The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-11
SIMMS DIES ON THE eIBBET.
HE ASCENDs THE SCAFFOLD IN A
STATE OF COLLAPSE.

He Dies From StranguIntiOn Twenty
Minutes After the Fall of the Trap.
The Mother and sister of the MUIR
dered Policeman and Two other
White Women Present at the Exc
cutiOn.
jacksonville. Fla. July 10.-Alexander
eimms. colored. was hanged in the jail
yard here this morning. simms assembled
the scaffold in a state OF collapse, and
would have fallen. but for the support af-
forded by Father Kenney and Sheriff
Bowden. The man tried TO speak, but
could hardly articulate. He finally man
aged to say, as the black cap was being
drawn: I'm going to the Great White
Throne-God have mercy"
The trap was sprung at 81. and at Ia
O'Clock Simms was dead from strangula-
ton. The rope cut a cash in his neck,
from which blood triclSled. Simms retired
last night at Il O'Clock, and awoke this
morning at g. He said he dreamed that
his boy came TO him and asked: Are you
ready to 60
At O'Clock priests and sisters came and
brought him a dainty breakfast Of broiled
chicken. but he ate little.
on his way TO the scaffold he almost
completely collapsed. Father Kenney, on
one side. and Sheriff Bowden on the other,
supported him. His face was ashen and
his head. uplifted toward the skies, wab-
bled on his neck. On the scaffold his knees
trembled. He made short
address and warned his friends
against whisky. 1T brought me TO this
disgrace" said he.
Sheriff Bowden without a tremble adjust
ed everything. In full sight of all, he
sprang the trap.
In the jail yard people were packed like
sardines. The trees and roofs outside the
jail we're black with people. and men hung
on TO the jail windows grating, 300 feet
from the ground.
Mrs Minor, mother Of the murdered po-
Nceman, his sister and two lady compan-
ions were the only white women who saw
the execution.
Mrs Minor showed no nervousness. She
watched every detail interestedly.
why shouldn't / see him hanged?' she
exclaimed, didn't he murder my boy and
try to murder another one Of miner"
When the black cap was adjusted she
raised her veil and said, "Ill see 1t all"
sigh and exclaimed: I'm glad to see you
hang. You killed my boy. but you won't
shoot another white man."
Simms was about 30 years old and came
here, short time before the tragedy. from
Flomaton, Ala, where his wife and child
are now.
William Jones, a negro who ruined his
daughter and then cut her to pieces, was
also 10 have been hanged here to-day, but
his sentence was committed to imprison-
ment for life.
The crime for which Simms was hanged
was committed early on Sunday morning,
April Z. At o'clock on that date Simms
and a crowd of negroes were carousing
in notorious dive known as the Rabbit
Foot. In the crowd was Napoleon Sucks.
Sucks and Simms became involved in a
quarrel and the latter drew a revolver and
shot the former. the bullet entering just
above the Adams apple, passing through
and breaking the neck, and Simms i'm
mediately fed.
The officers were notified and the muir
dered chased. Simms evaded his pursuers
till o'clock, when he was discovered on
the western outskirts of the town. Simms
doubled on his pursuers and ran In an
easterly direction on Bay, the principal
street of Jacksonville Simms distanced
his pursuers and took refuge in a barn in
East Jacksonville. His hiding place was
discovered and surrounded by probably
one hundred people.
Lieut.. James Minor of the police force
and his brother policeman. Ed Minor. ap
preached the barn and called on Simms to
surrender. The negros reply was a shot.
The officers returned the fire, but Simms
was behind pile of lumber, which pre-
vented the bullets from reaching him.
The firing continued for several min
utes, but no one was injured and finally
Policeman Ed Minor rushed into the barn
and he and the negro fired simultaneous
iy. The officer staggered back and hand
ed his pistol to Lieut.. Minor, saying.
i'brother. I'm shot" Then he walked off
about thirty yards, lay down and died in
Q few minutes. He had been shot through
the heart.
Rag Jim. a well known negro about
town, then rushed up and fired at Simms
and received a bullet in the thigh.
The next man 20 fall before Simms' 2is-
tol was a bootblack. He rushed into the
barn and received a bullet in the left leg
Lieut.. Minor had continued TO fire at
Simms without effect, receiving in the
meanwhile a bullet from Simms pistol
which took effect in the right ankle.
Finally the Negroes cartridges being ex-
hausted he called out to Lieut.. Minor,
I'm give up IL you won't let EN- kill me-"
The officer promised and Simms crawled
from behind the barricade of lumber. AS
Lieut.. Minor started with the negro to the
city he saw Eds corpse. Not until then
did he known that his brother had been
killed. An immense crowd followed the
prisoner clamoring for his life but Lieut..
Minor. with drawn pistol stood them off.
A policeman who had been Ed Minors
warmest friend rushed up to shoot the
negro, but Lieut.. Minor pointed his pistol
at the officers head. saying, This man is
a prisoner and therefore sacred. Harm
him and I'll blow out your brains"
Simms was placed in jail, but Sunday
night was taken ST AuguStine
mob was preparing TO storm the Jail and
lynch him. In a short while he was
brought back and tried. The jury return
ed a verdict of guilty. He was sentenced
TO death and his execution occurred as de-
scribed above. Simms has seemed peni-
tent and was anxious TO see his wife and
child who were in Alabama The wife re-
fused to come however and Simms died
with his last desire ungratifed.