The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-18
NEGRO MURDERER HANGED.
Henry Hunters Slayer Executed In
the Jail at Danielsvflle.

the jail at OanielSVllle.
ATHENS. GA, Oct 17.-Edward Morri-
son. the negro whcmurdered Henry Hunter
of this place, at Carriers camp, in Madison
county, on Aug. Is. was hanged to-day at
Danielsville. The execution was private.
About 200 people were present, but only
about twelve witnesses, consisting OF the
guards, ministers and physicians, the
MORNING News aud other reporters were
allowed to attend the execution.
Morrison ate his last breakfast with great
relish this morning about z o'clock, and
with bis two spiritual advisers spent the
remainder of the morning in praying and
singing He had been in jail about
two months, during which time he had
gained twenty pounds in flesh he remained
IN good spirits up to the time of ascending
the scaffold and displayed no signs of nerv
business. He vas given an audience with
the press representatives, but was not dis
posed TO talk further than TO say that he
had made his peace with God and was going
straight to heaven.
8 Morrison was 5 feet inches high, of stout
build, very black and weighed 40 pounds
He was is years old. he came from Mem
phis, Tenn, and at the time of shooting
Hunter was in the employ Of Mr.. Carter,
contractor on the Georgia. Carolina and
Northern railroad.
at f2 o'clock Sheriff Scarborough entered
the Jail, bringing with him q shrOud, black
cap and rope. Morrison received these ar
ticles carelessly expressing no degree OF
unpleasantness. The time for the execution
having arrived, be donned his white gown,
a black cap was placed on his head, with
the flap thrown tack, so he could view the
crowd as he passed from the Jail to the In
closure at the end OF the building where the
execution was to take place, and the death
warrant was read and the doomed man
conducted TO the sCaffOld.
The interest in the execution was so great
that there was considerable talk or tearing
down the wooden wall hiding the scaffold
from view. The guards had their hands
full keeping the crowd back so the sentence
could be executed in private as pronounced.
Morrison was conducted to the scaffold,
and giving his coffin a side glance as he
assembled the steps, the moose was fixed, and
after prayer by Rev. Mr.. King Sheriff
Scarborough sprung the trap, and at l:l9
O'Clock the body Of Morrison fell heavily TO
the end of the rope, his neck breaking In
stantly. He died without a struggle and
in eleven minutes was cut down.
Morrison committed the crime in August,
was tried and sentenced IN September, and
hanged in October.
AN ILLINOIS MURDERER SWUNG UP.
MORRIS, ILL, Oct. Thames Maxwell
was banged this morning for the murder of
Charles Decker in June last. Maxwell
was the coolest man about thejail last night.
When the S heriff showed some evidences
of trepidatlon at the task before him Max
well said: brace up, old man, you are
much more troubled about this than | am"
When the sheriff began to read the death
warrant in trembling voice Maxwell in
terrupted with, 'stop that CAB and let us
get through this thing as soon as
possible" HIS wish was complied with |
and he was at once conducted to the |
gallows. The sheriff asked him if be had |
any thing to saw. His reply was a COMPLAINT |
that tie sheriff had put a window in the |
shanty in which execution took place, so |
that the crowd outside could see him. The |
sheriff then cut the cord and the body fell. |
In six minutes Maxwell was pronounced |
dead. just before leaving his cell Maxwell |
handed the sheriff big knife, telling him |
that he might have killed himself half a |
dozen times if he had wanted to.
Maxwelrs crime was unusually brutal.
he with confederate entered the house of |
Decker, an aged farmer, to rob the place,
and when Decker discovered them they
Drained him with an ak. Entering another
room they severely injured his wife and
pursued their quest for plumber until they
found the noise had awakened several
others