The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-03-02

=. a. WLHIrE, NJ. d..
Member Of Executive Committee OF Stat
Board of Health of South Carolina.
DOOMED TO DEATH.
The GreenviIlc Incendiaries Refused n Ney
Trial.
GrecnriNc Daily Neu,.
The following telegram was received
by AIR. NJ. +. Ansel, City Attorney, yes
terday
COLUMBIA, Feb. 81, 1882.
state vs.. Dodson ct al. judgment
below affirmed.
"a. NJ. BoozEE, Clerk"
This means that the Supreme Cour
has confirmed the judgment of the Cour,
here IN refusing the Opera House inccn
diaries new trial, and the terse telegram
Is virtually the announcement Of the
death sentence against the four men
Burton, Dodson, Bates aud Adams
Nothing now remains to be done cxcep,
to nave tho prisoners re sentenced This
will probably be done at the approaching
term Of Court in March, aud the execu.
tion, II is thought, will take place some
time in May. There il now no hope for
the condemned men except the very
slight one of executive clemcncy.
Mr.. Ansel, soon after receiving the tel.
cgram, notified Mr.. J. Il. Nix, who Wis.
tied the Jail. After some conversation
with other clients, he went TO the door of
the cell where Dodson is confined, the
first on the right upon entering the cor.
ridor on the second floor, and called him.
Dodson hung back i'm the rear, however.
and Mr. Nix crossed to the opposite side
and called Burton, Pleas Adams and
Rich Bates, who came quickly to the
door, walking freely despite their
shackled feet. In n few words Mr. Nix
informed them that the decision of the
Supreme Court WIS against them. and
that they had OILY n commutation of
sentence 10 hope for. OF this he offered
little hope. The men received the news
quietly, but seriously, and showed plain.
ly by their faces that they were very
downcast and cowed. Burton said:
"I'm glad you came down to tell me.
Sir. I'll meet it manfully, for certainly
nm innocent"
Adams remarked: "They NAV hang
me, but know l didn't do it."
Bates eaid: "God in Heaven knows
Pve got to die for another mans crimc. y
Dodson had come to his door and lis.
tened to the conversation, which was au
dible across the hall, and when Mr.. Nix
asked him if he had heard what he had
said, he clasped his two hand, together
and looked up despairiDgly, saying moth.
ing, ana being apparently speechless.
a representative of the Daily Me,oe
went to the Jail soon afterwards, and
Rurfnf, IN,
There were several other prisoners con.
fined with the incendiaries. but all paye
way rs Burton, Adams and Bates came
forward and placed themselves. as they
invariably have done, with Burton to the
lett, all three leaning against the heavy
iron bars and resting their hands on
tnem. burton WAS the best dressed
although all three were in their shirt
sleeves, his shirt being a clean one with
smooth linen bosom and gold, or imita
ton gold, studs. The others wore ordi
nary coarse cotton shirts. All three O!
them look healthy except the Jail pallo,
which is perceptiblc in the blackest face
aiter long conhnement away from the
sun light.
"Bnrtnn," said the representative 6
the. Daily Ne,rs, ~ came to see if yo,
had anything you wanted TO say. MIR
NIX has told you of the Supreme Court
decision ?"
"Yes, sir" answered Burton promptly
II only want to say this: I'm here in tn,
hands of the people charged with Grim,
OF which I'm not guilty. I'll just hav,
70 take 1t as 1t comes. That's all cal
"Did you think you would have ncy
Eyes, sir, cause I knew if any maj
deserved it | did. If die, I'll die TO
nothing, know that. Why, the,
could take up any man and kill him tht
same way they've got me here. l jus
ieel as always did-that if had to di,
It's Gods will, if He'll let mo die 70
nothing. I've always told the truth from
the first Of it. / know it's debt we'v,
nll got to pay, and if I've got to die a
the hands of man for nothing, it's jus
Gods will"
In response to questions about hi
health. lie said il was tolerably good, onl,
that his eyes had failed since he hatt
been in Jail, and he had "headache {
good deal"
When Adams YVES questioned he smile,
in mechanical way, evidently being no
nj AL IN laughing mood, and answered
"Well, sir, I'm in here innocent.
was put in for something ain't guilty OF
or course l thought I'd get new trial
didn't have any right to think anythin,
eise," muttering something additiona
about tho way he had been DONE"
do you have much hope Of the Gov
ernor's committing your sentence ~ wa
asked.
II don't know" was inc reply. "If h
wants to do anything like justice he will. /.
Rich Bates, when asked if ho wishe,
to saay. anything, said he didn't know tha
he did. II don't see any use," he said
what have said hasn't done no good
They all know Pm in here and limo
cent"
In reply to question Bates said Ii
was the only one of the three who coul
read and write. Burton, however, bein
able to read the Bible. All said the
were trying to be prepared to die; the
had seen no preachers recently.
Dodson was then called for, and cam
to the door of his cell where crowd G
other prisoners were standing abou
walking with disjointed swagger, as
he were trying to appear defiant, but ha
not control of his muscles. He spoke i
husey, BasplnB voice tnat Delled th
bravado of his words, and was eyidentl
very nervous and considerably frightene
already. When asked if he had see
Mr.: Nix, he replied that that gentlema
had told him the decision of the Suprem
Court. well, what do you think of it
II think with gasp) if they hang m
they can't do nothing but hang me-"
Can you read and write, Dodson ?"
"Oh yes. l can read and write"
Have you any hope now?"