The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-07-25
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CiscisSiti, o., julJ IS Joseph rsl.
msf, ma aocomploe II neuef IN the
murder oi W. n KIRK, was hanged a.
iei07 i.2. A. 1915 he WAS pronounced
dead. The body wu taken charge oi
BY undefiakrr Mulylhlli lie was brave
70 the last
Yesterday Palmer als, drank, and was
merry. Last night he slept well, and no
dreams troubled bis miad. A. biBo ho
awoks Of bis own yolilon Ho remained
In bed. however, until nearly sir o'clock,
when Father Brady caused him 10 get
up and dress himself Lighting the
candles on the little whltc altar In the
cell, tho Reverend Father aud the con.
dcmned man knelt down and passed
half an hour In prayer, Palmer Joining
In very heartily. AZ seven O'Clock he
ATE breakfast, after nnlshlng he IN q
cigar, and thrustlng him hands In his
pantaloon pockets, paced lclsurcly
up and down tho cell, pulling his cigar as
calmly as " he were free man. Az
eight O'Clock, when the Sheriff read tho
death warrant, Palmer halted aud lis
tened. when II was concluded he merely
bowed his head aud resumed his walk
In a few minutes he was dressed, and
proceeded TO the gallows with Sheriff
Bcresford aud thirty deputies The pro-
cesslon reached the gallows at loi0b.
Palmer stood 1rm aud said nothing. Az
loi07 i.2 the trap was sprung. lie died
OF strangulatlon. In thlrty.two and one
half inmates he was pronounced dead by
Coroner Carrlck.
Tho crime OF Palmer, as the partner oI
william Berner, was In It's consequence
the greatest crime OF the present day Ia
Ohio, or any other State. On Monday
afternoon, December 2ith, Palmer anc
Bernor were working together In klrk'
stable, at No. 82s West Ninth street
Both boys knew that Kirk had larg'
sums OF money at all times, and they hat
planned 10 rob and kill him, II necessary
Kirk came In at four O'Clock that after
noon.
"whst do you say1" whispered Bcrnc
10 Palmer.
"lps a go,n replied Palmer, and With
out word OF warning Berner hit kir
with a heavy hammer. lilo fell an
mosned. Palmer followed up with soy
crsl blows with n club. Then rope wa
tied about the neck aud pulled tIgh
enough to bulge the eyes. The pocket
: were emptIed and s2ib found. This wa
divided, Berner getting the blgge'
share Hay was thrown over the bod
, aud at dark the boys drove up with
= covered wagon, hired from Chas 7. Hay
Z man. The body was put In aud taken
4 the raylne near Cummlnsyllle, where
: was found two days later.
). Bcrner was tried In March, 1884. III
!. defense was conducted by Tom CAM
i bell aud NJ. y. Wilson. Against all th
convincing testimony, a miserable jul
!, brought In verdict OF mauslaughtc
= The result IL known by everybody, an
!. lhc days OF riot aud boodshcd that 10
y towed will never be forgotten. IL Is NJ
necessary TO tell OF the days when mo
fought the State troops aud beat dow
the jail doors
4, Alter all this excitement Palmer vi
IN tried with the grim walls Of tho ruln'
Courthouse irownlng upon him. !
was convicted on June 2ith and 80
70 fenced 10 hang October 10th. lie vi
Z given respite by the District Court,
!. order that an application for new trl
|. might be heard. II was refused, and b
, date OF death was again nxed. lie vi
4 defended by Scott Symmcs, who took !
~ case to the Supreme Court. Palmer "
\ given another trial, which resulted
q his conviction aud sentence TO ha
70 July 18th.
,e Palmer was almost white, aud mai
N tested a brutal disposition ever since !
"A arrest. During the riot he saved bis ]
~ from the mob by claiming that he wa'
!, whlts man and that Palmer was upstal
m lie was only nineteen, aud q thorough
In tough citizen.