The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-05
DANFORTH'S EXECUTION.
HE PAYS THE PENALTY OF HIS
BRUTAL MURDER

mitted-Colored Militia Act as q
Guard to Preserve Order-The Scene
at the Scanold-The Crime for Which
Danforth Died.
AUGUSTA, GA. Sept. AT 1928 O'Clock
to-day the trap fell and Frank Danfortn
expiated his crime ON the gallows. One Of
the features Of the execution was a guard Of
flfty-one colored men selected from the
five companies in the city by Sheriff
OConnor 10 maintain order, no white sol.
diers being on duty.
The hanging took place in the jail yard
and was witnessed by about 200 persons.
Danrorth made a few remarks. but with
out reference TO his crime, aud merely as
serted that he was going straight to glory
because his sins were all forgiven.
During the time allowed him TO sleep by
the death watch, and the ministers and
reporsers who infested his last hours, he
slept soundly and ate a hearty breakfast
with relish.
HIS RELIGIOUS FRENZY.
He was in a sort Of fanatical religious
frenzy, and went through the entire tragedy
without sensibility or any evidence thar he
realized the terrors of his position. His
days have been spent in reading the Bible.
and he has professed throughout the Rreat-
est assurance Of his forgiveness aud saliva
tion.
Before he had been in Jail two weeks he
was converted and immersed by a Baptist
minister in bath tub.
HIS LAST NIGHT AND MORNING
were spent in company with several negro
ministers, and hymns and prayers were the
order Of tho hour. No reference
has boon made by the prisoner to
he has been thinking and talking
only OF the forgiveness Of the Lord and his
going straight TO glory. His last words be-
fore the drop fell were: "Gentlemen.
friends and ladies. have made my peace
with God. am going home to my maker.
God mas forgiven my sins" While the black
cap was being put on he continued to pray:
20, Lord, hear me while pray. am going
to rest in the arms Of Jesus"
THE EXECUTION WAS ORDERLY
and without incident, and in eighteen min4
utes life was extinct. II Danforth didn't
wake up in paradise it is safe to say he was
the worst disappointed negro in Georgia. be-
cause he firmly believed he would. Possibly
II be could come back and relate his disap-
pointment il would be wholesome lesson
70 great many deluded people.
Danforth's victim was tho third colored
woman that had been murdered in this city
in as many years by having her throat cut,
and there was a ground swell of popular in
diRnaton, particularly among the colored
people, over the affair, and it was recog-
niZed that something must be done to check
this Dutchery of women by jealous men.
In the former instances one man escaped the
gallows on the plea OF insanity and the
other was sent to the penitentiary.
At the time of his arrest he was described
as being about feet inches, aud OF spare
build. He was said TO be genuine black
negro of ordinary intelligence.
His body was turned over to his parents
after the execution. His father went
among the white people and secured enough
money to defray the expenses of burial
The medical faculty had requested the au.
thorities TO give them the body, and il the
expenses had been borne by the county
they would have gotten it.
STORY OF DANFoRTH's CRIME.
Frank and Lizzie Danforth (or Gray)
lived together in No. Q Diamond Row, Au-
gusta.
They had never been married, for Frank
had a wife living in Harrisburg, but for
several years he had abandoned his lawful
spouse for the more attractive Lizzie, who
had taken his name. and was known indif-
fereutly as his wife or his woman"
On Monday morning, June %, last, the
body OF Lizzie was found in the Savannah
river at Augusta with her throat cut from
ear to ear. The coroner was notified, buu
during the hour or two of delay which en-
sued before his arrival, Frank Danforth.
the murderer, who was at work ia McCoy's
mill, 200 yards away. heard OF the discovery
Of the body and fed
Tho snddan disnnraar ranoa ~ naofo.+;,
from the mill aroused suspicion, and the offs
ficers suggested that his room In the Dia-
mond Row house be examined. Lieut.. Des-
mond went to the place and broke open
the door. At once the evidence against
Danforth was complete. The bed was
drenched with blood, which had soaked
completely through the top mattress and
was In quite q pool between the two.
Everything was covered with blood, and
the trace was plain where the body had
been carried out the back door. A razor
lying on the mantelpiece was the instru-
mont OF death. The proof was now COM
plete. Danforth had murdered his para
mour in bed, at a late hour Saturday night,
and some time before daylight Sunday
morning had carried her body 70 the river
and thrown ID in.
When the CORY evidences of the crime
were discovered several neighbors remem-
bered he9ring scream about 2 o'clock Sun
day morning. A woman who was sitting
up with a SICK person next door to Dan-
forth's room and several persons living
across the alley opposite to his house wenu
to their doors. They saw him coolly stand-
ing In his door, and in answer to their in-
quiries he said: at was Lizzie holloed.
She has habit of waxing suddenly from
her sleep and screaming out that way.
There's nothing the matter
After sitting up until all was quiet on
Diamond Row. and probably taking ad-
vantage Of time when tho moon was be-
bind some favoring cloud, he took the life
less burden in his arms and tossed it into
the river. II was a heavy load for him, for
she was welsmade woman. about feet
inches tall, and he was small man, proba-
bly, inches shorter. He had to carry her
nearly 200 yards to the river. He tumbled
her In, with the hope that the stream would
carry her away, but the low tide left her
lying where she was thrown In.
Returning TO his room, he remained there
the rest of the night, and the next morning
told his neighbors that Lizzie had gone TO
Savannah on a visit and would not be back
until July 4. He spent most of the day In
and around his room Sunday, spent Sunday
night there. sleeping on the blood-stained
bed, and Monday morning went to work as
usual in the Riverside mills. he has been
employed there for several years. and Supt.
Hstfernan said he was one Of bis best hands.
The woman, Lizzie Danforth, it is said,
was also a worker in the mill; she could
easily lift one end OF a bale Of cotton and
was a woman Of splendid physique and
strength.
Neighbors say they had FREQUENT rows.