The morning news., 1892-03-17
ISAAC SINlONS TO HANG.
PUNCH HAGANS' SLAYER to PAY
THE DEATH PENALTY APRIL 20.

FINDS a Verdict in Two Hours-ThG
Prisoners Statement of the KILLING
OF Hagans-He Appeals to the Court
for Mercy.
Isaac Simons, the murderer Of Punch
Hagans, was tried in the superior court yes
terday. He was sentenced 70 be hanged
Friday, April q. in private. between the
hours of 10 O'Clock in the morning and
o'clock in the afternoon.
The trial began shortly before IL O'Clock,
and the case went TO the jury at o'clock.
The verdict CONSUMING the murderer to
the gallows was rendered at O'Clock.
Nearly four panels we're exhausted In Sc
curing a jury. The prisoners counsel,
Messrs. Champion & Garmany, objected
TO nineteen, the state TO four, and seven
went off for cause. The twelve men finally
selected we're: Walter B. Fulton. James
W. Burke. William A. Cahill, Robert Gray,
John II. Connor, William A. Calder, George
Helmy, Morris B. Ketchum, John w.
Joyce. Joseph L. Andessey. G. Marion
Besseuel.
THE STATES WITNESSES.
The witnesses for the state were Cora
Gaines, Willis johnson and Mary johnson.
AL testified TO the story OF the crime as
was told in the MORNING NEWS at the time
1t was committed. that Hagans was stabbed
IN the house by Simons just as the boy was
about 70 retire, ana that after Simons had
cut his wife and child he turned upon
Hagans and chased him out of the house
down the canal bank, where his dead body,
with wound in the heart, was discovered
the next morning.
The attorneys for the defense tried to
prove justification on the ground that
SimoDs had killed Hagans for being inti-
mate with his wife, which they tried TO cor
roborate by the fact that the dead man had
been found in his underclothes. No witness
was put up for the defense. and Simons' at
torneys relied upon the prisoners state-
ment to clear him, but the preponderance
OF the testimony for the prosecution was too
convincing.
THE PRISONERS STORY.
Simons didn't deny the killing. He said
he had gone to Willis Johnson's house on
the night Of Aug. to try and induce bis
wife, who had left him, to return home
When he entered the place he said be heard
his wife in an adjoining room. and upon go
ing in found her in compromising situa-
tion with Hagans. In his rage he said he
cut the boy. and, as the light went out, In
the struggle be cut right aud left, not know
ing who he struck. He denied positively
that he followed Hagans out on the canal
bank, and said all the cuts be received were
given iu Johnson's house. AS he finished
his statement 4imons turned 70 Judge Fall
ligant and said, land l ask the court for
mercy, your honor"
The arguments were short Solicitor
General Fraser held that as Simons had
bean a long time separated from his wife he
lTns as swhk -
killing Hagans. He also called the atten-
tion OF the jury to the important fact that
al the witnesses had sworn positively that
the murdered boy was not intimate with the
prisoners wife, and was retiring to his own
lounge when Simons rushed in the back
door and stabbed him without the slightest
provocation.
AN ABANDONED CRIMINAL.
The solicitor general also argued that the
murderous intention OF Simons and his
abandoned and malignant heart was clearly
shown in mis- attempt to kill his wife aud
his little daughter. He closed by asking
the jury for verdict of the highest grade
of homicide.
Attorney Champion pleaded we'll for his
client He pictured to the Jury the feelings
of q man who suddenly discovers his wife is
untrue to him and the natural feeling
which rises within him to slay the para
mour. He argued that the prisoners state
ment was worthy Of belief and was fully
corroborated by the apparel in which
Hagans' dead body was found
Judge Falligant charged the jury clearly
and eloquently upon the law of murder,
and his pathetically speaking showed the
Jury for its guidance how a man would be
Jtstihed In taking life under similar circum-
stances as those put up IN defense OF
Simons.
AWAITING THE VERDICT.
An adjournment until o'clock was taken
as soon as the jury retired aud the prisoner
was taken back TO the sheriff's room 70 await
his fate. The big crowd OF negroes that had
been interested spectators of the trial didn't
60 away, but remained around the streets
In the neighborhood of the court house until
its reconvening.
AT 3:45 O'Clock the jury announced an
agreement, and fifteen minutes later Judge
Falligant took his seat on the bench and
ordered the jury brought down. Simons
walked into the court room apparently un-
concerned, and took his seat between
counsel. While the roll of the Jury was
being called he gazed intentIy at the twelve
men as If trying to read his fate from their
countenances, but In this he was disap-
pointed.
When Clerk Carr read the verdict of
guilty Simons gave sudden start but im-
medtately recovered himself The effect
upon the spectators was marked, and a sud-
den stiffness came over the big room. Every
body, both white and black, seemed TO
realize the solemnity of the occasion.
PREPARING THE DEATH WARRANT.
During the painful period while Clerk
Carr was preparing the death sentence The
murderer displayed considerable nervous
ness. His breath came in short. Quick
gasps, and the heaving of his
chest was plainly visible to every one. One
moment he would fold his hands In front.
and the next he would toy with his chin In
trembling way as if he could already feel
the Tightening grip of the rope around his
throat.
Isaac Simons, stand up" were the words
which finally came from Judge Falligant in
solemn tone to relieve the oppressive 81 :
lence that had pervaded the room for five
minutes, "You were indicted for murder,
and after fair and impartial trial have
been convicted. Have you anything to say
why the sentence of the law should not be
pronounced upon your
Simons arose in q sort Of startled manner
and leaning little forward said, "Sir.n
Judge Falligant repeated his question, but
Simons wasn't capable Of answering. All
ne could do was TO shake his head.
THE SENTENCE.
Then Judge Falligant proceeded to pas.
the sentence OF death, prefaciug 1t in elo.
quent words. "This is always :
trying and imposing occasion 10 me
said the judge. ''It is solemn
thing to pass sentence of death upor
a fellowman, and | do it in discharQ,
of the greatest duty iunosed unoD 4S,