Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-15
MURDERERS ID BE HANGED Two Convicts to Go to the Gal-
 lows May 8. w. SMITH AND ]. WALTON It Will Make Eight Hangngs for Sheriff Nor row-Business of the Other Courts,
 State and Federal.

The chief incident of the day at the county court house yesterday was the sentencing by the criminal court of two murder conVicts to be hanged.
 The doomed men are William Smith and John Walton, both colored, and both to expate their crimes on the same gal lows and on the same day, May 8. Both were convicted last week, but for mur- ders committed at different times.
 Murdered Deputy Woods.
 Smith was convicted of the murder of Deputy Sheriff A. T. Woods, who, with other deputies, last January attempted to quell disturbance of negroes at Coal burg, when they were fired upon by a party of negroes, Woods falling dead and another deputy receiving a severe wound. The officers were in the service of the Sloss Iron and Steel company, where the negroes were also employed Seven of them were arrested and four of them have been trid. Charles Green, George Hill and Jim Bridges were con- victed and sentenced to twenty years, twenty-five years and life imprisonment. Smith, who. had been conspicuous in the resistance to the officers, using a rifle, was given the death sentence Three others, Wade Brockman, Charles Jenk- 3ns~ and Laura Cook, are in the county Jall and are yet to be tried.
 Killed Another Convict.
 John Walton will be hanged for one of the most malicious murders imagina- ble. His victim was Jasper Thornton another convict, and the crime was com mitted only few weeks ago. Both were Jefferson county grand larceny con victs working together at Pratt mines One morning in February Thornton com plained of being sick and his indisposi- ton made Walton impatient. He quar- 9Glp6 hroOHpd if l1nti1 in a raj ota he grabbed pick and struck him re- peatedly, the last time driving the big sharp tool into his victims head.
 For robbery and assault to murder Oliver Jenkins, colored. was sentenced fifteen and five years respectively.
 Other Gallows Victims.
 When Smith and Walton will have been pronounced dead Sheriff George Morrow will have the execution of eight death sentences to his credit, six having already been hanged during his admin istration. The others were William Scroggins, white, hanged January 27, 1893, for the murder of a peddler at War rior; Samuel Smith, colored, hanged February 2 1893, for the murder of a col ored girl: Eugene Byars, white. hanged February 8 for the murder of his cousin Eugene Walker, young soldier in the United States army; Lee Harris and Abe Mitchell hanged together June ', 1895. for the murder of J. T. Thornton and Pleas MeriW ScrOgSlnS and the negroes Harris and Mitchell, whose bod ies before death had been sold for the purpose, were embalmed, or "mummi- fed for exhibition, and, as readers of the State Herald will remember, became the novel subjects of litigation. in which Miller & Co.,, well-known Birmingham undertakers, were parties.
 In the city court the day was occupied by the case of J. w. Lackey against the Kansas City. Memphis and Birmingham railroad The court adjourned with the case pending.
 Probate Court.
 In-the probate court the following real estate transfers were recorded:
 F. E. Hastings to Harriet D. Ferguson, lots 8, and east half of lot 10, block 23 West End Land company; $700
 H. D. Smith to Duncan Dew, quit claim to lot 1, block 91 $25.
 C. M Burkhalter to Duncan Dew, quit claim to lot 1, block 91; $25.
 Bessemer Savings bank to H. and s. l. Rosenbaum, lot 10, block 2S0, Bessemer; $250.
 J. M and M. J. Martin, by Rosenbaum Bros, to w. K. McAdory, foreclosure deed to lot and four-room house on Ala bama Great Southern railroad; $200.
 H. and s. I. Rosenbaum to Bessemer Savings bank, lot 8, block 2S0, Bessemer; $250.
 w. K. McAdory and wife to Rosen- baum Bros 50 foot lot and four-room house on Alabama Great Southern rail- road; $2O0
 w. H. Sims to Joseph Newman, two lots 50xS21a feet, on Morris avenue, near Twenty fourth street; $2000.
 Joseph Newman to w. H. Sims and IL.