Huntsville gazette., 1883-08-18
AWAITING THE GALLOWS.
With Taylor Bars, the Condemned
Man in his Cell---How he look
ed and talked--Composes a
Song and COnfesses.

day. between 12 and / o'clock at Scotts.
oero for the murder of Turner Woods nea,
that place, Dec. II, 1881. The hanging
Will be private, only witnessed by the Of
hclals and few others. We clip from the
Scottsboro Citizen the following interview
with the doomed man:
Rev. Lee F. Whitten, John A. Pierce and
Citizen representative, visited Taylo.
Banks, the condemned man. in his cell.
last Monday. On being shown to his cell
by the accommodating jailor, Capt. VII.
Dicus, Banks was reclining on the floor.
and promptly got up.
| On being asked how he felt he replied
that he felt about as we'll as a man could
we'll feel in his condition. He stated that
| he
PRAYED NEARLY ALL THE TIME,
lieve in the reality of religion aud that
''all will be we'll" He said that he was
not scared or afraid to die. He said that
he felt consolation in reading the New Tes-
lament. That he rested we'll at night. but
had many curious dreams; most of his
dreams were about being on the water.
| Banks said that he had made full con-
fession, which the Citizen was at liberty to
publish after his death. Banks is about
| thirty>three years old, and was born in
Sumter county, Ala. and is mnlatto; he
has wife and four children, now living in
Scottsboro He remarked that it had been
| reported that he had bad character before
getting into his present scrape, but it was
mistake-said he was doing we'll before
moving to Turner Woods place. ard that
he, being carpenter by trade, built the
| first house at Langston. While there, he
made money, had a COW, hogs and plenty
around him, and was liked by the white
people.
Banks seemed cheerful, to our surprise,
and would occasionally laugh outright in
| the general conversation. One of the gen.
| tlemen present remarked to the condemn
ed man that the actual act of dying was not
painful, and the great trouble with him
was that he knew
THE TIME THAT HE WAS TO DIE,
which made him feel depressed. "Yes,'
he said, "and the way have to die." But
he remarked that he would bear up under
his fate. On being asked if he desired to
make any announcement through the Citi-
zen, he studied awhile and said he believed
not, though he had just finished writing
little piece Of poetry which we could pub.
lish. 1t will be. e.found below.
On being asked if he had any appetite,
he replied, "not much, though he enjoy
ed an occasional meal Capt Dieus allows
him to have little delicacies that outside
persons may send, and enjoys them very
much. Before leaving, Brother WhitteD
prayed beautiful and impressive prayer,
Banks kneeling in his cell; he spoke nope
full of his future, and from his general ap-
pearance seemed confident that bis crime
had been forgiven.
Banks full confession will appear in the
Citizen Extra, Immediately after the hang
ing, and will be for sale on the streets. A
great deal of expense is attached to the
Citizen Ertra. hence will sold at 1Oc. per
copy. Postage stamps will be received in
payment from parties at distance.
| This is Banks song as he styled it, oom-
posed by himself. It is insertad like it
was written, with spelling corrected:
Jesus, the Savior of sin,
He freed my soul,
| And took me IN.
! Roll on, sweet moments Of time,
| And let the poor prisoner
Go home, SO home.
can tell, TO sinners around,
What q dear Savior that I've found.
am going to lay on my crown,
Roll on, sweet moments of time,
And let the poor prisoner
Go home, go home.
Sing, oh sing ye holy band,
For I've home in the promised land.
say to you, ye sinner man,
I hope to meet you in the promised land
Roll on, roll on, sweet moments OF time,
And let the poor prisoner
Go home, 60 home.
song composed by the dying man four