The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-04
CHARLoN'S TIME IS BRIEF.
MUST PAY THE PENALTY FOR HAIR
RY M'LEOD's DEATH.

The Crime unproVOked and without
Mitigating Circumstnnces-Cha
Ions Shot Intended for Cord
Kraeken, But 1t Caused McLcOd's
Death Instead-The Murderer Ar
rested, Convicted and Sentenced TO
Death in Less Than Four Days
After the Crime Was Committed.
Charlton Has Been Baptised and
Expects TO Go Straight to Heaven.
Said to he Very Quiet and Wen
Behaved Prisoner.
John Charlton, the convicted murderer
of Harry Mcleod, has but one week more
to live. He was sentenced to be hung
March 10, and that time is rapidly APP
preaching.
Charlon's attorneys were unable to ef-
feet anything in his behalf before the
Supreme Court, and there seems to be no
reason to doubt that the Sentence of the
court will be carried out on the day named,
Charlton has prepared himself for death
having been baptized sometime since by
Rev. Clifton Black, who seems to have
assumed the position of Spiritual adviser
to all convicted murdeTers of his race. 1t
was Rev. Black who baptized Abe Small,
and was with him until the fatal moment
Rev. Black has done other work at the
Jail, and baptized four felons, not muir
derers, this week
Charlton is said by The jail officials to be
one of the quietest and best behaved pris-
oners they have ever had. He has little
to say to anyone, and has never caused
any trouble since he has been at the jail
CT, ~ sa oil rr t17aE- tor
tender-hearted to be an eXeeutioner THESE
events are always painful occasions with
him, and he does not like to discuss them
in advance. The sheriff fully indorses the
law which says that all executions shall
be in private and thinks that the less said
about such things the better
IF had my way" said Sheriff Roman
yesterday, "the newspapers would not be
allowed TO publish anything except that
the execution took place as ordered by the
court
Had it not been for the delay of the Su-
preme Court in passing upon Charloh
case, it is likely that he would nave pald
the penalty for his crime ere this. Char-
Ions conviction was about the quickest
dispensation of justice recorded IN the
courts of Chatham county,
The killing occurred on Friday, sept y,
Charlton was captured shortly after the
shooting, an indictment was found by the
grand jury the following Monday, and
ON Tuesday he was tried, convicted and
sentenced to be hung. Friday, oct "a,
was named as the date of the execution.
An appeal was taken TO the supreme
Court by Charlon's attorneys, ana, as the
court did not pass upon the case unul
some time after the date set for the exc
cution il was necessary to sentence Char
Ion a second time, which was done last
month the Supreme Court having refused
to order new trial.
The killing of Harry Mcleod was re-
earded as an entirely unprovoked murder.
Angered because of some slight difficulty
he had had with Cord Kracken, the pro-
prietor of a green grocery at Bay and
West Broad streets, and infiamed with IL
ouor. Charlton entered the grocery and
fred at the proprietor with murderous in
tent Il was not his fault that he killed
another man than the one at whom he
aimed. and the killing was equally muir
der in the eye of the law
The evidence showed no mitigating cir
cumstances. Clarion had been in the bar
attached to the grocery, a short time be-
fore the shooting and had had a dispute
with the proprietor over the change due
him. He cursed Cracker and the latter
struck him in the face with a Irvine hold
er. Charlton went out but returned short
ly after and ordered another drink, which
he obtained and paid for, going out with
out causing any trouble. He returned
third time Mr.. Mcleod had just entered
the place, and being very friendly with
the proprietor, had walked behind the
counter and begun a conversation with
him. The two men were standing quite
close together and Mcleod had his hand
on Craeken's shoulder.
Charlton drew his pistol on entering the
saloon and pointed 1t deliberately at
Cracken The latter dropped behind the
counter and he did so Charlton fred,
the ball striking Mcleod in the neck.
Charlton further demonstrated his muir
derous intentions of following Cracker into
the grocery adjoining the bar and firing
another shot at him, which went wild of
the mark. Cracker having secured a pis-
toll Charlton ran out and attempted to es-
cape, but was captured by Detective Bar
rett short distance from the scene of
the crime.
Mcleod was taken to the Savannah hos
ptal. where he died several hours after
the shooting The deceased was food in
spector for the city, which position he had
filed to the entire satisfaction of his SUI
perior officer. He was widely known and
his death was source of regret to a host
of friends.