The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-19
HAS A NEW LEASE on LIFE.
Eddie Davis RepTieTed By Gov. ltkin-
son Until Feb. IS.

That He Was Going 70 DIE, he had
Said Goodbye 70 All His Fellow Pris-
oners-sherifR Roman Delayed the Exc
eution Until the Governor Gould Be
Heard From, and Davis VIII
Have Another Chance for Life II He
Can Show the Killing Of Willis Brown
Was Not Murder.
Eddie Davis had prepared himself 20 die
on the gallows yesterday a few minutes af-
ter 10 o'clock and he had bid parting
farewell TO his fellow prisoners 10 the
Chatham county jail, and made his peace
with bis Maker. when "A telegram was re-
ceived from Gov. Atkinson saying. Davis
respited until Feb. I5." and tho shouting
ana handspring that arose within the
prison walls when this news was made
known. told how glad his friends were
that one more chance for life was his.
Every preparation had been made for
the execution. Davis was in his grave
clothes. his uncle was waiting outside with
a wagon in which TO carry off his body
that It might be buried by his friends. the
gallows was ready for its victim. the rope
swung ominously. and Willis Browns
slayer had set his own time 10 die be-
tween 10 and II clock. but at the request
of the prisoners attorney. Mr.. Ed r. Nc
Kethan, Sheriff Roman consented to post
pone the execution until 70 O'Clock. 1t hav-
ing been made known TO him that inter-
eession in Davis behalf was being made
with the governor.
It was Thursday morning when Mr.. Nc
Kethan received a telegram from Gov.
Atkinson stating that the application Of
Eddie Davis for a commutation of his SEN
tence had been overruled. Mr.. Mcclellan
had then about given up all hope Of saving
Davis neck. but was determined to make
every effort while there was time, to do
all that could be done for him. AIr. Nc
Kethan then wired GOV. Atkinson Thurs
day night. stating his telegram had been
received and caused much disappointment.
He earnestly asked reprleve for Davis
for thirty days until he could see him.
kilograms in Davis behalf were also
sent by others. Col j. II. Deveaux. com
mandlng First Battalion infantry Georgia
volunteers colored. also wired earnestly
requesting a thirty days reprieve for Davis
and among others kilograms were sent
10 the governor by DR.. r. G.. Norton and
Mrs. Richard Webb making the same ur-
gent request. Up to yesterday morning
nothing whatever had been received from
the governor and Mr.. Mcclellan again
wired a few minutes before 10 O'Clock ask
ing the governor to answer at once about
the reprieve. as every thing was ready for
the execution.
It was just at this juncture that active
preparations for the execution were being
made at the Jail Davis minister, the
Rev Black of the Porter church. and
Ministers Jones. Walker and others. went
to the Jail about O'Clock. Previous to
this, a few minutes before . clock Dep
uty Joe Simmons went 10 Davis cell which
is the third from that IN which stands the
gallows on which he was to hang. and
dressed him in the new suit OF clothes
that had been purchased for the occasion.
Davis had eaten a hearty breakfast and
was bearing up remarkably well under the
severe strain that must have been on his
mind. All the other prisoners in the Jail
were locked in their cells at Q o'clock and
were awaiting the time with much anxiety
Shen their fellow prisoner was to pay
the penalty Of his crime. Between $50 and
300 negroes had gathered on Habersham
street, Just opposite the jail, and were
awaiting the signal which would tell them
that the gallows had done its work
Davis cell was unlocked and il was
about o'clock when the ministers sat
down with him in the corridors and held
services with him as they thought for the
last time They sang and offered PRAYER,
and talked with Davis about his religious
state of mind. Davis was satisfied that he
had made his peace with his God, and said
as he has stated all along, that he was
ready to die, as he had to die at some
time, and it might as well be them. His
uncle sat waiting anXiously in the wagon
at the Jail gate. The services went on for
about an hour and Il was nearly 10 o clock
when Davis asked permission of the sher-
ln to be allowed to go around and say
goodbye to all his fellow prisoners. Sher-
iff Roman never denies a prisoner any re-
quest that he can consistently grant,
especially on an occasion like this when il
is about the last request the condemned
man could make and Davis was allowed
TO 60 over the entire jail in charge of
Deputy Simmons and have a parting hand
shake with all his associates of a years
standing.
1t was about 10 o'clock when he made
the rounds and returned to the minis ters
who stood waiting for him at his cell
door. His parting with them was
touching one and tears came in his eyes
as he told them good-by. He was, per-
than at that time. 1t was about this time,
however that Mr.. Mcclellan telephoned
to Sheriff Roman at the jail, asking him
70 delay the execution for an hour or two.
until Gov. Northen could be heard from
finally and definitely on the subject. The
sherif readily agreed to this proposition,
although Davis had announced that he
was ready and it was about the time that
the death warrant was 10 have been read
TO him. preparatory TO his going right to
the gallows. He had selected this time
between 10 and II O'Clock, though he could
as well have waited until O'Clock in the
afternoon had he desired TO prolong his
agony Of mind. Sheriff Roman had agreed
with Mr. McKethan TO wait uhtil u o'clock,
and when this was announced to Davis
he was rather disappointed, for he was
net informed that any effort was being
made in his behalf, because the hope given
him might have been a false one.
The time passed on slowly untn 80
o'clock, when Sheriff Roman received a
telegram from the governor as stated
above, reprieving Davis until Feb. 10. He
waited several minutes, in order to sat
isfy himself beyond any legal question
ing as to the genuineness Of the telegram,
and then went into the corridor OF the