Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-07
DOUBLE HANGING!
Scott, Negro, hung in
the County Jail Ysrd-Wil-
liam, Williams, Negro,
Hung at Bartlett.
An Interesting Account of the
CrimesC~ Committed, with His
tory of the MurdererS.

Particulars OF the Hanging Of Frank
Scott By Sheriff Anderson for the
Murder Of Ransom Phillips.
Frank Scott (negro). who was hung in
the jail yard today, was sentenced to be
hung on last Christmas eve by the Su-
preme Court, but be was respited By
Governor Porter until the It'll Of Janu.
airy, to-day. Scott was respited on his
own application, as be desired further
time to prepare for death. He was q
tall, well-tormed mulatto, with a cross OF
Indian blood, straight black hair. dark
eyes, copper color, weighed It's pounds,
was about forty years old and was born
near Athens, Georgia. BE murdered
Ransom Phillips, al old uegro, on Wolf
river bridge, two miles from this city, on
the evening Of December "a, 1874. The
difference between the two men arose
from q transaction in wood. Scott being
a w~ood.chopper, had sold Phillips half a
cord Of wood. conditioned that. Phillips
should, on hauling the same to the city
and selling it, Immediately pay over to
Scott the price-one dollar. Phillips re-
turned and made excuses unsatisfactory
to Scott for failing to pay over the
money. Scott offered to deduct a por-
too TO effect a settlement, bat Phillips
still failed to make good his obligation.
A quarrel ensned, resulting in Scott
waiting on the bridge for Phillips 10 re.
turn to the city on the evening Of the
24th Of Decembe- for the purpose Of en-
forcing a settlement. Phillips came %
expected, aud Scott demanded payment
for the wood. Phillips demurred, say
ing he intended paying. but needed all
the money he bad to carry him through
the Christmas festivities; w~he.eupon
Scott snapped a cap at him with a pistol.
Phillips got down from the wagon on
which he was riding, and Scott then
fred the shot that killed him instantly.
On the case going to the Supreme
Court, the attorney for Scott attempted
only to show in his bill OF exceptions q
case Of murder in tie second degree,
looking to a lighter punishment, but the
court above sustained the lover court.
Scott claimed that when Phillips body
was carried of, a pistol dropped from it,
} which was picked up and concealed by
Phillips daughter-snd that Phillips
bought the pistol the day before for the
purpose Of meeting Scott, but there was
no proof Of this. Scott has been in jail
since December rs, 1874, and exhibited
a degree of composure rarely found in
one 10 his condition. He Was resigned
to his fate and prepared to meet his
maker. THE Indian" showed up in
|. him in the matter Of exhibiting a perfect
. mastery on his fears.
Scott was sentenced at the January
. term Of the Shelby County Criminal
Court to be hanged last April, but his
appeal to the Supreme Court has pro
longed his life to the date set for execu
ton by the latter court, and again BY
executive clemency to January 7th. he
claimed that be being a stranger in the
neighborhood in which be WAS working
and hGving killed an o d resident" the
neighborhood negroes "sWcre him away
/ that in fact Pull ps commenced the at
tack and be only defended himself--but
the proof is the other way.
l OUR REPRESENTATIVE AT THE JAIL.
One of our representatives. visited the
county Jail yesterday afternoon, snC
learned that the negro Frank Scott wal
( penitent and ready to die. He had beer
received into the Catholic Church, snd
had been baptized by Father Lucius
While our representative " IS at the jail
four Of the Sisters OF ST. Dominic CAM
I in on q visi. Of consolation and religion
, TO the unfortunate man. The other ne
gro, William Williams, who was hung at
Bartlett to-day, rallied at his prosecutors
and made charges against some OF
swearing his life sway and despoiling
him Of his property, He belongs to the
Baptist faith, and would have nothing tc
do With an Episcopal minister who paid
him a religious visit. Our representa-
!. tive took a look at and examined the
scaffold in the south side Of the Jail.
, yard, aud intended for the execution o.
Frank Scott. 1t is made Of heavy tim.
bers, six upright posts sustaining the plat
+ form, which latter is some twenty feel
+ from the ground, and is reached by a
fight OF steps. On the east edge of the
platform q trsp-door hangs on heavy
hinges, and this is operated upon as fol
g lows: The trap.door is raised, and {
piece Of timber or trigger is placed be
meath it diagonslly-a lever-bar rest
against the lower end Of the trigger, anC
! from the bar runs a lever up to the south
end Of the platform, where stands th'
Sheriff. At q given moment, on pulling
back the upright lever, the bar below
pushes out the lower end Of the trigger
and the trap falls aud swings under the
platform.
THE EXECUTION or SCOTT.