The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-20
HUNG BEFORE A CROWD.
LOUI6VILLE'S MURDERER EXs
ECUTED IN PUBLIC.

BE Declares himself Prepared for the
Leap Into Eternity-B Failed
to Tempt Him-The Gallows Erected
Mile from Town-The Prisoner Sur
roundsd by Armed Guards.
LOUISVILLE, GA. June fisherman
Brookins, the cold blooded murderer of
Simon Kelley, was hanged to-day in public
about one mile from town. Several colored
preachers spent the evening and part OF his
last night on earth with the condemned
man. He slept very littls during the night.
When Sheriff Farmer carried him his
breakfast this morning he scarcely touched
it. He has been well attended by both
colored and white ministers. His niece and
half-sister visited him In the Jail this morn-
ing and took an afFeotionate fare
well OF him. Mr.. Stone, the
correspondent of the SAVANNAH NEWS.
called on Brookins at the jail this
morning, but Brookins refused to be inter-
viewed, although he spoke very freely to
the local correspondent Of the NEWS yes-
terday.
GIVEN CIGAR.
About II 80 O'Clock this morning Sheriff
Farmer and his deputies entered the Jail.
The sheriff gave Brookins cigar, which hs
smoked with evident relish. He then re-
quested TO be left by himself for ten min-
utes, which was conceded. Then he called
the sheriff and gave him an old knife blade
which he had In his cell for long time.
He remarked that some people thought he
would kill himself, but said he never had
the remotest idea OF doing so. He was them
gotten ready for the journey to the gallows,i
a mile from the jail.
THE RIDE TO THE GALLows
The procession left the jail at 1l:50
O'Clock. The prisoner was in q buggy with
the sheriff, and twelve men were on horse
back as guards, armed with loaded rifies.
When the scatfold was reached the prisoner.
fell on his knees on the bottom step and Of
Tered up short prayer. He then assembled
the gallows With firm tread, accompanied
by Rev. L. X. Rico and Elder Winn
(colored), together with the sheriff and one
or two others. Rev. Mr. Winn, by request
Of the prisoner. read five verses of the
twentieth and seven Of the twenty first chap
ter Of the Revelation Of st. John. During
the reading the prisoner walked to the edge
Of the platform and deliberately looked
down upon his coffin, which was very
handsome one. and not at all like those
used on such occasions.
PRAYER ON THE scAFFoLD.
After the reading of the Scriptures Rev.
Winn offered a prayer. The sheriff then
permitted a large number of the friends OF
the condemned man TO go up to the soaffold
and bid him good-by. He was then asked
II he had anything to say, when he stepped
forward to the front OF the scatfold and
said: II am very sorry for what have
done 20 bring me here. You must all take
| warning by me-" He said that he had been
q bad man and led wild life, but now he
thanked God he was ready to die. He added
that as God had called he was readyito go.
READING THE DEATH WARRANT.
At lilo O'Clock the sheriff read the death
warrant and bid the prisoner good-py, and
| arranged him for execution. The prisoner
then called for Charley Thigpen, a gentle-
man whose life he had threatened to take,
and quietly asked him to forgive him,
which MIR. Thigpen willingly did, and
shook hands with him. The sheriff then
drew the black cap over his face,
and the trap was sprung at 1:20
| o'clock. The drop broke his
| neck and he only gave one slight quiver and
died. The body was allowed to hang
! twenty minutes, when he was pronounced
dead by DIR. @. w. Keller. He was then
| cut down and his body was turned over to
| his friends. 1t was carried to Sun Hill,
| Washington county, for burial. The hang
| ing was conducted most systematically, and
there was not a single hitch in the entire
Il
| to witness the execution. All passed Off in
| perfect order.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Sherman Brookins was a colored man
| about % years of age, and by no means q
bad looking man. He had been one of a
| gang Of twenty-five or thirty railroad men
| working on the Central railroad near
| Barlow, but in April, 1890, he received am
| injury which incapacited him for work for
| a time. He was rather
| quarrelsome fellow and couldn't get
| along with the other hands. While
| waiting for recovery from his injuries be-
| had q quarrel with Tom Holland and
| Charlie johnson, two other railroad hands.
| 1t seems that during thisi aud subsequene
| quarrel johnson drew a pistol and threat
ened to shoot Brookins.
SECURED RIFLE.
| On May l, 1890, Brookins went to the
/ cook Of the camp and obtained a Winches-
ter rife, which he left with the cook.
| saying that he was going to visit his sister
| and stay there until ne got well. His sister
| lived at Pine Tuekey, station on the
Wadley and Mount Vernon railroad. In-
stead of going to his sister's however, he
| went up the track where the men were at
work. Getting on fat car he began to
shoot into the crowd. The men ran. One
| of them, Simon Kelley, with whom Brook
ins had no quarrel, was hit and killed.
After Brookins had been sentenced and
| was on his way back to the Jail he declared
that il he were free and had his rifle ha
| would try to kill every man from Louisvilla
TO Sandersville. He professed to be very