The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-25
A STERN RACE WITH DEATH.
TWO NURDERERs BARELY ESCAPE
THE GALLONS.

A Midnight Ride Through the COun-
try Secures "A New Lease of Life to
Brooks. and Reynolds Is saved
Through the Telephone to Bear
Witness In His New TriaI-A Dis
appointed Crowd at Jefferson.
some Threats of summary Justice.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 24.-There was no
hanging at jefferson to-day, though il
seemed last night that there would be a
double execution.
Bud Brooks and Grady Reynolds the
convicted murderers of c. NJ. Hunt, al
most when ready TO mount the scaffold,
were given a new lease of life. Judge
Hutchins granted a supercedeas last night
in the case of Brooks. and the supreme
court viii have to pass upon an applica-
ton for a new trial. Gov. Atkinson inter
ceded in the case of Reynolds and gave
him four weeks respite, so that he may be
used as a witness in the new trial expect
ed for Brooks.
The two men were snatched from the
eallows in a most dramatic fashion. They
had neck and neck race with grim
death. The order of the court postponing
the execution of Brooks was brought 10
Sheriff Brazelton at jefferson at , o'clock
this morning by Col. e. T. Brown, the
murderer's attorney. He drove through
the county from Homer last night, where
the bill of exception, carrying the case to
the supreme court was signed by Judge
Hutchins, and left almost Immediately
for his home in Athens. Day had scarce
" broken when the news was carried to
the murderers.
Brooks received the tidings of his tenn
porary deliverance without any display of
feeling one way or the other. The man
had been reduced to such eAtremities of
mind by the contemplation of the gallows
that he was not capable of receiving any
impression. Reynolds refused to express
any opinion After the announcement of
the courts order snatchng Brooks from
the scafold, the case of Reynolds grew
TO more dramatic proportions. Judge
Hutchins was induced to sign the Dill
OF exception, and grant the supercedeas
for Brooks by reason of the confession OF
REYNOLDS. in which he declared that he
had done the actual killing alone, though
Brooks planned il and shared the booty.
Col. c. J. Hunt and DR.. w L. hunt
brothers of the murdered man, together
with Col. Manatty, their Attorney, ana
Sheriff Brazleton held "a conference to
decide whether Reynolds should be hang
ed or a stay asked in order that botn
murderers might be executed together.
Col Hunt visited the Jail and saw Key
nolds and he agreed 10 make state
ment and said he would tell the whole
truth and it was then decided by the
murdered mans brother TO get 10 work to
save the neck of the murderers, for the
time being, at least so that. if possible,
both men might die on the same galloWs'
al the execution was planned for to-day.
He said Brooks was equally guilty, though
he had taken no part In dealing the death
blows
Reynolds had no idea that he would be
given a respite. He was dressed for
death, and did not know that his fate
was q matter of question. Col Hunt was
determined however, that the murderers
should die together, and the result of the
conference held in the sheriff's office was
u telephone message TO Gov. At
kinson. asking him to respite
Reynolds until the supreme court
could pass upon the case of the other
murderer. His talk with Reynolds had
convinced him that there was no sure way
of bringing the crooks to the gallows than
by allowing the former to live 10 tell his
story in court again, If there is to be
new trial for the latter.
Solicitor Brand had also wired the gov
ernor 90 respite Reynolds. At o'clock a
message was received from the governor
postponing Reynolds execution for four
weeks. When the news was carried to
the jail Reynolds broke down and wept.
Disappointment was shown by the
crowd when it became known that there
would be no execution. There were per-
haps 5000 people who had come in from
the country to catch a glimpse of the muir
derers as they would be taken from the
jail to the gallows, erected on a hill a
quarter of a mile away. The crowd was
orderly, however, and there seemed no
danger of interference.
Later in the day rumors began to float
around. There IS a great deal of quiet
Indignation at the postponement of the
execution and threats of violence were
made. No trouble is anticipated by the
authorities, though precaution is taken
to prevent disorder.