Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-01
EXPIATIONS BY DEATH.
GEORGE HILL HANGS ATCANTON
FOR A TERRIBLE CRIME.

His Victim Drained With an AK With
out Propagation at a Negro Ball
Henry Cato Granted a Two Weeks Re-
spite by Gov. Mcdaniel at the Last
Moment
CANTON, GA, Oct. S1.-George Hill,
colored, who murdered William Bryant.
PAID the penalty by hanging to-day at 20
O'Clock. The place selected afforded a
good view of the gallows. The people he
gan to come to town late Yesterday and
during the night and up to 10 O'Clock this
morning. The crowd is estimated at from
1900 to 5000. At II O'Clock nearly 600
people were assembled in front of the Jail
awaiting the appearance of the doomed
man. An unusual stiffness pervaded the
crowd. At IL 80 the Sheriff, the prisoner
and the guards came forth, mounted the
wagon in waiting and drove towards the
galloWs, half a mile distant, the crowd
following. Arriving at the galIOws
all the necessary preparations We're soon
made. The prisoner, having very little to
say, bade goodbye to his friends, and then
the trigger fell, and HilPs body dangIed
In the air and his soul soon returned to
his Maker. Whether he was prepared for
this event is impossible to say. The crowd
has been very orderly, not drunken man
having been seen to-day. At this writing
the people are beginning to leave for their
homes, some living % miles distant.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
In February, 1882, a negro dance was
agreed upon at the house of George Hill.
a tenant ON Capt. l. NJ. McAfee's pIanta-
ton, about one mile from Canton. Hill
was absent till the most of the crowd had
gathered, when he returned drunk. Some
of the negroes suggested that he be per-
suaded to not come i'll, as he was known
to be desperate man and hard to con-
troll when drunk. Hill would not be per-
suaded, but forced himself in. He COM
menced curslng some one, when several
took hold of him, trying to quiet him.
He at length became !enraged, ran
out and picked UP an ak, rushed
back into the house, several women
endeaVoring to dissuade him from carry
ing out srash threats. William BRYANT.
a quiet, good and peaceable negro. being
about the first man he met, he raised the
ak and split his head open. Bryant
died in few minutes. Hill was arrested
and lodged in Jail at Canton, till the meet
ing OF the first Superior Court thereafter.
Messrs. Newman, Attawav and DuPree
ably defended tn prisoner, while Mr..
George Il. Brown assisted So
licitor General GOber for the
State. The jury rendered a verdict
finding Hill guilty of murder in the first
degree, and the sentence of death was
passed upon him by His Honor, Judge j.
X. Brown. HilPs attorneys carried his
case to the Supreme Court, and he was
granted new trial on account of some
alleged error in Judge Browns charge to
the jury. Hill was again tried in the Su-
perlor Court and again found guilty. The
untiring and persevering attorneys again
appealed to the Supreme Court, and IN
August last this court affir ed the de-
cision of the Superior Court, and on FRI
day, Sept. -, he was resentenced by Judge
Brown to be hanged within one mile of
the court house in Canton, on Friday, Oct.
81, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 3
pm.
George was a black negro, large and
robust, possessing bad face, which eX-
pressed cruelty in every feature. He was
reconciled to his fate, giving the jailer
but little trouble.
CATO REsPITED.
DECATUR, GA, Oct. 31.-Henry Cato,
sentenced to be hanged here to-day, has
been resplted for two weeks. A party of
prominent citizens attempted Wednesday
to induce the Governor to commute the
sentence but failed. Another and larger
party visited Atlanta, personally, yester-
day to obtain respite, but Gov. McDan-
iel was in Macon They telegraphed him
that mitigating circumstances had come
to light and requested immediate at
ton. Gov. Mcdaniel came to Atlanta last
night, heard the argument of the deputa-
tion this morning, and finally respited the
prisoner to give time to produce addition
al evidence, if there is any. The counsel
hopes to obtain cOmmutation on account
of the enmity of witnesses. An immense
crowd gathered here to catch a glimpse of
the execution.
TWO HANGED IN LOUISIANA.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 31.-Gilbert and
Charles Goodman, cOlOred, were hanged
to-day at Terre-AiX-Beuf court house,
st. Bernard parish, in the presence of 800
spectators, for the murder of Louis Mas
pera, whom they waylaid, shot and killed
at . O'Clock in the evening of June 20 at
Godcheux's plantation, in st. Bernard
parish. Before the execution Albert said
that he did the killing and that Charles
was innocent and knew nothing about
the murder. Charles concurred in his
brothers. statement.
PRIVATELY EXECUTED.
CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 31.-Ike Fain,
colored, was hanged at Kingston, to-day
for the murder of Hank Curran, a section
boss on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad.
The execution was private.