The age-herald., 1899-05-13
K SENTENCED ID HANG ON JUNE 90. Supreme Court AfflnNS Decision i of Lower Court. HE KILLED JOHN BLACKBURN Who Caught Him BurgIarizing a
 Store. BLOOD HOUNDS IN EVIDENCE His Conviction Rested Almost Entirely on Their Silent Evidence-Deputy
 Sheriff Love Will Oficiate
 es High Executioner.
BLOOD HOUNDS IN EVIDENCE

Frank Cook, colored, under sentence of death for the murder of John Blackburn, railroad conductor, will expiate his crime on the gailows on June 30, unless Governor Johnston interferes, the supreme court having affirmed the decision of the lower court and fixed that day for the ecution.
 Cook was convicted in the circuit court of this county on November 24, last, on cir cumstantal evidence, the strongest link of which was the alleged facts that the county dogs who were put on the track of the mur- derer followed the trail to the house where he boarded and where he was found in bed.
 A motion for a new trial was made, which was overruled by Judge Coleman, who, on December 4, sentenced Cook to hang on January 21, execution of which was suspended pending an appeal to the su- preme court.
 Murder at Gains Station
 The killing of Blackburn occurred about seventeen months ago at Gains station, on the East Lake electric line, just beyond Avondale, under peculiar circumstances. 1 On the night of the killing Blackburn had just come in from trip and, after regis tering off duty, started for home about 12 o'clock, accompanied by one of his train men. While passing Gains station they heard noise in a grocery store and sus- 7ricioning that the place was being burglar iZed went to the proprietor's home near ny and told him of their suspicion. The groeeryman at once joined them, and the three men went to the store and captured negro who was found on the inside. The burglar was taken in charge and it was decided to telephone to the city for an of- ficer. While being taken across the street to the nearest telephone the negro made a desperate break for liberty and succeeded in getting awy. In the struggle MT. Black burn discharged h.s pistol, and fell to the ground dead.
 II was at first thought that he had been shot by the negro but after the body had been taken homo it was found that he had been stabbed instead of shot.
 Dogs Ran Him Down
 As soon as possible after the unfortunate occurrence the sheriff's office was com munieated with and Chief Deputy Robert Warnock, since deceased, accompanied by several deputies, left for the scene with the county dogs.
 The dogs were not long in striking the trail and followed it, so it is said, to a negro house near Fritehman's Garden, where Cook was found in bed. He pro- tested that he was innocent and claimed to have been in his bed since early in the night He was placed under arrest and some months later was indicted by the grand jury charged with the commission of the crime. A knife was found in the house which it is claimed bore evidence of having been lately run into the ground to clean the blade. but the strongest evidence against him was the testimony of the depu- ties as to the action of the dogs.
 Preparations for Execution
 Sheriff OBrien has already begun prep aratons for the execution which will take place in the jail yard where number of men have been executed A grass rope was yesterday purchased and was hung in the tower of the court house with weight at the end to stretch it thoroughly.
 The old scaffold has been taken down and a new one will be built. Deputy Sheriff Will Love who has served as exe- cutioner under three successive sheriffs, will have charge of the execution.
 Double Hanging Probable
 Deputy Love has offieiated at the execu- tion of more than dozen men and has never made bad job.
 Up to late hour last night Sheriff O'Brien had not informed Cook of his fate. the full text of the decision not having been received.
 b It is probable that the governor will be appealed to as a last resort and the attor- neys for the condemned man believe that he will commute the sentence
 Will Golson under death sentence for the murder of Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert Warnock has appealed to the supreme court and if his case is affirmed both men will probably be excuted about the same time
 Cook is the first man Sheriff O'Brien has haan called