to the proceedings, Found sane, he was convicted when eye-witnesses
testified that James had been sleeping at the time of the attack and
had done nothing to provoke it. The conviction was affirmed by the
Kentucky Court of Appeals and a last minute effort to save his life
failed when a Sheriff's jury investigating his sanity declared him
sane on the day before his execution, When told that he would die
the next day, James asked to see the scaffold, He was taken to the
jail yard and when the Sheriff asked him if he would care to moubt it,
he replied with a grin: "No. I guess I'1l wait until tomorrow," He
was hanged in the jail yard at Louisville shortly after 5 A, M., on
the morning of May 15, 1903,. He went to his death without a tremor,
mounting the scaffold with a steady tred anda smile on his face,
His neck was broken by the fall and the body was cut down after hang-
ing for only five minutes, His remains were interred in the St.
Louis Cemeterye
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, 5-15 and 5-16-1903
72 SOUTHWESTERN 772 o,
to the proceedings. Found sane, he was convicted when eye-witnesses
testified that James had been sleeping at the time of the attack and
had done nothing to provoke it. The conviction was affirmed by the
Kentucky Court of Appeals and a last minute effort to save his life
failed when a Sheriff's jury investigating his sanity declared him
sane on the day before his execution, When told that he would die
the next day, James asked to see the scaffold, He was taken to the
jail yard and when the Sheriff asked him if he would care to moubt it,|
he replied with a grin: "No. I guess I'1l wait until tomorrow." He
was hanged in the jail yard at Louisville shortly after 5 A, M., on
the morning of May 15, 1903,. He went to his death without a tremor,
mounting the scaffold with a steady tred anda smile on his face,
His neck was broken by the fall and the body was cut down after hang-
ing for only five minutes, His remains were interred in the St.
Louis Cemetery.
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, 5-15 and 5-16-1903
72 SOUTHWESTERN 772
to the proceedings, Found sane, he was convicted when eye-witnesses
testified that James had been sleeping at the time of the attack and
had done nothing to provoke it, The conviction was affirmed by the
Kentucky Court of Appeals and a last minute effort to save his life
failed when a Sheriff's jury investigating his sanity declared hin
sane on the day before his execution, When told that he would die
the next day, James asked to see the scaffold, He wis taken to the
jail yard and when the Sheriff asked him if he yould care to moubt it,
he replied with a grin: No, I guess I'L] wait until tomrrow." He
was hanged in the jail yard at Louisville shortly after 5 A,
the morning of May 15, 1903,. He went to his death without a tremors
mounting the scaffold with a steady tred anda smile on his face,
His neck was broken by the fall and the body was cut down after hang-
ing for only five minutes, His remains were interred in the St.
Louis Cemetery.
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, 5-15 and 5-16-1903
72 SOUTHWESTERN 772
sen em nS
en a7 oS
Black, a young black man, unquestionably of low intelligence, had
served two sentences in the Kentucky State Prison system for malici-~
ous cutting and one for grand larceny. After his release, he was
given shelter by his 65-year-old uncle, Archie James, and obtained a
job as a laborer at the Second Street Market in Louisville. Black, a
. heavy drinker, was accustomed to carousing through the night and re-
turning home in the early morning hours and on the night of May 27,
1902, .he.and James got into an argument over his habits when the uncle
remonstrated with him about his conduct., At 1] o'clock the next morn-
ing, James was sitting in his wagon,which was parked at the Market,
sleeping. Black borrowed a long butcher knife from one of the butch-
ers and, climbing on the back of the wagon, stabbed James in the back
of the negk, inflicting a wound from which James collapsed and died a
few minutes later, Black attempted to escape but was captured by the
police shortly afterwards. His defense was one of insanity and a bro-
ther and sister testified that, after having fallen from a wagon some
20 years previously, he had "crazy spells" as always thought that ae
jere ing to kill him, Other witnesses testified as to peculiar
Saree free uae ia memory was unretentive and that he fre-
i igni his motive the fact
questly talked incoherently. Black, assigning as nl ive
that anes had "tried to pull a bluffp seemed relatively indifferent
BLACK, John SUSI 903
Black, a young black man, unquestionably of low intelligence, had
served two sentences in the Kentucky State Prison system for malici-
ous cutting and one for grand larceny. After his release, he was
given shelter by his 65-year-old uncle, Archie James, and obtained a
job as a laborer at the Second Street Market in Louisville. Black, a
. heavy drinker, was accustomed to carousing through the night and re-
turning home in the early morning hours and on the night of May 27,
1902, he.and James got into an argument over his habits when the uncle
remonstrated with him about his conduct... At 11 o'clock the next morn-|
ing, James was sitting in his wagon,which was parked at the Market,
sleeping. Black borrowed a long butcher knife from one of the butch-
ers and, climbing on the back of the wagon, stabbed James in the back
of the negk, inflicting a wound from which James collapsed and died a
few minutes later. Black attempted to escape but was captured by the
police shortly afterwards. His defense was one of insanity and a bro-|
ther and sister testified that, after having fallen from a wagon some
20 years previously, he had "crazy spells" as always thought that peo-
le were trying to kill him, Other witnesses testified as to eculiay
Saree Re fact Peeps memory was eae ae eer
westly talked incoherently. Black, assigning as his moulve |
a afte had "tried to ae a bluffp seemed relatively indifferent
BLACK. John
S157 903
Black, a young black man, unouestionably of low intelligence, had
served two sentences in the Kentucky State Prison system for malici-
ous cutting and one for grand larceny, After his release, he was
given shelter by his 65-year-old uncle, Archie James, and obtained a
job as a laborer at the Second Street Market in Louisville, Black, a
heavy drinker, was accustomed to carousing through the night and re=
remonstrated with him about his conduct.
ing, James was sitting in his wagon,which was parked at the Market,
sleeping. Black borrowed a long butcher knife from one of the butch-
ers and, climbing on the back of the wagon, stabbed James in the back
of the negk, inflicting a wound from which James collapsed and died a
few minutes later. Black attempted to escape but was captured by the
police shortly afterwards. His defense was one of insanity and a bro-
ther and sister testified that, after having fallen from a wagon some
20 years previously, he had "crazy spells" as always thought that peo-
i i itnesses testified as to peculiay
eUediee and tne fact that His menory nse. aneetentive and that he fre-
cuently talked incoherently, Black, assigning as his motive the fact
that James had tried to pull a bluffp seemed relatively inditt
