Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-29
TWO MEN WHO ARE DOOMED.
John Walton and VIII Smith
Talk to a Reporter.
BOTH MEN WRITE LETTERS
Walton Says He Had to Kill His Fellow Con-
Wet to Keep From Being Beaten
to Death.

>
May 8.
They will be hanged in the Jefferson
county Jail yard. Their names are Will
Smith and John Walton, colored.
Will Smith was recently convicted of
Deputy Sheriff A. T. Woods murder
which occurred some time ago at Coal
burg. John Walton. the other doomed
man, most malieiously killed a fellow
convict few months ago at Pratt mines.
He confesseS the killing, and when the
reporter talked with him yesterday in
prison Walton maintained a jocose and
merry manner. He came to the grating
of his cell readily, and talked with con-
siderable animation. His remarks were
touched up here and there with crude
efforts at wit, all of which was highly
enjoyed by the prisoners In the passage,
and when they laughed Walton did so,
too. evidently picturing himself as
kind of stern cynic.
How He Looks.
Walton is small negro, gingerbread
color His frame is closely knit, and
shows great activity and strength. His
features. for a negro, are good in cast,
but uninviting in expression. There is in
his firm jaw, steady glance and bold
voiceaa great deal of determination. His
forehead does not recede as the average
negro's does, and he hasn't the usual
cocoanut head. His head is we'll formed,
and his cheek bones are prominent. His
neck Is not stocky and thick but Is long
er than the average neck of his race; bud
at its juncture with the trunk the well
developed muscles indicate strength. His
ears are small, and lie close to the skull.
He is dangerous.
What He Says.
Standing at the grating of his cell. he
talked freely. The sun lit up the strong
east wall of the prison. visible to Walton
through the barred window. Now and
then his eyes blinked when he met the
dazzling brightness on the stern rock
wall.
yes" said he to the reporter, "I'll
talk. I'll talk as long as you want me
to-"
Are you afraid of what's eoming?"
4. mo"
"Have you got religion?'
mo but l will get it,"
Ibid you kill this MANI"
Eyes, I did that. He wouldn't do his
work, and was responsible for the task.
/ received the beatings. The warden
would have beat me to death if the task
had not been done. l had just as soon
live as the other man."
He spoke bitterly of the warden, and
wants him to be present at the execution.
He had the following letter, written by a
fellow prisoner, which he gave the re-
porter for publications
1.-The Death of a Boss Convict.
birmingham, Alabama, Jefferson
County Jail--Ladies and Gentlemen: it
is my desire to tell the world the secrets
of my heart and hopes the world won't
think any ways hard of me for / am go
ing to tell the truth in what say. am
a man that tries live and let live but the
time has come for me to die. But hope
will be prepared to meet it,
The letter goes on in rambling style,
In which he says that he got the worst
of 1t all around at the mines" He says
that If he had not killed the man the war
den would have beat him to death. He
says in conclusion that he has something
to tell the world later on, and that If the
warden has not the money to come to his
execution he will send it to him. Walton
has sold his body to an undertaken for
So He has spent Sc of that amount for
good things to eat. He says his cell is
regular baker shop" When asked If he
was lonely inside, he said NO" He had
plenty of company. "Some people," he
said, "called them bugs but they are
meat merchants. This provoked great
laughter among the prisoners outside.
Will Smith.
He is tall, well built negro, 2S years
Did He is black and has an ignorant
cast of countenance. He says he. did not
kill Deputy Sheriff Wood, but that he
was under the house when the shooting
began. He says he went to the house to
get his breach loading shotgun, which
he had loaned one Of the negroes. The
not explode a cartridge. He said in re-
ply to further questioning, II can't real
lie that I'm going to be hung. 1t looks
to me Ike a painful death, because
saw two men hung when was boy in
Russell county and 1t looked like 1t hurt
them. they twisted around so. l feel
compressed end 1 can't be gay. would
like to have some whisky, and wish you
would bring me some | sold my body
for $40 and have spent only $1.50 don't
care whether they exhibit my body after
/ am dead or not. 1t won't hurt me
then
A Letter to the Public
was also written by VIII Smith. The
main point of interest in. this letter is
Smiths statement that Vim Bridget,
Wade Brock and Charley Green, who are
implicated. were not present. He says
"these are the men that was at the Jen-
kln's house." where the shooting oc-
cured Jack Irwin. with a 3S Winches-
ter, Pat Jenkins had a SO revolver, Shed
Norton 32 Winchester John Jenkins,
Alb Jenkins, Robert Bueker, Gilbert Cole
man Grant White. Charley Jenkins and
George Hill.
WI NnEn - TyUo axnor1