The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-27
A NEGRO HANGED At JESUP
Jerry MumlOTd EIpiateS The killing
OF James Roberts.

The Crime Committed at Nahunta in
1904 Refusal to go TO Well for
a Bucket of Water the Only Provo
cation for the Murder-The Whites
Abused in the Speech From the Gal
lows.
Jesup, Ga, Jan. Celery Mumford, a
negro, was executed here to-day for the
murder OF James Roberts in February,
1890, near Nahunta, in this county He
was indicted at the special term Of Wayne
superior court, in December, 1898, and
was tried, convicted, and sentenced at
the same term. He was ably represented
by Col. r. c. Cannon, of Waycross. while
Solicitor General Brantley took care of
the states interests.
During the trial il was proven that
Mumford requested Roberts TO go to the
well for bucket Of water and on his re-
fusal to do so he (Mumford) went away
borrowed pistol and shot Roberts The
defense had no rebuttal testimony. but
his attorneys pleaded for mercy, which
the Jury in their verdict refused to grant.
Mumford was about y years old, and
was what is known as a ginger colored
negro. He was born in Camden county.
He had a wife None of his relatives
were at the execution.
READY TO MEET HIS FATE.
Mumford stated to the MORNING News
correspondent at the jail this morning
that he was ready to meet his fate He
slept soundly last night and eat hearty
breakfast this morning When seen at
the jail Mumford was smoking cigar.
and appeared cool and quiet. He re-
marked that had he known he would have
been furnished with no better than the
l0-cent suit which had been given him,
ne would have purchased one for himself
He was taken from Jail at 10 O'Clock
with chain around his neck and hand
cuffed. One man had hold of the chain,
and one man on each side had hold of him,
while the guards were in the front and
rear. He was taken to the rear steps of
the court house, where he was allowed to
make his statement to an audience of
about $50 people, white and black. While
he was making his statement one man
stood on his left holding his arm, another
on his right holding the chain, and
| third stood behind him holding a Win
chester rife in close proximity to his
body, with his thumb on the hammer of
the rifle.
SPEECH on THE GALLONS.
Mumford was frequently interrupted
during the statement, which in substance
was THAT he wanted all to take warn
| ing. He had shed the blood of his fellow
! man and was now about to pay the pen
atty of his crime. He had made peace
with his God and would soon be on the
| right hand of Jesus in heaven; that he
was betrayed by his own color for 81, and
| arrested by an officer who received SIS for
his services. At this time, he becoming
chilled, he was allowed to enter one of the
| Offices in the court house to warm himself,
On his return he reiterated what he had
| first spoken, and added that it was the
hight of the white peoples ambition to
| hang or prosecute a negro. He had
| pleaded guilty to the charge and asked
mercy from the court here below, which
was refused but now he would soon be
in heaven, when the one that presides
there is both judge and jury and he was
| promised mercy. The balance of his re-
| marks were rambling
! He was then taken to the scaffold and
! executed. The drop fell at 1:02 D. m
| His neck was not broken. Drs Tuten
| and Little pronounced life extinct in
thirteen minutes. His body was shipped
to the Augusta Medical college at clock
4