The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-29
PAID THE DEATH PENALTY
NEGRo KAPIST EXECJThm yES.
TERDAY AT SOUTHP1Rr

Abuoy Gu y y Dy HxrOOks
Welcomed Death and Met HHis Fate
Calmiy-on the >cahoio He 'Pnfessed
His Guilt and Called Upon EvEfi Doors
10 Take WarninS-Neck Not tBroken,
but Death Came Alter Twei re Vim
ures of >trang"iation-Detailed Story
Ofthe Execution
(Staff Correspondent.
Shortly past noon yesterd John
Brooks, negro ravisher, paid He death
penalty for his crime on the COUNTY
gaIlows at Southport. Brooksf guilt
was certain beyond doubt at ne time
Of his conviction in October, ebut all
apprehension Of the induIgenty sunk
into oblivion when he contested Fri
day to the preparation Of this most
henious Of all crimes. Again yesterday
he time and again repeated the avow-
al Of guilt, but this Acknowledgement
was not made in d spirit Of braga-
dOciO.
BEFORE THE EXECUTION.
Friday night was a gloomy one to
the inhabitants Of Southport. The pre-
dominant and uncomfortable thought
Of all was the execution Of John
Brooks, 4 young cOlOleG man off
one score years Did, Who the LAW had
dccrccd must hang on tomorrow 20 ex-
plate a violation Of the most sacred
precept of civilization. This sad, but
irresistible contemplation sent q chill
Of worried anticipation to every heart,
as it Will invariably do when a human
life is about to ebb away. 40 matter
who or what she or he has bedn or
are humanity feels a pang Of sorrow at
their death. And SO did the Thought
Of tOmOrrOW'S execution perVade With
a dread every heart and neithert the
most interesting of animated con-
versation or the charms Of beau
tiful moonlight could eXpel it.
To add fuel of discomfort to
the gru,"'mc occasion early In the
night several hundred negroes gath
cred around the jail, where Brooks was
confined, and held religious services. 1t
was truly a dOleful sight-dismaI1y lit
up by burning fagots which flickcreG
and Sputtered and cast fantastic
rays Of light in and around the
SOmbre structure, in the rear of which
doomed up grimly the legal instrument
Of death. People abroad in the town
5huddered as they heard the inccasant
chant of the a~ssemblage, and paGsers
by tarricd not, but FASTENED their
steps and as quickly as possible disap-
peared in the cleaning.
Comforting thoughts, if any, were
few and far between, though the eIc-
mGnts were to some extent cOnsOling,
and helped to lessen the dreary feel
ing which would have been increased
by disagreeable weather.. The night
was clear and just cold enough to be
inVigOrating, while the ~clOudIesS heaV-
ems, studded with thousands of blink
ing stars, and the bright moon that
shed it's light 50 e~ntranCingly upon the
placid waters of the Cape Fear, which
lies to the south, gave promise of a
pleasant tomorrow. But poorly was
this promise fulfilled, for with the
breaking of the morn came a steady,
cold rain, which made everyone who
ventured out feel miserable, and
Welted together the chain of awe
sOmeness. 1t was generally known that
the execution would be private; that
is that only the officials and an allot-
ted numbe of persons, such as
paper representatives, etc, would be
allowed to witness it. Those specially
privileged had been notified before
hand about the appointed time for the
execution. so up to 10 o'clock the vicin-
ity about the jail was comparatively
deserted. although groups of out Of
town folks. many from distance points
in the county. would occasionally pass
and rCpdSS, consuming time IN their
wait for the schedule time to arrive.
Outside the iail, we have observed.
there was no unusual signs, but inside
was far different. Here was activity
illustrated in its most literal dGfini-
ton. Sheriff Danl. X. Walker and Jail
er J. r. Holden, with heavy hearts,
but possessing a keen sense of their
duty very commendable) We're here,
there and everywhere preparing for
the baIeful event.
The Shprif frs MANS were t. have the
body Inferred in the COlored peoples
cemetery, but at the lest minute the
COlOred people ObjC ed to the body
being consigned to the earth in their
cemetery. so some little time was lost
in securing a burial place.
The newspaper contingent, Mr.. c..
Ed. Taylor, editor of The Southport
Standard; Mr.. r. w. Vincent, of The
Dispatch, and Mr.. James H. COWan, of
The Messenger, arrived at the Jail
shortly after 10 o'clock. A few minutes
previously Brooks spiritual advisers,
Rev. Whitfield Griffin and Rev. D. /.
MaultsbY, both colOred. accompanied
by several friends. arrived to comfort
him during the last moments Of his
life. Prayers were held and sons SER
vice was frequently INDUCED in.
Brooks was happy, evidently buoyed
up by the excitement of religion, and
maintained an indifference to his
death. He was not fOrgetful of it in
the least, nor did he snow the bravo Of
the desperate. He realized fully that
he was about to die. and smiled, pray
ed and joined vigorously in singing
hymns. His entire mind was carried
away with the thought that he was
gong tC met ct him maker. ard he joy
Ously expressed himself as welcoming
death. OF course, he vas highly eX-
cited. but it was not for the fear OF
death. but on the contrary he
exclaimed hat he was read to
die. To say that he was wrought W
to this seemingly happy pitch by a
feeling of dispair would not be so, nOr
was he Crazed by religion. At no tins
was he ObliViOus to his surroundings
for he constantly called people abOut
his cell by name, calmly bid them good
by and expressed q wish that they
would meet him in heaven: and during
the last moments in the cell, which he
has occupied since he was placed IL
Jail. he COOlly puffed away at a cigar
cite and without the least sign of ner-
VOuSneSS assisted the guards in re