Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-09
On the Scaffold in the County Jail Yard-The March.
His Last Statement-History of the Man and the Crime
 for Which He Died.

Eugene Byars paid the penalty of his ciime yesterday and died protesting his in- pocence.
 Byars rested reasonably well Thursday night and awoke early yesterday morning. He seemed in a cheerful mood and cracked jokes with the jail officials. He took bath the evening before, aud only had to make change of clotbing yesterday. This was done early, and when Byars mounted the gibbet he wore neat new shoes, grayish colored trousers, black coat and light colored oVercoat which struck him just above the knees. He had on white shirt, with turned down collar, and was bareheaded.
 About O clock Dick Walker, colored barber, went to the jail and shaved Byars and cut his hair rather short. Byars has not worn any mustache since his convic- tion, and was given clean shave yester- day morning.
 His face and hands had bleached consid- erably since his confinement in jail and his body was not so robust as when ar- rested. He stopped slightly when walking.
 DIDN'T LIKE REPORTERS.
 When the AGE-HERALD reporter left Byars Thursday evening he was pleading
  porter except the AaE-HERALD reporter present to witness his execution. He re- newed his entreaties yesterday morning early, but the sheriff told him he could not discriminate, but All reporters would be finally gave in, but it was not until he knew it was usel to enrreat any further. He attributed h conviction to the news paper reporters Ire than any other cause, and said had it n5t been for them he would have been free, man instead of hanging for murder. \
 cLAIMEb INNOCENCE.
 Every few minutes during the forenoon Byars- would exclaim that he was in ocent of the crime for which he had been con- victed, and while dressing said: 'I'm not going to confess 10 crime of which L am not guilty, and tell a lie just to please the public.'' lie repeated over ard over that he Was innocent, and that witnesses had swoln lies against him, yet he said he had no anlmosity toward any one.
 FATHER AND MOTHER.
 His father and mother went to the jail early, and his father visited hlm in his cell. One of hls sisters was with her mother, but n.ther went inside he jail. His fnther remained with him for some time, and slaid in the il office while Eugene was be- ing executed in the jail yard.
 SPIRITUAL COUNSEL.
 Dr. J. C.. Morris and Rev. Mr. Lee called b-tween and 10 o'clock and re- mained with Byars until his execution. They prayed with him and sang song. They then marched with him to the gal lows where Dr. Morris delivered an ear- nest prayer to God Tor the condemned man.
 THE GALLONS.
 While the preachers were ministering to Ryars' spiritual needs the galiows at the north end or the jail stood ready for it's gruesone work. The scsfold had been overhauied and put in readiness by l.. M. | innk1 grass rope, hung from the top. It had been thorough tested by Deputy Sheriff Henry Cole. The moose had been made by Depn,y Sheriff Cole and was good one.
 THE CROWD.
 For hours before noon an anxious crowd of men, aum bering more than 100, stood in The alley between the jail and court house, aud whenever officer made hls appearance he was at once surrounded and importuned to issue passes. Lawyers, doctors, me rchsnts, in fact men Of almost all avucatiuns, were in the crowd that jammed itself about the jail door, Few passes were issued, but a lew minutes be- fore F sheriff Morrow gave instructions for the aomitlance of all at the door. The ooor Nas opened and they marched in. In tue crowd that went in was Wes Gar per, the ex- policeman whom Byars shot. Thad Walker, father of tue murdered man, was in Ihe sheriff's ttfice, but did uot go inside the jail.
 WHITE HOOD. few days ago Byars requested Sheriff Eorrow not to put black hood over his head as is customary, but a white one in- stead. This request the sheriff granted, and when the trap was sprung yesterday the usual black cap was missing. Al first Byars requested that his hands and feet be left free and that his face be not covered, in order that he might die game, but these requests the sheriff could not grant.
 THE MARCH.
 At 12:15 D. m. the officers siarted from the cell with Byars. He WAS taken through the tffice and cut at the door in the west side of The building that opens into the yard. The procession was headed by Dr. J. Q. Morris, pr. P. T. Hale and Rev. Mir. Lee Deputy Sheriffs Henry Cole, John Burgin, A. R. Morrow and other officers followed closely behind the ministers; then came Bysrs with Sberiff Morrow holding to his left arm and Chief Deputy Sheriff B. A. Thompson to his left.
 An opening was made in ths crowd, through which they marched. Byars paid no attention to any one as he passed through the opening.
 He mounted tke scaffold with the officers and stood there without betraying the Dliehtest emotion. As soon as all had taken
 " places on the platform Dr. Morris
 the people to be quiet while he
 He said:
 HSho is the friend aud father of
 you to be with us ou this
 Xfu know the hearts of