The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-24
CARR MAKES A CONFESSION.
HE NOW ADMITS THAT HE HAS
BEEN FEIGNING INSANITY.

The Strain of Keeping Up the sham
Too Great for Him in view Of the
Near Approach of the Day for His
Execution-He sends for the sher-
III and Confesses VOluntariiy-
Atlanta. Ga. March 23-Alex Carr. who
IS TO be hanged here on Friday, confessed
to-day that he has been shamming IN
sanity for more than a year. He shot
and killed James King on the street In
August. 1884 When his trial came on
Carr pretended to be insane. He was
twice examined by experts. who pronounc-
ed him sane. He allowed his hair 10
grow long and never spoke TO any eN-
cent his lawyers. He has had two trials,
and was convicted both times, and has
twice been sentenced TO death. The strain
became too great on him as the day Of
his execution approached and this after
noon he sent for Sheriff Barnes and con-
fessed.
The sheriff took a witness with him.
Carr was having his hair cut at the time
the sheriff and his companion arrived Mr..
Barnes spoke to him and said: Carr, you
are looking unusually well to-day"
Yes" replied Carr. pretty well for a
man who has undergone what I have
The barber stopped his work and Carr.
almost as straight as he was when he
fired the fatal shot at Capt. King, sat
back in his chair and said: Il have been
looking forward for a long time for the
coming of Friday. 1 was not afraid to die,
and am not afraid now. But I want time
10 prepare to meet my God"
He then requested the sheriff to send
Rev. Mr.. Vaughan, chaplain Of the Jail
10 him. He then related his experience
with the doctors who recently examined
him.
Looking at the sheriff with the suspicion
of a smile on his face, Carr pointed to
a hole in the wall and said: Mr.. Barnes,
that holeP'
sheriG Barnes replied that he
had mot mot bd that he tb dd not 6s know SS
the jailer informed Carr that the hole
did not go through the wall.
We'll" exclaimed Carr, 'all I've got
TO say is that the hole has given me
much uneasiness." The condemned man
said: MY father and my lawyers are
entirely innocent in this matter. They
are firmly of the belief that l am in
sane. When / get on the gallows | shall
make statement that will exonerate
them"
Stopping for a moment, Carr passed his
hand over his face and remarked: Gen
tlemen, l can tell you this has been a
terrible strain on me"
Mr.. Barnes asked him about the killing,
and he said that there was no malice
in the killing, as he was not prejudced
against Capt. King. He guessed that it
was either whisky or an attack of in
digestion as he was not feeling well on
the day that the killing occurred.
Some further questions were asked Carr
and then he said:
Gentlemen, this secret was more than
] could bear. / might have remained ST.
lent. and have been sent to the asylum.
Then / might have recovered and have
carried this secret with me. l reflected
on the matter and have decided that l
would rather go to the gallows than to
be burdened any lorger with such ter
rible strain"
Sheriff Barnes and Mr.. Hannah on
leaving the jail stopped by the office Of
Gov. Atkinson and gave him the news.
The governor smiled and remarked,
There Is nothing like holding tight
rein o-the end"
Gov. Atkinson had set tomorrow for
the hearing from lawyers as to the in
sanity of Carr, OF course, the hearing
will not now take place.
Lowry Arnold of the firm of Arnold &
Arnold. said when spoken to about IT.: 1T
Is a thunderclap to us. This is the first
we have heard Of it."