discussed ameing the couple but, believing that they could not be iden
tified because of the darkness allowed then to leave. A few days later’
a, Madisonville man, opening the purse of a boarder in his house through
mistake, found a photograph of Hollis and love letters from himto a |
white woman, He ejected her from the house and notified authorities |
who took Hollis into custody Sor dating a white woman, Hollis, believ-
ing that the officers were arresting him for the rape of the girl, made
a complete confession and said that he had accompanied Bard and Fleming
only because he feared Fleming who had previously shot up his house, |
When they were arrested, Bard and Fleming both denied any involvement ©
in the crime and Fleming maintained that he had not left Hollis! house ,
onthe night of the assault even though Hollis swore otherwise, Bard |
was identified by the woman's companion as the man who had robbed him,
Hollis, Fleming and -Bard were all taken first to Louisville and then
to the State Prison.. They were returned to Madisonville for their
separate trials which began on April 27 and Hollis, after pleading
guilty, received a XXREXHENNEMKEXH 20-year-sent ence and testified for
the State at the trials of Bard and Fleming, both of whom were con-
victed and sentenced to die, Their appeals were unsuccessful and on
Nov, 25, 1927, in the presence of 7,000 witnesses they were, hanged
i di i k asted their ihnocehce until the
pugliely, at pact cords of Fr ane ah went eS the gal Lows irst were:
‘Friends, Iwant to say you are looking into the face of an innocent
man, I know nothing about the crime. I am paying the penalty for
discusses fameing the couple but, believing that they could not be iden
tified because of the darkness allowed them to leave. A few days later|
a Madisonville man, opening the purse of a boarder in his house through
mistake, found a photograph of Hollis and love letters from himto a
white woman. He ejected her from the house and notified authorities
who took Hollis into custody Sor dating a white woman, Hollis, believ-
ing that the officers were arresting him for the rape of the girl, made
a complete confession and said that he had accompanied Bard and Fleming]
only because he feared Fleming who had previously shot up his house, |
When they were arrested, Bard and Fleming both denied any involvement ~
in the crime and Fleming maintained that he had not left Hollis' house ,
onthe night of the assault even though Hollis swore otherwise, Bard
was identified by the woman's companion as the man who had robbed him,
Hollis, Fleming and -Bard were all taken first to Louisville and then
to the State Prison... They were returned to Madisonville for their
separate trials which began on April 27 and Hollis, after pleading
guilty, received a XXREXHMHMEHKEXA 20-year-sentence and testified for
the State at the trials of Bard and Fleming, both of whom were con-
victed and sentenced to die, Their appeals were unsuccessful and on
1927, in the presence of eS a iese feb f apse eet ene
Nov, 25,
i 4 ij E their 1
pauliety, ae Pacteonvas of Figen Fe eat £0 the gallows first were:
Friends, Iwnt to say you are looking into the face of an innocent
man. I know riothing about the crime. I am paying the penalty for
Ming the couple but, believing that they could not be iden]
tified racase ErIne aacviceslellewsd Wen covleaver A cewtare Javea
a Madisonville man, opening the purse of a boarder in his house through]
mistake, found a photograph of Hollis and love letters from him to a
white woman, He ejected her from the house and notified authorities
who took Hollis into custody Sor dating a white woman, Hollis, believ-
ing that the officers were arresting him for the rape of the girl, made
a complete confession and said that he had accompanied Bard and Fleming|
only because he feared Fleming who had previously shot up his house.
When they were arrested, Bard and Fleming both denied any involvement
iaiaia crite end Tieng esa eined: dmb jie uedinge eft nollie! Louse
onthe night of the assault even though Hollis swore otherwise. Bard
was identified by the woman's companion as the man who had robbed him,
Hollis, Flening and Bera were all taken first to Louisville and then
to the State Prison.. They were returned to Madisonville for their
separate trials which began on April 27 and Hollis, after pleading
lty, received a XXRHXMHOGHKEXA 20-year-sentence and testified for
the State at the trials of Bard and Flaming, both of shom were con~
victed and sent eae to die, Their mpeals’ were unsuccessful and on
Nov, sete pre: of 7,000 witnesseg, they were, Te.
woaet ay i ye sean St ee meet, His el Linopihe ace ae
ing into the face ofan inn
man, I know "nothing Pyudut the rine, I'am paying the penalty : nee
| wes
BARD AND FLEMING * CONTINUED, |
somebody else, I amready to meet my maker, I forgive you all and
hope to meet you in Heaven." As the noose was blati tightened, he .
began to collapse and the trap was hurriedly sprung. Bard, following, |
stepped ohto the gallows humming a spiritual and Hae last ponds wer es
"Friends, and brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I want to let you
know you are looking into the face of an honest man, I am about to
die for something I did not do, I hope to meet you all in heaven,"
When they were returned to Madisonville on the day before the execu-
tions, in spite of the fact that they were being guarded by 200 Guards~
men, they were removed from the train at Norrisville and transferred to!
a hearse which took them to the jail with a truck load of guardsmenk
beforeand behin d, Bard was interred at Depoy, Ky., wile Fleming's:
body was taken to Detroit, Mich., where it was buried,
LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, Louisville, Ky», -8-1926; 1-10-1926;
\jn12—=1926; Mol3-1926; 11-2f,-1927; 11-2 521927 11-26-1927 (Photo of
execution, first page.) (Photo of Bard and Fleming with arresting
officers in Courier Journal of April 12, 1926, page one.
3
2 90 SOUTHWEST ERN 337, 3h0
eS ae) ”
BARD AND FLEMING # CONTINUED,
somebody else. I amready to meet my maker, I forgive you all and
hope to meet you in Heaven," As the noose was being tightened, he .
began to collapse and the trap was hurriedly sprung. Bard, following, |
stepped ohto the gallows humming a spiritual and his last words were: |
"Friends, and brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I want to let you
know you are looking into the face of an honest man, I am about to
die for something I did not do, I hope to meet you all in heaven,"
When they were returned to Madisonville on the day before the execu-
tions, in spite of the fact that they were being guarded by 200 Guards~|
men, they were removed from the train at Norrisville and transferred to)
a hearse which took them to the jail with a truck load of guardsmenk
beforeand behin d, Bard was interred at Depoy, Ky., while Fleming's
body was taken to Detroit, Mich., where it was buried,
LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, Louisville, Ky., -8-1926; )-10-1926;
N-12-1926; Ma13-1926; 11-21)-1927; 11-25-1927; 11-26-1927 (Photo of
execution, first pages) (Photo of Bard and Fleming with arresting
officers in Courier Journal of April 12, 1926, page one,
3
2 90 SOUTHWEST ERN 337, 30
a
BARD AND FLEMING * CONTINUED,
somebody else, I amready to meet my msker, I forgive you all and
hope to meet you in Heaven," As the noose was being tightened, he
began to collapse and the trap was hurriedly sprung, Bard, following,
st ed ohto the gallows humming a spiritual and his last words were: |
is, and brothers and sisters in Jesus christ, I want to let you
know you are looking into the face of an honest man, I am about to
mething I did not do, I hope to meet you all in heaven,"
re returned to Madisonville on the day before the execu-
tions, in fetes of the fact that they were being quarded by 200 Guards~
men, they were removed from the train at Norrisville and transferred to
a hearse which took them to the jail with a truck load of guardsmenk
beforeand behin d, Bard was interred at Depoyy nas vhile Fleming's
body was taken to Detroit, Mich,, where it was burii
LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, Louisville, Ky», )-8-1926; 1-10-1926;
12-1926; Hel3-1926; 11-21-1927; 11-28-19273 11-26-1927 (Photo of
exegutdons first pages) (Photo of Bard and Fleming with arresting
ficers in Courier Journal of April 12, 1926, pag
3
2 90 SOUTHWEST ERN 337, 30
J gujeedy te met mer Sree you ab nt
BARD, Nathan and FLEMING, Bunyan : rr
|Fleming, a 3l-year-old black man, lived in Lamar County, Alas} When he
shot and wounded another man there, he fled to escape arrest and went
to Madisonville, Kye, where he obtained employement as the chauffeur
and houseman for a mine owner, He formed a gang with two other black
‘meng Bard, a §0-year-old Earlington resident who was employed as a min
by the West Kentucky Coal Company and Columbus Bollis, a 29-year-old
employee of a Carbondale mine, The gang committed a number of thefts
and in March, 1926, attempted to rape three teen-aged girls who were
‘out wriding withtheir dates, On the night of April 7, 1926, Fleming
and his wife were fisiting BAK Hollis and his wife in Carbondale, The
two men left together and went to Farlington where theypicked up Bard.
They then proceeded to Madisonville and parked on the grounds of the
Country Club, A young man (Adair Stum) and his 16-year-old date, a
imembeh of a prominent Mobile, Ala,, family who was visiting in Madison-
ville (Katherine Breithawot), drove up to the #XH darkened club as the
girl had expressed a desire-to see the building. Bard and Fleming
approached their car on opposite sides with drawn pistols and, after
robbing the man, forced the couple to walk to the caddy house where
Bard nels vie ek at gunpoint with his arms raised, and facing the wall
¥ LL @ 75 ~ 1e + 2 " Le 1a, Ss
Pha Ort bee SOS oy Pas RRS wastwetping. in thelr car and fob oi
the girl down while Fleming raped her, Fleming and Bard then exchanged
places and Bard assaulted the girl while Fleming held her date, They
a
BARD, Nathan and FLEMING, Bunyan ‘ aa Sha
Fleming, a 3l-yean-old black man, lived in Lamar County, Alay} When he
shot and wounded another man there, he fled to escape arrest and went
to Madisonville, Kye, where he obtained employement as the chauffeur
and houseman for a mine owner. He formed a gang with two other black
mens Bard, a 90-year-old Earlington resident who was employed as a mine
by the “est Kentucky Coal Company and Columbus Hollis, a 29-year-old
employee of a Carbondale mine, The gang committed a number of thefts
|and in March, 1926, attempted to rape thrée teen-aged girls who were
}out wriding withtheir dates, On the night of April 7, 1926, Fleming
and his wife were fisiting BAX Hollis and his wife in Carbondale, The
two men left together and went to Earlington where theypicked. up Bard.
They then proceeded to Madisonville and parked on the grounds of the
Country Club, A young man (Addir Stum) and his l6-year-old date, a
|membeh of a prominent Mobile, Ala,, family who was visiting in Madison-
ville (Katherine Breithaupt), drove up to the HXH darkened club as the
girl had expressed a desire-to see the building. Bard and Fleming
approached their car on opposite sides with drawn pistols and, after
robbing the man, forced the couple to walk to the caddy house where
Bard held the men at gunpoint with his arms wraised.and facing the wall
that °rl omngestimoned fol 215 Who wasewathing in theircar and he held
the girl down while Fleming raped her, Fleming and Bard then exchanged
places and Bard assaulted fhe girl while Fleming held her date, They
BARD, Nathan and FLEMING, Bunyan
Blea ngyfaig1 voccav a elesemn ives ti (omar Gonaty) 90a} rest he
shot and wounded another man there, he fled to escape arrest and went
sonville, Kyey where he obtained employenent ax the chauffeur
He formed a gang with two other black
by the vest Kentucky Goal Ae and Columbus Hollis, a 29~year-old
employee of a Carbondale mine, The gang committed a number of thefts
and in March, 1926, attempted to rape thrée teenaged girls who were
wriding with their dates, On the night of April 7, 1926, Fleming
and his wife were #isiting HX Hollis and his wife in Carbondale, The
two men left together and went to Earlington where theypicked up Bard.
They then proceeded to Madisonville and parked on the grounds of ve
Country Club, A young man (Addir Stum) and his beyear-old date,
J membeh of a prominent Mobile, Ala,, family who was visiting in meaisone
ville (Katherine Breithaupt), drove up to the HH darkened club as the
girl bad exoressed a desire-to see the building, Bard and Fleming
proached their car on opposite sides with drawn pistols and, after
robbing the man, forced the couple to walk to the caddy house where
Bard held the men at gunpoint with his arms raised,and facing the yall
hal oT LTS ASSTUNSEfs8 Ris fo en ceabtniniein theteese and Ae
the girl down while Flening raped hers | Haning and Bard then
places and Bard aortas he girl while Fleming held her date,
com Ms} te be
rFyeeang nea berg feat
arictt he Hall
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0