Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-21
EXPE FED THEIR CRIMES.
 $ "fs Eye for An Eye and a Tooth 2 for a Tooth"
SPREE MORE MURDERERS
Are Hanged at Montgomery The Future Had No Ter
 TOTS for Them.

MONTGOMERY, July 2o.-tspecial. l- Three negro murderers, Dan Washington, Porter Davis and Charles Ezelle, paid the penalty of their crimes on the gallows in the jail yard here today. They were ush cred into eternity with the usual eclat, each avowing his confidence that seat was waiting for him by the great white throne. They were three infamous scoundrels, each guilty of an atrocious murder, and yet they died with implicit confidence in the future well-being of their souls.
 Just before they mounted the scaffold Dan Washington remarked to a friend: 1T wants ter meet you up yonder, where I'll be flying around terrectly with white clothes on. I'll meet you at de gate and take yer to the right hand of the Lord.'
 Porter Davis said: "I feel like r m going on big 'scursion. De Lord has done said Come ter me- and Pm tired waiting. 1 hear de band ob muslc err playing on de goldei streets: know whar I's gwine:"
 Charlie Ezelle, the wife murderer, said: "I'se happy ter know that I'se ter die like Jesus Chrst-ter save sinners. l'se a 'zample and when I'se gone the folks will say, He's gone ter rest; he give his life as a 'Zample.o
 Little was said on the scaffold negro preacher talked awhile and offered prayer. The indifference of the men was amaZlug. The sheriff touched the trigger at 12;35 and the bodies were cut down at 1.
 The streets for blocks around were crowded with negroes.
 HISTORY OF THEIR CRIMES.
 Dan Washington murdered John D. Perkins, white mau, near this city last October. Perkins kept suburban store and lived with his family in dwelling ad- joining. At 12 o'clock one Saturday night Dan Washington, an enormous negro, who was employed as a laborer in an oil mill adjacent, came to the store and called for some meat. While Perkins was stepping over, iu the act of cutting it off, Washing ton struck him on the head with a bar of iron. He fell dead. but to make assurance doubly sure the negro cut his vlctim's throat with barlow kEife. He then robbed the store of s80 and revolver and escaped. No clue was found for months, although suspicion pointed to Washington on account of his announced departure from the city.
 The governor offered s4OO reward for the capture of the murderer, with evidence caught in Pensacola, Fla, and brought here aud imprisoned Link by link the evidence was supplied. A bloody knife found on the scene of the crime was whom he had sold the stolen piS
 the trial he swore he did not comml6 murder, but only watched at the door while two white men did the active work. These men proved alIbis, however, and his statement is disregarded. Washington was unmarried.
 PORTER DAVIS. coJoRaD.
 killed another negro, Goodwin Jones, in swamp near the Tallapoosa river, in this county, on the 18th Of last January. Davis had been intimate with Jones' wife, who, it is stated, encouraged the murder. Jones was seen to 20 into the swamp with @ double team for load of wood. Davis was seen to follow him with gum. Shortly afterward a gun shot was heard. Jones failed to come home that night. search was instituted. His mules were found un- hitched from the wagon. A trail near by clearly showed that some heavy body had been dragged in the direction of a slough mile away. It was followed to the pond, and after some effort the dead body of Jones was fished from the stagnant water. The man had been shot and hls head had been chopped open with his own axe, after which the axe had been stuck in his belt and his body thrown into the pond. Davis was promptly arrested, tried and convicted. He appealed, but the supreme court sus- tained the verdict of the lower court and set today as the time for his execution.
 CHARLES EZELLE, CoLoRED,
 was a wife murderer. He lived near the negro settlement Vesuvlus in this county. On April 4, 1893 he met his wife some dis tance from their dwelling and ordered her home. She refused to go, saying she was going to see @ man about his clothes, her and she told him she would go away with another man unless he desisted. This angered him and he overpowered her, say ing she would never have need for any clothes in this world except wooden over coat. He dragged her into some woods and when he had reached secluded place he beat her to death with the butt of his gun and attempted to throw her body in the river, when he was frightened away. When arrested he did not deny the crime, but he pleaded "not gullty'' at his trial. He was condemned to hang, but appealed and got a new trial on a technicality. At the spring term he was again condemned and the supreme court declined to interfere.
 THREE MORE TO FOLLOW.
 Five negro murderers have been legally executed here within week, with three more to follow on Friday next.
 Jefferson county man remarked today that Montgomerians could not consistently gay, Bad Birmingham," any longer.