The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-13
GRANT D0DGES THE GALLONS.
GOVERNOR REsPITES HIM AT THE
ELEVENTH HOUR

Delay of Week Granted In order to
Give the Negroes AttOrncEs a
Chance to Impeach the Testimony
of Txvc Negroes who SwOre Ills
Life Away-The Order to Stay the
Execution Received Only Two
Hours Before the Expiration of the
Legal Limit.
Atlanta, ia, Feb. Gov. Atkinson at
O'Clock this afternoon decided to give
sam Grant, The Americus murderer,
who was to have been hanged thero to-
dag, another weeks lease Of life. just
before noon long petition Cor respite
was received over the telegraph wires. It
was signed by the officers of the court
ard by & number OF citizens Of Americas.
The attorneys in the case stated in the
petition that they would be able to I'M
peach the testimony of two of the wit
nesses, and thus change the complexion
OF the case if given the opportunity.
The governor at once telephoned to the
sheriff Of Sumter county, who mad made
all the arran gements to carry out the eX-
ecution, to wait until he could so through
the record. This, he said, would take
him till 2 o'clock. 1t was not until a
few minutes of that hour that he decid-
ed TO grant the negro another week OF
life. He communicated his decision 10
Americas over the telephone to the Sher-
iff, and thus Grant was virtually snatched
from the jaws of death. Under the law,
he would have been hanged before I
O'Clock so that the order of the governor
arrived less than two hours before the
limit which he would have been swung
OFF into eternity.
Americas, Ga, Feb. 12.-Sam Grant. col
ored, stood within the shadow of the gall
lows to-day and his respite, which came
al o'clock this Afternoon, almost at the
last moment, smeets general approval. Ev-
cry preparation for the execution had
been completed when the attorneys for
the condemned negro and prominent cit
5zens wired petitions to Gov. Atkinson,
asking a respite for one week. In the
meantime, Grant had been baptized. and,
after bidding his friends goodby, announc-
ed his readiness to go TO the galloWs. A
great crowd had assembled outside the
jail, and the feeling in favor of the con-
demned negro was very great. The most
prominent citizens espoused the cause of
Grant and upon the belief expressed that
the testimony rendered at his trial by two
important Witnesses for the state, both
negroes of disreputable character, could
easily De mpeached a respite of one week
was granted The news of the respite
was received joyfully by Grant, as well
as the citizens generally. Grant has al
ways borne good character, and hope
as expressed that the governor will COM
mute his sentence TO life Imprisonment.
Grant shot and instantly killed George
Davis at a negro dance in this city in De-
cember, 1894. He made his escape to Ala
bama and remained at large until June /.
1880, when he was captured and brought
back for trial When the case was tried
a month or two later, Grant was convict
ed and sentenced to hang. Counsel for
the condemned negro appealed the case
to the supreme court and fail
ing to secure new trial, took ii
and again Grant was sentenced TO the gal
lows, and then began a determined effort
20 have the death sentence committed to
life Imprisonment. Petitions hume rously
signed by prominent citizens, court omcials
and members of the jury that convicted
him, were laid before the governor, while
Judge Allen Fort and Col w. NJ Hawkes.,
who were familiar with the case, appear
ed in Grants behalf. The fact that Grant
Wis was turbulent fellow and generally
considered a bad negro, weighed greatly
in the formers favor and secured him
many strong friends among the best citi-
zens. The Morning News correspondent
was the first to tel Grant that the COVER
nor had declined to interfere in the case
and that he must hang. He betrayed no
his readiness to die During the twenty
two months of his confinement Grant has
beeen preparing to meet death, though
hoping for executive clemency. He has
been model prisoner Grant is 81 years
OF age and has no family.