsion to capital punishment.
any form. He now said that laws against public hangings in
other states had “done much toward relieving society of the
vaneful influences of executions.” Ele believed that “if public
gsenument could be fully and freely obtained it would be against
hangings,” and he “predicted that the days of capital punishment
are humbered and that the time is tiot a great way off when
hangings will cease entirely and be numbered with other semi-
barbaric customs.”™* Down in the twentieth century, Shackelford
yas predicting “the day is not too far distant when taking human
life by legal process will be looked upon with as:much horror
ts is murder at the present time,”? | ee
| Two cases should be mentioned for the year 1898. First, a Negro
boy, seventeen years old, was hanged in the Greensboro jail,
for shooting a man to death.”® Secondly, a ‘woman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Nobles, lived for three years in the shadow of the gallows, having
beer sentenced five times to be hanged. Back in 1895 she had
given a Negro workman on the Nobles plantation, in Twiggs
County, $10.00 to kill her husband with a hatchet—she came of .
4 Family widely affected with insanity. Her case became cele-
52 ~Gronara Uisrorican Quarrerny:
brated and widely. discussed over the state, with a strong moOve-
ment to save her from the gallows, spiked especially by women,
among whom being Miss Klien Dortch, who later married Con-
federate General James Lotgstrret. Finally the Prison Commission,
which had been established the previous year, recommended to
Governor William Y. Atkinson that he commute her sentence
to life imprisonment. And so, Georgia escaped the. stigma of having
hanged another woman.”
IN hanging down in the twentieth century (1908) developed
import ant political r¢ epercussions and speeded the day when hang- .
ings would cease in Georgia. Arthur Glover, an Augusta cotton
mill worker, was hanged for killing a woman. Tom ’ Watson
became interested in this case, as Glover was one of his political
supporters.’® Watson now made a strong appeal to Governor Hoke
Smith to commute the death sentence to life i imprisonment. Having
been a supporter of Smith, Watson e: spected this request would
be granted, but Smith refused. This caused Watson to declare
‘war on Smith, which led to the election of Joseph | M. Brows
as the next governor.
The editor of the Aflania Georgian made a desperate effort to
save Glover. For two days before the hanging he ran long edi-
torials against hanging as a punishment and especially, now,
against hanging Glover, entitling one of them, “The State Wil
Kall the Man.” On the day of the hanging he wrote, “We believe
that if every citizen of Georgia should stand at the gallows in
Augusta and see the man Glover drop to his death it would bé
the last capital punishment the state of Georgia would ever see
We are confident public sentiment would decree that hanging
is not the best method of punishment.” And the next day, wit!
unconcealed emotion, he wrote, “We ask you, good reader, to pas
the word along.”” os
Sentiment against hanging, which had been nursed along spas
~ modically for a. half century, had reached the point of action
by 1924, when on’ August 16th the legislature substituted electro-
‘cution, to be carried out within che walls of the penitentiary. But
surprisingly as it might seem, there was one more hanging an?
thar did
person hang:
but having F
te.” The .
which time
Georgia did
gut death sc
confused de
apital punic'
iFor the 97
eTangelist T.
in some of
May 26 (3. 1-"
“Lucius Q.
Moorgia ... I
?7bdid,
Alien D. C
Fiuiutes Ena
Britton in 17
Ceorge Watkil
TEE, Inclusive
*Lamar, C07
“Augustin ©
rrorgia ... to
T]Lid.. 181,
‘Lamar, Co
en
id.
Athens WV:
lLiActs of the
Devember. 18.3).
Col 5, and D. !
he
ir
£%
hi; R. H. Clar]
win), The Co
2Athens VW:
sation Janu:
Sarah B. G
tet) 77-79. 7
1-2), 1965
Penden (ae
189-32, 426, 429.
liBliza A. YP
25-80. Miss Bo
tueted im Lexi:
i*Petersburg
iTAugusta ©) .
toown to be i:
M7bid., June
‘Darien Ti:
12-29-1905-BROWN, Melton, black, to hang Baker Co.
1-12-1906-CUNNINGHAM, Willi, black to hang Jefferson Co. for murder
of a black woman.
5-25-1906-CODY, Columbus, black, to be hanged Houston Co.
2-25-1907-BELL, Andrew, black to be hanged in Dublin for the
murder of Rose Mathis.
9~28-1907-ALLEN, Charles, to be hanged, Henry Co., for murder of
Brm Ritchie, both black.
10-24-1908-CAIN, Jack, black, to be hanged Griffin for murder of
Zack Brown, also black.
11-6-1908-JEFFERSON, Simon, black, to be hanged Abbeviile for the
murder of another black.
11-4-1909-RAZOR, Ed, to be hangéd St. Mary's for murder of Section
Foreman Kirkland.
12-9-1910-WHITFIELD, Willie, to hang in Washington Co. this day.
12-18-1910-RUSHING, Ike, black, to hang, Jones Co., for murder of
Bailiff Bass.
2-10-1911-WILLIAMS, Hiley, black to hang Houston Co. for murder of :
8 Peel Oem Clements, white.
7-17-1911-WEBSTER, Tom, black, to hang for rape, Jefferson.
1-13-1912-TAYLOR, Henry, to hang Milledgeville.
7-14-1912-GIBBONS, Charles, black, to hang Louisville.
Late 1912-TOLLIVER, Anz, was to hang, Colquitt Co., but escaped
from jail on night of Sept. 1.
9~6-1912-WEBB, , Jonathan, was to have been hanged Blakley but
received last minute stay.
10-25-1912-DARE, Harrison, to be hanged, Forsyth, for murder
of Ned Taylor, both black.
10-31-1913-ROBINSON, Bunk, to hang at Eatonton for murder of Lawson
Scott, both black.
5-22-1914-ADAMS, Henry, ALSTON, Peter, & BROWN, Aaron, blacks, all
expected to be hanged Savannah, for murder of Peter Duberry.
2-9-1914-BIVENS, Cooper, black, being pursued, Sumter Co. for mur-
der of Constable Tucker Cassell.
8-29-1914-WRIGHT, John, was to hang at Blue Ridge but respited.
7-27-1915-MILLER, Jack, to be hanged Quitman.
3-8-1916-POLLARD, Asbury, citizens of Brunswick asked for respite.
3-10-1916-TRUITT, Dave, black wife murderer, to have been hanged
poss. Atlanta but appeal filed.
3-9-1916-FLOYD, Henry, convicted in Jenkins Co. of murder of Bertha
Perdue, had death sen. affirmed.
4-21-1916-SKELTON, Robert, was to hang at Hartwell but evidently
granted a new trial. |
5- -1916-RHODES, Sam, white to be hanged Augusta. Board of
Pardons unanimously recommeded clemency so probably not
executed.
8- -1916-WRIGHT, David, black, to hang Hamilton Co.
(8-24-1916-WILLIAMS, Aaron, black to have been hanged in Brunswick,
escaped from jail.
12-21-1917-DANIEL, William, to hang Pulaski Co. for murder.
1918~-HIX, Charles, black, poss. hanged Rutledge for murder of Con.
vet. J. Pink Harris,
4-11-1918-GOODWIN, Bart, death sentence for murder of his wife,
Polk Co., affirmed.
7 or 8- 1919-STEELE, Tom, to be hanged Thomas County for murder of
another black.
9-1-1919-WEBB, Joe, to be hanged Rome for murder of James Welch.
1920-CUMMINGS, Hubert, probably hanged, Laurens Co.
9~30-1920-CRAWLEY, George and Decatur, sup. ct. affirmed death
sentences from Union Co. for murder of lawmen.
10-29-1920-BAILEY, Whit, to hang Spaulding Co. for murder of Lonnie
Mays... Both black.
11-19-1920-WILSON, J. C., to be hanged Abbeville for murder of
bank cashier R. E. Sappington.
11-28-1920-KELLY for Kelly), LeRoy, sentenced to be hanged in
Griffin. Have a note indicating that he probably was hanged.
Murdered taxi driver.
12-23-1920-HARRIS, Charlie who was to hang at Rome for murder of
George A. Pierce, was granted a new trial.
10- -1921-CARTER, Majsor, was in Savannah Jail awaiting execution
for murder of Pierce Co. Sheriff Robinson.
10-25-1921-JACKSON, Joe, black, sup. ct. affirmed death sentence
from Sylvester for murder.
6-30-1922-SMILEY, Jack, black, to be hanged for murder of A. L.
Allgood, Macon.
6-19-1924-MINTER, dg. W., sup. ct. affirmed death sentence from
Coweta for murder.
THE FOLLOWING, OUT OF SEQUENCE, ALL WEBSTER CO.
1915-HALL, Buster, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1915-MASON, Toe Wesley, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1915-BEATY, Frank, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1915-JOHNSON, Colue, conv. of wivaae without rec. Webster Co.
1918-DEW, Curtis, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1922-THOMAS, N, P., conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1922-HUNTER, Glenn, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1923-JONES, Asbury, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
1923-JONES, Clubb, conv. of murder without rec. Webster Co.
THE DAILY CONSTITUTIONALIST (Augusta GA)
HUNG - For the first time in many years an executton took
place in this vicinity yesterday. The negro man 'Isaac',
found guilty of the murder of Mr. Henry Amos in Hancock
County last July, was hung yesterday near the Powder Works
at 19 minutes past 12 o'clock. We are informed that on
being led forth to meet hits death he asserted hts innocence.
But tt ts stated that on prevtous occasions he admitted
hts guilt. [issue of 1-13-1866]
HUNG - The negro man Essex Walker, tried by a milttary
commisston tn thts etty and found guilty of the murder
of Dr. Thomas Byne of Waynesboro in July last, was hung
at noon yesterday at the Powder Works near thts ctty.
[issue of 3-24-1866]
EXEGUTED - Yesterday at five minutes past twelve o'clock
William Burns, (a etttzen), and John Jackson, (a freedman),
were put to death by hanging. The execution took place at
the Powder Works and was conducted under the supervtston
of the milttary stattoned here. The unfortunate men had
been trted by a mtlitary commission on a charge of murder-
tng tn October last Capt. Charles H. Tew, formerly of the
C.S.A. and a son-in-law of Major Brumby of the Martetta
Military Academy. [issue of 6-23-1866]
BOWDEN, Jerome,
Black, 3, electrocuted Georgia State Prison
(Muscogee) on June 23, 1986. Retarded. He
and James Graves, 16, broke into home of Kath-
ryn Stryker, 55, on Oct. 11, 19176. Bowden
{th rifle butt and stabbed in chest
eh etcuer knife, Graves received life im-
prisonment.
See GEORGIA - BOOK AND MAGAZINE EXCERPTS.
Had served l-year term for burglery. Born on
july 20, 1952, youngest child of O-year-old
unmarried mother.
' MULLIGAN, Joseph | 3 | ee
Black, 35, elec. Ga, (Muscogee), 5-15-1987.
"MAN EXECUTED IN GEORGIA - Jackson, Ga. (AP)-~
Joseph Mulligan, s former Boy Scout camp leader,
described by pkosecutors as a gangster and
"hit man,' was put to death in Georgia's elec-
tric chair Friday for killing his brother-in-
law's girlfriend. Mulligan, 35, was pronounced
dead at 7:25 pem., EDT, said Department of
Corrections spokesman John Siler.” EAGLE, Do-
than, Alabama, 5-16-1987 (1:3)
_ GEORGIA = BOOK AND MAGAZINE EXCERPTS,
TUCKER, Wilitam Boyd — Ae RIN ice
Woite, 31, electrocuted Ga, (Nuscogee County)
on May 29, X&¥% 1987. "William Tucker, white,
was convicted of robbing a convenience store &]
and then kidnapping, sexually abusing, and KXX)
killing the 19-year-old white female clerk,
When he was apprehended by police, he had no
recollection of the murder itself, Tucker,
who had.no previous record, had been using
drugs heavily since his father had committed
suicide six months before the crime." National
Execution Alerk Network bulletin 87-5-E dated
May 18, 1987
GEQRGIA = BOOK AND MAGAZINE EXCERPTS,
FBERHART, Susan. -
“Miss Susan Eberhart was hanged in Prestop, Webster Co.,
Ga,, at 11 o'clock on May 2, 1873. She was the accom-
plice of Spann in the murder of his wife, Her last |
words: "I am ready and willing." Perfectly composed and >
unmoved, with no dread of death. She said she had no
fear and hoped to meet all in a better world,
BALTIMORE SUN, Baltimore, Maryland, May 3, 1873
47 Menger ITF
- Set id Enoch Va
ihe : Ga. ae ee hh, PIS¥.
ee snort excerpt from GE GTA ieartoae CUARTERLY, Vol.
SPANN, Enoch F,
Hanged, Preston, Webster County, Ga., April ll,
1873. Accomplice Susan Eberhart subsequently
hanged, Had murdered his wife for love of each
other. Appealed and affirmed ];7 Georgia 553 - see,
Worksheet containing acoount of execution from
CONSTITUTIONALIST, Augusta, Ga., l)-13-1873 to
be found in Georgia = not written up,
See also: EBERHART, “Susan
See: Georgia - Bo@k & Mag. Ex. &nder Eber hart.
Murcer, Prperica, byNoek- (352
cf
(epee v Sige 2 Te Siete: sa ey ONE
Ou Tre
O82 4-19ewet
stabi? a ee he Lea fr a tte E: Cb. Die tates.
yaoi ae ear
Fionn els Lasttrarn tire baer W i ba a os ee
‘ya tas or Asal tet Quelie, C1 on hs
lee jas posdinsd.’ Cie inete TD br
ny
»
rf
JUARTEL
c
(
STORICAT,
eneee 2
no
4
i
(
S
Xe)
4
nd Susan
is?)
om
—
a
Y
3
har
bodes
all
a
.
Ing, |
ut to no
han
i,
4
cendec
he sadnes.
oO
°
$
re
°
a
ve estima:
srmed sad!
©
x
I
3€
t
iT
. had
an she
seems
nacr
sual fear
r pictus
the real f-
q 9)
11S
wanted hy
he
t
f
Fror
R
pet
en
OL
»
—_—"
”
#
ed
4
»
ac
and
on her b
cap
+}
as
fo
{
sheri
]
A]
+o
}f
gl
a,
4
.
EBERHART
taken after her conviction.
SAN
U
5
e
ictur
The At
Ap
rom
mo
fo,
tflanta Weekly Sun, May 13, 18
rayer. Spann
—ither lenghty
vas read. He
~ felt that wit-
Susan woul
1 am about to
of life, be
and a home
more people,
Inesses shown
nister of the
to be buried
had arrived.
black cap on
‘rigger, which |
oto Eternity.”
ed within two
‘ive minutes.*4
brothers and
’ ler, why
mented: “Tt is
to assemble to
and the Legis-
‘o—no one wit-
some proper
tion, why did
theme of more
‘t ever engaged
Susan; but why
ve taken Susan
found or dis-
involved: “To
-d-ridden wife,
id affectionate:
4
strangest thing
SS ey Ee A ce te ele RN ag ene SF Oh NERS a eit ee A
a se aera rhe’
pyar sc
or a
aS
Sai
?
Ae
te
*
4
EA RENEE LOL LE RG RII AR
oF
we
HANoines IN Grorata
in the annals of crime.” But the answer, he continued, had to lie
in the fact that Spann was half insane, was irresponsible, and was
4 monomaniac, as his past clearly showed. Various physicians
ptonotinced him “as weakiminded as a child at best” and “scarcely
responsible for his actions." Such a person should nevet have
beeti executed. a |
The attempt to save Susan became almost statewide. Many.
people were emotionally upset over the prospect of hanging a
woman, dnd especially so since the evidence against her was so
flimsy and produced only by those witnesses who felt that if
Susan, as well as Spann, were not convicted, they would not
receive the $500 reward. After the denial of a new trial, her
lawyer appealed the case to the Georgia Supreme Court. Despite
the petjured evidence that convicted Susan, Justice Henry Kent
McCay, delivering the opinion of the court on February 18, 1873,
affirmed the verdict of the lower court. A petition for pardon.
ot commutation, signed by many people in Webster, Sumter
(Americus), and other counties in that region was sent up to
Governor James M, Smith, containing a full statement of the
flimsiness of the evidence on which Susati had been convicted
aiid ceitifying co her good character. Also, the grand jury and
all but two of the petit jury (the two not being available) signed
statements asking for pardon or commutation. The foreman of
the jury that had convicted her had asked Judge Clarke whether
they might not recommend mercy, but the Judge said that would
dé no good. Some of the jury reported that they would never
have voted for conviction if they had known that mercy would
not be given and that would have resulted in a hanged jury.
Smith was flint against the use of his pardoning power, having
stated in his annual message to the legislature in July, 1872, that
he coisidered it his duty to confine this power “within very strict
umits.” Accepting the evidence at face value, the Governor firmly
refused to interfere with the decision of the trial court. His letter
was written on April 28th, only four days before the execution
was to take place on May 2nd. This had been the date which
Jiidge Clarke in his second sentencing of Spann and Susan, had
Dos Spee Peart on soe ge
I a ae eR ee ee
ITANdINGsS IN Grorcra | | 37
set. It was in the previous March that the unusual spectacle took
place in a Georgia court—three people sentenced to the gallows,
all in one sitting: Spann on April iith, a Negro on April 25th, |
aid Susan Eberhare on May 2nd. Up to the day before her
hanging, the Governor was implored by telegraph to save Susan,
but to ho avail.*? .
tt was a stormy, rainy, gloomy, night and morning—‘“The
heavens seemed to weep at the solemn tragedy . .. the rains
descended in torrents and ail around was clothed in darkness,”
But just, about the time of the hanging the weather cleared and.
the suit came out brightly afterwards. The weather as well as
the sadness of the. occasion ‘must have kept down the crowd, for
che estiniates ran from 300 to 700, half of whom were Negroes.
lt Seeins that only about fifteen white women were there, “swho
-Stemed sadly out of place in such a scene.”’ Previously Susan had.
wanted her picture taken. She was taken to a photographer, and
oe fer picture was published in some of the newspapers. Spann,
to, had. wanted his picture made, but the sheriff refused for
feat that he tnight attempt to escape or that violence inight erupt.
Susan shortly before execution wrote out a jong statement of
~ the tedl facts in her associating with Spann in the crime, and
“this seems to have been read at some stage in the proceedings
NAP © a: the hanging. She was hanged on the same gallows and with
SAE Saget gn a aR a SRP gS
the same rope used in the Spann hanging. Ina strange and almost
: tinique reversal of the reason for using a strong guard around
.
the jail and for protecting the. proceedings of a hanging, Judge’
Clarke ordered this precaution against ‘the prisoner being rescued
from a cruel and unjust .verdict to- be freed, rather than the
usual fear that the prisoner might be seized from the law to be =
hatiged by an outraged mob. |
Ourfitted for the hanging, Susan wore a white, figured calico
dress, with her hair in two long braids tied at the bottom, falling
on her back. She wore a calico bonnet until the fateful black
cap and tope took over. On her way to the gallows, she told
the sheriff chat she did not fear. death and was ready and willing
to fo, Alighting from the buggy she ascended the platform with
a8 . Grorota LHistortcan QUARTERLY
firm steps. There were two ininisters on hand; one. read the
eighty-eighth and one-hundred-and-thirtieth Psalms, after which
the other “offered up an eloquent and earnest prayer to the
Throne of Grace in her behalf.” Shé then thanked all who had
befriended her while she was in prison, forgave -all who had
wronged her, and hoped to meet all in heaven. The sheriff then
asked, “Susan are you ready?” and she replied “Yes, I’m ready.”
She ascended the platform with a firm step, and when the sheriff
tied the rope too tight around her neck she asked that it be
loosened a bit: “I do not want to be choked to death.” At.
exactly at half-past 11 o'clock the trap was sprung, and Susan
fell five feet to her death. After fifteen minutes she was pronounced
by the physicians, dead, and four minutes later her body was cut
down. In a strange procedure, physicians made an effort by. the
use of an electric battery to restore life, but failed. It would be
interesting to know what her legal status would have been if
she had been brought back to life. Her neck had not been broken.
According to one who saw the execution, “The day that Susan
Eberhart was hung was the saddest ever witnessed in Georgia,’
Another commented, “Today at this place [Preston] has closed
the saddest scene in the strangest real tragic drama that was ever
enacted tn the history of crime in America.”**
There were so many strange things reported about the hanging
of Susan Fberhart, that there should be added the strange con:
tradictions descriptive of her last moments. According to one
report, “she struggled but little”;*° but another report had it thai
the “suffering of the poor creature must have been as terribl
to her as they were painful to witness... . It was altogether
frightful scene.’ ‘The report which was sent to the Atlanta Herali
stated that “she struggled so terribly they could hardly look at
her.” The editor of The Weekly Sumter Republican, which hat
made her struggling light, said his paper's report had been mac
up from accounts given by persons who were present. He, himself,
did not attend, and he would not “have witnessed the scene for
the wealth of Georgia.”
The governmental authorities of the state were widely cor:
demned!! fo,
editor of the
and a reproa
not a harden
all her natu:
Smith, who
the target of
Republican
of the Emp
to pardon Su
widespread «
before,” anc
of a Murat 3:
Hancock, af?
in vain. Th
spurned,” te
other unfai
etected offici-’
well to reni
delegated pr
of legally
willed minis!
which can «
diverted fro
Furthermore
questions: “J
poor girl Wer.
Did he not |
was not a res
heated excite
well-temper
against her ».
for such cas:
in her behalf
mutation of
the conserva
Begeor, Ll~/ ff, IEE WJ
hy 4-29-/8 2b, Tallod, st, Lee (Black, S2ardeew
4-14-1858-Two female slaves arrested, Houston Co., for asaault
on a Mrs. Bryant, the wife of their.overseer.
Cir, 1859-MITCHELL, William, hanged Walker Co., for murder of
John Colex.
4-15-1859-There was to have been a hanging in Fayette Co.
9-3-1859-YANCEY, John and Thomas, murdered J. Tiel, Campbell Co.
5-27-1859-LINGO, A. Jd. to be - hanged Marietta for murder of Robert
Duncan.
11- ~-1859-O'DONNELL, Bartley, murdered Patrick Fisher, Wayne Co.
1860's-female slave of Perry Finney, hanged Jones Co. for poison-
murder of one of his children.
1860's-Union spy, posing as peddler, hanged, Dalton following
court martial. | ,
4-16-1860-Slave murdered Patrick Carroll, overseer for Sin-
gleton Thornton, Randolph Co.
1863-1864-TAYLOR, John J., hanged Mitchell Co.
6-9-1860-Slave murdered William Smith, Oglethorpe Co.
4~1-1863-Slave murdered Sheffield Akins, Wayne Co.
10- -1863-DOCK, black, murdered John A. Street, prob. Terrell Co.
Cir. 1864-A white man was hanged in Monroe Co,
8- -1864-Three blacks and a white hanged, Brooks Co., for
insurrectionary activities. Don't know whether legal.
1-5-1866-BROWN, John, and REESE, Christopher, whites, to be hanged,
poss. Washington City or Telfair Co. for murder of black woman
6-7-+1867-HEARD, Carter, black to be hanged Atlanta.
11-22-1867-BASS, William Smart, to be hanged Taylor Co. for murder
OF Jacob, Ca Coiiatt.
Cir. 1868-A hanging supposedly occurred, Miller Co., around then.
Cir. 1869-A hanging suppossedly occurred, Lincoln Co., around then.
Cir. 1870-BUTLER, Alf, hanged Spaulding Co. about then.
31x electrocutions 12/9/1938
Six Murderers
Die in Georgia |
Electric Chair
Hour and Twenty-One
Minutes Required for 7
Mass Electrocutions.
REIDSVILLE, Ga, Dec. 9°
; Six negro murderers were put to.
death in the electric chair in the |
> rh, RGlaA -
hour and 21 minutes. The first of |
the prisoners went to the chair at:
11:08 A. M., Central Standard Time, ;
and the executions were completed
at 12:30 P. M., Central Standard |
Time.
A seventh p er, a white man,
Tom Dickerson, Victed of stran-
gling the infant child of « daughter,
was granted a last minute reprieve. |
The six negroes who paid With |
their lives for slayings were: Jim,
Henry Williams, Charlie Rucker and |
Raymond Carter, convicted of slay-'
ing Po Chief O. T. Thornton of |
Jackson, 'Ga.; Arthur Perry and |
Arthur Mack, sentenced for ging
|
!
‘Kepanyes
(SeTTTAuOSyoer) NOINN-SAWHL VWdINold FHL
'SE6T azequsacsq OT
9
Charles R. Helton, Columbus, Ga
fairgrounds watchm
"ZL abed
All were electrocuted before wite |
nesses were permitted to leave the |
execution chamber.
Throughout the morning. the
negroes formed a singing sextet |
chanting. old spirituals and hymns,
Playing on the refrain, “God Is.
Coming to This World Bye and.
Bye”.
One by one. they were led to the |
death chamber, their comrades |
' keeping up the chant. All were
calm as they walked to the chair
Arthur Mack, ane of the Colum-
bus negroes, came into the chamber
singing in a deep baritone, waving
his arms in time to the music. He
knelt and prayed at the elects ic
chair. Hig last words were &@ plea
' for forgiveness.
The last to die was Raymond,
Carter. He asked that someone who)
could read pick up @ Bible and reag |
aloud at a place he had marked.
oe
GREER, Henrietta
From GEORGIA JOURNAL AND MESSENGER, Macon, GA, 7-27-1869:
"Reprieved. Henrietta Greer, the negress under sentence of death for
the murder of Miss Nancy Wright, and held for execution today, has
been reprieved by Governor Bullock until the 20th of August."
Provided by Willard L. Rocker, Genealogy Librarian, Washington
Memorial Library, Macon, GA.
HUNT, Ann
"Ann Hunt was hanged on Friday (May 1, 1874) at Elberton, Ga., for
poisoning Eliza Browner. No attempt was made to rescue Ann and she
made no confession." CONSTITUTIONALIST, Augusta, Ga., May 3, 1874.
"A mulatto woman was to have been hung for poisoning another yellow
woman at Elberton yesterday. Cause of the murder, jealousy of a nice
(?) young white man." CONSTITUTIONALIST, Augusta, Ga., May 2, 1874
“The Elberton GAZETTE contains a long account of the execution of
Ann Hunt, a negro murderess. She confessed to having killed three
other persons before the commision of the crime that sent her to the
gallows..." CONSTITUTIONALIST, Augusta, Ga., May 9, 1874.
CODY, Amanda and ENGLISH, Florence
"Florence English and Amanda Cody were hanged at Warrenton, Ga., on
11-22-1895. They murdered another Negro, Cicero Cody." B'HAM DAILY
NEWS, B'ham, Ala., 11-23-1895.
Slave JENNY
Jenny, a woman slave, was hanged for setting fire to the city of
Augusta, Ga. Hanged there on Dec. 4, 1829. Ltr. dtd. Aug. 28, 1981,
from Dr. Edward J. Cashin, Chm., History Dept., Augusta College,
Augusta Ga. 30910.
"Augusta, Dec. 7, 1829 - The negro girl, Jenny, convicted of Arson,
was executed on Friday last, according to her sentence. She
continued to the last to assert what she had always said, that she
was persuaded to do the act for which she suffered, by the woman,
Cinda, and that Cinda had been persuaded by one of the fellows who
were acquitted." COURIER, Charleston, SC, 12-10-1829 (2:5.)
See also Slave CINDA, hanged in June, 1830.
Slave CINDA
A woman slave named Cinda was hanged at Augusta, Ga., on June 6,
1830, for setting fire to the city. Ltr. Dtd. 8-28-1981 from Dr.
Edward J. Cashin, Chm., History Dept., Augusta College, Augusta, Ga.,
30910.
"The Augusta COURIER of Monday, says - 'The woman, CINDA, condemned
last November as an incendiary, was executed on Friday last agreeably
to her sentence. She persisted to the last, we are informed, in her
innocence of the crime for which she suffered.'" COURIER,
Charleston, SC, June 10, 1830 (2/2.)
See also Slave JENNY, hanged Dec., 1829
~~
BELLA (Slave)
"> .eHe (John Millen) defended Adam and Bella (slaves) for
the murder of “larren (the master of Bella), in Effingham
(Ga.) superior court about the year 1837, with a zeal and
ability that deserved success, but the proof was too plain
by their confessions, He pledged his personal character
to theinnocence of jdam, theproperty of Mrs. “ague, and
obtained his respite. Bella was hung, On the gallows
she exonerated Adam and ColonelMillen obtain ed his pardon,
Several years later, I settled in Baker County, Ga., and
there found Adama, who had been purchased by General Tar-
ver. Guilty or innocent he owed his life to John Millen,"
KXKGERS
MEMOIRS OF JUDGE RICHARD H. CLARK, Edited Py pene Belle
Wylie, 1898, Franklin Printing and Publishing Company,
aie Ses wt hd Gl
GRELR, Henrietta
From GEORGIA JOURNAL AND MESSENGER, Macon, GA, 7-27-1849:
"Reprieved, Henrietta Greer, the negress under sentence
of death for the murder of Hiss Nancy Wright, and held for
execution today, has been reprieved by Governor Bullock
until the 20th of August." Provided by "Allard L. Rocker
Genealogy Librarian, ™ashington Memorial Library, Macon, 3A
EUNT, Ann
"Ann Hunt was hanged on Friday (May 1, 1871) at Elberton,,
Gae, for poisoning Eliza Browner, No attempt was made
to rescue Ann and she made no confession,"
CONSTITUIONALIST, Augusta, Ga., May 3, 187k.
"A mulatto woman was to have been hung for poisoning
another yellow woman at Elberton yesterday, Cause of
the murder, jealousy of a nice (?) younp white man,"
CONSIITUIONALIST, Augusta, Ga., May 2, 187,
"The Elberton GEZETTE contains a long account of the exe-
cution of Ann Hunt, a negro mrderess. She confessed to
having killed three other persons before the commission
of the crime that sent her to the gallows..."
CONSTITUIONALIST, Aurusta, Gas, May9, 187h
RILEY, Alice
An Irish immigrant transport servant, convicted with fellow
servant, Richard White, of murder of master, William Wise. Execution
delayed because of pregnancy. Finally hanged, Savannah, Ga., January
19, 1735, becoming first woman hanged in Georgia. See excerpt from
GEORGIA JOURNEYS by Temple and Coleman, Georgia - not written up.
See excerpt from "Hanging....in Georgia," by Coulter; GEORGIA
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, Vol. 57, pp 21-22-bound in red binder.
WHITE, Richard
Irish transport servant, convicted with fellow servant, Alice
Riley, of murder of master, William Wise. Escaped from custody but
recaptured and hanged on Jan. 20, 1735. See excerpt from GEORGIA
JOURNEYS by Temple and Coleman, Georgia - not written up.
See excerpt from "Hanging....in Georgia," by Coulter; GEORGIA
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, Vol. 57, pp 21-22-bound in red binder.
hocthe! Juan feito Cartes [LAOS IF?
Fak fini Boyan’ [1-8-1 FS
few? / mie [-21-/ GSI
Courkio (fark legs} Doean FLA2 ~ lee
2APEL IS UAL CoTh ov §-/b- Zane
Y Kec Maddatl ion JAPA ISI IO
Lian fleur Klaud Freurgy ‘3-2-7194 /
aN lor ae Fel Lie $523-/94/
fj Jthex fendtcene Fob bun. Ge AIATY/
freaseals Fig Ble. [JOVP 2
Chad dere Mpiten Vf pesew 2-Ce-/FIF2
fete mbes bt Hillb- 3-G- /F22
el Marder ela P-(0 -[FPF
WA Heyy /)-2.6-)7Y 2
Xe vg Lb g xo Cobl— eel Te
ae Merrie G-2UV-/¢FZ_
Le E bys Wanriuelher — /2-//-/ 742
ULtles ftlru 2-2 194¢ Gur)
Yn Tepulee 3-/7-)7H¢#
BLehedt oz DOAN IE 4.9-/99F
teeth ere a A- ce ae
ae b-J/-1 FES
e's Bake P-S-/G Fhe
A ar al MEET came Linke
OF bE : Lethe ~~ J/-22- (G46
Oh heevo , LtaZ9-LILO
SO-F (P27
bP F-L GFO Naso
52/8 -79oT
7-2/9 4
G-(Y-/G FE
Wf LIF
LBS Gae
fl 07 Om
700 [Io
[ (22ST S
S-£5-/9ZG
N-( 27-7 G FO
STIL I
P16
LITTLE WictsAmOS7ILES>
Murder, WM Fraa~1l829
Slat¥e (Parker ) BM, 17 Screven
Murder, WF 8-27-1848
THOMPSON, James 9 OA Muscogee
Murder , WM21 Zee 1858
THOMASSON, Jack . BM, 15 Troup
Murder, 2BF, 8&2 7-6-1877
WILLIAMS, Jesse « BM, 17 Chatham
Murder, BM 1-16-1882
PERRY, Homer BM, 14/15 Newton
Rape, BFZ 11-7-1884
BELL, Willie BM, 14/15. Bibb
Murder, WM33 11-29-1892
BATTLE, Reuben aaa? 66, Greene
Murder, BM fara 1398
ABLES, Will BM 227 Appling
Rape, WF 6~30-1899
GOOLSBY, King BM, 16 Appling
Murder, WM 4-6-1900
GOOLSBY, Lewis BM, 14 Appling
Murder, WM 4-6-1900
BRYANT, Boisey BM, 17/18 Berrien
Murder, WM 9-12-1902
ANDREWS, Richard BM, 16 Wilkes
Rape, WF gee 77-1906
HIGH, Buck BM, 15 Henry
Rape, WF4 5-29-1907
CANTRELL, Bartow wee, 16/17 Hall
Murder, WM 7-31-1914
PERSONS, Joe BM, 14 Butts
Rape, WFS 92471915
KITCHENS, Robert BM, 14/16 Washington
Murder. WM 6-2-1916
SUTTON, Harris BM, 16 Henry
Ku, [Ghatham
2
Rape, WF12 ie 1917
LACY, John HENRY BM, 16 Richmond
Rape, WFS Le"21 "1921
WILLIAMS, Pringle aes 7 Emanuel
Rape, WF 10~-8*+1926
SMITH, Wash WM, 17/19 Ben Hill
Murder, WM 11-22-1930
MARCH, Eddie BM, 15/16 Dougherty
Murder, WM 2-97-1932
DODSON, Charles BM, 17 Schley
Murder, WM Pe 19352
FRANKLIN, Bernice BM, 17 Wayne
Murder, WF 5-28-1943
SEXTON, Charlie BM, 16 Paulding
Murder, BM 8-20-1943
WATKINS, David om, 17/18 Bibb
Murder, WF70O 5-11-1945
ALLEN, Lee James BM, 15/16 Fulton
Rape, WF £1i~16~-1946
STEVENSON, Willie SoM, 17 Lee
Murder , 11-22-1946
REDDICK, Herbert Lee BM, 17/19 Bibb
Murder, WM 6-30-1947
MANGUM, James BM, 17/18 Fulton
Rape, WF70 Mire pat Oy fd o |
JONES, John Albert, Jr. BM, 16 or: 17722 Sumter
Murder, WM 9-12-1949
JACKSON, Willie, Jr. BM, 17718 Baldwin
Rape, WF18 6~15~1954
JONES, Joe Lee BM. 16717 Upson
Murder, WM, 65 41~29~1954
KING, Charles L. ee, E7/si9 Upson
Murder, WM65 11-19-1954
COLMAN, Don Mitchell BM, 17/18 Fulton
Murder, WF30 ot Sie a Me he
~~
26 Grorata Urerorican QUARTERLY
a‘é
He seemed so anxious to be on his way that with the rope around
his neck he stepped off the platform and was pulled back un-
conscious to be legally sprung through the trap door. After thirty-
five ininutes he was cut down, pronounced dead, and delivered
to those waiting to receive the corpse for burial. As a final
comment of him who described this hanging: “Let us hope,
horrible though it be, that his execution will have the effect
intended—the effect to deter others from. the commission of
crime.” | .
Another hanging in 1872, was of a Negro, Byrd Brooks, in
Gainesville, for the rape of a white woman, a widow. He was
hanged on a hill outside of town, where a crowd, estimated at
6,000, inight see the gallows. As this was north of the black belt
of Negro country, the majority of the onlookers were white, and
of the whole group about 2,000 were women. There was quite
a scene on. the scaffold, where various colored friends were
allowed to. converse with the prisoner and preachers of his race
prayed and preached. Brooks steadily maintained his innocence,
although most people, including his race, thought he was guilty,
One of his friends begged him to confess, repeating her plea
several times, but without avail. After the hanging she told the
reporter that she knew more about the crime than she was telling,
intimating that she knew that Brooks was guilty.”
J. T. McCarty, editor of the Elberton Gazette, noted the
gatherings of the Negroes to watch the hanging of one of their
race on the inevitable Friday of one of the weeks in Apri!, 1873.
They were coming from as far away as South Carolina, some
arriving on Thursday night. “The prospect is fair for a ‘Jarge
and enthusiastic’ turn-out,’ he remarked, and announced that
everything “but red-hot stoves will be kept under lock and key
from Thursday evening till Saturday morning.” And feeling
half-guilty in mentioning this morbid spectacle in his newspaper,
he wrote, “Disagreeable though the task will be to us, we will
be on hand to witness the execution, in order to give a full report
of the same, which, though, not pleasant reading to refined, 1s
yet necessary to the history of the ape we live in
About this time
eiven to the inst:
was a deterrent (—
noting how thic!
they were good
with Governor !
granted a pardon
many cases. The
Does’ Hanging
niurder, but it co:
The horror and 1
minds, whether
it was reported th
veing hanged in |
This led the Nev
hock would be. |
“mediately sug
But the end of
os elsewhere, and
In Lexington, Jo!
_ bis life in a bug:
Jimb the gallow
esort of triump!
roadway and gav-
peech from the
announced that
hint in heaven. DB
cccording to th:
vere awful to
2 guard of fift,
Watkins had th:
nad killed anoth:
been hanged, am
fate. The gathe:
epcution of wh
hy. darge crow
30 Grorawa Lrsrorican QUARTERLY
about twice his age, who lived near Macon. With the birth: of
their first and only child, Sarah developed what was called “milk
leg,” and had to have it taken off. Thereafter she hobbled around
on’ crutches. It seemed to have been a friendly married life,
except when Sarah ‘vould lose her temper and = drive him
away from the dinner table. On one such occasion he tried to
cut his own throat, but the knife was grabbed from his hand.
Spann became a tenant farmer and made some little headway
in life. He joined the Baptist Church, became a deacon, and wher
the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army
aid had a respectable record as a soldier; but he seemed to have
forgotten that he already had a wife; for he got acquainted with
a woman in North Carolina and was about to marry her, wher
the match was broken up by news of his having a wife in Georgia.”
By 1870, Spann needed help in his home; the child, a daughter,
had grown up, had married, and was now dead. .There was 4
family of Eberharts living not very far away, unusually poverty:
stricken, consisting of more than a half dozen children, mostly
gitls, One of the girls was Susan, about eighteen years old at
this. time. She had spent three months in school and could read
and write and Was neat, respectable, and responsible beyond what
her circumstances would suggest. She was invited to become 2
member of the Spann household as if she avere a child of the
family, to perform such duties as would fall to such a person.
Soon Spann was casting lustful eyes at her and making improper
advances, all of which she discouraged, but she did not leave
the household or report them. And it seems that she might have
led him to believe if he were single again she night accept him
At least, Spann began to ponder how he might get rid of Sarah,
not realizing the easter and safer possibilities of running away with
Susan, if she would consent, and start a new life in some unknown,
faraway region. First, he decided to try to drown Sarah and make
it seem. accidental. On the way to church one Sunday with
Susan and Sarah sitting in chairs on the bedy of a wagon, he
reached a swollen creek, but before he drove into it, Susai
decided to walk the footlog. (Sarah on crutches not being able
ara
to do that),
/weron and thr: -
io the rescue .
srenuously ch
"a rainbarre! .
“eas no rainhe
on the place w
Then the tr:
in pitch darkne
wife, and as hy
upon he hurr
demanded _ that
‘ated. not kno:
with to bring
spreading it o1
her mouth and
dene, Susan we
in washing awa.
the “cursed sy)
mediately, dem:
According te
for the next ni:
hoochee River :
img to one repo.
ato West Floric
id roads, trails
woods. but gence
some being kins{
up with them,
Uy Spann, not
vawilbng compa:
'o bring Susan ‘h:
re $500 reward
the capture and -:
On being brow
ster County
28 GeoraiA Lisrorican Qoarrerny
young. Every old wagon, buggy, cart, and vehicle of: all kinds
were brought into requisition, while hundreds came ‘on foot,
There could not have been less than three thousand, who came
to see the man die, and two-thirds of them were negroes.” After
the hanging, “Everything passed off quietly, and the crowd were
soon homeward bound.’?? It was typical of crowds attending
hangings never to riot or create any form of disturbance, bu:
immediately after the show to quietly drift away.
As a change from public orgies, judges would infrequently
order private hangings. This was so when Nick Boswell was
hanged in Eatonton for killing another Negro at a_ sociable,
where Boswell became so drunk that he stabbed his friend without
cause. The gallows was erected in the jailyard, and although it
was surrounded by a screen, a great mass of Negroes congregated
nearby to. pray and sing. Boswell went calmly to the gallows
and in his short speech said that he was ready to go arid wanted
the people to meet him in heaven.2® This hanging was another
of the vintage of 1873. |
| George Copeland committed a most dastardly crime in Greene
County by raping a white woman and killing her for her. money.
.. He was privately hanged in the Greensboro jail, the rope breaking
on the first plunge. He was sprung up again, and he was not cut
down unti] an hour and ten minutes later; but the physicians said
that he died painlessly and was unconscious after the first drop.
He had been left hanging until the last twitching in his heart
and muscles disappeared. This hanging took place in- October,
1873."
The next year, Anna Hunt, a Negro ‘woman, was privately
hanged in Elberton, being “very cool and collected on. the
gallows.” It was reported in the same place that another Negre
woman, America Burden, was to be hanged at a later time.®°
Bulloch County, down in the plantation belt, must have had
an unusually law-abiding population, for if reports were true,
its hanging in 1879 was its first. The county had been organized
in Statesboro a hundred years previously, lacking a few more
than a dozen years. Drew Holloway was hanged for killing
i
oe
ah
another Negro
vast crowd, m:
gave special tr
time of day uw!
a slave he asked
scaffold and
affection. The:
ings, which le:
Holloway to
ceeded to say
the Lord had /:
keep away fro
The 1870's
with its resulta:
for a long time
aliowance to ¢!
commentator 2:
ever occurred
strangest in thy
spain.
The princip:
was born nea
ind was left an
the age of fiftr
County which
from the very |
aculd not lea:
eater. but was
at_ complete!
sat he could
'o be alone, ‘“r:
rig up a gallo.
‘pring the tray
uy
*)
hen about
ot with the rope around
was pulled back un-
-(vap door. After thirty-
--d dead, and delivered
for burial. As a final
ging: “Let us hope,
will have the effect
the commission of
gro, Byrd Brooks, in
in, a widow. He was
2 crowd, estimated at
orth of the black belt
okers were white, and
ren. There was quite
-olored friends were |
preachers of his race
stained his Innocence,
sought he was guilty.
repeating her plea
hansing she told the
she was telling,
uty?
~ Gazette, noted the
‘ging of one of their
veeks in April, 1873,
uth Carolina, some
is fair for a ‘large
md announced that
under lock and ke
“ning.” And feeling
le in his newspaper,
‘| be to us, we will }
(Oo give a full report §
iding to refined, is
mi, =
nn EE EP Bile ay aie
Se, ot tl a Pe
bond
About this time there was a great deal of thought and discussion
given to the institution of hanging, its brutality, and whether it.
was a deterrent to crime. The Augusta Chronicle ¢& Sentinel, in
noting how thick and fast hangings were coming to be, thought
they were good for promoting law and order," and ‘it agreed
with Governor James M. Smith (1872-1877), who hardly ever
granted a pardon or commutation, although petitioned in a great:
many cases. The Atlanta Constitution jin responding to its heading,
“Does Hanging Stop Murder!” said, “Hanging does not stop
murder, but it comes Nearer to it than any experiment ever tried,””25
The horror and brutality of hanging was always in some people’s
minds, whether or not they expressed these feelings. In 1869,
it Was reported that chloroform had been administered to a victim -
being hanged in Utica, New York, before the trap was sprung,
This led the New York Express to think that a “powerful galvanic
shock would be better for instantaneous death’—g thought that
iminediately Suggests the electric chair of several decades. later,26
But the end of hangings was yet many years off in Georgia
28 elsewhere, and the 1870's continued to grind them out steadily:
In Lexington, John Watkins, colored, rode the last half-mile of
his life in a buggy with the sheriff of Oglethorpe. County, to
tlinb the gallows steps and swing. Watkins made this half-mile
a sort of triumphal procession as he greeted those who lined the
radway and gave special attention to his friends. {n a rambling
speech from the scaffold he warned his hearers against sin and
announced that the Lord had forgiven him and would receive
him in heaven, But horrors! the fall failed to break his neck and
4ccording to the reporter, “his convulsions for fifteen minutes |
were awful to behold.” To add prestige as well as protection
a guard of fifty citizens armed with shotguns were on hand.
Watkins had the reputation of being a desperate character; he.
bad Killed another Negro. It was reported that his father had
been hanged, and that two of his brothers had met the same
fate. The gathering of the crowds to see this hanging was a
repetition of what went on in most hangings: “Friday morning,
early; large crowds ‘began to flock 16 town—big, little, old and
IANGING: In CGronat, 27
Peas
LEGAL ELECTROCUTIONS IN THE STA
:
RACE &
NAME , SEX
™- Jenkins, Edgar cM
Biggers, William CM
West, Henry CM
Newsome, L. B- CM
Cox, Willie Lee cM
Glaze, Gilbert CM
m™perry, Marvin CM
Griffin, Fred @ Carter CM
Green, Willie @ Crooms CM
Adams, Burley WM
Dudley, Eugene cM
Higgins, Willie cM
Stevens, Clark CM
Chrisholm, Robert Lee cM
Hendrix, 0. C. CM
Searcy, William cM
Gaskins, English WM
March, Eddie CM
Johnson, Major (Slick) WM
Parker, J. H, @ Terry vA
Rounds, Willie CM
Jones, Willie CM
Jackson, Albert @Lumsden CM
Baker, Paschall CM
Green, Charlie, Jr, CM
Hulsey, Fred WH
esaerit William Wi
umphreys, John L. cM
me Jackson, J. C- cM
4
A Welch, Lawrence CM
Todd, Johnay @B,. Jones CM
Randall, Pat CM
Davis, Raider @ Williams CM
Morris, Richard cM
Sims, Richard cM
White, Mose @ Tom CM
McCollough, Thomas A, WM
Key, Eugene CM
jackson, Rochelle cM
Simpson, Parry Ci
Brooks, Grady ™M
zuber, George @ McDow CM
Barbee, James fF. WM
Osborne, Will @ A. Dobbs cM
Short, Homer Lee cM
Downer, John (Downing) cM
Walker, Sandy cM
Lively, Mitcy w. (Millex) WM
james, Mack cM
Patrick, Hosea CM
Hicks, Claude cM
South, Floyd CM
Castleberry, Reese cM
Duncan, Clifford @ Jones CM
Johnson, Frank @Williams CM
Street, Mose CM
Dodson, Charlie cM
Hammett, J. T- WM
Barfield, Archie co
Wright, John Henry CM
Reese, Rack @ Jack cM
Tucker, Joe CM
Brown, D, W- CM
Bell, Arthur cul
Hargroves, Robert F, WM
__AGE CONVICTION
TE OF GEORGIA
Ri? hohe cea)
COUNTY OF DATE
CRIME EXECUTED
Early Rape 1-16-31
Fulton Mur der 1-27-31
Floyd Murder 3-13-31
Peach Murder 3-27-31
Fulton Murder hel]
Fulton Mur der lee A7 ey]
Early Murder lye 29s
Campbell Mur der 5-18-31
Richmond Murder 5-22-31
Golumbia Murder §-22-2!
Walton Murder 7-17-34
Fulton Mur der 9-11-33
Morgan Murder 10-16-.4
Peach Rape 10-16-34
Fulton Mur der 10-31-31
Talbot Mur der 10-30-31
Candler Murder 12-21-3
Dougherty Mur der 22-9432
pougherty Murder 2-9-32
Ware Murder 48-32
Houston Murder 6-10-32
Richmond Murder 8-8-32
peach Murder 10-7 +32
Webster Rape 10-28-32
Webster Rape 10-28-34
polk Murder 11-4-32
polk Murder 11-4-32
Stewart Murder 11-5-32
Early Murder 11-16-34
Early Murder 44-33
Greene Murder 5-19-33
Randolph Murder 5-20-33
Fulton Murder 6-14-33
Fulton Murder 8-11-33
Fulton Murder 8-11-25
Fulton Mur der 8-11-33
Fayette Murder 8-25-53
Houston Murder 8-25-53
Worth Murder 9-833
Clinch Mur der 10-20-25
Pickens Murder 10-27-23
Pickens Murder 10-27-23
Pulaski Murder 12-29-33
Fulton Rape 1-12-34
Marion Murder 32-34
Elbert Rape 3-16-34
worth Murder 3-16-34
Fulton Murder 4-20-34
Banks Murder & Rape 5-11-34
Fulton Mur der 5-15-34
Fulton Murder 5-15-34
Fulton Murder 6-15-34
pickens Murder 6-15-34
candLer Rape 9-14-34
johnson Murder 10-5-34
Chatham Murder 11-15-34
gchley » Mux der 1-21-39
Troup Mur der 2-11-35
Gwinnett Murder 2-15-35
McDuffie Murder -1-3
McDuffie Muxder 3-1-35
Meriwether Murder 3-5-35
Webster Mux der 3-7-35
Webster Murder 4-7-3) .
E£fingham Murder 4-15-39
in tra QR Ei BGT: Se
LEGAL ELFCTROCUTIONS IN
| THE STATE_OF_GEORGTA
RACE &
NAME SEX
Pierce, Victor WM
Rivers, Albert cM
Ashley, Isiah cM
Harden, Henry cM
Stone, Charlie CM
Beasley, Charlie CM
Mullinax, Robert WM
Hicks, Cleveland @Jones CM
Reese, J. B- @ Adams CM
‘aines, Simmie ci
: MeRae, George WM
Mattox, Jack cM
Honea, Marvin WM
v White, John Will cM
Bowen, Eddie B. cM
Simmons, John Henry CM
Nelson, Thomas co
~ Lownan, Julius cM
MeLemore, Hamp CM
Thomas, John Henry CM
Daniel, John CM
Charles, Demps CM
Coombs, Arthur @ Powell M
Boyer, Winton CM
Sioan, John Henry CM
Burden, Arthur CM
Burke, James @ Joseph Cl
Goodman, J% P, CM
beh rent S Will cM
Melton, Eli CM
Brown, Leonard CM
Trammell, Mose M
Hopkins , Willte CM
Rose, Edgar G@Robt .Taylor Wi
worthy, James @Tyson CM
Young, Charlie CM
Jackson, Mitchell cM
Douberly, Willie E. WM
Ward, Lawrence WM
Pinson, Clinton cM
paniels, Willie Frank CM
Haywood, Archie CM
Thomas, George CM
Rozier, Leavy L, Wi
Benton, Ralph cM
Melton, Walter @Roberson Ct
McBride, Isaac cM
Etheridge, Buck cM
Knight, Frank cM
Gilbert, George cM
Rucker, Charlie cM
Rues aha} Wilkie D. cM
arter, Raymon cM
SDrerry, Arthur cM
Mack, Arthur cM
Williams, John Henry CM
Wright, Wilson CM
Harvey, Floyd Nelson WM
Vauchn, J. D. cu
Barker, Arthur E, WM
Hunter, Marion Cu
Sheffield, Clarence cu
Bruno, Sheppard cu
Bivins, James @ Gene cM
AGE
35
&L
18
24
30
50
34
30
COUNTY OF
CONVICTLOL
Clayton
Sereven
Appling
Washington
Fulton
Troup
Floyd
Mitchell
Jackson
Oglethorpe
Cherokee
Oglethorpe.
Fulton
Cobb
pouglas
Camden
camden
Chatham
Muscogee
Clarke
Hall
Hall
Henry
Hancock
Colquitt
Richmond
Deka 1b
Cook
Muscogee
Richmond
Troup
Burke
pougherty
Fulton
Burke
Fulton
Chatham
Jeff Davis
Fulton:
Clarke
Worth
Fulton
Ware
Fulton
Charlton
Clinch
Henry
Bryan
Troup
Butts
Cobb
Butts
Muscogee
Muscogee
Butts
Chatham
Ware
Walton
Gwinnett
Chathan
Ware
Dougherty
Schley
Us
Murder
Rape
Murder
Mur der
Rape
Murder
Murder
Murder
Rape
Murder
Muxder
Murdex
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Rape
Aux der
Murder
Murder
Rape
Mur der
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Rape
Murder
Murder
Rape
Mur dex
Murder
Murder
Mur der
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Mur der
Murder
Rape
Murder
Murder
Murder
Murder
Rape
Rape
Mur der
Murde
Mur der
Murder
Murder
Mux der
Mux der
Mux der
Rape
Murder
Mur der
Murder
Murder
Murder
CRIME
Vat ote
sea
Was
LEGAL EL ECTROCUTE
Mra ares eben. erie ‘
rita ss pe re died
va ‘
ons IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA’
WARS Vi} POORER ET PPPS RT aE hy
3
RACE & COUNTY OF ATE
NAME SEX AGE CONVICTION CRIME, EXECUTED,
_ “¥ Henson, Howard OM? DeKalb Murder 9-13-24
Williams, Alex Os Jones Murder 5-15-25
Jackson, Frank CM tt Rabun Murder / 9-26-29
ma thoDs Charlie c™ O39 Fulton Murder 4-11-26
i! a coggeshath Ted Wi 21). Putnam Murder 3-25-26
i -McCleland, Floyd wa 20 putnam Murder 3-25-26
Stewart, Amos CMs worth Mur der 6-18-26
Glover, Ed. cM “ Bibb Murder 9-9-26
; - Johnson, Tom aM 48 jefferson Murder 9-24-26
Veo Milliams, pringle cM OL? Emanuel Rape 10-8-26
_ Johnson, James CM Fulton Mur der 11-13-26
™ Gore, Mell WM? vo 22. Pulton Murder 6-3-27
Feanell, Herbert cy 30. «Liberty Mur der 6-3-27
Mars, Osea wo 46 Ben Hill Mur der 6-6-27
Rounsaville, John cM. 20, Chattooga Murder 7-12-27
—Stewart, Cellus CM. 3D. «Early Murder 7215-27
Chamblee, Lee cM... 40". . Bartow Murder 10-14-27
Galloway, Wilbur ca 28 ~=—szDodge Murder 10-14-27
Parker, Mose cM 45 Pike Murder 10-14-27
Pryor, Roy cm 24 . Monroe Rape 10-26-27
Clark, George CM. .26.—s« Jasper . Rape 11-11-27
Sanders, John “tM: 4k & Fulton Rape 11-18-27
Fuller, Garfield eS ee Murder 1-13-28
Quinn, Albext cM... 29 ferrell Mur der. 1-20-28
Coates, Robert cM | 36s« Jefferson Murder 2-21-28
Ellis, Henry ca «25 Fulton Murder 4-18-28
Price, Edgar cy 24 =| «Grady Murder 5-4-28
Grant, James E- cM 27.) Fulton Murder 5-18-28
Hicks, Charlie cM 21 «| Fulton Murder 6-8-28
Jones, Robert cM 22 Bibb Mur der 6-28-28
Hammond, Harold Wi 36 Fulton Murder 7-6-28
MeCloud, Medie wid 29 © Decatur Murder 776-28
Gower, 5am m ~ 42 Gwinnetc Murder 7213-28
Taylor, preddis cM. 33. Fulton Murder 7-13-28
Thompson, clifford WM 22 | Murray Mur der 8-3-28
Moss, Jim @ Moses cM 27 Murray Murder 8-3728
Shepherd, R- H. Ww. 57... Fulton Mur dex 12-19-28
Reddick, Marshall © cu. «40 Coweta Murder 1-18-29
George, Willie Cy CMe 23 Fulton Murder 1-18-29
Capers, cu. 19~—s Fulton Murder 1-18-29
Gillom, Willie @ Gillion cH 21 Fulton Mux der 1-18-2
™ Crinstead, Griff @ Grant WM, 56 Montgomery Murder 2-22-29
Clark, John cm. 44 Mcintosh Murder 3-20-29
Grumady, James ama 25 Colquitt Mur der 5-17-29
Dozier, Jeff cM... 60 Floyd Murder 7-22-29
Morrow, Malcolm Wa 3h Glynn Murder 9-11-29
Simpson, Homer c wi 40: Glynn Murder 9-11-29
Bryant, Willie | cM. 23° Ware Rape 10-4-29
Merxitt, Alvin WM. 25’ ': Fulton * Rape | 10-4-29
Ellen, John cu 41 Floyd Murder 1-27-30
Barker, James M29 Bibb Murder 2-14-30
Kelly, ‘Edmond cM 28 Grady Murder 2-21-39
Bcxeven, Renty cu 50). Cha tham Murder 3r210/
Jolley, Angeline@Luc lous cM. 23°. Bibb Murder 6-20829
Duzer, Emory Van Mi 24) Fultea Murder 6-27-30
WM 21 | Ben Hill Murder 11-22-50
Smith, Wash
in; Atlanta
‘so issue of
Republican,
“ebruary 14
2), July 31
<«, 3), 1873;
\ig hanging,
‘od sausage,
‘icles.’ Un-
{5 (4, 1-5),
ebruary 21
‘Veekly Swn,
~ ?, 8-5), 1878.
‘Veekly Sun,
Republican,
_onstitution,
-) defense of
‘.pathies of
2 of justice
“xeeutive in
@ woman
cord.” . Lbid,,
‘iran, May 9
the Athens
his text 4
her capital
‘t “have to
‘ill be com-
human life
‘onge.”
1873.
Pes
ep Stiies
oS aie ae
ne eaee
crt agian ie
Se RE SR = Se ae ae
fax
=.
WF
See eee ee ers
“whale estate:
Hanainos In Arona. - OBR
. S0John William Baker, History of Hart County {Reprint of 1933. e
333-38,
518avannah Morning News, January 17 (4, 2-3), 1882,
82Atlania Constitution, June 3 (1, 3: 4, 3), 1889. .
53Athens Banner-Watchman, May 232 (8, 4; 4, 1), May 29 (4, 1), 1883. °
tDarien Timber Gazette, June 30 (3, 2-4), 1883.
bsrbid., July 14 (3, 2), 18838, 567bid., July 21 (3, 1). 1883,
St Atlanta Constitution, December 13 (1, 5), 1884. . as
58Athens Banner-Watchman, April 29 (3, 6-7), May 29 (3, 6), 1884,
S9Greensboro Herald and Journal, May 18 (1, 2), 1888.-
Atlanta Weekiy Constitution, May 1% (10, 3), 1888. See also inid.. May 12
(2, 3), 1888. ak
SlAtlanta Constitution, January 26 (3, 1-2), 1889,
62Greensboro Herald-Journal, February 8 (4, 3), 1889.
. 8Atlanta Constitution, January 25 (3, 1-2; 5, 1-2), Janwary 26 (1, 5-6):
8, 1,2; 4, 3), 1889,
SiIbid., January 26 (4, 3), 1889,
85Greensboro Herald-Journal, January 11 (4, 3-4),- 1829,
S0Ibid., February 8 (4, 3), 1889.
§TSee BE. M. Coulter, “The Woolfolk Murder,” in Georgia Historical
Guarterty, XLIX (June, 1965), 115-56. Reprinted in BE, M. Coulter, The.
Toombs Oak, The Tree that Owned Itself, and Other Chapters of Georgia
{Athens, 1966), 174-211. © , :
-88Madison (Ga.) Madisonian, quoted in Lexington Oglethorne Be
23: (4, 3), 1897.
b9Lexington Oglethorpe cho, March 26 (2, 1), 1897,
70] bid., July 2 (4, 1), 1897.
MlLexington Semi-Weekly Eeho, December 15 (2, 1), 1897,
?2Lexington Oglethorpe Echo, June 25 (3, 3), 1897,
WIbid., May 21 (5, 3), May 28 (2, 3; 5, 4-5), 1897.
M4Ibid., May 28 (2, 3), 1897;
, Idid., March 23 (4, 2), 1906. Shackelford later wrote
punishment was “a relic of barbarism no one-can gain
hot serve to lessen the crimes for which it ig a
Uciently proven: that it is demoralizing tn
dition),
ho, July
that capital
say; that it does
punishment can be suf.
the extreme fs incontrovertible,”
Lexington Oglethorpe Echo, February 7 (4, 2), 1908,
Greensboro Herald-Journal, December 16 (6, 1}, 1898.
TAtlanta Hvening Constitution (2nd edition), Ms reh 12 (1, 7), March 18
lard edition) (6, 2); Lexington Ogicthorpe Echo, March 19 (2, 5); Luex-
gion Semt-Weekly Echo, December 1. (4, 8), December 4 Cf, 2), 1897;
January 8 (2, 2), February 16 (2, 4), 1898: Lexington Oglethorpe Echo,
April 8 (8, 2); Atlanta Constiiution, April 1 (9, 3), April 2 (3,/1), 1898.
« Atlanta Georgian and News. January 31 (1, 3; 2,5): Atlanta Constitu-
tion, February 1 (2, 3); Greensboro Herald-Journal, February 7 (4, 3),
198. For a discussion of the Glover case, see Alfred @. Hicks, “Tom Watson
aad the Arthur Glover Case in.Georgia Polities, in The Georgia Historical
Quarterly, LIII (September, 1969), 265-86. -
Atlanta Georgian, January 29 (6, 3), January 30 (4, 2), January . 31
i4, 2); 1908,
wAtlanta Journal and Constitution
Suldia., July 28 (4-A, 2):
4372,
Magazine, June 2 (7, 1), 1963, -
Atlanta Constitution, June 30 (1, 2-3; 10, 2-3),
&
Ly
oo
PSS Se SM ha
ae
ea
Vorumn LVII Summer, 1973 NUMBER 2.
eee wenn nna ene
Pz
CONTENTS -
KbirdgtaL REACTION YO THE 1952 Canpwpacy or
Ricyuarp B. RVSBQEtL ik wilt nnenasdb cote oo
Tue New Sourn: Brwy AMIN H. Hitr’s SPEECIt Brerore Tine AntMny eye
Sooinry oF Tur UNIVERSITY or Grorcta, 1871. °F. Merton Coulter: 179
Ties APALACHICOLA-CUATIANOOUHEELINT River Warer Roun: ;
Systus IN THE NINETEENTH Century. -- ..William N. Thurston: 200
Tit’ Cueistran COMMONWEALTH Conony: ,
A Grorata EXPERIMENT. srrcteeteee eee JONN. O,. Fish 213
Tité Dedric or JAMES Epwarp OGLETHORPE i Phinizy Spalding 227.
VOLITICAL INeLUENGE OF THE Ku Krox Kian in
Grorcra, ORO LOB et Clement Charlion Moseley 235
Janns WiitrcomB RILEy, “Brtyz,” Nye, anv Harry §
STILUWELL :
Epwarps: A Leoture Tour. Mrs... Doris Lanier 256
SuAvis JUSTICE In Four Mippre Guoreta Counrirs... John ¢. Edwards 265
Tip First PRorrssorsuip or ENGLIsy Literature he
AN AMERIOA.. oo be, Je ae ee Ben Harris MeClary 274
COLLECTIONS or Tarp GEORGIA HIsportcar SOCIETY,
OtieR Documents, AND Notes:
War Letters of S. F, Tenney, A Soldier of the Third
Georgia, Regiment. Wrtnteeeddeeeenntnwene ited by EB. B. Duffee, Jr, 277 -
Brigadier-Genera} John Ashe’s: Defeat at the Battle of ~ ;
Brier Creek: de diieeSse erento Edited by William BE. Cor 295.
Seon Reviews AND Noves:
Rogers, Jr., The History of Georgetoiwon, South Caroling... 308
Miers, The Last Campaign. Grant Saves ChE TNAON ei 304
Moore, Paul Hamilton Tayn Jali Sine litesecnt? 805
Smith, English Defenders of American Freedoms, 1774-1728. .
Henretta, “Saluiary Neglect.” Colonial Administration, ete...
Main, Political Parties before the Constitution. :
Pancake, Sanvuel Smith and the Politics of Business, LF 52-1839
Thorpe. The Old South: A Psychohistory... ieee
Mowry, Another Look at the Twentieth- Jentury South... 310
Remini, The Age of Jackson.
Co hpeencmineondeeennneeddnelwieene oo a. Peatous
Joiner, A. History of Florida Baptists 0 311
Walton, Jr., Black Political Parties. Bette, “BERS |
Pease, Black Utopia, Negro Communal Experiments in Anicrica_. 312
Duden, The Gray and the Black. The Confedcrate Debate
on Hmancipation.... webechapteegteeezectin nes. SUB
Davis, Recollections of Mississippi and Mississipnians... 314
Green, The Role of the Yankee in the South... Seetebeh die iol, ae,
Hillard, Nog Meat and Hoecake, Pood Supply in the Old South . BIC
MeLemore, ed., A. Itistory of Misstssippt, 2 valg. de... Lait B17
Rainer, Wenry County, Ceorgia
Philip A. Grant, Jr. 167 -
rion, and
so might
orominerit
ff dle- -aged,
' “roperty.
chaired
»uperior
1d.” 2
initially
court.”
wed wit-
capital
en toa
“Ige took
nd with
ron of a
and. it
was his
’
1S wu é
is found
old girly
re crowd
was 4
idemned
is young
‘ickson at
self and
) beautiful
ave lived
it sight
ire [sie]
eOt it was
ord road
“quite a respectable crowd before we
SLAVE JUSTICE IN F OUR Mippin Gror ral COUNTIES 267
By ten Oclock a great many people thronged the streets, and elusbeked
teound the old weather beaten jail. Our little company had become >
reached the Public Square
where we drove slowly through the immense mass of living beings.
All long the way from the Court-house to the gallows Carriages,
Wagons and carts were seen bearing on their living freight to the
scene, of execution. The high and low the rich and the poor the free
and the bond alike pressing forward to the gallows their desires of
-seting the law enforced and crime meet its own reward.
After. a slow tedious drive we arrived ‘at. the appointed place.
whete the rough benches had been erected in an old field whos [sic]
Sittoundings were on the amphithe: ater order. For several hours I.
had been pleasantly situated and with good company which caused
thime [sic] to pass by almost imperceptibly but when I was confronted
by, q “gallows, the simple’ construction of which was, two upright
posts and a cross beam from top of the posts T viewed it with
wortor. My reflections St forth when my eye took in the sur-
roundings. On one side of the pues were. the colored pow e and
én the other side the white people who had gathered on the little
hillock, It was quite gratifying to the feelings to see. the ee
5
of slave owners to teach their Slaves an pnperaiit les can ‘by sending
~ thein hete to day [sic]; The gallows, ves here on this gallows ill-fated
~ Henry, will have to give up his life for crime and go to “his long
home with God in oe In the midst of my reflections I saw .
rast crowd of people coming from Town toward the gallows
lt was announced that “They are 2 coming. and 1 looked and
saw on Ox-cart coming on which rode the unfortunate Henry
dressed in a ‘suit of white sitting by the coffin which was to incase ,
bis lifeless form. They drove the Ox-cart near the gallows, then
the driver unhitched the Sturdy oxen and proceeded to di irect the
cert by hand.
The Sheriff plased [sic] his mriatd: and. when the cart stopped
under the gallows by the platform a negro man ascended the stand
and sang Hymns. Many joined in singing aloud the praises of God,
while I stood gazing on in amazement. At the conclusion of the
Hymn he offered a very appropriate prayer which seemed to affect
4 preat many. When he raised up from prayer. he began exhorting
the people from. Acts 6-23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal. life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
When he had ended his discourse, the Rev. Jns. W. Yarbrough got up
and rade a short, but: ver y appropriate exhortation,
They closed the religious services, but the convict desired to
n
Suave Jusrick mw Four Minpnn CGrortai,: Countirs 969
jacking of his chattel property a capital offense, On May 18,
1814, Dooly made a complaint before Judge Thomas Murray,
Of loging a slave woman, Betty, to slave, Bob, belonging to
Shadrac Turvier. According to the irate Dooly, Bob had “in-
veighed”’ Betty to leave with him, much to Dooly’s embarrassment
and financial loss, Within three days the notorious Bob tad
heen captured, and a jury drawn, Unfortunately for the plaintiff
}
the jury found Bob not guilty, without addressing itself to the
seriousness of the offense, | |
: A similar case appeared before the court on April 6, 1819,
when a prosperous local planter, John ledwards, brought a most_
confusing suit before the slave court. Edwards claimed that a
bondsman by the name of Pollard, the property of Ellis Graves, »
tried to steal his Negro woman, Beck. Four months later another.
atteiipt to “inveigle” Beck was made by Hall, a slave belonging
to Nathan Bussey. Finally, on the night of February 1. 1819,
Beck was “deluded” to abscond with her child, Jess, and 2 young
girl named Kate. Edwards eventually recovered the elusive Beck
aid the children, but he demanded retribution for the protracted
loss of their services. This final act of kidnapping was committed -
by the slaves Tobe and Buck, also the property of “Fhomas
Bussey. A confused court called in Pollard, Hall, Tobe, and
Buck for trial, During the preliminary proceedings Beck testified
against Tobe and Buck, tecounting how Tobe had come to the
‘dwards’ kitchen and told her that there were “people yonder
that wants to see you,” and that the slave girl Kate must accom-
pany her. Beck explained how Buck took her to a nearby out-
building, offered her a drink of whiskey and attempted to make |
improper advances. Edwards’ Negro Jim, much to the chagrin |
of the master, testified that Tobe said, “that he wished that the |
dogs might bite him if Kate and Beck didn’t enjoy their trip.”
The court released the four slaves on -$5,000 bond each paid by
their ownets Graves and Bussey. Edwards was forced to deposit
$i00 as an obligation of his intention to prosecute his neighbors,
On April 27, 18109, a jury was selected fron a panel of thirty men
dnd the trial commenced, No sooner had. the trial begun than
26
(ee)
‘GEORGIA ais ORICAL QUARTERLY
speak to the people. His discourse was very affecting, so much so
that some of the blac k women shouted praises to their immortal King.
The mother of Henry screamed aloud and shouted with vehemence
while her son stood on the platform speaking to the auditory. At
the conclusion of his remarks the Officers began to fix for his
execution. The Sheriff, Capt John Jones, a capital man, was very
much affected during the Scene, They first tied his feet togetl ier,
then his hands, and then adjusted. his clothing. The Sheriff then
permitted him to look over the vast multitude which surrounded
him for a few moments and then tied a white handkerchief over his
face which excluded it from view.
The hangmans Knot was adjusted around his neck then the rope
was passed over the cross-bar of the gars
All things ready at 12 N the Sheriff descended the steps to the
ground and with help drew the Cart on which the Convict stood
from under him — leaving the dangling form of the poor victim
suspended in the air by a repe. When the form dy opped from the
Cart, a loud groan went tip from the people and then they people
began to disperse.
After the untwisting of the rope and the shrugging of the shoulder
had ceased the Dr. & N Calhoun (1 believ [sic}) approached and
took hold of the hand and after a few moments announced that life
was extinct. We came back to town and staid [sic] a few hours,
and while at the Old Washington Hotel. Kept by Mr. Banks George
IT saw the Sheriff.Mr Jones bring the corps hie] back and carry
the coffin up a flight of rickety steps to the door of the second
story of the jail and de eposit it therein. Doubtlessly the Doctors will
take advantage of this subject for anatomical inyestigation, and he
found with sleeves zones up chatting. over the mortal remains of
this 7a ded victim.®. We left town with Mrs Parker, masters Bob
and Miss Betsy, and got home before night. .
Cattage House DeKalb Ga. Catherine M. Hew ey
Noveiher 3, 1858
The property loss. of Henry to William Jackson was in-
calculable, but in the company of fellow slaveholders both large
and stall, he tnderstood and probably condoned Henry's death
as a necessaty example to other bondsmen. Other slaves would
test the slave code with varying results.
During the early years of the nineteenth century the loss of
one inaster’s slave to another man’s servant was serious busines
in Lincoln County. John M. Dooly, in fact, considered the hi-
9
onl
10
Grorodta ITisrortcan QUARTERLY
the presiding justices cut’ short the deliberations. These four men
concluded that the offense for which Tobe and Buck had been
charged was not a capital crume ‘and that the court had no
jurisdiction. They released the defendants and forced the hapless
Edwards to pay court costs. |
Further. investigation’ of the Lincoln County Inferior Court
Minutes reveals.a multitude of trials more serious. in nature.
On the night of Nevember 9, 1833, John S. Walton and Willtam
DuBose surprised a runaway, Randal, who was hiding. near Wal-
ton’s home. Tlie cornered black man drew a revolver and threat-
ened to kill them, wh igeup x0n the two men pounced upon Randal
and wounded him with his own pistol. In the ens suing trial an
uncertain jury found Randal guilty but recommended mercy;
nevertheless, the court ordered the prisoner hanged, This dire
sentence was arrested through a writ of certiorari filed by Attorney
William Lawrence, presumably at the. request of the runaw ay’ ‘s
owner. The Superior Court ordered a new trial at the forth-
coming April term. On May 5, 1834, the Inferior Court met t
hear Randal’s case again. For four days Attorney .Lawreace
examined forty-eight men before a jury was selected. At lengt!
the lawyer objected to the impartiality of this group as well, and
thirty Six ad Hien men were empaneled for jury duty. Counsei :
instinct for a favor: able j jury was accurate, and Randal was soos
exonerated.
The crime of burglary in Lincoln County. carried the deai!
sentence for slaves, no matter how minor the theft. On January.
15, 1814, Jack, the property of Barnes Holloway, broke into an
Eatonton mercantile store and pilfered a penknife and ten dollars
in cash. Two weeks after the offense, Jack paid with his life for
this minor transgression. Daniel Shaws F. Idredge forfeited his lif:
in this court for a comparable crime on September 25, 181°
~The defendant had entered a private residence’ and fled. wit
1 “‘winscoat, a pair of pantaloons, and a shirt to the great damag:
of him, the said Anderson Ward, . The Lincolnton court
later tempered fits vengeance in the oe of Cato and Sophia | '
December, 1820. The previous October this irascible -pair um
BG the 8,
lawfu'
piece.
valual
charge:
cemb:
Coop:
drygu
Geor
same
howe
certic!
befor
one |:
Per
Israel],
Janus:
Reyi'
farn
the a
captil
atten,
nen,
with
slave
offer.
evide
that t!
(3)
resul:
of am
Th
malic:
would
the 7)
penal:
‘ur mer
id beeit
had 6
hapless
* Coutt
nature
“p Villian
ar W4 i
“| threats
» Randal
trial ah
merey$
‘Nis dire
_\ttorhney
i naway’s
forth
met to
iwrence
pth
Cid, and
‘Counsel's
as sooti
he death
January
into ari
ven dollars
life fot
i his life
+55, 1889.
‘led with
¢ damage
‘on court
g Pita in
ba pair un:
=.
Cae
ed
mad
alge:
Gop rig Bt eS
es
tay
oa
~Ax
ee
Sa peat
a
oe
i
Suave Justics in Four, Minpte Grorrer, Counties 271
ivfully entered the home. of William Whitfield and stole two
leces of homespun, one red morocco pocketbook, and sundry |
valuable papers. The two defendants were found guilty as
charged, but instead of death they received a flogging. On ,De-
cember to, 1820, the slave George robbed the storehouse of
»| Cooper and Riley in Lincolnton of $300 in cash and various
drygoods, even as Cato and Sophia appeared before the court.
“George was apprehended, tried, and ordered to hang on the
suné day. George had been tried without benefit of counsel,
however, and the Superior Court sustained the master’s writ of
certiorari and awarded a new trial. He was again declared guilty
before’ the Bar on March 26, 182i, but this time he received
one hundred fifty lashes administered in three successive days.
Perhaps the most ‘nstructive case of all involved the slave,
Ky Istael, property of Jessee W. Horton of Hancock County. On. -
January 12, 1849, Israel reportedly attempted to kill George W.
Reynolds with an axe. Reytiolds had been visiting the Horton
fatm at the time of the incident. Israel fled the scene right after
the attack and remained at large for four months before his
capture and return for trial. The justices found [sracl guilty of
Attempted murder, but before sentencing could begin two geritle-
men, Barbee and Thomas, demanded that the jury be charged
vith the following: (1) Notice should be taken that while the
dive must suffer death for a crime that would not be a capital
offense when committed by a white man, yet the sane rules of
evidence applied to both races. (2) The prosecution must prove
that the instrument used by Israel could rightfully produce death.
(3) The jury must believe that the assaulr surely would have
resulted in murder otherwise they could not find Israel guilty
of any offense. .
— The court ruled that the attack made upon Reynolds proved
nialice aforethought, and that if the victim had dicd the charge
would have been outright murder. With this ruling behind then,
the justices, nonetheless, withdrew from administering the death
petalty. Instead, the court ordered Israel to receive fifty lashes
C. Herrenkohl
$48); 232,
vard, were the
-% while in the
— ‘oard’s attempt
ist Conventtan
‘iar 1932-1938),
| his death in
iS often spoke
‘2 home.” He
' West Africa
6S as Ghana
48 now aimed
sequently her
en all of the
) and French
After, 1957
» {n African
d= ten years
‘mpensate for
‘al neighbors,
‘| B. Stubble-
‘3 Baptist in
‘huselah has
Hanging As A Socio-Penal]
Institution [p Georgia and Elsewhere
By E, Merron Course!
TJ ANGING was, doubtless, one of the first forms of capital
punishment devised by the human race as it emerged from
the Stone Age. Others to accompany or be adopted later were: .
strangling, drowning, piercing by sword Or spear, poisoning,
throwing to wild beasts, crucifying: and using” other forms of
ihartyrdom of the later Inquisition, beheading, disemboweling,
burning at the stake, boiling: in oil; and finally shooting, gassing,
and electrocuting. But hanging was hallowed by past ages and
custom. As a punishment jrs first mention in the Bible is in
Numbers, and the expression to “hang as high as Haman” has its
otigin in the Book of Esther Where Haman was hanged on the
scaffold he had crected for the execution of Mordecai. Hanging
has threaded its way through history and lasted longer. con-
Hanging was brought to America by the first English colonists,
and everywhere it became the accepted method of Capita] punish-
inflicted on slaves—a well-known instance being the burning of
some of those connected with the New York uprising in fy-r2:
The graceful military punishment was by the firing squad, hanging
being reserved for the disgraced, Probably the earliest hanging
in American history took place in New England in 1630,
Hanging was the only penal institution the Georgians brought
over from England out of the several which still continued there,
and the crimes for which capital punishment might be inflicted
Were severely reduced in the colony. Although hanging had
been inflicted from the beginning, the legislature spelled it out
in the Penal Code of 1816. “The sentence of death shall be
executed by public hanging the offender by the neck unul he or
she is dead,’”2 At the same time, it abolished the expression “Benefit
"Regents Professor Nmeritus of History, University of Georgia, Athens,
266 . (mona. Hrsroricar) QuARTEREY
Decatur.t He later paid for his crime in a public execution, and
his death served as an ebject lesson to all bondsinen who might
otherwise challenge Georgia’s slave code. 7
Henry was the property of William Jackson, a prominent
pioneer citizen of DeKalb County. His master was a iniddle-aged.
well-to-do yeoman farmer with over’$4,000 in personal property.
Although Jackson never held high political office, he chaired
numerous important county commissions. [n 1821, the Superior
Court regularly met at his home on the McDonough Road.”
It. is known from Georgia’s slave code that Jackson was initially
tried by three justices of the peace known as: a “lave court.
Fhis body heard the charges against Henry and examined wit-
nesses to the incident. Since Jackson had committed a capital
ctime he was immediately incarcerated and. his case taken to
higher tribunal called the Inferior Court. Here the judge took
the accused’s case with the original hearing in hand, and with
the clerk of court acting as a prosecutor. In the selection of 3
Y
twelve-inan jury William Jackson had seven challenges, and %
might be. assuuned that he utilized them all since Henry was has
only haman chatcel. (The state would not compensate him fos
this financial loss.) Once again the witnesses testified as to the
%
defendant’s guilt, but this time before a jury. Henry was found
guilty and sentenced to hang within the month.*
Jn the appointed day of execution a sixteen-year-old gu),
Catherine Hewey, waited patiently aiid a large, milling crowed
for Henry’s appointment with the hangman. Catherine was 4
neighbor of the black’s master and surely knew the condenined
man.t The subsequent events of that day so impressed this youre
lady that she later recorded them for. posterity.
Decatur Ga. at an early hour this morning I‘dressed myself at
prepared to accompany my brother and Sister’ to Decatur, a beautify
village an [sic] the County site of DeKalb county Ga, As we lived
four miles south of Decatur we crossed the Georgia R Road in sg™
of the village, where we stopped a few moments to endure
where the gallows had been located and were informed that {v1
situated one mile north of the Court-house on the Shallow: ford read
The Execution of Henry Jackson a slave of William Jackson 2
yy
By rer
aroun’
quite
where
All air.
WV apr
SCENC
and ¢'
secin::
Af
where
surre:
had 1)
thin
by a
posts
horn
rounc
ont.
hilloc
of «)
them
Henr
home
vast
lt
Say
dress:
his |i!
the
cart
[Ih
Groraia HistoricaL QuaRTERLY
per day for ten succe ssive days, and then be branded on both
cheeks with the letter M, “not exceeding one and one-half inches
in diameter.” The ead was to be inspected by the presiding
justices. Sheriff L. S. Stewart noted on May 12, 1849, that the
sentence had been carried ont and that Israel survived the ordeal.
This examination has surveyed ten slave trials out-of twenty-
one accounts uncovered in the Inferior Court records of Lincoln,
Putnam, DeKalb, and -Hancock counties." The arbitrary selection
was based on concern for completeness. of testimony and regard
for factual duplication, In all twenty-one cases the slaves in-
volved received a trial by jury, the selection of which was
acceptable to both the defense and the prosecution. Also, the
indictment of a bondsman was not seen as ipso facto proof of
guilt. For example, of six slaves charged with burglary, two wer
put to death; two were found not guilty; one was flogged, and one
was flogged and branded! Three slaves were executed, and one
was exonerated in connection with the murder of: white men.
Two slaves were brought to. trial and cha arged with the killing
of field hands, one being released and the other man Hogged and
branded.
The crime that carried the greatest sev erity of punishment
was assault with intent to murder. In this cate ‘gory five defendant
were executed, one iman freed, and one slave ordered to receive
500 lashes and the branding of the letter “M” on both cheeks.
This last slave survived only because counsel and friends of
his master insisted that the instrument used by the. black man
could not have produced death. They successfully contended
that the slave could not be executed just for striking a white
nan, but that murderous intent must be shown.
All twenty-one trials basically substantiate the Elbert County
study. Whenever the Jee was found guilty of a capital
crime, he or she might be summarily executed, and this public
ritual would serve as an object lesson. On other occastons the
court might temper the slave code’s cutting cdge for reason
‘not revealed in ‘the court minutes. |
1A tly
2Der)
gia Dey
Garreti
York; !
BAI:
1970),.
I8Nn.4:
829-44 -
Thid., >
Southy
traits |
Fall, VW
lation «
(Aug)
4Dcr
ment o
5For
script <
custoir
See Gar
6Lin:
Capita
ment o
Infer!
Snavp Justice in Four. Mippus Guorrers COUNTIES
NotESs
. ldtlanta Constitution, September 22 (1, 6), 1883.
* .2Decatur, Georgia, Tax Digests; 1848, 1849, Drawer 11, Box No. 12, Geor-
gig Department of Archives and History (Microfilm. Library); Franklin M.
© Garrett, Atlanta and Finvirons: A Chronicle of Its People and Events (New
York, 1964), I, 24, 53, 174, 179,
~. tAmanda Johnson, Georgia as Colony and State (Reprint Edition. Atlanta,
1970), 313-14, See also: Ida M. Martin, “Civil Liberties in Georgia Legislation:
1900-1830,” in The Georgia Historical Quarterly. XLV (December, 1961),
afte Merton Coulter, “Four Slave, Trials in Elbert County, Georgia,” ¢
fhid., XLI (September, 1956), 237-46; William G. Proctor, Jr., “Slavery in
Southwest Georgia,” Ibid., XLIX (March, 1965), 1-21; J. Ralph Jones, Por-
baits of Georgia Slaves,” in The Georgia Review, XXI (Spring, Summer,
all, Winter, 1967), 126-32, 968-406, 407-11; Lucius Q. C. Lamar, ed. Compi-
istion of the Laws of the State of Georgia... 1810... 1819. . . Inclusive...
fAugusta, 1821), 797-800.
» ADecatur, Georgia. Tax Digests, 1848. Drawer 11, Box 12, Georgia Depart-
trant of Archives and History.
s¥or the original Hewey narrative sec the James Duke Collection, Manu-
actipt Section, 6 Vault, Georgia Department of Archives and History. It was
eastomary. to utilize the bodies of executed prisoners for disection purposes.
&¢,Garrett, Atlanta and Hnvirons, 1, 289.
4 Lincoln County, Ordinary Inferior Court, Docket of Slaves Indicted for
Capital Crimes 1814-1838, Reel No. 342, Drawer 81, Box 23, in Georgia Depart-
ment of Archives and History, Putnam County Georgia, Court of Ordinary,
Inferior Court Minutes, 1843-50, Drawer 121, Reel 46. so
‘VARTERLY
Macon, With the birth of ;
‘oped what was called “amilk >
reafter she hobbled around |
ona friendly married life, ¢
» temper and drive hit 4
- such, occasion he tried té
grabbed from his hand.
' made some little headway +,
became a deacon, and when #
in the Confederate Army ®
oe
4
a aT ¥
lier; but he seemed to have [
for he got acquainted with?
about to marry her, when }
tet sei
sis having a wife in Georgia |
home; the child, a daughter,
is now dead. There was 4}
“or away, unusually poverty: :
half dozen children, mostly.
out eighteen years old at?
ic in school and could read),
4 sponsible beyond what}
‘¢ was invited to become ‘i
if sHe were a child of the
hy
Me
ould fall to such a person.
-at her ahd making impropet i
ged, but she did not leave):
‘t seems that she might have #
igain she might accept him, i
v he might get rid of Sarah,
‘hilities of running away with;
9 new life in some unknown, |
“sry to drown Sarah and makes
» church. one Sunday with?
1 the body of a wagon, he,
-e he drove: into. it, Susah}
on crutches not being able}
| N
mS
2
lJanaines in Grorct,A : 31
to do that). Spann purposely drove into a deep hole, tilted the
tagott and threw Sarah into the flood, but Susan immediately ran
i6 the rescue and saved her. Next, according to. one report, but.
strenuously denied by Susan, Spann. planned. to drown Sarah
i 4 rainbatrel of water out at the cowshed. Susan said there
was no rainbarrel at the cowshed, and that. the only barrels
on the place were full of peas in.an outhouse.
Ther the tragedy took place, about midnight on May 7, 1872,
ia pitch darkness. Spann tied a rope around the neck of his sleeping —
wife, arid as he drew it tighter she awoke and. cried out; where-
upon he hurried to another bed where Susan was sleeping and
demanded that she bring him a handkerchief: guick. She hesi-
tated: not knowing what he was doing, but he ordered her forth-
with to bring it. She threw it to him—another story ‘had her
spreading it over Sarah’s mouth—and Spann then ranimed it into
her mouth and throat to suppress her cries. When the deed was
done, Susan was ordered to heat a bucket of water to be used
tA swashihg away the imprint of the rope on Sarah’s neck; but when
the “cursed spot” would not out, Spann decided to flee im-
mediately, demanding that Susan follow him.
According to Susan’s story, she was afraid to resist, and- so
for the next nine days they fled westward, across the Chatta-
hocehee River into Alabama as far as Coffee County, and accord-
ing tii one report, to secure a canoe and float down Pea River
into West Florida to begin a new life. In their flight they walked
wld roads, trails, railway lines, sometimes sleeping out in the
woods, but generally finding accommodations in farmers’ homes,
some being kinsfolk of Susan’s. On the ninth day the law caught .
up with them, and at first their captors decided to bring back
aly Spann, not considering Susan guilty but rather being Spann’s
aowilling companion. On second thought they thought it best
to bring Susan back, too, fearing they might jeopardize receiving
the $500 reward which the Georgia governor had offered for
the capture and conviction of the murderer. .
Ob being brought back, the prisoners were lodged in the
Webster County jail, in Preston, the county seat. Spann wanted
cclared sane. The case was then appealed to the
32 Georata Utsrorie ww Quarreryy
to be tried immediately; to plead guilty, and be hanged. Excite
ment was ae in the community, running strongly against Spain
and Susan. A special session of the Superior Court was called
ae Judge James M. Clarke in the chair. Pnglish- born Charles
. Crisp, des stined for a distinguished Congressional career (ir
ee consecutive Congresses and Speaker of the House twice;
was solicitor general in charge of the prosecution. Among the
other lawyers concerned in the case was Phil Cook, destined
also for a career in Congress and in-high state offices. The cour
met on May 27, 1872 and the grand jury handed down indict
ments for murder against both Spann and Susan. Spann wai
tried on the 28th, and after the jury had been out three minute
it returned with a verdict of guilty. The next: day Susan wa
tried, and the jury was out. two hours before it returned with
a verdict of guilty. The same evidence and witnesses were use?
against both, the only witnesses being the captors who. wert
interested in getting the $500 reward. They testified ie Susat
had’ admitted when she and Spatin... were captured in Alabami
that. “both guilty and equally guilty.” “This Susan firmly denied
making, in her death staternent. Thee trials had been ramrodde/
through so quickly that neither defendant had time to produc
witnesses or a defense—although Susan’s lawyer had begge:
the court for time to prepare the case. The judge sentenced bot!
to be hanged on the following Ju Wy sth.
But this was not the end. it was not long after the trials the
the excitement began to die down, ‘and many of the responsibly:
citizens who had never favored hanging the prisoners, began t
make their influence felt. They were convinced that Spann we
deeply touched with insanity, that he was a monomaniac and the
his past, life proved: it. It was brought out that eighteen year
ago he had had an attack of insanity which had been treated bi
physicians. The governor was led to postpone the day of execv:
tion to give time for a lunacy hearing before the ordinary: an!
the participating physicians; but as the rules permitted the intro
duction of no evidence prior to Spann’s conviction, he was de
Gearpis Suprein:
Court, where st
Hiram Warner
that Spann had
end wealminde:
the rope prints
and his asking |
aim outside of
Li
cis
'
4
4
1,
j
|
iD
a
rong. The ver
As the news
tne multitudes |
rounding count!
cople. mostly
e hanging. |:
e night befor:
aa buildings
ith horses, —
disturbance.” A
hobbling along
edmitted that hy
“Yes, massa, Ic:
veing prodded
a
‘
t
2.66 for a long
‘4 go to see his
a I hates to se
ee 1.
Pri mptly
marched to the
2 firm step, had
the public sques
ref
been erected |
yuare. His “14,
eat black sac!
rt. low blac}
used to ride.
ne personal] 4
ing express
<
34
Unorga LisroricAl QuaRTERDY
| i the 17th chapter of Job, aad the other offering a prayer. Spann
now climbed the ladder to the platform, where a rather lenghty
statement which he had had written out for himself, was read. He
was contrite; he had no bitterness against anyone, but felt that wit-
| : nesses against him had stated untruths; he.hoped that Susan would
“be saved from passing through the tragic fate which lam about to
experience; that she may yet enjoy the pleasure of life, be
blessed with happiness and usefulness in this world, and a home
in Heaven at last’; he thanked a half dozen or more people,
including the sheriff and his wife, for the many ‘kindnesses shown
him; and especially he wanted to thank the minister of the
Poplar Springs Baptist Church for allowing his body to be buried
in their graveyard. . . —
Now, the fateful hour -of half-past 11 o'clock had arrived.
The sheriff bound Spann hand and foot; put the black cap on
7 his head; adjusted the rope to his neck; pulled the trigger, which
i opened the trap door; and Spann was “dropped into Eternity.
He fell five feet; his neck was broken; his heart ceased within two
minutes; he was cut down after hanging twenty-five minutes.”
Susan did not see the hanging, but two of ber brothers and
| | two of her sisters saw it. Some people began to wonder. wh
should such things be? One of those present commented: “Tt i:
a sad spectacle to see thousands of human beings to assemble t
witness the shameful death of a fellow creature, and the Legis
lature ought to require all executions to be private—no one wit
nessing the horrid scene, except those who have some prope
it business to be there.”8* Another asked the question, why dk
- Spann kill his wife? “The question has been the theme of mor
discussion in the vicinity than any one subject that ever engaget
‘ public attention.” Yes, he knew that Spann loved Susan, but whi
I’ ~ did he have to kill his wife? Why could he not have taken Susa:
; and stolen away into oblivion and never been found or di
turbed? There was no hatred, revenge or jealousy involved: “Ti:
deliberately choke to death with a rope a sick bed-ridden awife
to whom he had always been devoutly kind and. affectionate
and Had no cause whatever to be otherwise, is the strangest thirg
in the annals of c
in the fact that S;
a monomaniac,
pronounced him
responsible for h:
been executed.
The attempt c
people were emo’
woman, and espe }
flimsy and prod
Susan, as well «
receive the $500
iawyer appealed 1!
the perjured evid:
McCay, deliverin.
offirmed the verd’
or commutation,
(Americus), and »
Governor James
fumsiness of the
{ili
ind certifying to
all but two of the
“tements asking
tie jury that had
nev might not re:
4.
do
no good, Soin
have voted for co
cot be given anc
Smith was flint ;
stated in his annv
4
|
‘e considered it hi
emits.” Accepting
refused to interfe:
4
“as written on /
vas to take place
‘dge Clarke in |
=
t
i
ad be hanged. Excite: >
*
trongly against. Spann +
jor Court was called ?
- English-born Charles |
igressional career (in)
of the: House twice) }
osecution. Among the»
Phil Cook, destined ;
-ate offices. The coutt |
harided down indict:
id Susan. Spann was |
en out three minutes f
next day Susan iwas}
‘ore it returned with i
‘| witnesses were used :
oe captors who coal
y testified that Susait’
captured in Alabama,’
~ Susan firmly denied!
had been ramrodded,
' time to produdéf
cw yer had begged!
_Rewytt ha gged’
judge sentenced both}
» after the trials that}
‘ny of the responsible!
prisoners, began td,
~ need that Spann wate
“monomaniac and that)
that eighteen yeat,
had been treated byt
ie the day of execu:s
ve the ordinary and)
~ permitted the intros
nviction, he was def
he Georgia Supretie
fe
HANvINGS IN GEORGLY 33:
Court, where it was decided on February 11, 1873, with Justice
Hiram Warner delivering the opinion. Phil Cook had argued
that Span had shown all of his life meglomania, moral sanity,
aid weakinindedness, Warner held that Spann’s attempt to erase
the rope prints on his dead wife’s neck, his fleeing to Alabama,
and his asking his captors what authority they had for arresting
him outside of Georgia—all showed .that he knew right from
wrong, The verdict of the lower court was affirmed,
_As the news spread that Spann was to be hanged on April rth,
the thultitudes began gathering from Webster and all the sur-
rounding counties unti} a crowd estimated at from 3,000 to 4,000. .
ptople, mostly Negroes, had arrived in Preston the morning of
it “) - a.
the hanging, Farm work ceased everywhere. Many. had come
at . : . . ear ,
‘he night before and had. camped in the woods and in lots and
eiipty buildings in the town-the outskirts being “thickly crowded:
with horses, mutes, buggies, wagons and carts. All orderly—no
disturbance,” A reporter asked one ald Negro, ii his seventies,
hobbling along on two staffs, why he had ‘come, he having
admitted that he had walked twelve miles. The Negro replied,
"Yes, massa, I didn’t want to go, but T’se ‘most ‘bliged to.” After
being prodded further he said that Spann had been owing him
$2.65 fora long time, which he refused to pay, and now he wanted
‘0 go to see him hanged. “Yes, I never did’ see no body hung,
an’ I hates to see it, but he wouldn't pav me, an’ T muse go and.
see it.” | |
Promptly at 10 o’clock the. sheriff assembled his guard and
marched to the jail, Spann, released from his cell, emerged with —
4 firm step, bade Susan farewell, and with the sheriff walked to
the public square, where he viewed his coffin on 4 wagon, but he
refused to ride. Instead he walked to the gallows, which had
been erected in a pine woods, about a quarter mile from the
square. His “hanging clothes,” supplied by the sheriff, were “q
neat black sack coat, light fabric neat linen pants, clean nice
shirt, low black felt hat, much worm; new shoes, He presented
a fine personal appearance; really handsome; a fine head but eyes
Incking expression.” There were preachers present, one reading
teas
pa
scott, y
yoatds yndsey
ones» Ee
ives pier: perman Lee
Zackso"» WibLlre
gcymor® gy vest e™
RoOkCc®» yowar? reroy
eimon, {LLot
Zones > o@ Lee
YAins> rare’ 4°
pavis) afivin Hee ‘ye
BR iohmond
Cow’ a
pur det
Mur der 2-5 5
Rape 5-25-94
pape 6-4 54
Rape ge io- ot
Rape 15°34
pur det g-b- 94
nop. bY For. 9-11-23
yur des 5 41-9-94
mur det 41-1973"
murder 51-19-94
pur det 11-12-94
fa
Pea at, Ahi, hone haces
He cg malibu
LEGAL ELECTROCUTIONS
IN THE STATE_OF CEORGTA
RACE &
NAME SEX
Glass, Henry cM
Tye, Jimmie Lee CM
jackson, Willie cM
Fowler, Walter WM
Baker, Lena CF
Johnson, L. C- Cit
Smith, E. Ve WM
Gilbert, Ulysses cM
Lamar, Nathaniel cM
Watkins, David CM
Green, Edward Lee cM
Green, Jack Roy CM
Smithwick, Albert WM
eye Robert R. WM
jayes, Henry cM!
“Johnson, Charlie CM
Collins, Noah cM
Craiton, Jesse co
Taylor, Nathaniel cM
Daniels, Eddie CM
Bonner, [saac cM
Lewis, Leon cM
jones, Willie CM
Bryant, Early CM
Burke, Anderson CM
Nappier, 4aron CM
McKethan, Jesse R, WM
Yearwood, Walter Hillman Wit
Murray, Alton Wit
Allen, Lee James OM
Burns, Johnnie CM
Stevenson, Willie CM
Williams, James Rufus M
Parker, Albert cM
Hill, J, CG: CM
Brown, Arthur, JY. CM
Dorsey, Morris cM
Knapp, Homer R. WM
orter, Lauren CM
psarnes, Willis Wi
Daniel, Quiller cM
Brown, James co
Reddick, Herbert Lee ny!
Scott, Ebenezer CM
Stanford, Robert Lec cit
Loughbridge, Terrell Whi
Moore, Roosevelt cM
owen, Jim cM
Foxd, Oscar L, co
Bryant, Sweetie, Jt, CM
Morakes, Nick WM
Serutchens, Leroy cM
porter, Joe cM!
Brown, Eddie, Jz. CM
Torbett, J. W- cit
Mangum, James cM
Campbell, L. P+ CM
Nunn, Red Lamar CM
Whitt, Sam ci
Davis, Willian Cular Chi
Beetles, J. Be. | cM
Eller, Jewell Wit
Garrett, Charlie WM
Brown, L. C. CoM
AGE
sean hee IO
COUNTY OF DATE
CONVICTION _ CRIME EXECUTED
Fulton Murder 1-19-45
Tulton Mur der 1-19-45
Fulton Rape 3-2-45
Forsyth Murder 3-2-45
Randolph Murder 3-25-45
Newton Murder 3-9-45
pike Murder 3-9-45
Houston Murder n27 249
Bibb Murder 5-11-45
Cobb Murder 5-11-45
Houston Rape 6-1-45
Sumter Rape 6-29-45
Chatham Murder 7-28-45
Baldwin Murder 8-24-45
Fulton Rob. by For. 8-24-49
Early Rape 9-21-45
Chatham Murder 11-9-45
Fulton Murder 11-9-45
Laurens Murder 11-30-45
Grady Mur der 2-8-46
Bibb Mux der 3-29-46
Fuiton Rape 3-29-46
Ware Mur dex byw 19-46
Fulton Rape 5-31-46
Oglethorpe — Rape 7-5-46
Laurens Murder 7-19-46
Chathan Mux der 6-27-46
Clarke Murder 10-22-46
Candler Murder 11-8-46
Fulton Rape 11-15-46
Lee Murder 11-22-46
Lee Murder 11-22-46
Irwin Murder 11-29-46
Cook Murder 12-13-46
Ware Murder 12-20-46
Chatham Mur der 2-8+47
Chatham Murder 2-8-47
Chatham Murder 18-07
Oglethorpe Murder 4-25-47
Ben Hil Mur der 25247
Franklin Murder 5-2-47
screven Murder 6-17-47
Bibb Murder 6-30-47
Chatham Murder 8-1-47
Richmond Muxder 8-1-47
Jefferson Murder 8-9-47
Stewart Murder 8-12-47
Warren Murder 10-56-47
Dougherty Murder 10-10-47
Mitchell Mur der 10-10-47
Moxgan Murder 11-18-47
Sumter Murder 1-2-48
Sumter Mux der 1-2-48
Carroll Murder 2-13-48
Randolph Murder 2-16-48
Fulton Rape 3-5~48
Floyd Murder 3-26-45
Jefferson Muxder 3-13-48
Fuiton Murder 8-16-48
carroll Murder 10-15-48
Carroll Murder 10-15-48
Towns Murder 11-5-48
Towns Murder 11-5-48
Greene Murder 13-26-48
'y
ee aaa
ee
LEGAL ELECTROCUTTONS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA
RACE & COUNTY OF DATE
NAME SEX AGE CONVICTION CRIME EXECUTED.
Fisher, James @jJohnson cu 27 Wewton Murder 2=9-40
Mathis, Joe cM 27 Newton Murder 2-9-40
Mima, Willian L. cM so 338.—Sts«é@BAL Murder 3-22-40
Brown, Robert cM. 26 Jefferson Murder 5-17-49
RBarkiey, Curtis cu. | o34 ~~ Fulton Rape B- 16-40
Fields, Oscar cM «so 24 += Fulton Rape -16-40
Josey, Charlie @ Snooks CM 20. Pike Murder 8-23-40
Brown, Eddie cM .29.~—Ss Lowndes Rob. by For, 8-23-40
Anderson, Fred CMe 39 aurens Murder 10-4°40
Hicks, Henry Willian cM. 0 so«a18~—Ss« Thomas Rape 10-18-4C
Sutton, John William CM. 22 Whitfield Murder 11-8-40
Lawrence, Buddic@Andrew i 28 Bacon Murder 12-13-40
Brannon, Robert Lee cu 0-39: Floyd Murder 12-13-40
Wadeli, Jennings ca 34. Toombs Murder 12-27-40
- Watson, Johnnie cM. «33. Coweta Murder 1-3-41
Hayes, Eddie Bennie cM. COQ. Coweta Murder 13-41
Bland, William Henry cu. 23. Henry Rape 5-12-41
Anderson, Charlie CM 18 © Fulton Murdex 5-23-41
Jenkins, Willie cM 23: Fulton Murder 5-23-41
Alford, Albert cM. 0o32—s«éHWact Rape 10-10-41
Shivers, James cM o38~——s«éFayette Rape 1-30-42
Strickland, Charlie (M25. ~ Terrell Murder 1-31-42
Morton, Edward Leroy c™ 28 . Jefferson Murder 2-6-42
Miller, John ca «35. “DeKalb Rape 36-42
Cone, Howard P. WM 24 = Thomas Murder 3-11-42
Williams, Norman WM 2k Elbext Murder 5-15-42
Moore, Dock cM. o25)~—«d Fulton hurder Tre h2
Mosley, 8, T; cM. 23. Taylor Murder 7-10-42
Martin, Charles Ey WM 24 Dekalb Mux der 10-16-42
Shaw, Buster cM 6 20.~=—Ss Brantley Murder 10-16-42
Lewis, XY» 4, cM O26 Thomas Muxder 11-26-42
Dowdell, Raymond ca 0s 331.—s Muscogee Murder 1-15-43
Smith, Richard cM 21 .~=« Fulton Murder 224-43
Coates, Charles w4 29. Catoosa Murder 4012-43
Wilcoxon, Lewis cu 20 ~~. Cobb Rape 3-26-43
Paimer, Joel Luther wi 30 Tift Murder 5-28-43
Franklin, Bernice cam —soaL7 ss Wayne Rape 5-28-43
Sims, Mose cM 23.—s- Fulton Rape 6-10-43
Reed, Edmond cM 26 Bibb Mux der 7-19-43
Johnson, Adel cao 22) «Fulton Rape 8-10-43
Pittman, Eugene C228. Polk Mur dex 8-20-43
Hancock, Marlin WM > 43> paulding Murder @-20-43
Russell, John Thomas cM 27 Fulton Murder 6-20-43
Sexton, Charlie cM «16 paulding Mur der 8-20-43
Hodo, Serina cM 23 Meriwether Mur der 9-24-43
Mathis, Tommie Lee tM. O23... - Spalding Murder 10-22-43
Williams, Robert cM 20 ~~. Laurens Mur der 10-23-43
Ellison, 5. A> CM 1 Mexiwether Mux der 12-11-43
Johnson, H. f- cM 2 Henry Mux der 12-31-43
Hubbard, Willie cm 28 Bibb Rape L-5ehS
Irwin, Isaac CM. 28° Bibb bur der 1-7-44
Hicks, Willie cM 13 Fulton Rape 2m Fable
Lee, Marvin Lewis cM. O22) Fulton Rape 3-7-44
Hooten, Rock CM «24s Taylor Murder 3-17 ae
Rozier, Herbert CM) 720 Laurens Murder heDaht
Walker, Robert CM 26... Bibb Rape b-28-44
Reed, Oscar cm. 26-~-:«&BAibb Murder b= 26-44
Ellison, Grady CM 36s: Burke Murder 5625-44
Stroup, William B- wa 4&1. Falton Rape 7-28-44
QUARTERLY
46 GEORGES Jhisrorican
hanging of McDuffie has been told of all over the land. We
forbear to repeat the details in these columns.”®® But from. the
Atlanta Constitution, that tad no scruples against reporting
vividly hangings, this detail of Mcluffie’s action in jail should
‘be excerpted: “Back and forth he strode in a measured way,
his head thrown up, ‘his eyes closed and keeping time to his
song with the clapping of his. hands, ‘Good- bye my sisters and
my brothers,’ he chanted, ‘I soon will be done with my. grieving
here, thank God. Oh, yes, thank God, I’m going home to live
with God.”
To live in the shadow of the gallows for more than three years
in addition to final hanging was the fate of Charles Blackman.
Negro, accused of killing a white merchant. As the evidence
was circumstantial, ev ery: effort was made to get the facts and
give Blackman 4 fair trial. The court: appointed three lawyers
to defend him; he was tried three times ‘and found guilty; and
after every tr ial he was reprieved by the governor to give him
time for the case to go to the Georgia Supreme Court, which
ordered the new trails until the last one. On the day of the
hanging, which was in January, 1889, in Ellaville, 5,000 peopl
gathered. For fear that a reprieve might. still come at the last
moment, someone cut the telegraph wires to isolate the town.
Blackman pleaded innocence to the last.*t A Greensboro news-
paper editor was of the opinion that the wires had been cut not
_ because of the fear that the guilty might go unpunished, but that
the crowd might be cheated out of a Free ‘show. ° .
For sheer frolicking that went on at a public | sap eInE, there
must have been few such occasions that surpassed the hanging
of Ed Frey, on a Friday in January, 1889, at Marietta. The
hanging was public; the gallows was about a mile out of town:
and the crowd was immense. A special train of nine cars came
out of Atlanta; filled with ‘ ‘young men and boys.” E. C. Bruffey
reported for the Atlanta Constitution the event. in great ‘detail
both a long interview with Frey in the jail before the hanging
‘and the happenings The one thing Frey wanted imore thar
anything else was for his law yer to go out and view the gallows
and report
of the even:
the agonics
sides and
and boys ¢'
ing, screect,
The rabbit !
assembled,
darted arov
trrumphantl:
sell ir,
Frey was
negro.” One
his plate on
that she kne-
Negro and
i treating hy:
a tiger in a
night, taking |
of the hangi
-and coffee, |!
which he sip
‘hirty minute:
gurial” cloth:
was much -pr:
‘ast moment |
and fell off a.
we suffered |:
body Was cut
ond chipped ¢
was too mucl:
ss hope that y
rate _
1 Th
#
here is no ser’
eorgia is wail
The Green:
\
groes were able to
cht would prevent
y. For a few days |
playing hangman.”
ies, a Negro, when
‘ed another Negro.
-'. While in jail, he
he had killed, that
ney had not killed
had seen Toney
doa ball that night
|). Six of the better
ounce, and charac-
> ie
nt respect for the »
ce ever rise in the |
ist not only have ;
'f-respect and race }
3
'g, and, also, “that >
and dancing. Oh #
=
chery age joined §
0 2 Jocal news- #
» hangings in public }
“ste 256
’ }
rst person hanged
urder, in Wrights-
od his life written,
'y man “with long
/-a marked resem-
n 957
head of his rival
as in April, 1884,
anted “the whole
» gallows he said
ins.” This led a
‘dline! “JERKED
°s of Curry that
Pree. ee ee te
=e
¥
SI ee: SSSA Pen tee pes Soa w
i a cae OBS athe ga
te
HANGINGS IN Grordty 45
the wholé world might see him hanged, Inany of the Negroes
gathered around the gallows enclosed with planks and began
to cut peep-holes, but when some more forthright tried to pull
off planks, the sheriff had to interfere,®8 & _
_ George McDuffie, though bearing the historic name. of a former
South Carolina statesman, was a. Negro preacher, hanged in
Greensboro, in May, 1888, for murdering his rival for. the af-
fections of a Negro woman. The hanging Was private, being
executed from a beam in the grauite-walled jail, According to the
editor of the local Herald and Journal, that had it been public,
“there would have been probably ten thousand spectators, of
which ninety-five per cent would have been colored. . . . And
yet thousands of colored. people poured into the town by every
passable and every possible road.” It was to them “a gala occasion,”
the forbidding, grim, granite structure was “utterly unattractive
from every standpoint of contemplation, and yet around’ and
about it was gathered on last Friday a dense and swaying mass
of human beings whose senses seemed to feed with a never-filling
fondness on the bare walls and barren Tepugnance of the rugged
jail building,” but these walls were ‘‘proof against the craving,
crushing, curious multitude whose wishful gaze could not pierce
its granite to behold the horror. They could see nothing,
but this did not forbid them to look. They could hear nothing,
and yet for hours they listened.” The crowd was well-behaved
and friendly with one another, and when it was all over with
the victim being brought out in his coffin, they “disappeared
and left the city. They vanished into the earth, into the airy into
every, outlet, alley and road that led from Greensboro, It was-a
itiiracle of disappearance. It was an exodus. They had folded their
fans and umbrellas [as it was a hot day they had well provided
themselves with such equipment] and silently stolen away.” These
colored people had come, drawn by “a diseased infatuation, and
they lingered near the scene of death with an unaccountable
longing to gratify an impulse they did not understand and could
Hot satisfy.” After this philosophical attempt to penetrate the
fascination hangings cast over some people, the editor added, “The
~
vate executions”
“next fifty years,
‘ad been hanged
the year, when
1s wife,49 The
“ngs within Jess
4880's, Up in
Il) was hanged
*, he killed the
_ \voods, Toasting
a mass of on-
itted his crime
“4S uncommon
“ts the hanging
$82). He was
‘, Coat, black i
‘ar and black
| ta the jail
a by the
by the 5,000
ning streets,
‘esse told his
‘h leaves my
if excitement
vas to be a
it James EF,
sedly both
or in quick
the largest
‘ion in the
's fuller of
ing of the
Moon his
i a rg a eer
HANaines ty Gucrar, 43 |
d him uNconscious—he Nad 4
breakfast he foun
rinking some liniment into which he
Olsoned himself b
© had put the heads of
matches, Governor Alfred H, Colquitt Postponed Moon’s execy-
tion} but the assembled multitudes were not to be cheated from
seeing Hanvey go. Hanvey and Gis. victim, Arthur MeMullen,
nad been drinking at a groggery on the outskirts of town, when
McMullen, sitting on his horse, threw out the challenge: “My
horse can Cutrun any horse jn the state, and whoever Says he
can't tells a d--d lie.” Hanvey, so drunk that he thought he was -
being insulted, ran out and stabbed McMullen, Aanvey was
rought to jail, still in Possession of his bloody knife ang two
quarts of Whiskey; and when he
4 7 ‘ ; ;
he was in jail—so he later testified. The ¢ gular:
through with: asking for a new
corgia Supreme Court, asking t
No avail, Hanvey went to his death with: composure aid died
quickly, after a-strong warning to the people to avoid strong drink -
and bad company, Although only twenty-five-years old, he had |
accumulated a wife and four children, and all he left thetiy was
the proceeds from the sale of his picture. The editor of the
Atlanta Constitution declared that “no more eloquent temperance -
lecture could be made than that delivered” by Hanvey,2
Joseph C. Jones was hanged jn Lexington, in May, 1883, for
killing his wife. He had quite a career and wanted his life
Written, He tried to commit Suicide, as he “did not want his
enemies to gloat over his dying agonies,” Five thousand people,
two-thirds being Negroes, came to see the sight; out of the
volunteers who came armed hoping to be given vantage points /
by being selected as guards, thirty were chosen. On the way to |
the gallows, which ‘was three-fourths of a mile away, “AC king,
going to be crowned, could not have borne himself with more
dignity.” On his way, seeing ladies sitting on their porches,
shedding tears, “With
4 grace that would have d
Chesterfield, he raised
(One credit to a
his hat and acknowledged the act -of
sympathy with a low bow.” When he
tushed in, grabbed the Tope, cut it into ¢
trial, appealing the case to the
he governor for pardon—all to
was cut down, people
nal] Pieces, and carried
‘
44 CGeoreta Tisrontesn Quarrerny
them. away in their pockets as souvenirs. Negroes were able to
get some of the strands, which they thought would prevent
being conjured and would keep witches away. For a few days
thereafter, boys in the neighborhood were. playing hangman.”
Down on the coast, in Darien, To: ney James, a Negro, when
too drunk to know what he was doing, killed another Negro.
In the summer of 1883, he was hanged for it. While in jail, he
said that he had got in touch with the Negro he had killed, thai
he was in Hell, playing cards, and said that Toney had not killed
him.* The congregation of Negroes who had seen "Toney
hanged, not being satisfied by this show, held a ball that night
(which, however, had already been scheduled). Six of the better
class of Negroes issued this protest: “We denounce, and charac-
terize it as a want of race pride and a decent respect for the
feelings and opinions of men. If the negro race ever rise in the
estimation of their fellow- -citizens, they must not only have
education and money, but they must have self- respect and race
pride.” Children would remember the hanging, and, also, “thet
a hilarious assembl lage celebrated it with music and dancing. h
the times! Oh the morals! Blooming youth and hoary age joined
in the revelry.”*> Richard W. Grubb, editor of the local news
paper, wrote, “We don’t want to see any more hangings i in public
for they demoralize many of the colored people.”
Warren Price had the honor of being the first person hanged
in Johnson County. He paid the penalty for murder, in Wrights
ville, on December 12, 1884. While in jail he had his life written
which he sold for $10.00. He was a tall. shapely man “with Jong
whiskers, whose whitened coils” gave “them a marked resem.
blance to. the picture of Moses on Mount Nebro.”*’
Henry Curry, Negro, with an axe split the head of: his rivd
for the favors of a mulatto girl. The hanging was in April, 1884
in Monroe, and it was private; but Curry wanted “the whole
world” to see him die. In his speech from the gallows he sai¢
“I’s gwine to be jerked straight to Jesus’ arms.” This led :
newspaper reporting the hanging to use this headline: “JERKED
TO HEAVEN.” Trying to follow the wishes of Curry’ the
the whole we
ithered aro
to cut peep-h
off planks, the
George Me!
south Carolit:
Greensboro, |
fections of a
executed fron
editor of the
“there would
which ninety-'
vet thousands
passable and
The forbidd::
from every «©:
about it was —
of human bei:
fondness on ¢
jail building,”
crushing, cur
its granite to |
but this did »
and yet for h
and friendly
the victim be:
and Jeft the ci:
every outlet, 9
miracle of d lisa
fans and umb:
themselves wit!
colored peopl
they lingered
longing to gra
not satisfy,”
fascination har:
11-11-1892-HOLT, Evans, black, to be hanged Tatnall Ca. far murder
of Dock Sikes, white.
Cir. 1893-There was supposed to have been a hanging, Columbia Co.
11-3-1893-EVANS, Elisha, white, 'to be hanged Eastman for the
murder of W. B. Rogers, also white.
4~27-1894-DAVIS, Eddie, to be hanged Savannah for murder of Willis
Brown. |
8-3-18394-JONES, Dan, black, to be hanged Columbus.
_ 8-16-1895-FAMBLES, Gus, and NOBLES, Mrs. William, whites to be
hanged Jeffersosnville, for the murder of William Nobles.
4-23-1897-BOWYER, Bud, black, supposed to have been hanged. {CT
listing). Not carrying as confirmed because location is
given as Mosler, Ga. and it might be another state.
10-28-1899-McCRAY, John, black, sentenced to hang, Thomasville,
Lewis Lewis, black.
S-10~-1900-BELL, Charley, black was to hang, Blakley, for murder
of John Lawrence. Appealed at last minute.
9-28-1900-HAYES, Seaborn, black, to be hanged, Savannah, for mur-
der of motorman Hayes.
11+2-1900-ROBERTS, doe, black,convicted and sentenced to hang,
Isabella, for wife murder.
2-26-1901-BAKER, James, sentenced to die in Atlanta for wife
murder was still alive on this date.
6-28-1901-TUGGLE, Ike, black, to be hanged Walton Co. for murder
of Bud Selman, also black.
6-8-1901-WILLIAMS, isaac, black, convicted of murder of 14~year-
old Otis Word, Carrollton. Lynching narrowly averted.
1i-22-1901-RICHARDS, Sherman, black, to be hanged Savannah for
murder of Hagar Robinson, also black.
11-5-1901-ALLEN, Prince, black, death sentence for murder of Louis
Carlos, also black, Macon, affirmed by sup, ct.
12-13-1901-COLLIER, Bill, was to be hanged, Dalton, for rape of
Mrs. McPherson. white. Respited.
1870-1872-HUNTER, Jimpsey A., poss. hanged Quitman for murder
of Thomas M. Alexander. Conflicting accounts.
1871-JENKINS, S. Anthony, sentenced to hang for murder. Thomas Co.
1-6-1871-DOMNEAD, Buck, black, to be hanged, Pulaski Co.
1- -1871-HILL, Lafayette, sup. ct. affirmed death sentence in
Sumter Co. for murder of Henry Womack.
Cir. 1872-A hanging in Albany, Dougherty hy >
1872-Supposed to have been a triple hanging, 1 white and 2 blacks,
Camden Co.
6-28- -1872-Supposed to have been a hanging in Monteuma, Macon Co.,
on or about this day.
8-29-1873-COGSWELL, Mitchell, to be hanged Chatham Co.. for murder
of Derry Womack.
1-13-1874-PACE, Jack, to be hanged Columbus.
1- -1874-WAIR, Thomas, death sen. for murder, DeKalb Co., affirmed
by state supreme court.
7-30-1875-FINNEGAN, Peter, and KILGORE, John, to be hanged,
Columbus, for murder of C. H. Wilding.
8-30-1878-HOLT, William, black, to be hanged for murder.
Cir. 1880-A black hanged for rape, Hall County.
2- -1881-NEWTON, James, white to be hanged Jefferson Co. for
the murder of a man named Curvell.
2-9-1883-TURNER, FP. M., to be hanged, Greenville, for murder of
Jno. Bs Santi tles:
6-1-1883-FREEMAN, Enoch, black, to be hanged Rome for murder.
1889-There was supposed to have been a hanging in Lumpkin.
50+16-1SSi+ONICR, WW. Fo, ‘convicted without vec.,; Pike Co.,; of
murder of George Coggins.
8-31-1892-O'NEAL, Reuben, black, 16, convicted Forsyth of rape of
11-year-old white girl.
9-23-1892-HAYWARD, Marion, to be hanged Savannah.
2-19-1901-FELLOWS, Gus, black, originally sentenced to die for
rape of Miss Hood in Jackson Co. in 1900; received new trial
on appeal and on this day mistrial declared. I have nothing
further. 3 )
6-13-1902-MOYE, Alfred, black, to hang in Emanuel Co. for murder.
6-15-1902-JACKSON, Andrew, black, to hang Quitman Co.
7-31-1902-SIMMONS, Robert, convicted and sentenced to death, Savan-
nah, for mdurder of George Harris.
i2-6-1902-BOYD, Thad, Jr., to hang Athens for murder of brother-in-
law.
10-9-1903-WILLIAMS, , black, to hang Madison Co. for murder of
a black woman.
11-16-1902-HARDY, Tom, sentenced to hang, Augusta, for murder
Of. Ba’ Griffin.
8-26-1903-CAWTHORN, Robert, to be hanged Eastman for murder of
Richard Tucker had execution stayed..
Cir 1904-Two men supposed to be hanged Floyd Co. Probably Baker &
Sutherland, hanged in 1905.
1904-ADAMS, Simons, 1906 article in retrospect states he was hanged
in Sumter Co. 2 years earlier. Not carrying as confirmed.
Possibly Monroe Adams, hanged earlier.
1-~8-1904-WHITE, James, to be hanged for murder of Bob Shipp,
Ringgold.
4-5-1904-WILLIAMS, Semore, to be hanged Vienna.
6-12-1904-GRAY, Elton, black, convicted & sentenced to hang at
Vienna for wife murder.
4-28-1905-McCRARY, Will, black, to be hanged Jonesboro, for rape
of Perry Lee Conkle, white female child.
3-24-1905-SIMS, Spear, black, to be hanged Vienna for murder of
Joe King, also black.
S~2Z6-1905-KISER, Pass, black, to be hanged Cummings for murder of
Fred Lott, also balck. |
6-15-1905-HANSLETT, William, to be hanged, place not known,
2-12+1845-Paper reports murder of Capt. Stephen H. Timmons by
runaway slave. ;
Cir. 1845-AUSTIN, Alex, hanged Gwinnett Co.
4-9-1847-A man named Boon sentenced about this date to be hanged,
Greene Co, .
1848-1849-JOAB, slave, hanged Carnesville, for murder of Overseer
Crawford.
6-30-1849-Newspaper reports murder of David Ross by son, Putnam Co.
5~1-1849-HUMPHRIES, James murdered Dr. Tomlinson F. Moore, Telfair
CO;
11-6-1849-Newspaper reports murder of James G,. Ponder, slave
trader, near Hawkinsville.
11-21-1849-BURGE murfdered Richard Altman, Crawford Co.
6-21-1850-BUCK, evidently slave, to be hanged Carrell Co. Poss.
Randolph Co.
8-12-1851-GERALD, slave, to be hanged Columbus for rape of white.
8- -1851-CORNET, G. D., convicted Morgan Ca., for murder of W. W.
Hailes.
12-12-1851-BISHOP, Brinkley, to be hanged, Bibb Co., for murder of
Thomas Smith.
9- (-1852-SAM, Slavé raped a white girl, Buena Vista. Escaped jail
10- ~-1852-GREEN, slave of W. H. Blount, murered Henry H, Pool,
Warrenton.
11- -1853-Four slaves of Col. Joseph A. L. Lee, Columbus,
attempted to murder Mrs, Lee by poison.
12-29-1853-Reward offered for Giles, slave of Joel Walker of
Milledgeville for murder of Norman E. McLeod of Sumter Co.
11-24-1854-DANIEL, slave, to be hanged Carnesville. aged 15.
-1857-Three slaves killed their overseer, Dougherty Co.
J- -1858-WILLIS, slave of W. B. Giles & Co., Savannah, murdered
a German named Schwicke. 45 arrested and 35 released on
bail. (imusrrection prot?) .
Webbs Cet bay f? Pe Pee (i ree ae
ee. Aol Oy 2
—_2~ ies
bACLAY, Polly
"seethe hanging of Polly Barclay (corrupted sometimes into
Mrs. Bartlett long after the event), Polly and her hus-
band lived on the Augusta road out of “ashineton, “ilkes
County, (Gae) He was a cotton planter, and in the fall of
1805 he made a trip to Augusta to se#l his cotton. Return.
ing home, he was called out after dark to go down to his
cotton house to’ see a person. Hesitating, he was urged by
his wife to go, and on reaching the place he was shot deat, -
Polly was arrested as an accessory, charged wit. having
' paid the assassin to commit the murder, Jealousy in some
direction was believed to be the cause of her action. Al-
so arrested were *illiam Nowland and Mark Mitchum A granc
jury, headed by John Clark, later to become governor, in-
dicted all three. ‘The trial judge’ was Charles Tait, later
a U. Se Senator and then a Federal Distrcit Judge for Ala.
On May 18, 1806, Nowland was tried and acquitted; the next
ad - .
; ° |
| slave JENNY
Jenny, a woman slave, was hanged for setting fire to the
city of Augusta, Ga, Hanged there on Dec. , 1829,
Ltr. dtd. Auge 28, 1981, from Dr, Sdward J. Cashin, chm,
History Depte, Augusta College, Augusta Ga. 30910 , ;
"Augusta, Dece 7, 1829-The negro girl, Jenny, convicted
of Arson, was executed on Friday last, according to her
sentence. She continued to the last to assert what she
had always said, that she was persuaded to do the act for
which she suffered, by the woman, Cinda, and that Cinda
had been persuaded by one of the fellows who were
acquitted." COURIER, Cyarleston a
See also Slave CINDA, hanged in’ Junk, 405 U2? (2258)
Worksheet = Georgia = NW = Bound,
ea oreenrpe rie ovat re |
Slave CINDA
A woman slave named Cinia was hanged at Augusta, Ga,, on
June 6, 1830, for setting fire to the city. Ltr, Dtd,
8-28-1981 from Dr, Edward J, Cashin, Chmn., History Dept,
Augusta College, Augusta, Gas, 30910, °
"The Aggusta COURIER of Monday, says - 'The woman, CINDA,
condemned last November as an incendiary, was executed on
Friday last agreeably to her sentence. She persisted to
the last, we are informed,in her innocence of the crime _
for which she suffered." COURIER, Charleston, SC, June
10, 1830 (2/2.)
See also Slave JENNY, hanged Dec., 1829
Worksheet = Georgia = NW = bound,
SLAVE WOMAN
(Jones County, Ga.)
"During the Civil War, Perry Finney and his family lived i
Clinton, and a Negro woman whom had cooked for them some
time, put poison in their food and the whole family was
very sick. Fortunately they all recovered except one
whild who died, The Negro was arrested, tried and sen-
tenced to be hung, She was in the Macon jail, when Wil-
son s army came at the close of the war. The jail at
Clinton had been burned by Sherman and only the four rock
walls were standing, Sheriff Smith brought her to Clinton
for the hanging and stationed guards all around the walls
to keep the couriosity seekers out, As the trap was spruny
a negro man who had climbed up in a high pine tree over the
enclosure, fell out of the tree to the ground and there
- was considerable excitement." HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY, GA,
_ by Carolyn White Williams. Pubbished, The J, W. Burke Co.,
<=
SMALL, Rosalie
(Need Confirmation)
Under death sentence in Waynesboro, Burke Co,, Ga., for
murder of Harvey Jones, white,for which Calbin Johnston,
black, was executed on Feb, 8, 1911, was respited until
Feb, 2) pending kchion by prison commission on her case,
JOURNAL, Feb, 8, 1911 (3/3-)
Conemuled MYT)
FIRST HANGING IN DADE COUNTY, GEORGIA. (TRENTON)
The following taken from acount of late Frank Nethery,
who wrote it down in the 1950'ss "...The first one (legal
hanging in Dade County) was a Negro woman, a slave of Mr,
Gross, who then lived in the large fog house, one mile
north of Trenton on the Main Valley Highway (maybe I
should have said ditch.) This negro woman killed her own
child, she said, to prevent it from growing up and be-
coming a slave of Mr, Gross, This woman was legally triec
and sentenced to death,..(and)...was hanged from a gallows
on the property of Zachariah O'Neal, west of district line
road a short distance,."" DADE NEIGHBOR, Trenton, Ga., Dec.
30, 1981, page 8.
~-
promptly replied that any such exchange by the
two prisoners was obviously impossible." Un-
named newspaper pobeing?d dated Dec. 31, 1932,
“sent by Van healte. -.
| goths Sian cipal gp eens lh gt tgpentineciy nd ac ecaan S
RILEY. Aléce
_An Irish immigrant transport servant, convicted with
fellow servant, Richard “white, of mrder of master,
William Wise, Execution delayed because of pregnancy.
Finally hanged, Savannah, Ga., January 19, 1735, becoming
. first woman hanged in Georgia, See excerpt from GEORGIA
| JOURNESS by Temple and Coleman, Georgia = not written up,
| See excerpt from "Hangingseein Georgia, " by Coulter;
GEORGIA HISTORICAL CUARTURLY, Vole 57, pp 21-2 2-bound
in red binder.
|
|
e hegreaey ge amt
WHITE, Richard
Irish transport servant, convicted with fellow servant,
Alice Riley, of murder of master, William “ise, Escaptd
from custody but recaptured and hanged on Jane 20, 1735,
See excerpt from GEORGIA JOURNESS by Temple and Coleman,
Georgia - not written up.
See excerpt from "Hangingeeein Georgia," by Coulter;
GEORGIA HISTORICAL (UARTERLY, Vol. 57, pp 21-22=bound
in red binder.
I failed to remove and copy the small card on the following female
execution in Georgia:
"Calhoun, Ga., October 19, 1883 = Margaret Harris (colored) the mur-
deress of little Lelie Lewis was hanged this morning fn the presence
of a crowd estimated at 1,000. The prisoner did not rest well last
night, not sleeping any and praying all night. At 10:35 this a.m.
she was taken from jail under an armed escort and carried to the gale
lows which were erected threeequarters of a mile to the north of the
courthouse, After signing "Jesus, Lover of my soul,' and a prayer, the
woman made a long talk before her execution," NEWS AND OBSERVER, Raleigh,
NC, 10-20-1883, page one.
".ee0n the gsllows, she harsangued the crowd, asserting her innocence and
attributing to her own kin her presence there, She asked all to take
warning by her fate. She expected to see the murdered child in heaven,..,"
DAILN NEWS, Gdlveston, TX 1020-1883 (l-6). Note: This gives her last
name as Harrison,
See newspaper article, filed with Georgia worksheets « NWU - Bound,
“ant more because of discrepencies,
Groraa UisroricaL QuaRTERLY
made to him i
State, with a s:
stances? Did r_
of the Comme
men, beg for
cenored becaus
“By this melar:
bas been disgr:
cndelible stain.
The editor «
tion of “revell:
fortunate fate
ra
d
faced details;
.
AX it agai on Sur
' SANS m % 4 = os x
I \N WN skies’ the Gy:
| AS conunutation t
There werc
addition to the
Sun, which so
despite the fa:
is revolting to
was the editor
the editorial ©
clear, he said
upon the case
clemency,"
‘The edito,
hanging of Si:
hangings: “It
administration
It was mere!
horrible, to &
wretch dangli
to say that th:
the Atlanta C.-
RLY
1 Psalins, after which f
-amest prayer to the |
thanked all who had |
forgave all who had (
aven, Lhe sheriff then |
ted “Yes, I’m ready.”
_and when the sheriff
voked to death.” At }
's sprung, and Susan ¢
s she was pronounced be
‘ter her body: was cut i
ade an effort by the }
\ failed. It would be }
would have been if /,
had not been broken, i
~The day that Susan?
‘tnessed in Georgia.” |
'Preston] has closed ¥
a that was ever #
“she asked that jt be
é
d about the hanging §
‘ed the strange con- j
_ According to one f
ver report had it that ¢
‘ve been as terrible i
It. was altogether 4 :
‘0 the Atlanta Herald
ould hardly look at |
iublican, which had 4
port had been made ?
present, He, himself,
essed the scene for
aa
were widely con: f
;
Pe
¥
i
ae
ee
iV
*
si
;
i
%
R
i
t
hand; one read the
;
Hanaines iw 4 PORGIA 39
demned** for allowing this barbarous hanging to take place. The
editor of the Rowe Courier said it was “a disgrace to the age,
and a reproach to the State.”*? Uhe Azlanta Sun said, “She was .
not 4 hardened crimnal, steeped in sin, crime or debauchery; but
all her hature, instincts, associations were virtuous." Governor
Smith, who had it within his. power to have saved her, became
the target of bitter criticism. The editcr of the Sumter Weekly
Republican said the hanging “added nothing to the ‘civilization
of the Empire State of the South,” and the Governor’s refusal
to pardon Susan “exhibited cold and heartless nature.” Such a
Widespread and fervent appeal “we never saw... £0 to a Governor
before,” and in refusing clemency he “exhibited the character
of a Murat and Robespierre.”*4 This bold editor, who was C. W,
Hancock, after saying. “Executive clemency has been implored
in vain. The earnest appeal of good loyal citizens has. been
spurned,” threatened political retribution against Smith and all
other unfaithful and unrepresentative public servants. When
elected officials were up again before the people they would do
well to remember that “when arbitrary will in the exercise of
delegated power disregards the 5
tern and solemn remonstrance
of legally expressed popular judgment, sinall tyrants and self-
willed thinisters of Justice shall be arraigned before the tribunal
which can demand back the high functions of authority when
diverted from the ends of merciful and just administration,”
Furthermore, Editor Hancock would ask the Governor a few
questions: “Did he not know that the mercenary captors of the
poor gitl were the chief [and only | witnesses against her? :
Did he not know that the trial, brought on with indecent haste,
Was not a regular term of court, but prosecuted in the midst of
heated excitement, when passion reigned in the place of cool and
well-temnpered judgment? Did he not know that the
against her was circumstantial, and that under the Jaw providing |
for such cases, the jury in vain implored the mercy of the court
in her behalf? Did he not know that his petitioners for the com-
mutation of the sentence were the best men of Webster county,
the conservators of the law and justice?. Had not appeals been
evidence
', 18738,
‘
HANGINGS IN CGroreora 41
niade to him in person by some of the most reliable men in the
State, with a simple and truthful statement of mitigating circum-
stances? Did not the ptess with united voice from, every part
of the Commonwealth, reflecting the opinion of wise and good
ineh, beg for executive clemency?” And all of this had to be
ignored because it had not been taken under the form of an oath?
“By this melancholy execution we feel that the name of Georgia
his been disgraced and the purity of the ermine has received an
indelible stain.’ |
The editor of the Rowe Courier accused the Atlanta Constitu-
_ tion of “revelling in a heaven of sensationalism.” It gave the “un--
furtuitate fate of a poor peasant girl... a whole page. of black-
Eaeed details; and so sweet is the banquet that it has to spread
it again on Sunday before its epicurean readers,” and extol “‘to the
shits” the Governor’s “Roman firmness”. in refusing to grant
commutation to life imprisonment.* | ;
There were some, of. course, who defended the Governor. In
addition to the Atlanta Constitution, the foremost was the Atlanta
Sui, which said that the Governor was only doing his duty,
despite the fact that the “execution of a woman upon the gallows
ac revolting to every impulse of our nature.” Alexander Hy. Stephens
was the editor and owner of this newspaper, .but he did not write
the editorial defending the Governor, and to make his position
- Clear, lie said that “we did not approve the refusal. We looked
upon the case as one eminently commending itself to Executive
Clettency."7 : | .
— The editor of the Elberton Gazerte, taking as his text the
hanging of Susan Eberhart, called for a stop to be put to public
hangitigs! “Tt was not to witness the vindication of law and the
adniinistration of justice, that they assembled around the scaffold.
It was merely to gratify a brutal and morbid appetite for the
horrible; to feast their eyes awhile upon the spectacle of a guilty
wretch dangling in mid-air, and to have it in their power to:come,
to say that they saw her die.” All judges, like Judge Hopkins of
the Atlanta Circuit, should order hangings to be private. Then
nee ne = a
ig gah Ong . Bk Re
2 Wer
need, >
; 42. Cie ORG
. PlisvoricAt: QUARTERLY
all ‘the mystery and horror which arise from private executions”
would act ds a deterrent to crime. 7
But public hangings were to continue for the next fifcy years,
The gallows on which Spann and Susan Eberhart had been } hanged
/was brought into play again: before the end of the year, when
J Lee Smith, a Negro, was hanged forekilling his. wife.“® The
little town of Preston, thus, provided three hangings within less
than a year. There was not letup during the 1880’s. Up in
northeast Georgia, in Hartwell, Henry Turner. (Hill) was hanged
on Friday, April 22, 1881. In jail | for a petty crime, he killed the
jailer, who was befriending | him. Captured in the woods, ro: sting
potatoes, he was convicted and was hanged before a mass of on-
lookers, estimated at from 8,o00 to 10,000. He admitted his crime
and agreed that he should hang.”
The hanging of Jesse Williams, in Savannah, was uncommon
in three particulars: He was only seventeen years old; the hanging
was private, and it was on a Monday (January 16, 1882). He was
provided a elegant outfit for the occasion: alpaca coat, black
pants, white vest, white gloves, and turn-dow n collar and black
tie—presenting “a genteel. appearance.’ He was led to the jail
steps, for the exercises common +o hangings: prayers by the
preachers. and his own speech with much moaning by the 5,000
- to 6,000 Negroes, who filled the ie ard and the adjoining streets,
Before being led back into the jail for hanging, Jesse told. his
hearers, “I am going to Jesus just as soon as my breath leaves my
body... . I will save a seat in heaven for you.’
On pan’ 2, 1882 and preceding days, there was great excitement
in Carrollton and the surrounding country; there was to be a.
double hanging on that day. William L. Moon. and James E.
Hanvey were to pay the penalty for murder, supposedly both
to swing on the same scaffold at the same time or in quick
succession. Such an attraction could not hel p but bring the largest
crowd, probably ever to assemble on such an occasion in the
state’s history (10,000), and certainly Carrollton
people than it had ever been before.’
hangings, when the jailer went to the cell to give Moon his
“was fuller of
* But on the morning of the ;
breakfast he fo:
d rinking some
matches. Gover
tion; but the as
sceing Hanvey
had been drink: .
MeAfullen, sitt
horse can outr
can't tells a d--
being insulted,
Hrought to jai!
quarts of whisk:
he was in jail—
through with:
Georgia Suprez
no avail. Ham
yuickly, after a
and bad comp?
accumulated a
the proceeds: f:
Atlanta Corstti-
lecture could |
Joseph C. J:
Killing his wi
written,
enemies to glo
two-thirds ber
volunteers wh
by being selec:
the gallows, w
going to be cr
dignity.” On
shedding tears.
Chesterfield, '
sympathy wit!
rushed in, gral
He pi
Lae
iegni, BLESTROCUTESS
RACE &
NAME ere SEX een
Philpot» walter C
ipLliams, jubrey cM
ee CONE RT WiLLias grady. Wet
"Turner » James cM
Mosley> preaerick cM!
Coopes» paul ch
Regse> Amo cM
Corbin, Sohn Fe Wo
Fields, jennings pawats wi
Newberry > john mM
pominge > teon 1: CM
styles» 1 (isaich) OM
Coleman, mitencl cM
Toler, Jame cM
Bidcr > pobcr e cM
Will, Harold ELLison Ww
yustice yaay cM
MuLLins » pred G- cM
PuPree>s Le ch
White, John penry cu
smith, award gamuch cM
golden, WilLrian cw
Curry? {bert cM
pobbs> Leroy cM
Adams » otha fs WM
Woods » plenty cM
Murray » J : cM
Will, F junior cM
Char lLtots ILLLi.am ci
WilsoM, adie i co
punkley > Homer MM
Alberts Ernest WM
Wilson, Fra cM
pavis, erring’ cM
johnsem, Nat aniel cM
Wimis » scar James cM
Mullins, Roy Lee WM
johnson, Thurmond cM
orBe o™
Fulton
Wor th
cobb
fulton
pekal
milter
wuscoBes
Burke
ii xTis
Laur ons
norcien
4ehmond
chatham
wary LS
CX bb
x quit {
sy Lton
Bryan
a ¢
ex wether
Richwond
Fulton
Fannin
pichmond
MuscoBee
Houston
Rape
yur des
Murder
mur der
Mur der
murder
murder
murder
murder
Murder
pape
yur der
murder
Rape
pape
Mur der
murdet
pape
Mur ACT
murder
DA’
* ¢nIve+ _BRECUTER
2-16-1935 (4:3) ARCHIE BARFIELD. Shot a white woman named Lint A. Evans ’
f in her home near Jonesboro in 1934. He
\/ denied his guilt to the last.
3-2-1935 (3:2) WRIGHT & REESE. Murdered a Thomson shopkeeper named Jim
Blackstone on 11-9-34 by a blow on the
head. Both convicted in McDuffie County and both denied guilt
to the bitter end.
6-15-1935 (10:5) ,/ CHARLIE BEASLEY. A negro farmer who lived at LaGrange. Con- |
fessed murder of Dan Daniel, a Troup County
planter whose race is not specified.
10-19-1935 (3:6 GEORGE McRAE. Age 24. Killed a taxi driver named Virgil
Turner at Canton on 9-16-34. Admitted guilt
and also admitted shamming before a lunacy commission. 1
3-26-1936 (28:6) JULIUS LOWMAN. Savannah negro who stabbed his common-law
wife, Helen Lowman, on 8-5-35. Age 32. He 4
"% confessed and said that he had at first cut her but then gone \
on to finish her off at her own request.
fe i936 (13:4) ARTHUR COOMBS. Alias Powell. Raped a white woman.
12-28-1937 (1 ) WILLIE FRANK DANIELS. Cop-killer. Gunned down Athens Patrol-
man Herman Stein who was attempting
to arrest him on a burglary charge.
11-26-1938 6:5) FRANK KNIGHT. Negro, age 26, hailed from Edgefield SC. Crime
was rape but no details are given.
girl against her will.
8-16-1940 mA BARKLEY & FIELDS. Heathen bucks who took turns at a white
2-7-1942 (7:4) WARD LEROY MORTON. Cop-killer. Gunned down Jefferson County
Deputy-Sherrif Louis Hubbard during the
course of a raid on an illicit still.
4-19-1947 (4:5 HOMER KNAPP. A 38 year old taxi driver. Gunned down Mrs. Inez Pont
Lanier at Savannah on 11-18-46 because "she took T
me away from my wife and child".
8-2-1947 (18:4) EBENEZER SCOTT. Negro, age 27, stabbed a negro woman named
ce Fannie Milton at Savannah.
3-6-1948 (3:5) JAMES MANGUM. Negro, age 18, executed for raping a 70 year
old white woman in Atlanta. He ran with a
wolfpack of heathen bucks who raped and robbed as they pleased.
Va Admitted numerous attacks on women, burglaries, stickups, mug-
gings, auto thefts and at least one murder. One accomplice had
been executed in 1946. First tried on the capital charge in the
spring of '46 after having previously escaped from Fulton County
Reformatory by means of poisoning the hounds. Conviction affirmed
by both Georgia Supreme Court and U.S. District Court at Brunswick.
11-27-1948 (7:8) . BROWN. Negro inmate of a Greene County road crew who slew
r his warder. Victim's name was William Jarrell. Used
a bulldozer to conceal the body and then escaped. Picked up in
Boston MA. Confessed.
GEORGIA
Mustoga Indian NAM15 Monroe (IT)
Murder, WM 2- -1823
LITTLE WILLIAM (Stiles) BM16 Chatham
Murder, WM 7-24-1829
Slave (Parker) BM17 Screven
Murder, WF 8-27-1848
THOMPSON, James WM17 Muscogee
Murder, WM21 7-2-1858
THOMASSON, Jack BM15 Troup
Murder, 2BF, 8&2 7-6-1877
WILLIAMS, Jesse BM17 Chatham
Murder, BM 1-16-1882
HARRIS, Margaret BF16 Gordon
Murder, WF 10-19-1883
PERRY, Homer BM14/15 Newton
Rape, BF7 11-7-1884
| BELL, Willie BM14/15 Bibb
| Murder, WM33 11-29-1892
BATTLE, Reuben BM17 Greene
Murder, BM 12-16-1898
ABLES, Will BM17 Appling
Rape, WF 6-30-1899
GOOLSBY, King BM16 Appling
Murder, WM 4-6-1900
GOOLSBY, Lewis BM14 Appling
Murder, WM 4-6-1900
BRYANT, Boisey BM17/18 Berrien
Murder, WM 9-12-1902
ANDREWS, Richard BM16 Wilkes
Rape, WF 3~17-13906
HIGH, Buck BM15 Henry
Rape, WF4 5-29-1907
CANTRELL, Bartow WM16/17 Hall
Murder, WM 7-31-1914
ee ee ed
PERSONS, Joe BM14 Butts
Rape, WF8 9-24-1915
KITCHENS, Robert BM14/16 Washington
Murder. WM 6-2-1916
SUTTON, Harris BM16 Henry
Rape, WF12 1-12-1917
LACY, John HENRY BM16 Richmond
Rape, WF8 2-20-1921
BROWN, Harrison BM16 Upson
Murder, BM 8-5-1924
WILLIAMS, Pringle BM17 Emanuel
Rape, WF14 10-8-1926
SMITH, Wash WM17/19 Ben Hill
Murder, WM 11-22-1930
MARCH, Eddie BM15/16 Dougherty
Murder, WM 2-9-1932
MORRIS, Richard BM16/18 Fulton
Murder, WM 8-11-1933
SIMS, Richard BM16/18 Fulton
Murder, WM 8-11-1933
WHITE, Mose BM17/18 Fulton, WM
Mureder, WM 8-11-1933
DODSON, Charles BM17 Schley
Murder, WM 1-22-1935
BOWEN, Eddie B. BM17/18 Douglas
Murder, WM 3-6-1936
FRANKLIN, Bernice BM17 Wayne
Murder, WF 5-28-1943
SEXTON, Charlie BM16 Paulding
Murder, BM 8-20-1943
ELLISON, S. A. BM17 Meriwether
Murder, WM 12-11-1943
WATKINS, David BM17/18 Bibb
Murder, WF70 5-11-1945
ALLEN, Lee James BM15/16 Fulton
Rape, WF 11-15-1946
vicle of all kinds,
's came on- foot,
sand, who came
¢ negroes.” After
| the crowd were
~ crowds attending
disturbance, but
‘Oo at 4 sociable,
‘is friend without
, and although it
“roes congregated
‘y to the gallows
-) go and wanted
‘ing was another
crime in Greene
~r for her money.
‘he rope breaking
“ad was not cut
‘2 physicians said
r the first drop.
uing in his heart
‘ice in October,
"|, Was privately
‘ ollected on the
another Negro
later time.?°
- must have had
ports were true,
| been organized
vig a few more
ged for killing
(
4
+!
'
i
R
Hi
4
ri
it
i]
¥
"
f
|
RA le Se: hon ag RE tina
SPE te. Se egal:
A A SAI Det ni elt a i cg: nea 2 gohan
HANe Nas in G FORGLA 29
another Negro. This being something new and a free show, a
vast crowd, mostly Negroes, was on hand to look. The sheriff
gave special treatment to Holloway by allowing him to set the
time of day when he would ascend the scaffold. Having been
a slave he asked for his former master and friend to come to’ the
scaffold and give a last parting. This was done with much
affection. Thereafter there was some little delay in the proceed-
ings, which led the crowd to raise some noise, impatient for
Holloway to make his speech from the gallows, He then pro-
ceeded to say what became the custom: meet him in heaven,
the Lord had forgiven his sins, let whiskey and knives alone, and
keep away from bad company.*! .
The 1870's were a fruitful period for hangings, but no crime
Wwith its resultant hangings became more famous and talked about
fora Jong time than the Spana-Eberhart-Spann tragedy. With due
allowance to the emotions of the moment, one contemporary
commentator adjudged it “the most interesting case of crime that .
judg’ g
ever occurred in Georgia, and which is certainly one of the
Strangest in the history of crime. May we never hear of the like
again,”’*? as. | |
The principal in this crime was Enoch F erdinand Spann. He
was born near Bainbridge, Decatur County, of poor parentage,
and was left an orphan very early in life. He was brought up to
the age of fifteen or sixteen by kinsmen in that part of Stewart
County which later became Webster. He had his peculiarities
from the very beginning. When sent to school, he could not or
would not learn, and was soon withdrawn. He became a dirt-
eater, but was broken of the habit by a mixture of lard and clay
that completely upset his stomach, but left him so -enervated.
that he could not engage in farm work. He was morose; liked
to be alone, “recite marvellous stories” to himself, and argue with
imaginary characters; _ and play hangman (having once seen a
Negro hanged, an experience which he never forgot.) He would
ng up a gallows, tie a string around the neck of an old jug,
spring the trap and hang the jug.
When about sixteen he was led into marrying Sarah Perkins,
——
So AE TURES EE ane
ieee ae, Qteg: RS
at Mae
Slave Justice in Four Middle
Georgia Counties
By Jonw C. Enwarns*
ee G IXTEEN years ago a noted Southern Historian published a
“oO ‘ Hage Sey
8, De Shan aly
hayes a? s
of thegey 4
valuable study of slave justice in Elbert County, Georgia.
He based his investigations on four slave trials gleaned from
tétithouse records. From the trial ledgers the author concluded
that the bondsmen in question had received fair trials and that the
_ more barbaric forms of punishment such as flogging and branding,
; ; d £E 4 oO
nee Ax eae r : H : i:
'. Were Simply reflections of a rude frontier environment.
_ Although Professor F. Merton Coulter's interprecation scemed
convincing, the limited research material made-one wonder what
© © tesultS additional documentation would uncover, The author cor-
bai , Ss ° ‘ . i
rectly lamented his limited sources, for slave court records were
fet entered in the regular minutes and documents but were
4 Pa {fags . ; 4
stained in separate ledgers. Too often these itemis were considered
Pes. a secondary importance and either discarded or carelessly lost
Ber through fire. As a result, physically locating the documents
©. gahdicapped the historian. Fate, however, took a positive hand
if i
#1957, the yeat of the Elbert County study, when the Georgia
Department of Archives and History inaugurated ‘an cleven-year
Program of microfilming all Georgia county records created
bint to 1900. Into this network of activity fell not only addi-
Henal county records pertaining to examples of Georgia slave
justice, but documents from private collections secured by public
ippeals through the news media. Both types of records are
.. fpresented in the following accounts from DeKalb, Putnam,
Ay tfscoln, and Hancock counties.
On November 3, 1858, DeKalb County authorities hanged
Henry Jackson on a make-shift gallows for the crime of attempted
ape. Sometime earlier, exactly when is not certain, this slave
& . sheosted a young white girl on the road between Atlanta and
eee
"Records Management Officer, University of Georgia, Athens, ;
5~-23-1823-BURRELL, slave, sentenced to hang in Camden Co. for the
murder of Mr. Gillett.
11-7-1823-WILLIAMS, John M., to be hanged Jones Co. for wife
murder,
Li-17-1824-HALL, Thomas Franklin, white, under death sentence in
Savannah for murder of a slave owned by John P. Williamson.
Cir. 1826-WINN, Jack, hanged Gwinnett Co.
8-8-1826-Macon paper reports murder of Woodward in Twiggs Co.
by two of his slaves.
4-30-1827-HARRY, slave, to be hanged Savannah for murder of L. H.
Feay.
6-29-1827-PRINCE, slave, to be hanged Savannah for murder of slave
Judy.
1827/1828-Unnamed NA, "...Falls of Chattahochee...* (In Tri),
murder of another NA
Cir. 1830's-A white man named Harris hanged Carroll Co. for murder
Cir. 1830's-ELLICK, slave hanged Gwinnett Co. for murder of master.
1-25-1830~-POWELL, Allen B., murdered Major John F. Floyd, Darien.
3-16-1830-SAMPSON, slave of Dr. Waring, Savannah, to be tried for
the murder of master's drive 18 months earler.
2-23-1831-SURRY, slave convicted of murder of another slave,
Augusta. ,
1834-1837-BARNEY SWIMMER and TERRAPIN, Indians, hanged Floyd Co.,
for murder of Ezekiel Blatchford.
2-13-1836-Slave murdered li-year-old Flavius L. Hightower,
Thomaston.
4~ ~-1836-AMY, female slave, to be hanged Augusta for murder of her
mistress.
3- -1838-Female slave to be hanged Cassville.
4-29-1840-Paper reports murder of Thomas Saddler by slave, Harris
Co.
Gnhoraa Uisrortcan Quarterty
BE!
21K lberton Gazette, April 30 (3, 3-4), 1872.
22Atlania Weekly Sun, Nevember 13 (5, 4-5), 1972.
23Elberton Gazette, April 22 (3, 1), 1873.
24Augusta Weekly Chronicle & Sentinel, June 4 (1,7), 1873.
25Atlanta Weekly Constitution, May 27.(2, 1), 1873.
26Quoted, ibid., January 27 (5, 4), 1869.
27Elberton Gazette, June 5 (3, 2), 1822, for first quotation; Atlanta
Weekly Sun, June 12 (2, 3), 1872, for second quotation, See also issue of
latter for June 17 (4, 2). . ; :
28Augusta Weekly Chronicle & Sentinel, June 4 (1, 7-8), 1873.
29Greensboro’ (Ga.) Herald, October 23 (2, 2-3), 1873.
80Athens North-East Georgian, May 6 (8, 4), 1874,
318 avannah Morning News, December 20 (3, 4-6), 1879.
82Atlanta Weekly Nun, April 22 (6, 1-5), 1873.
388Tbid., April 15 (4, 1-5), 1873: Americus (Ga.) Weekly Sumter Re pieblican,
May 9 (1, 3-7), 1873.
34Americus Weekly Sumter Republican, June 7 (3, 2), 1872; February {4
(2, 6), April 18 (1, 5-6), 1873; Atlanta Weekly Sun, July.17 (2, 2), July 31
(4, 6), 1872; April 15 (4, 1-5), April 22 (6, 1-5), May 13 (2, 3), 1873:
Elberton Gazette, May 14 (2, 2), 1873. On the night before his hanging,
Spann asked his friends to bring him a good supper; he wanted sausage,
ham, boiled eggs, butter, fritters, and “numerous other articles.” Un-
doubtedly his hunger was satisfied. Atlanta. Weekly Sun, April 15 (4, 1-5),
1878. .
35Atlanta Weekly Sun, April 22 (6, 1-5), 1873. — 867 bid, ”
37Americus Weekly Sumter Republican, July 26° (1, 5), 1872; February 21
(2, 4-5), March 21 (2, 2; 32, 4), May.9 (1, 3-7), 1873; Ailanta Weekly Sun,
February 25 (2, 4), March 25 (5, 3), April 15 (4, 1-5), May 13 (2, 3-5), 1873.
88Athens North-East Georgian, May 9 (1, 5-6), 1873; Atlanta Weekly Sun,
April 22 (6, 1-5), May 13 (2, 3-5), 1873; Americus Weekly Sumter Republicar,
May 9 (1; 7), 1878: Ailanta Constitution, May 3 2, 3-7), 1873.
39Americus Weekiy Suniter Republican, May 9 (1. 1), 1872.
19Athens. North-East Georgian, May 9 (1, 5), 1873. .
41Americus Weekly Sumter Republican, May 9 (2, 3), 1873.
42home Tri-Weekly Courier. May 14 (2, 5), 1873.
43Atlanta Weekly Sun, May 18: (2, 5), 1873, a
44Americus Weekly Sumter Republican, May 9 (4, 1), 1879.
45Ibid., May § (2, 2), 1873. .
41skome Tri-Weekly Courier, May 14 (2, 5), 1873: Atlanta Constitution
May 3 (2, 1), May 4 (1, 2; 7-6 columng), 1878,
47Atianta Weekly Sun, May 6 (4, 2), May 18 (5, 2), 1873. In defense of
Governor Smith, the editor said further, “The passions and sympathies of
the public are appealed to instead of their judgment and sense of justice
to bring into odium and condemnation the act of the. Chief Executive in
vindicating outraged law, and bringing to condign punishment a womar
who agsisted in one of the foulest murders upon criminal record.” Lbid,,
May 13 (2, 2), 1873. Sce also Americus Weekly Sumter Republican, May 9
(2, 2), 1873. . . a:
48Elberton Gazetie, May 14. (8, 3-4), 1873. The editor of the Athens
North-East Georgian, November 29 (2, 2), 1878, taking as his text 4
bungled Pennsylvania, hanging, said there ought to-be some “other capital .
process.” “Hither gillotine or the garrote,” he thought, would “have to
be substituted for the noose, or else the penalty for murder will be com.
muted to perpetual tmprisonment. It is bad enough to- take a human tf
for any purpose, but to do it cruelly and brutally ig without. defense.”
*9Americus Weekly Sumter tepublican, November 14 (3, 3), 1873.
50John Will:
323-38,
biSavarnnah
S24 tlantu Cy
3Athens Bai
S4Darien T}
Ssrbid., July
5iAtlanta Cc:
58Athens Ba
59Greensboro
S0Atlanta W:
‘2, 3), 1888,
81Atlanta (.
®2Greensbor:
Atlanta Ce.
1,1, 2; 4, 3), f°
4Tbid., Janu:
‘5Greensboro
SCT bid.,. Febr::
SiSee EL OM,
Quarterly, Xiu
Toombs Oak, 7
‘Athens, 1966),
‘8Madison (GC
£3 (4, 3), 1897.
S9Lexington. ’
iIbid., July :
“Lexington +
“Lexington ©
Ibid... May ¢
M4Tbid., May :
te]bid., Marc}
punishment wa
not serve to tr
ficlently proven:
Lexington OgIer:
8Greenshoro
TAtlanta Eve)
{9rd edition) (.
ington Sem4-We-
January 8 (2, 2
April 8 (3, 2); /
SA tlanta Gen
fton, February |
1998. For a discn.
and the Arthur «
Quarterly, LIII +
Atlanta Genr,
{f, 2), 1908.
80Atlanta Jou»
81bid.. July 2°
1972
a
io
SLORGIA
"Columbie;, Se°C.,, Dece 30,. 1932. <A fantestic
ia life-termer to die in tne
me ha oN st (ae x Beatrice Ferguson Snipes
today found the 29-year-old textile mill wor-
ker, sentenced to death for the slaying of a
rural policeman, too ill to ‘discuss the pro-
possl, Axreporter who sought her reaction to
a letter X#&K to Governor Blackwood from Ho-
ward Curtis, 2hi-yesr-old fabmer of three chil-
dren who is erving a life sentence in Atlante
for the murder of a waitress, was told by pri-
son officials that Mrs. Snipes was 'not feel-
PREn on“ fateseten. endrormed ef Heuenie. where
he is attendince & cotton conference, of the
Curtis letter, the South Caroline Governor
-.
According to Birmingham AGE HERALD, 1-26-1921, two white
women had previously been hanged in Georgta, Two others
had received death penalty but commuted,
c--o > ee ateue-aestemeemeentes ie
t
ERMA Lele Ta Ci bee mm § ecm ome? wv big en} a
(Need confirmatdun., }-. 2 wnenenene me Kh an
NREYNOIDS, Mirs. Jane, 18-years, died &&
1820, wife of Mr. John W. Reynolds of Burke ey
Cae, Xilled by poison administered by a female
domestics had an infant child." MARRIAGES AND
DEATHS, 1820-1830, as abstracted from extant
Georgia newspapers, by Mary Bondurant Warrens
Daniellsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers 19726 Pp 106,
Her source: GEORGIA REPUBLICAN AND Savannén
REPUBLICAN, 9-23-1820,
of clergy,’
18
Guoraa: Hisrorican QuARTERLY.
?
which had been frequently used, for impressiveness
(no doubt) in fixing the punishinent. for the crime—death ‘“with-
out benefit of clergy.” It was now “abolished and declared a
ridiculous and unmeaning privilege and form. The term ‘death,’
in this or any future penal system shall be sufficient to justify the
infliction of that punishment.”®
Although hanging was the only normal and legal method of
administering capital punishment for white people, there was
some leeway allowed in punishing slaves. The slave code which
was adopted by the Colony in 1755, and reaffirmed, provided
that a slave committing any crime for which the death penalty
was called for should be punished “by [nflicting such manner
of Death” as the justices “by and: with the Consent of the Free-
holders shall direct and which they shall Judge will be most
Effectual to deter others from Offending in. like manner.”
Burning at the stake was probably contemplated, but no record
of this form of punishnient has appeared as having been used in
Georgia.
Capital crimes varied in numbers from colonial times on down.
some being dropped and some being added, but they never ap-
proached the early total in England. Rape in 1811 was punished
only by imprisonment from seven to sixteen years;” it was later
tnade a capital offense and during the latter part of the nineteenth
century it was looked upon as such a dastardly crime, especially
when inflicted on white women by Negroes, that an element
of the population could not wait on court action but lynched
the criminals. In 18009, horse-stealing for the second offense
carried the punishment of “death without benefit of clergy’,’
but with the disappearance of frontier conditions this crime
faded out. In colonial and early nineteenth-century times, counter-
feiting was looked upon as a most heinous crime, and carried
“death without benefit of clergy.” It was most inclusive in. its
terms, including not only making spurious paper money and
coins, but being associated with it in any way, such a passing
them, making plates, and so on.’ Perjury was a capital offense,
if by the perjurer’s testimony death was adjudged. against the
defendant? Las
passing of time
century, when
resulted should
the most comn
for which most
Hangings we:
than a mile fro:
of the spot bein
Was succeeded
jail, a beam cov
there was a trap
around his nec
trigger was spr!
prisoner genera’
his neck in the
ceased to beat.)
through strangti)
was cut down,
pronounced it
contraption was
his neck. RBefor:
placed over the |!
a special new su
effictal, for his
hanged, and yo
The. sheriff
but the jailer p!
time of executio:
from thirty or s
circumstances, "]
uerely. voluntee:
pistols. When Ie.
formily, prisoner
Herff for their
ind formalities a
TERLY
v in this narrative.
on, for judges sentencing
‘iy. Sometimes, but very
" committing: suicide in
tsoners plead innocehce
conclusive or almost so.
feeling for their relatives
at a pardon or reprieve
1ce with the Lord and
n the gallows into the
ving on earth a good
especially to Negroes);
'y rare cases where the
.! friendless who was not
nable to secure it. And
r left out and that some
re white lawyers were
{ course, of a fee. It
" wed the night, for
und guilty, to ask
‘-eorgia Supreme Court,
Court, and finally to
harigings can best be
urrences. But it should
id: spectacles, orgies of
‘iday spirit of a circus
(0s begun to appall the |
i ,
Georgians. There was
ngings as a method of
ont itself; but could not
ag hangings private?—
» 1834, and New Jersey,
ved the next year.
He hangings had gained
ty EE A oe cern SR nye
+
Se ean ec i eat
ERA gat Sa ae a EPs Step nen gr Sy
Pe Rape add ag
citings.
h
‘
7
q
",
—
f
;
{
2
4
i
i,
HANomas iw Grorata 21
sufficient momentum to lead the legislature in 1859 to enact a
law for that
purpose. Recited in the preamble was the motive:
“The public execution of Crimnals condemned to death by the
laws of this State, is believed by many to be lemoralizing In its
tendency and disgraceful to the character of our people for
refinement and good taste, and not so well calculated to accom-
plish the object for which it was instituted, to-wit: the prevention
of crime, as would private executions.”
one shall witness such executions, except the executing officer,
a sufficient guard, and such cletgymen as the criminal may desire
to be present on the occasion. together with the relatives of the
Crimnal.” Tf there were no room in the jail for the execution, it
should be the duty of the Inferior Court to have a gallows
Screened by a high wall, constructed in the jail yard, and if
necessary to order a special tax to pay for the work. But the
judges of this court (later the judge of the Superior Court trying
the case) should have it “in their discretion” to order a public
eecution."" Another
to public hangings after freedom had come to the slaves, was to
keep them from abandoning farm work on the plantations: to
attend en masse these spectacles. But for years after the Civil
War it became a common practice for judges to order public
hangings, However tor 4 quarter century and more after 1865,
there were only three hangings in Fulton County (Atlanta), and
all were private. !? .
_ For those who did not attend public hangings, either because
they were repelled by such horrors or were ashamed to be seen
there, the Newspaper reporters were always at hand to write
up a long lurid story of what happened. These were features.
that newspapers reveled in publishing, and only on such ocea-
sions as the Spanish-American War did bigger news take their
places, |
Public hangings were no respectors of age, color
first hangings
after
Therefore, hereafter “no
or sex. The
in Georgia were in Savannah, less than two years
the colony had been settled and the victim was a woman.
William Wise was an Irishman. of shady character whom the
s
Teason sometimes suggested: for opposition
V
HY
f
i
‘
t
‘ a: ‘ ?
1 for impressiveness }
~- crime—death “with-
hed arid declared a i
i. The term ‘death,’ ,
‘ficient to justify the |
. t
(
4
nd legal method of
people, there was
'e slave code which
ccaffirmed, provided
+ the death penalty
licting such manner
onsent of the Free- °
Judge will be most
» in like manner.’
ated, but no record }
having been used in |
oe on
_-alal times on down,
they never ap- |
t was punished /
years;” it was later j
irt of the nineteenth |
lly crime, especially
»s, that an element /
action but lynched }
the second offense |
benefit of clergy”; }
‘nditions this crime )
‘ury times, counter-
crime; and carried |
host inclusive in its
paper money and :
vy, such a passing !
a capital offense, |
?
im : ree p
‘udged. against the.
g £ i
t
5
HAanarmas ts QNORGTA 19
defendant,’ Laws against ducling increased in severity with the
Passing of time to the point by the middle of the nineteenth
century, when anyone connected with a duel in which death
resulted should himself be guilty of a capital crime’ Murder was
the most Common. capital crime, and was, of course the be
for which most hangings were inflicted, | |
Hangings were carried out on gallows, erected at not more
than a mile from the public square of the county seat, the choice
of the spot being in the Jurisdiction of the Inferior Cure (which
Was succeeded by the ordinary); if the execution’ was in the
jail, a beam could be used to Support the rope. On the gallows
there was a trap door, on which the prisoner stood with the rope
around his neck tied in the hangman’s knot on the left side; a
trigget was sprung, which -released the door and dropped the
pusoner generally about five feet—the purpose being to break
his neck in the fall and leave him unconscious until his heart
ceased to beat. This did not always happen, and then death cime
through strangulation. After fifteen to thirty twinutes the corpse
was cut down, whereupon physicians inspected the body and
pronounced it dead. In some states, though not in Georeia a
Contraption was arranged to jerk the prisoner upwards to break
his neck.® Before the drop, 2 black cap (sometimes white) was
placed over the head of the prisoner, who had been dressed in
a special new suit of clothes as a gift of the county or of an
official, for his burial, Children as young as seventeen were
hanged, and younger than that in some of the Northern. states.
The sheriff was the principal officer in charge of hangings;
but the jailer played his part in keeping the prisoner until the
time of execution, Assisting the sheriff was a guard numbering
from thirty or so on up to eighty. or more, depending on the
circumstances. These guards might be the organized militia or
merely volunteers, who came armed with shotguns, rifles and
pistols. When leaving the jail and on the gallows, almost uni-
formily, prisoners thanked with great fervor the jailer and the
sheriff for their kind treatment and favors. Other proceedings
and formalities accompanying hangings can best be appreciated
20 Cworara THirstortcan QuARTERLY
in the descriptions of hangings that follow in this narrative.
It became a custom, rarely departed from, for judges sentencing
prisoners to hang, to fix Friday as the day. Sometimes, but very
seldom, prisoners cheated the gallows. by committing suicide in
yail.2? Ie is rather remarkable that many prisoners plead innocence
to their last breath, where their guilt was conclusive or almost so.
These reasons may have some weight: A feeling for their relatives
and friends; believing to the last second that a pardon or reprieve
might reach them; having made their peace with the Lord and
feeling that they would be sprung from the gallows into the
arms of their Savior, and thereby leaving on earth a good
reputation for their own sake (applicable especially to Negroes);
and, horrible as it would be, in extremely rare cases where the
prisoner was really innocent.
There was no person so low, poor, and friendless who was not
provided counsel by the state if he was unable to secure it. And
it should be noted that Negroes were never left out and that some
of the most hard-fought cases were where white lawyers were
defending Negroes with no thought, of course, of a fee. It
became almost certain as the day ‘that followed the night, for
defense lawyers where their clients were found guilty, to ask
for a new trial, to carry the case to the Georgia Supreme Court,
sometities to the United States Supreme Court, and finally to
the governor for pardon or commutation.
The immense crowds that attended hangings can best be
described in connection with these occurrences. But it should
be stated here that these sordid, morbid spectacles, orgies of
emotionalism, often tinged with the holiday spirit of a circus
or political meeting, had even by the 1850’s begun to appall the
sensibilities of the responsible body of Georgians. There was
no movement yet to put a stop to hangings .as a method of
capital punishment or to capital punishment itself; but could not
these outpourings be stopped by nuaking hangings private?-
already Pennsylvania had led the way in 1834, and New Jersey.
New York, and Massachusetts had followed the next year.
The movement in Georgia for private hangings had gained
sufficient momente
law for that purpe
“The public execu.
_taws of this State, |
tendency and disy:
refinement and gor
plish the object for -
of crime, as would
ne shall switness
@ sufficient guard, +
to be present on th
Crimnal.” If there
should be the dut
screened by a hig’
necessary to order
judges of this court
the case) should h
execution.’? Anoth
to public hangings
keep them from a!
attend en masse tl!
\War it became a
hangings. However
there were only th
ail were private.”
For those who ¢
they were repelled
there, the newspap
up a long lurid st:
that newspapers re
sons as the Spanis!
places.
Public hangings »
first hangings in G.
after the colony hy
*
{
rrrrge re =
siiram Vise was
hangings. In
ite had. passed
id had started
vy, and that in
per reporters,
. for the judge
lish 4 graphic
ng, the editor
has been the
ch executions
lished: Instead
vas engendered
“ay cases, look
'¢ as a martyr,
ind the. terror
' lost by the
‘murder there
‘© newspapers
the -nurderer
al larangue,
various news-
‘panied by a
em there was
crowds gath-
sight of mer
‘| opened and
irder and the
~~... [and to]
The time to
‘ve to see and
al or holiday
of hero. . 43
the shadow
ide the better
orm is all that
‘the halo of.
Se ee ee Lig eae oe ae peercts ete oe ae: ee Paid SS PRO, ees
a SN ig A a Bd hey
< ee 2 ~ Sa
SE ain apa, 2m SS ie ay St Sete sii, omg ties
ee
a TR
a
TTANGINGSs tx Grorct A 4 49
martyrdom which now surrounds a crimnal must be brushed
away, and death to the murderer must be silent, secret, certain
and awful to contemplate,”* 7
/
(!
\;
pi)
hy
[itl
Mf,
4,
ipo
aus
THOMAS G. WOOLFOLK
From an illustration in the Atiens (Ga.)
Weekly Banner. November 4, 1299, made about
the time of his hanging.
The 1890's were ushered in by the hanging in Perry of a man
convicted of one of the most ghastly murders in the annals
of trime. This was the famous Woolfolk murder case. Tom
Woolfolk was charged with killing with an axe one might his
father, his stepmother, six children, and an old visitor in the -
Rousehiold, in 1887, Arrested immediately, Tom spent the next
three yeats in jail, being twice tried and sentenced to the gallows,
with an equal number of appeals to the Georgia Supreme. Court,
the land. We
But from the
inst reporting
in jail should
sneasured way,
‘x time to his
w
my sisters and
WA my grieving
home to live
han three years
vrles Blackman,
the evidence
' the facts and
' three lawyers
‘ad guilty; and
or to give him
Court, which
‘he day of the
| eo people
uie@at the last
‘olate the town.
-ensboro news-
d been cut not
‘ished, but that
hanging, there
d the hanging
Marietta. The
out of town;
vine cars came
TE. CG Braffey
iy great detail,
ve the hanging
‘ed more than
ow the gallows
«
<= ¥
SAR RN ye
EERE Sg, Se ROAD, ae
ee ATR th in Rg pee a Ge st gy SE 2s
Hanaiwas in Grorata 47
and report back how it looked. Bruffey introduced his account
of the events the hext day: “A man hanging in mid-air, writhing in
the agonies of death, three thousand people.scattered over the hill
sides. and safely ensconced in the top of trees, a thousand men
end boys chasing a rabbit, scared nearly to death, yelling, laugh-
ing, screeching as they ran, isa picture -few people ever see.”
The rabbit hiding under a bush, had been scared up as the crowd
assembled, and everybody was grabbing for molly cottontail as it”
darted atound. Finally a Jong, lank country boy caught it and
triumphantly held it up for all to sce; but he was not going to
eel it, Bs |
Frey was an unusual man of his race, generally rated as “bad .
negro.” One morning he killed his wife because she would not set
fis plate on the breakfast table. (Anotlier reason offered was
that she knew from his having told her that he ‘had killed another
Negro and she had threatened to tell on hit if he did not g0
to treating her better). In his cell F rey paced back and forth like
a tiger in a cage, praying and muttering for almost the whole
might, taking only a short nap. For his breakfast on the morning
of the hanging he had boiled ham, eggs, muffins, butter, syrup, |
and coffee. He refused a glass of wine, but he accepted a cigar
which he smoked with much satisfaction on his wagon ride of
thirty minutes to the gallows—in his new suit of “hanging and
burial” clothes making it seem like a triumphal journey, There
was uch praying, reading the Bible, and moaning, and at the
last moment Frey seemed overcome. A nan on horseback fainted
and fell off and two other men swooned. His hanging was easy;
he suffered little; his neck was broken on the fall. When his
body was cut down, the crowd rushed in aod cut up the rope
and chipped off pieces of the gallows for souvenirs.” All of this
w4§ too much for the editor of the Atlanta Constitution: “Let
a8 hope that yesterday saw the last man hanged in public in this
state. . . . There is no wisdom in this—there is no humanity—
iheré is no sense. A public execution is a relic of barbarism, and
Georgia is walking in barbarous ways as long as she permits it."
The Greensboro editor, seconded by other editors over the
48 | (EORGIA ET tS TORICAL: QUARTERLY
state, was now on 2 campaign to outlaw public hangings. In
early January, 1889, he noted that New York State had passed
an act putting a stop to public hangings there and had started.
a new system of executing crimfhals by electricity, and that in
private. No one was admitted, not even newspaper reporters,
and the day of the execution-was not even known, for the judge ©
might fix one of two days a weelx apart. ‘To publish a graphic :
account carried a penalty of a heavy fine. Continuing, the editor
said, “One of the greatest banes of this country has ‘been. the,
public. execution of crumnals. The ends which such executions
were intended to reach have never been accomp| lished. Instead
of 3 inspiring fear of the dread power of the law; it has engendcred
a morbid tove of death scenes. The public, in many cases, look
upon the man who has comiutted the blackest crime as a martyt.
They hear his words proclaiming his salvation |, | and the terror
which the gallows should strike to every heart is. lost by the
reflection that by the rope, after all, and through inurder_ there
may. be a certain and quick route to glory.” The new spapen
gave the murdered person about ten lines, while “the murderer
who is swung off in the midst of a senseless but voluable harangue,
is reasonably certain of two columns or more in various news-
papers and with attractive headlines if not aceeanee yy!
likeness of the crimnal.” Under the New York system there was
“no last speech; no mock heroism; no great curious crowds gath-
ered at the death, but the crimnal. vanishes from the sight of mer
as swiftly and completely, as though the earth had opened and
sucked him in.” This was the system to “clothe murder and the
murderer’s fate with a horrible and terrible secrecy ... [and to]
deter others from the commission of such crimes.”"? The time to
stop public hangings was now. The crowds that came to’ see att
enjoy bore ever outward appearance “of a political or holida\
gathering in which the criminal occupies the post of hero.
No man has ever looked up a criminal, standing tm the shadow
of a ghastly and unnatural death, has ever been made the better
for it... . Morbid euriosity in its most aggravated form is all tha
draws men to a public execution... Phe excitement, the halo
' martyred.
away, a.
and awt:
The :
convicte:
of crime
Woolfol
father, |
householi
three yer
ith an
drop in the reports of hangings, but war news may have crowded
50 : Grong TWisrorican Quartrurty
and finally sentenced a third time to hang on October 2oth,
This time he paid the penalty, protesting his innocence to. the
last breath in his body. Ten thousand people saw him hanged,
As this case has been discussed in«much detail elsewhere, it wil
not be dealt with further here.® | 7
The epidemic of smurders and and consequent hangings seemed
to be intensified during this decade of panicky economic conditions
and hard times. Writing in 1897, one editor commented that
"recent hangings would “have a wholesome effeet upon the
morals of the State” and added that so long “as hanging crimes
are committed, so long should there be hangings.”°8 W. A. Shack-
elford, editor of the Oglethorpe Echo for many years, after noting
that hangings were “growing more numerous over the country,”
wrote that this was “liable to reduce the number of murders.”
A little later, he wrote, “Hangings are almost of weekly occur:
rence now,” and that was “the way to check the «commission
of crimes.”"° And by the middle of December, he could say,
“Six hangings in Georgia this month ought to serve to increase
respect if not awe for the law among the people of the State.”
With the outbreak of war with Spain the next year, there was a
such out. | | | .
But two hangings in 1897 out of the many that took place that
year, sbould be noted. Tom Delk was hanged in Zebulon fo:
. killing the sheriff, and, although it. was ordered to be private, tt
ainounted to a public show, for the crowd found it easy to. look
_ through “the clumsily strong rolls of bagging that surrounded
the scaffold.” It was reported that the people in charge “spent
fully. five minutes in tying him up, very much the way a grocet
would wrap a codfish.” And to nullify the “private” nature of
the hanging, the corpse was cut down and put on display in the
courthouse, for the masses to pass by, in one door and out another,
to see Tom in death.” |
The other 1897 hanging to be noted was that of Linton Hinney,
/ Negro, at Lexington. This was a private hanging to be carried
out within the walls of the jail, but this did not prevent a mas
of Negro:
mood. As
bef . .
levity as hh
They sho
inan as kh
look upor
whose fat
nerve wit)
serenity v
became th
supplanted |
down afte:.
This f:
seemed ti
hangings, »
had been |
in any fo:
other. stat:
baneful ir’
sentiment /
hangings, °
are numilx
hangings +
barbaric c:
was predi:
hfe by leg
28 is murd
Two ca:
vUY, Sever
for shootir
Nobles, lis
been sent:
iven a h.
ounty, §)
family
tt
ba
Ne
a
&
eA a Furey 5 A717 O-/: THe, Lybe Mlaet, L re LLAP YO AL, P2crrbr
DP Gruen | Soudelt, (- f$-/9 ea, Hise nyer, blake, rw bboar ; Puscdher
CN inex berth, FS) 9-SGVE, Thee yor, ated, fee. ay ae JP ice haa
EO le suix Barrell Yb SLLG Mhcrenpes, Whe te bre Liha, J ytewclay
CD Mast fist, [27 %2, Pucacogs, Heh kee, “fat, Prerdor—
Lie... Zi butige, F-15757 Jcooey es) Mack, lee phe, Pueeler—
CEM Mellie, 9b 1984 ania dlaeh lee. bloah, Pucedes
Z Goll t:leumes, LYS 4S, Se, ileal, lew. prhie y etadanr.
O Moree (Seceuakteery, /ASU FECL , yA Ll 62
{Mask, tee whe hvtbey by fey Freee
€3 Seog SAL, FU 191, Spustogee, Lak tre file, KEpe_
O lerenee (Bowden. [25-1 96s Musse yer, leeks beck litle, Jott
Cx Yocagak alles au, SASSIFY Alling a + blasl, lee hoch, Judber.
Cremer.
ae I-24, MW nusees ete, lA, | MatLover Ltd, benbley_
vim
January 15, 1991
Mr. M. Watt Espy
Capital Punishment Research Project
P.O. Box 277
Headland, AL 36345
Dear Watt:
I have carefully checked the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION for each of the cases
on the list enclosed and find that only a few were deemed newsworthy. Hence
I am only able to provide details for a few cases. The rest were either men-
tioned in a cursory manner or not mentioned at all, which leads me to sus-
pect that they were probably obscure black-on-black cases which nobody cared
about.
3-12-1926 (6:8) CHARLIE WALTON. Murdered an employee of the Ford
Motor Company named Fred Jones in
an alley adjacent to Loew's Theater in Atlanta on
1-7-1925. Brained him with an axe. Motive not specif-
ied. Race of victim not specified though Walton's race
is specified.
Jee (8:3) JOHN SANDERS. Confessed to rape of a white woman.
\/10-4-1929 (1:6) ALLEN MERRETT. A white serial rapist. Victims were white.
11-23-1930 (14:2) WASH SMITH. A white boy aged 17 at time of crime. Shot
a shopkeeper named Judd Wells in Banks Co.
in 1928. Recondemned after retrial. Said that he believed
himself to be 'justified' in killing victim. In the death
chamber he was allowed to personally question each witness
so as to satisfy himself that none of the victim's family
were present contrary to his last request.
5-20-1933 (4:5) JOHNNY TODD. Negro. Age 18. Gunned down a mailman named
Lo Willard S. Acree near Union Point in 3/33.
{7 Shot victim from ambush and then crushed his skull with
rifle butt. Victim was making his postal rounds at the time.
Motive not specified.
8-12-1933 (12:7) RICHARD MORRIS. Cop-killer. Accomplice of Richard Sims
and Mose White who were executed with
him. Gunned down Detective Frank C. Foster during the course
of a deli stickup. Convicted on evidence of the deathbed
confession of a fourth accomplice who had been mortally
wounded by the slain detective.
11-16-1934 (6:8 MOSE STREET. Cop-killer. Confessed to murdering Savannah
Wa Patrolman J.E. Roughen.
1-22-1935 (19:6) CHARLIE DODSON. Cop-killer. Gunned down Ellaville Police
Chief William B. Souter during the course
: of a stickup on 12-24-1934. Condemned on 12-31-1934. In the
| execution chamber he mocked the dead man's relatives and
boldly admitted the deed.
GEORGE McKAY. Accomplice of Jesse Craiton, who had been
executed on 11-9-1945 for the holdup murder
of an Atlanta liquor store owner named Pete Vergiotis. McKay's
age is given as 36. |
we
NATHANIEL JO ON. Brutal rape of a white Augusta hospital
nurse in January, 1959.
THURMAN JOHNSON. Stabbing murder of a woman named Ella Cum-
mings. Race of victim not specified. He
complained that his confession had been
coerced by the Augusta police.
STEVENSON, Willie BM17 Lee
Murder, 11-22-1946
REDDICK, Herbert Lee BM17/19 Bibb
Murder, WM 6-30-1947
MANGUM, James BM17/18 Fulton
Rape, WF70 3-5-1948
JONES, John Albert, Jr. BM15/16 Sumter
Murder, WM 9-12-1949
JONES, Wilbur Gene BM16/17 Sumter
Murder, WM 9-12-1949
JACKSON, Willie, Jr. BM16/17 Baldwin
Rape, WF18 6-15-1954
MILLER, Herman Lee BM17/18 Baldwin
Rape, WF18 6-15-1954
JONES, Joe Lee BM16/17 Upson
Murder, WM, 65 11-19-1954
KING, Charles L. BM17/19 Upson
Murder, WM65 11-19-1954
MORGAN, James Willie WM17/18 Richmond
Murder, WM20 I-7-1955
COLMAN, Don Mitchell BM17/18 Fulton
Murder, WF30 3-19-1957
BURGER, Christopher A. WM17/33 Wayne
Murder, WM20 12-7-1993
L- [S/F
Te ae he
ZS EL GES
8 OES
UY LOV IGE
7-24- (FSO
a Rg ie
A fed CGS 7
Y--f9ISZ
NW ASEAICLSB
L-M-CAF
a at 7 55
-/9-L9 §
"AW bal de PE eB
J 2-05 LISS
T-/-74@ @
F-24-/G6/
SOY VIB
