Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-25
FRANK HUMPHREYS HUNG
A VIVID SIX FITCH OF HIS BRUTAL
DOUBLE MURDER.

Humphries paid the debt for murder to-
day. A fine phaeton, drawn by two mag
nitcent horses, was driven to the Jail at
11:3O O'Clock this morning. In few
minutes Humphries abandoned his cell
forever. He was dressed neatly in a
gray suit. He showed no emotion what
ever. He, the minister and the Sheriff
were then driven to the scatiold. large
crowd were on the outside trying to see
the execution. Guards were stationed
all over the place, and their utmost efforts
were required to keep the crowd back.
Rev. Hammond offered n Jealous prayer
for the doomed man. Humphries was
asked about his spiritual condition, and
answered. ~ have left it all with Christ"
The black cap was then drawn over
his face. His last words were
Pull up the cap little or | will smoth-
err" farewell was then given and the
last scene of the horrible picture was wit
messed. AT 1916 O'clock he was in eter-
nifty. The trap fell at 1901. His remains,
at his request, were carried to his home
and will be buried in his front yard. 1t
is reported that he made open confession
of all last night, but it is too full OF dis
graceful details for print. The hanging
was private. The minister, sheriff. doc
tors aud reporters only we're allowed to
see 1t. None of his relatives were pres
ent. BE was hung about half mile
west of the Central railroad depot.
BALDwIN's THIRD HANGING.
Humphries Is the third white man ever
hung in Baldwin county. and all of them
were hung for the murder of women.
About fifty years ago Rev. Mr.. Johnson
was arrested charged with rayishing and
vii uvbf 10
girl. L. @. q. Lamar, relative OF the
Secretary OF the Interior, was the judge.
| Rev. johnson was brought before Jury
and sentenced to be hung. Some time
after this hanging negro was hung In
Alabama. and on the gallows he confessed
that he and not johnson had committed
the crime. Strange to say, every one of
| the jury came TO some bad end, and the
| Judge, on hearing the negro's confession,
deliberately loaded his gun and went to
! the country and blew his own brains out.
Mike shaw was the next white man
| hung here. He was hung for the murder
of his wife. This happened about eight
| years ago. In each case a woman was
the victim and the murderer was hung on
| circumstantial evidence. Men have often
slaughtered each other In this county in
cold blood, as the evidence showed, but
never yet has the crime cost the perpe-
traitor his life.
HUMPHREYS CRIME.
| On March 8 last Milledgeville was
thrown into fearful whirl of excitement,
caused by the report that Misses Carrie
Raines and Ella Humphries had been out
| ragged and murdered, aud that Frank
Humphres had been fearfully beaten by
| a sand bag In the hands of four masked
men. The history of the crime from be-
ginning to end drips with blood and
bristles with sensation. The city was
already excited over the great prohibition
campaign. The excitement over the MUIR
der OF Marshal c. n. Haygood had not
subsided, and when negro rushed
through the streets proclaimin0 z this horri-
bic tragedy the excitement was almost in
credible. The Coroner, accompanied by
the Sheriff and large number Of ofcitizens,
repaired to the scene at once.
DISCOVERY OF THE CoRPsEs.
l.. L. Smith, who lives near Humphries',
was the first one to discover the bodies Of
the unfortunate victims. He was over
seer in working the roads. He had started
to his place Of work, little dreaming of
the spectacle he was soon to wit
ness. The mule he was riding
suddenly SHE'D aud darted out
of the road, and at the same time
smith saw the bloody bodies OF two
women he could not at first identity. AT
this place Smith was overtaken by negro
with a message to Elisha Humphries
frem Frank, relating the story Of the four
masked men killing the two ladies and
| knocking him senseless with a sand bag.
smith sent the negro after Frank, who
tailed 10 respond until he had been sent
| for three times.
THE CORONER AT WORK.
The Coroner reached the scene about
| O'Clock. He at once impsnelled a jury
| and began an inYestiZaliOn. Strong sus-
! picIon rested on Franz Humphries. His
| head, which he claimed 10 have been fear
| fully struck, bore no bruises upon it. His
clothing was finally found all besmeared
with blood. The sleeve OF his shirt was
cut off, and the ashes Of his pipe were
! found In his room. TAe tale be told the
| iurv was most Incredible, and the wads
aud shot drawn from the wounds were the
same a. those found in his cartridges,
| the wads having been cut from the striped
back of an old blank book. Humphries
was placed in the hands Of a guard to
await the verdict OF the Coroner. He was
drinking heavily, and it is repOrted that
he would have killed himself bad a chance
been given him.
PUBLIC INDIGHATfoN.
Public sentiment was rapidly harden
ing and bad blood was rising high In the
| VEINS OF tUe pcDDtb III JudL 5SbAltUtub.
! Sheriff Ennis saw all this and perhaps
| saved HumphTles from mob violence by
| silently arresting and bringing him 10
| town, where be was lodged in Jail. That
night HumphrIes was interviewed by
many people. His story then was about
as follows: ~ was on my way to neigh
boris house, distance Of about five miles
| had my gun, intending to 90 out hunt
! ing with my neighboT, when clouds began
rising. Brother Elisba's house was nearer
than Green's, 80 | changed my mind and
determined To 90 there and have some
fun with the ladies'. When | was ready
! to 20 home | told Miss Carrie
Raines TO 20 with me; that
my wife was sick and 1 thought Miss
Raines could keep her company. My
wife really was not sick. tod her so,
though, TO fool her. Miss Raines said
that I was drinking, aAd unless Miss
Humphries came too she would decline
my request. Miss Humphries finally con-
sented, and we all started out on a jour
ney to horrible end.
THE MYTHICAL ATTACK.
"We had gone three miles from ElIsha's
house, and were in about one mile OF my
house. We had just passed through q
big pine thicket and were out In an open
field, when suddenly four masked
men ran upon us. 1 was knocked sense
less and the two ladies killed and drag
l. a